[paulswindows]

Ive been a member of this site for a while and as a newbie to this business its been a great help, but i've never posted myself up till now.  I'd appreciate any views on something that happened to me today.
Someone phoned me this morning (number withheld) and accused me of stealing his customers. He said i'd undercut him, and that i should not target areas where windows "looked clean" as that was likely to be another window cleaners territory.
All my customers since I started 2 months ago have responded to some leaflets i put out. I haven't knocked any doors yet (though i plan to in the new year).
when quoting a potential customer, i don't ask what the previous window charged, or even if they had a cleaner previously. The only information i've had about previous cleaners has been volunteered without me asking, and so far has been (words to the effect of) "they haven't been round for ages". My quotes are based on what i sensibly need to earn per hour as self employed  and what i think is a fair price to the customer. Personally I would never knowingly undercut someone just to get work because i think that if you make that a habit you're likely to end up working too cheap.
My questions are these: What are your views on acceptable or unacceptable practice when trying to gain new customers? is there a "code" amongst window cleaners? Or (bearing in mind the way the economy is going) are all methods of gaining new customers  just"fair competition", even undercutting?

[cubanpete]

Carry on what you are doing. If you get any more phone calls (or worse)  from that loser of a window cleaner, let the police know. He'll be out of business before you know it and you can take all 'his' customers.   

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

as it goes if the customer of his wants a cheaper quote and takes you on the its fair game its a fact of the business that you will loose some aned gain. its from a leaflet drop and not a direct canvass door knock which would nark a few windys in the area off a bit. basically you put a cheaper quote in or they are fed up with the old chap. hope this helps a bit

[Paul Coleman]

He said i'd undercut him, and that i should not target areas where windows "looked clean"

What a muppet.
Just keep doing what you're doing.
OK, deliberately targeting work with a view to being cheaper is a bad idea IMO - a bit of ethics I suppose but in the longer term, it's for your benefit too.
But does that muppet really expect you to inspect the windows before leafleting?   .

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

as for the phone call its a empty threat and wont lead to nowt dont worry about this. but you can contact BT to trace the call.

[Steve_c]

Carry on mate. They guy that phoned you is clearly worried about losing work because he is probably not very good or maybe a benefit cheat. There is no such thing as a window cleaners patch. Just ignore him if that fails then resort to extreme violence this always works.

[colin purewater]

nock and post were ever you like and dont under cut.  ( i mean ask if they have a window cleaner or how much they charge)

thats about it for me mate

and get knocking asap dont put it of

[Paddy Woods]

Keep doing what your doing Paul ,you sound a nice decent person,wimple will see that and don't worry about other cleaners if they are good & respected they wont lose any work.when it comes to price it's best to keep it good very hard to increase prices in the current climate but if you charge proper I find people have more respect for you also you can give them proper service without always rushing to next job

Hope all works out for you  

[sean84]

Ive been a member of this site for a while and as a newbie to this business its been a great help, but i've never posted myself up till now.  I'd appreciate any views on something that happened to me today.
Someone phoned me this morning (number withheld) and accused me of stealing his customers. He said i'd undercut him, and that i should not target areas where windows "looked clean" as that was likely to be another window cleaners territory.
All my customers since I started 2 months ago have responded to some leaflets i put out. I haven't knocked any doors yet (though i plan to in the new year).
when quoting a potential customer, i don't ask what the previous window charged, or even if they had a cleaner previously. The only information i've had about previous cleaners has been volunteered without me asking, and so far has been (words to the effect of) "they haven't been round for ages". My quotes are based on what i sensibly need to earn per hour as self employed  and what i think is a fair price to the customer. Personally I would never knowingly undercut someone just to get work because i think that if you make that a habit you're likely to end up working too cheap.
My questions are these: What are your views on acceptable or unacceptable practice when trying to gain new customers? is there a "code" amongst window cleaners? Or (bearing in mind the way the economy is going) are all methods of gaining new customers  just"fair competition", even undercutting?

Must be off his head to call you up and say that, the bloody cheek!
Should of told him to mind his own....

[AS Window Cleaning]

Welcome Paul to the forum, be nice to see more of ya round here!

Window cleaning patch, lol.  Go for it mate, when i started (and the same now, just not so often), i took loads of customers off other window cleaners.  But only because they were not regular, or did rubbish job.  I never knowingly undercut other cleaners, on principle.  If i know how much they charged, i aim for the same or preferrably more.  On occasion i have unwittingly gone cheaper, but ive always made a point when asked to quote to make it clear that I dont undercut their previous window cleaner, but I am always happy to take over if they are not happy with the service he/she offers.

