[ben M]

My customers have been trained never to try this on. If they do they are dropped. That is all.

The recession is in your heads as far as w/c is concerned.

Hi Gold.
How do you train them ?
do you have a copy ?
so we can all learn how to train them ?
Your corporation appreciated 

 

[ALF.LEVER]

It's not all doom and gloom the climate is poope believe and will only go worse for a while not better u can sense when you go to customers doors that a lot of people are on there arse, wat would you do feed your family or keep a window cleaner on sorry if I was on my arse window cleaning would be last thing in my head

[dazmond]

if its a monthly/2 monthly  customer who misses a clean due to building work/holidays or another good excuse etc then fair enough but other than that they get dumped or i offer them 2 monthly at a higher price if monthly.

it very rarely happens anyway on my round.

ive found the monthly customers who "cant afford it" accept a 2 monthly frequency at a slightly higher price 9 times out of 10.


regards


dazmond

[AuRavelling79]

>How to train a custy.

1. Decide how you want to run your business.
1.A) Decide you will only take on regular, reliable customers.

2. When you take on a custy, take the time to explain that you are looking for regular reliable customers who understand you will turn up at the agreed schedule of (in my case) one or two months. 9/10 they will agree. Explain that many custies bemoan the fact that their window cleaners "disappear" and tell them you will turn up as agreed. 9/10 will nod their heads and be eager to take you on.

3. Turn up as agreed.

4. If custy attempts to put you off, politely remind them of what they agreed in  2 above. If they see your point then fine. 8 or 9/10 will see your point. Drop the 1 or 2/10.

Your round is gradually pruned and shaped as you would wish it.

Unless you are driven by your customers wishes, live in Sidmouth and wring your hands at the thought of losing a mediocre customer when you could have good ones in which case crack on and have a round like the ben M's of this world - by design? Then fine. By default? Then get naught.

Trust me, there are reliable custies out there who are attracted by skilled businesslike professional cleaners who do what they say they will and who can be relied upon.

 

[ben M]

>How to train a custy.

1. Decide how you want to run your business.
1.A) Decide you will only take on regular, reliable customers.

2. When you take on a custy, take the time to explain that you are looking for regular reliable customers who understand you will turn up at the agreed schedule of (in my case) one or two months. 9/10 they will agree. Explain that many custies bemoan the fact that their window cleaners "disappear" and tell them you will turn up as agreed. 9/10 will nod their heads and be eager to take you on.

3. Turn up as agreed.

4. If custy attempts to put you off, politely remind them of what they agreed in  2 above. If they see your point then fine. 8 or 9/10 will see your point. Drop the 1 or 2/10.

Your round is gradually pruned and shaped as you would wish it.

Unless you are driven by your customers wishes, live in Sidmouth and wring your hands at the thought of losing a mediocre customer when you could have good ones in which case crack on and have a round like the ben M's of this world - by design? Then fine. By default? Then get naught.

Trust me, there are reliable custies out there who are attracted by skilled businesslike professional cleaners who do what they say they will and who can be relied upon.

 

Don't worry for me mate, are you jealous because i live in Sidmouth? where do you live? easy to hide behind a profile!

[stuart mc]

gold lives in bristol, easy enough to find out, he does not hide it, and I agree with him on the whole, can't see any problem with his method at all.

[ben M]

gold lives in bristol, easy enough to find out, he does not hide it, and I agree with him on the whole, can't see any problem with his method at all.

location: my own little world!
easy enough to find out, you are right....

[ben M]

anyway, good night guys!

[KS Cleaning]

My customers have been trained never to try this on. If they do they are dropped. That is all.

The recession is in your heads as far as w/c is concerned.

Hi Gold.
How do you train them ?
do you have a copy ?
so we can all learn how to train them ?
Your corporation appreciated 

Do you mean co-operation Bosh?............errr a mean Dani

[Johnny B]

My location, South West of Ireland. Moved here July 2011 due to a need within the family.

Over 14% unemployment, hours being slashed for people 'fortunate' enough to still be in a job, meaning they can't earn a living wage even when employed, town centres littered with empty shop premises, ghost estates everywhere, and more government cuts on the way. People have been battered by the economy here, and it is not going to improve any time soon.

