I have always been a softy, and have often gone well beyond the call as far as being accommodating goes, but since starting up in Ireland last year I have been messed around by so many 'customers' that I'm beginning to turn!
I don't mind the 'not today' types so much as it is quite rare for people here to have their windows cleaned on a regular basis, and I usually have enough alternative customers to call on, or I can canvass, but I am referring to the ones who live miles away, book me for a specific date and/or time, then cancel when I get there.
My run is far from full, but for example I have a full day's worth of work in a small town 25 miles away. I used to go back a second day but there were so many messers that I cut back to one full day every three weeks.
I now look after the good custys first, and any who have messed me about can still use my services, but only if I have enough time to fit them in on that day. If I don't, they have to wait another three weeks and hope that I can fit them in then.
I have just had phone calls from two such messers from the town in question, wanting their windows cleaned urgently. As I was only there last Thursday, I told both that I am booked up until I go there in three weeks' time.
John