No such thing as patch, so long as you arent consistently going in stupidly cheap, nobody else should have a problem.  Try to make sure you are getting the pricing right, otherwise you will only be shooting yourself in the foot.  And good luck geezer!

My view is if i am doing a good job, the customer will stick with ya.  and if they are that cheap that go to the first person that undercuts you, good riddance.  When they come back, or if they come back because he drops out/puts prices up, they will pay more for the privledge if they want me to do them again!

[Catherine10]

I have it with commercial all the time, but I never suggest to undercut.  Loyalty plays a big part......

[Dave Willis]

Paul, are you from Swindon by any chance?

[Robin Ray]

I make a point of always stopping and saying hello to any other window cleaners I see and have a friendly chat. People are often a lot different when there not hiding behind a telephone or a computer.

Don't worry he wont last long with that attitude. If he does he will probably have a heart attack.

[Avo]

He can't tell you where and which areas to clean mate... If he was any good at his job he won't lose any customers to you.. so tell him not to waste his money on the phone calls in the future.
The only time I'd say this is out of line is if your doing them half price to gain big numbers of custys then 2 to 3 cleans later put the prices back up which I've seen before as a little sales trick.

[bobplum]

Ive been a member of this site for a while and as a newbie to this business its been a great help, but i've never posted myself up till now.  I'd appreciate any views on something that happened to me today.
Someone phoned me this morning (number withheld) and accused me of stealing his customers. He said i'd undercut him, and that i should not target areas where windows "looked clean" as that was likely to be another window cleaners territory.
All my customers since I started 2 months ago have responded to some leaflets i put out. I haven't knocked any doors yet (though i plan to in the new year).
when quoting a potential customer, i don't ask what the previous window charged, or even if they had a cleaner previously. The only information i've had about previous cleaners has been volunteered without me asking, and so far has been (words to the effect of) "they haven't been round for ages". My quotes are based on what i sensibly need to earn per hour as self employed  and what i think is a fair price to the customer. Personally I would never knowingly undercut someone just to get work because i think that if you make that a habit you're likely to end up working too cheap.
My questions are these: What are your views on acceptable or unacceptable practice when trying to gain new customers? is there a "code" amongst window cleaners? Or (bearing in mind the way the economy is going) are all methods of gaining new customers  just"fair competition", even undercutting?

you b*****d you should be ashamed of your self   you have done nothing wrong he sounds a typical  Ahole KEEP GOING

[Johnny B]

Welcome to the madhouse Paul.

Don't worry about Mr Smallballs and his amazing threatening phone calls. If he's had to resort to that level of behaviour to save his business he won't have one for much longer. If he's good at his job he will have nothing to worry about. That said, there are thousands of houses in every town, so there's enough work out there if you look.

Keep on doing what you are doing, and I wish you well.

John   
   

[AS Window Cleaning]

Paul, are you from Swindon by any chance?

And our survey says......!!

perhaps weve found mr "small balls"!!!   

[GB Window Cleaning]

welcome pual

how dare you canvass another windys patch!  you should know exactly who cleans where 
and before you knock on doors you muct inspect every last god damn window in that postal code area to make sure there is no clean windows   

windows cleaners code mean that if there are any clean windows around you cannot canvass within 20 miles of the clean windows! silly you, i thought everyone knew this even non window cleaning people

so anyway  enough joking around just tell him to f**k off and mind his own business and if you find out who he his your smash his f***ing face into the nearest curb!

carry on sir, all the best

george

[jonboywalton75]

3 or 4 years ago i was trad and a couple of windies canvassed my patch
 
I decide to make sure i was up to the competition by being more proffesional while being very sensiblly priced.
I,m still here in  the middle of a bad recession.
This is the best job i,ve ever had.
That is down to Attitude.
Respect yourself and your ethics and others will respect u.
Well maybe not the muppets.

Btw welcome on here.

[Richard iSparkle]

hey paul!

sounds like you've got a bit of an idiot in your area, calling you up!

the only code we go by is to be friendly to other window cleaners we see and have a quick chat with them if we can.  never had anyone respond badly to that approach 

you must be doing something right if he's calling you up tho , so well done.