[Tony Edwards]

Got two new customers last month. Both said they wanted 4 weekly so a agreed a price.
Custy A I said £10 which was a bit cheap.I did the first clean for £10 as I am a newby and the insides for £20.
Custy B I said £20 outside. I did outside for £20 and £20 inside as access was easy.

Both I did perfectly washing sills frames and windows and frames looked brand new. Both custys gave me a tip as they were so pleased.
I texted both last night to confirm I would be there this week. They replied :

Custy A " Can we leave it this week "
Custy B " We werent planning to get windows cleaned every month, we let you know when we want them done

Am I a mug, an idiot, naive or is this just the learning process of being a newby ??

[Lee Pryor]

you are none of the above they are just crap customers. drop them or risk being one of the above. Then if they come back to you explain more clearly that you dont have time to be messed around as you are so busy with people who do want your services and that you will give them one more chance.

[Tony Edwards]

you are none of the above they are just crap customers. drop them or risk being one of the above. Then if they come back to you explain more clearly that you dont have time to be messed around as you are so busy with people who do want your services and that you will give them one more chance.

Lee

I just texted back and said that their prices have risen from £10-15 and from £20-30 respectively. I wait an see their reply. I just feel that i have been mugged off after doing such a good job.

[Lee Pryor]

It doesnt matter if you have been mugged of as long as you have learned something in the process. For example dont be afraid to give them the price you realy want from the start, they can only say no. Its much harder to increase that much after you have already given a lower price. good luck

[daniel worgan]

on the odd occasion that this has happened to me i allways make out i am happy to do it on there terms even though the original agreement was differant,and then i book them in to do the job and dont turn up...very unprofessional i know

[sham33]

Never text your customers unless they have a security gate. I just don't get why some window cleaners text customers. The more options and control you give customers the more they will mess you about that's a guaranteed fact. Have to treat them mean to keep them keen or something like that

[Tony Edwards]

Never text your customers unless they have a security gate. I just don't get why some window cleaners text customers. The more options and control you give customers the more they will mess you about that's a guaranteed fact. Have to treat them mean to keep them keen or something like that

Valid point just thought it looked more pro. Another lesson learnt

[sham33]

Well you can text them if you want but your just asking for this to happen 

[gavinb]

I txt mine the day before , but from now on i will not be doing this !!!!!  i have been messed around something chronic . In the last 2 weeks i have binned 7 "no not this week "  messers i have learned the hard way by being fown about 80 quid . I dont mind not today etc if its lashing it down or its like the first time in 6 months but on 2nd cleans nah ur ok ur dumped i can't run my business on the customers terms .

I been going 2 months now and i have quickly learned to read customers like a book and can spot the messers . It's my way or the highway .

[Johnny B]

Tony, you are doing nothing wrong. Some people appreciate you, some don't.

I get this daily. I am in the Emerald Isle, though, so this is the norm!

I have built my run up over the last 12 months, and, believe it or not, I retain them on the books. What I do now though, is only call or knock on the day if I have the time or inclination to do so. If I don't, and they see me and ask if I can do them today, I tell them that I have my regulars to do first and will fit them in if I can. If I run out of time, they wait till next time and I repeat the above cycle.

Believe me, my system has succeeded in getting a few custards into line!

John     

[dmlservices]

Always charge more for 1st cleans , I usually charge double, then tell them the price for regular cleans, usually the ones that are not willing to Pay more for first cleans , are the ones who are looking for a one of clean
Daz

[colin purewater]

Never text your customers unless they have a security gate. I just don't get why some window cleaners text customers. The more options and control you give customers the more they will mess you about that's a guaranteed fact. Have to treat them mean to keep them keen or something like that

Valid point just thought it looked more pro. Another lesson learnt

Better to txt them and the say no than to drive all the way the and get the same response! At least your at home sorting your work out when there messing
You around instead of cleaning the 1st window for free!

[Ian101]

you do learn to spot em and then charge accordingly

[Ian101]

if your just starting out some money better than nowt

[paul marshall]

hey tony edwards  are you  sure your not on my PATCH because you seem to have a few of my custys    :'(can you miss me out this time ..oh there not that dirty this month ,,oh a spaceship just landed in the garden and i dont think you would be able to get past 

[FCS]

All this about not texting customers and not accommodating their requests is a bit much in my eyes, who do we think we are?
We're only window cleaners f'goodness sake!

I've got customers who are night shift workers so I text the day before to get an AM/PM so I don't wake them up.
I've got customers who I text as they need to know when I'm coming so they can unlock gates.
I've got customers who (shock horror) text ME every couple of months when they'd like their windows cleaning, (priced accordingly of course), and what's more I GO AND CLEAN THEIR WINDOWS instead of badmouthing them on forums!
There's nowt wrong with being accommodating, you're still earning after all..

Maybe I'm too soft, but I'm not a walk over and what's more I suspect the customers appreciate it.

Johnny B seems to have the most balanced viewpoint in this thread imho..

[dazmond]

what you need to do mate is PHONE THEM BOTH UP!!!!SHOCK!!HORROR!!!

and tell them you can offer them a longer frequency if they want eg 2 monthly but the price will be a bit extra as most of your customers have a regular monthly clean.

if they are still hesitant then you should wave them goodbye and tell them you wont be cleaning for them again as you only take on regular scheduled cleans and that they should of told you at the start they they only wanted a "one off" clean instead of being deceitful.

make them feel bad about messing YOU about!!

that what i would do anyway!


best wishes


dazmond

[bumper]

worst thing i could of done made cards up with my phone number on and post them  at night if not in when collecting, now they ring me saying ive missed a window,

butt realy ive missed the owle fricking house so now i put a scrap paper in with windows cleaned and price

[bobby p]

you will harden up over time and get rid of wasters easily once you are proper busy

like a hot knife thru butter

[Tony Edwards]

I feel like I have been conned especially after making sure I did a great job the first clean.live and learn