[lee_dewing]

Hi been doing this on my own 8 years now, 7 of which wfp.

Had a day yesterday in my parents road yesterday bit underpriced, my ro set up is at parents so every one see's me filling up.

All but 1 give me a big fat zero for xmas.

But the one that did give £20 tip and bottle of plonk .

Dropped another custy yesterday, she only pays if she'e in other wise rolls on until she is, wont send a cheque.
Did windows oct she wasn't in.
She was in this time with phone strapped to her ear opened door and payed me for 1 clean £15 gave me £20 note and told me keep the change smiling; when i told her it was last time to, got the old are you sure routine and gave me the look

Said yes and left you a bill
got"never had a bill" got paid, but when door was shut left a note to say thanks but not comfortable carrying on.


Next one is a customer who's son goes to a club my daughter does.
Custy sometimes says hello to me and my mrs but usualy blanks us.
Owes me £10 pays if she in on clean husband won't open door if it's just him, sent her text reminder monday, see custy at club thursday a big billy blank.

what would you guys do on this last one.

I hear the words standing order
Should i send a letter to last custie mentioned saying politely pay and go on standing order.

I could pin her at my and my daughters kickboxing club but don't want to create any tension there as i have a lot of respect for the owners.
And also feel embarrased (silly) and don't know if that's unproffessional?

I think i've just got to an age where i see a lot of people as shallow a lot of my customers started off great but most are 5 years on plus don't get a cup of tea and barely struggle to say hello.

Just feel like i'm an inconvieneance cleaning their windows.

Thanks Lee
today's a better day i hope

[bobplum]

canvass,clean.CULL



OHH AND STANDING ORDER,i forgot that bit

[robertphil]

 Drop em now Lee

once a bottle of milk has gone sour you dont keep drinkin it !  best to move onto pastures new in my opinion  

[Ronnie Bryce]

Year's ago I reckoned I was coming round far too often for people's liking. I was 4 weekly. Nowadays's I clean 6 to 8 week's. I feel people are a bit more happy with this time span. They seem to be a bit happier to see me and pay me.

Maybe your frequency is genuinely pi sn them off ?

[Johnny B]

A lot of people are stressed about something or another, and with things the way they are, this time of the year is not going to help.

Try not to take it personally. You are their window cleaner, no more, no less. If you feel uncomfortable, cull them, but before you do, ask yourself if you make enough money from them to carry on. Maybe put your prices up and see if you keep them. You have lost nothing if they say no.

Another idea is, if you see your customers looking down, why not ask them how they are. If you try to get to know your customers better and create a rapport with them, they will perhaps value you as a person rather than being 'just the window cleaner'.

John  

[Granny]

"All but 1 give me a big fat zero for xmas."
Hi Lee
Expect nothing and you can never be disappointed.
Reality is -  no one is obligated to give you anything at all -  for Christmas or any other reason.
If they do - accept it graciously.
Happy Days
G.

[Crystal-clear]

Thing is as time goes on round becomes fuller and you will just find less and less time for politely put time wasters , in regards to that person who never gets the bill the one you dropped, I think because she did end up paying you in the end double you could have carried on maybe a phone call after its done would put her mind at rest that you are turning up, that's most likely what it is,

the other thing is the bill gets lost amongs junk mail I had several this time round who were asking me am I sure you did it I know how you feel it's annoying to me them questioning us but I just smile And say it was most likely lost amongs junk mail,all in all she does sound a bit dodgy why should you need to treat her in a special way, but then again we forget sometimes we are dealing with the public sometimes we just do, by the way I bet if you had offered her every other month she would stop being funny , the one who blanks you sounds like a total !!!!!!! So ye just walk away from her

[CLEANCARE WC]

Drop em now Lee

once a bottle of milk has gone sour you dont keep drinkin it !  best to move onto pastures new in my opinion  

If the milk turns sour, I aint the type of pu55y to drink it!

[johnny bravo]

drop them,  say you dont have time , got some new customers.,   let them worry about having dirty windows, not worth the stress.

[Ian101]

Tips are down this year

[EandM]

Many, many people are very stressed at the moment - but then they would be, it's nearly Christmas...

[Window Washers]

Year's ago I reckoned I was coming round far too often for people's liking. I was 4 weekly. Nowadays's I clean 6 to 8 week's. I feel people are a bit more happy with this time span. They seem to be a bit happier to see me and pay me.

Maybe your frequency is genuinely pi sn them off ?

did you add 50% to 100% on thier bills when you changed the time span ?


Lee, I would speak to them about paying online, to the lady that does not open the door I have one customer that does this very same thing, for years she annoyed me till I asked her, would it be easier for you to pay standing order ? I then added would save you the hassle and the cost of the stamp too, she now on standing order I dont have to knock or wait for payment.

Online payments is totally the way forward for cash flow and to save your time.

[SB Cleaning]

Tips are down this year

I'm not doing too bad so far

[Tom White]

I could pin her at my and my daughters kickboxing club but don't want to create any tension there as i have a lot of respect for the owners.

You don't have to 'pin her down'; the next time you clean her windows, write on your slip, "Hi Mary (obviously use her proper name), I'll not call to collect, I'll get it off you at the kickboxing on Friday, regards, lee"

Then grab her at the kick boxing.

[CLEANCARE WC]

I could pin her at my and my daughters kickboxing club but don't want to create any tension there as i have a lot of respect for the owners.

You don't have to 'pin her down'; the next time you clean her windows, write on your slip, "Hi Mary (obviously use her proper name), I'll not call to collect, I'll get it off you at the kickboxing on Friday, regards, lee"

Then grab her at the kick boxing.

And practice your drunken fighting Van Damme style!