I would love to see some of you guys come over here and see how you would get on dictating terms to customers here. They would laugh you off their doorsteps or give you an old school Irish farewell.  

I was a windy for over 14 years in England, and had more work than I could cope with. Been here 18 months, yes I am finding work, but it's a different world here. Dump and replace with 2? Try finding them.

John

  

[Ian101]

Hi everyone advice needed i've had a few customers lately say we dont need the windows doing this time but do them next time. So a six week clean becomes a 12 week. So do you guys charge double or let it go?

bet you can canvass at least 1 more good customer within those extra 6 weeks to replace this one so if they do it again you can get rid.

Im on monthly or bimonthly if a monthly says leave em this time then they get offered the bimonthly schedule and the prices that this frequency costs cant recall last time a bimonthly said leave it this time but would drop them as no good to me.

[SunShineCleaning]

Hi everyone advice needed i've had a few customers lately say we dont need the windows doing this time but do them next time. So a six week clean becomes a 12 week. So do you guys charge double or let it go?

It's all very well telling Jason to dictate to his customers how he works but we know NOTHING about his workload or area.

If he can afford to loose customers and wait for reliable 6 weeklies then Gold's method is the best way long term.

However, if he is a new start or has yet to have got to an income he requires he would be advised to endeavour to retain the customer until such time that he can let them go.

It's incredible that so many offer an opinion without asking posters question about their situation first.

JASON: MORE INFO PLEASE

[Jason]

Many thanks guys for all your responses a great help.
Regards jason

[Jason]

   Re: Customers who miss a clean
« Reply #31 on: Today at 07:41:18 am »   
Quote from: Jason on Yesterday at 07:47:52 pm
Hi everyone advice needed i've had a few customers lately say we dont need the windows doing this time but do them next time. So a six week clean becomes a 12 week. So do you guys charge double or let it go?

It's all very well telling Jason to dictate to his customers how he works but we know NOTHING about his workload or area.

If he can afford to loose customers and wait for reliable 6 weeklies then Gold's method is the best way long term.

However, if he is a new start or has yet to have got to an income he requires he would be advised to endeavour to retain the customer until such time that he can let them go.

It's incredible that so many offer an opinion without asking posters question about their situation first.

JASON: MORE INFO PLEASE
Report to moderator     Logged

Hi window cleaning (2 years)is a sideline for me at the mo i run it in conjunction with my gardening business (4 years). But im looking to build up the window cleaning to replace the gardening business.

[James archell]

My location, South West of Ireland.

South west of Ireland?

That'll be The Azores then.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=madelena&hl=en&ll=38.61687,-27.883301&spn=2.545011,6.696167&sll=38.655488,-27.548218&sspn=2.54364,6.696167&gl=uk&hnear=Madalena,+Azores,+Portugal&t=m&z=8

[SunShineCleaning]

Where are you based?

Why are you window cleaning,  is there little gardening work or is the gardening just seaonal.

Can you live without such customers until they are replaced?

How easy is it to gain customers? 

Do you canvass at all?

[roundbuilder]

Another flaw in being 6/12 weekly with the not this time brigade.. That would do my nut in if 6 weeklys did that, bad enough with 4 weekly.

[andyM]

Another option is to give the customer 3 prices when you provide a quotation.
Option 1: A one-off price
Option 2: 12 weekly price
Option 3: 6 weekly price

If they opt for 6 weekly explain to them that if they miss 1 clean the 12 weekly price will be applicable.
If they miss a period longer than 12 weeks the one-off price will come into effect.

[SunShineCleaning]

Another option is to give the customer 3 prices when you provide a quotation.
Option 1: A one-off price
Option 2: 12 weekly price
Option 3: 6 weekly price

If they opt for 6 weekly explain to them that if they miss 1 clean the 12 weekly price will be applicable.
If they miss a period longer than 12 weeks the one-off price will come into effect.

I only offer a one off price no matter what the frequently.

The only discount is 10% for Standing  Order  customers.

[James archell]

I only offer a one off price no matter what the frequently.

Is that frequent or often?