[lcwalker]

I was just wondering do any of you call the customers to tell them your coming to do the windows.I do this and the customers like it also do you think it's worth mentioning on my flyers?.

[sham33]

Only if you like being messed about.

[niceandclean]

I was just wondering do any of you call the customers to tell them your coming to do the windows.I do this and the customers like it also do you think it's worth mentioning on my flyers?.

Yes, all my customers are called or text the night before. On our very first lot of flyers we mentioned it, but now we don't bother. We just mention it when we price the job.

[Halfadaylee]

Only if you like being messed about.

They only mess you about if you let them.
I text all mine.
Art

[Steve Sed]

I did to begin with, now I won't text new customers. Especially those where I need to go through the house. It adds stress in terms of getting through the work before picking up my son before school and limits my earning ability as when I get a late "sorry, we are away" it is too late to replace.

Texting / calling as standard is a bad idea imho. Just a shame it took me two years to realise it.

[Halfadaylee]

I did to begin with, now I won't text new customers. Especially those where I need to go through the house. It adds stress in terms of getting through the work before picking up my son before school and limits my earning ability as when I get a late "sorry, we are away" it is too late to replace.

Texting / calling as standard is a bad idea imho. Just a shame it took me two years to realise it.

Good post and I agree with it to a degree.
I offered everyone a reminder text when I started for their convenience,but not to put me off. If they are away or forget the gate, I just do the front for 50% or my minimum charge, which ever is the greater.
My round is full and I'm not under any pressure to be anywhere else and can afford to be a bit picky with who I keep or drop.
Art

[gary999]

yep text...get few problems if any

[DG Cleaning]

Why bother unless you need access. If my wc called me I'd find it a pain, just another company calling for no real reason

[Ian101]

ONLY for access issues I.e. Locked gates for existing customers.

Advoid taking any new customers who want a call before I call nowadays even for access issues as can't be bothered calling em as too busy and not a good use of my time plus can mess u up next day if u need to change things around.

Dropped a snotty cow 2 months back who wanted me to start calling night before as “they were a busy household” u can find old posting if u search can you start calling before you come ... Well I'm too busy for that .... Signs of a messer in the making IMHO ... In fact she was due end of July .. Oh dear never mind.

[AuRavelling79]

I don't. Odd exception on an occasional commercial.

[bobplum]

I was just wondering do any of you call the customers to tell them your coming to do the windows.I do this and the customers like it also do you think it's worth mentioning on my flyers?.

i honestly feel it has more negative results than positive

[evo]

I was just wondering do any of you call the customers to tell them your coming to do the windows.I do this and the customers like it also do you think it's worth mentioning on my flyers?.

i honestly feel it has more negative results than positive

I could not agree more i have had this problem for the last 10 years and by god its doing my head in now.

[LWC]

I ring the odd larger jobs, i can say from experience tho that it opens up the "not today" comment, if you turn up theyre less likely to turn you away.

[gary999]

i would lose far more money if gates werent left open for me etc

texting works for me,i think it is a case of each to their own

[robertphil]

    people asking for  a text /call  are  1 short step from saying "not this month" - usually they are lazy /ungrateful and often are  ugly    ive found    

[g.brookes]

i text customers if i need them to leave a gate open.  i have never had anyone say leave it this month, and to be honest, thats they're prerogative.  there are many valid reasons for them not to be cleaned and if they dont do it regularly then thats fine in my books.  we are not in a binding contract and most window cleaners pick up work all the time

[lcwalker]

Thanks a lot of replies,and I think I'll leave it offmy new leaflets but we did call a customer (she's a good customer) but put us off as her husband was painting the house,a valid reason and if we hadn't of called we would have wasted our time.Tomorrow we do some pap bungalows and they always want a call.There is also another reason I like to call as I get them to leave the money out,as I have some 10/15 miles from mine and I'm not around that area untill I do them again.

[britishwill]

I email them and ask if they need any other services so I can get more work and also keep the clients happy. I can also maximise earnings etc

[Johnny B]

I have to knock most of my customers' doors before cleaning. A few get a text a night or two before they are due. Some I can just turn up and clean. This is how it is in Ireland. It did my head in at the beginning as it meant many of these were 'not todays'.

My run is now reaching the stage where the 'not todays' are reducing and I am picking up new work each week.

John 

[Ian101]

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=153075.0

previous short thread on this subject