[robert mitchell]

did a first clean today , semi detached fronts only ( two large upstairs windows,window downstairs then at right angles to that another window and the fully glazed door).
quoted a tenner every eight weeks over the phone which they accepted.

got there and windows were minging, spent about half hour cleaning them .

knock for payment and mrs gives me the tenner and i start packing away .

hubby comes out with the dog , "tenners a bit expensive for two windows"

me "er sir its four windows and a door."

customer "last windy used to charge four pound!"

me "ok where is he now then?"

customer doesnt answer .

me "ok no problem if you dont want me to come back will take you off the round"


Do you think he was playing me just to get his filthy windows cleaned as a one off?

or does he actually think thats expensive?

[bobplum]

well £10.00 for a front is not to bad
and yes his trying it on
and yes dont go back

[Tony Edwards]

Tell him he knew the price before you came over. Should have told you before if it was too expensive. Dump him

[robert mitchell]

He is definately dumped , didnt even hesitate .

All the gutters fascias and soffits are green and filthy , was going to ask if they wanted them done but they would probably want it done for a fiver! lol

[Ian101]

Why dump ??

You done job got paid.

Go back in 8 weeks and see what happens.

Im all for pulling the trigger on wasters but think this may be a little premerture even for me 

[dazmond]

as a one off a tenner is ok if the windows are bad for front only but a regular clean?

i wouldnt charge a tenner for a regular clean for a 3 bed semi front.

£4 or £5 if it was near lots of regular compact work.if it was a stand alone i wouldnt of took the job on in the first place.too small a job.


regards


dazmond

[Ian101]

He is definately dumped , didnt even hesitate .

All the gutters fascias and soffits are green and filthy , was going to ask if they wanted them done but they would probably want it done for a fiver! lol

all you can do is quote em ... but the missus not the husband

[Barnes Wallis]

Anyone who comes out of their manse with a DOG gets the thumbs-down from me.

Dump them (and the dog).

[Alex Wingrove]

You get as much as you can. Isn't that why we go to work, to get paid! If my customers were happy to pay double what I charge now. I would.

As long as someone has to choice you price at what you think you can get surely.

I have never gone to a job a quoted £10 but thought to myself its really worth £4.

Madness.

But then again I only need to work 2-3 days a week. Maybe that's why

[andyM]

If you want to keep on doing the job leave it til next time around and see what happens.
I had a similar situation in the past, I agreed a price for a regular monthly clean over the phone with a woman as I worked in her road and knew the property .
I cleaned the windows and left an SAE for payment. Nearly 2 weeks went by and had not received payment. Then one evening I got a phone call from the womans husband asking me why I was charging £2 more than their old window cleaner.
I wasn't very happy to say the least and I explained to him I had quoted the price to his mrs upfront before doing the job and she agreed, and that he was out of order. 
I waited for the cheque which arrived a few days later and was going to take them straight off the round considering them to be messers.
Anyway the next month came round and I decided while I was in her road to clean them and see what happened.................
1 year down the line and they have turned out to be ok, I never see them when I clean (they are out working) but payment is always left out for me and I have had no problems since that day.

[robert mitchell]

Thanks for the comments guys , he didn't want me to come back unless I dropped my price and I wasn't willing to do that .

I have set my minimum charge at a tenner and I don't want a round full of customers that shop only on price .

The windows had obviously not been cleaned for years they were that filthy .

So I tend to think he is telling a porky about his previous windy or it was ten years ago !

If anybody wants him for 4quid every eight weeks feel free to go and offer your services .

[Ian101]

Thanks for the comments guys , he didn't want me to come back unless I dropped my price and I wasn't willing to do that .

you missed that crucial bit out

[Halfadaylee]

I never quote over the phone. If its in my area I will pass within a day or two.
£10 for 30 mins is too cheap which you would have established if you had seen the job.
I would have gone £8.00 (min charge) 4 weekly but £16 as a first clean if they were really bad.
Art

[robert mitchell]

Out of interest what would you have charged eight weekly as that's what they wanted ?

If it was regular cleaning time would come down but would never clean
It for the four quid he wanted .

[Spruce]

Hi Robert,
I think you knew the answer to your question before you posted it.

[Halfadaylee]

Out of interest what would you have charged eight weekly as that's what they wanted ?

If it was regular cleaning time would come down but would never clean
It for the four quid he wanted .

Probably a tenner. But I always look at the job and always charge more for the first clean.
The minging ones are the worst as they are happy to live with them like that for months or years, they then promise you they will be regular and then kn0b you off after you have have bust a gut
Art

[robert mitchell]

Yeah I think I did know the answer , I'm
Just starting out so could do with the custom but I would rather build up slowly with good customers .

[G Griffin]

Dump and replace with a customer with two dogs.

[robert mitchell]

Dump and replace with a customer with two dogs.

Lol !

[Paul Coleman]

Out of interest what would you have charged eight weekly as that's what they wanted ?

If it was regular cleaning time would come down but would never clean
It for the four quid he wanted .

My minimum is £12 so I reckon he got off lightly.