[paul13]

Tips are down this year

Tips what tips not had one this week year after year
Getting worse think this year going to be the worst.

[Ian101]

Tips are down this year

Tips what tips not had one this week year after year
Getting worse think this year going to be the worst.

Had a quid today ... dont expect owt but always nice to get and treat it as a barometer on how much money people got

[Tom White]

Tips are down this year

Tips what tips not had one this week year after year
Getting worse think this year going to be the worst.

Once you've had a customer for a number of years, it's rare  to get a tip of 'em.  Familiarity breeds contempt.

[Small but perfectley formed]

We get plenty , but our prices are probably more affordable then what most people on here say they charge .
Lee chin up that's how it is sometimes being a window cleaner.

[Tomboler]

Tips are down this year

Tips what tips not had one this week year after year
Getting worse think this year going to be the worst.

Had a quid today ... dont expect owt but always nice to get and treat it as a barometer on how much money people got

I've had 2 bottles of white wine, a bottle of red wine , a jar of home made marmalade and a pen with a turned wooden body !

(shame I don't drink, am citrus intolerant and have a gammy mit)

happy christmas

[lee_dewing]

Good comments everyone will push the messers onto standing order, give em the old new year new start.

Johny B, was thinking that the other day give the p.i.t.a's a price rise.

I do always say how are you etc to custies make a bit of small talk, a lot a really good and ask after my lot.

Others brag of their holidays and how great it is to be them and when their not in the mood they can't wait to shut the door in your face

Had old girl today always moans last time it was to damp and time before too misty (asked her maybe she should find someone else as i come every month)
Said no she likes me i do good job.

Today she said i'd picked a bad day  (sunny but cold)
Told her I have to work otherwise I don't get paid.

Tosh I might try that with custie and the kb club.

Standing orders a plenty for 2013

[Mike #1]

I am lucky if i get a total of £50 in tips used to get well over a £100 but that was over 4-5 years ago and i used to but my self a nice bottle of whisky and a new pair of boots .

I dont expect to much these days and any thing i get i am very grateful for as i feel valued by custys , But htose that dont tip i dont hold a grudge it just life .

Anyway Lee your custy has issues put a polite notice through the door with payment options if you dont get payment in a week go knocking on door , then dump custy

                                           YOU ARE NOT MISERABLE  . Mike

[lee_dewing]

Hi Mike.

I know i shouldn't expect a tip ypur right.

About 5 years ago i got nearly £500 in tips and bought my sony vaio laptop as used by 007 

just seems after that every xmas tips have half'd

Perhaps I can be like jb 007; licence to "cull" 
sorry Lee

[paul13]

I think tips are less because people see window cleaning more
as a business now  where as before it was seen as some one
out making a bit extra for beer money, custy said to me once
when I was out collecting in the car where did you get that from
I said bought it she said that's your car :
The cars a vauxhall insigna ::)not a merc or bmw unfortunately.

[lee_dewing]

Paul a windie is not allowed a car, not with 4 wheels anyway

I used to get the have you tried getting a proper job remark

[dazmond]

i got £50 in xmas tips just working this morning!

mine are usually in the £450-£500 range although i dont expect any!!

its never been below £400 for years!!!

[keyser soze]

i got £50 in xmas tips just working this morning!

mine are usually in the £450-£500 range although i dont expect any!!

its never been below £400 for years!!!

wow...... thats a good round buddy

[richard jagger]

I don`t really want a tips I will take it in the prices I charge. I worked with a wise old businessman ( the Allen Sugar type ) He always said don`t get rid of customers just out price them.  Charge them more so that they leave  of there own accord. If they stay you make more money for the pain.

[Cliff perkins]

I got £500 last year but this year not so good yet but nevermind times are tuff  whatever i get im happy with.

[spudd]

Always the ones that don't seem to have a lot of money that tip the best! And the ones with big houses and flash cars are the ones that are a pain to get payment out of let alone tips....

Funny old world 

[Mike #1]

Always the ones that don't seem to have a lot of money that tip the best! And the ones with big houses and flash cars are the ones that are a pain to get payment out of let alone tips....

Funny old world 

You're right mate i have cleaned some custys windows for 10yrs and never had a tip but get on well with custys .

It would be really good to get £500 in tips but the way i look at it is how many business owners or employees get xmas tips not that many in the grand scheme of things , I am just happy to have my own business and make a good wage .

My wife is a carer in a residential home and gets paid £7:20 an hour   and  is far more skilled and has  a greater responsibilty than me in dealing with medication  and caring for elderly people along with working shifts including night shift on xmas eve , xmas day and boxing day .

you got be thankful for what you have got their is loads of people worse of than some of us . Mike

[Ian101]

I don`t really want a tips I will take it in the prices I charge. I worked with a wise old businessman ( the Allen Sugar type ) He always said don`t get rid of customers just out price them.  Charge them more so that they leave  of there own accord. If they stay you make more money for the pain.

I like that ... thats the second excellent phrase Ive picked up on here in 3 years ..

the other being Canvass, Clean, Cull ..... (from The BFG ... dunno where he is these days)

[lee_dewing]

I'm gonna do this next year dumped so many akward custies over the years, rather than drop em, i'l give em a price hike.

Happy days if they keep me and make them feel happier; if they're the ones to say they don't want me anymore save the petty rows

[Mike #1]

I don`t really want a tips I will take it in the prices I charge. I worked with a wise old businessman ( the Allen Sugar type ) He always said don`t get rid of customers just out price them.  Charge them more so that they leave  of there own accord. If they stay you make more money for the pain.

I like that ... thats the second excellent phrase Ive picked up on here in 3 years ..

the other being Canvass, Clean, Cull ..... (from The BFG ... dunno where he is these days)

BFG aka Barnes , Think i am right . Mike