[dave f]

dumped .got to a job that ive done a few times gate to back was locked again when they new i was due ,so did the fronts and side,gets a call later about why ive only done half job so i told her, she says how much is that gonna cost i told her ho thats to dear. so itold her ill be round collecting and will call.so gets their off she gose making excuses then turns round and says the windows are wet and frames black cut a long story short gave her her money back said thanks for her custom ,and that i wont be doing them again walked off with her saying how sorry she was, i thought get it up ya  :)best feeling ive had in ages

[deeege]

It sounds like she was about to dump you anyway, so it sounds like a win/win situation.

[Geoff]

That's ok, it's more work for the rest of us to pick up.

[windiewasher]

Dave you will have no custys left.you dumping them and someone canvassing all your work off you.

[robertphil]

add in a "nutty/lazy bitch " comment over your shoulder to hurt the feelings

[home6442]

Got something similar yesterday 4th clean.
Called to collect.
Customer..How did you do the back as the gates where locked.
Me... I have steps which use to get over gates without touching them so no
damage is caused. [Also explained this to her when agreeing the clean]
Me...Do you not believe me.
Customer.. No I that's o.k. I will get the money.
She then went to the back door window opened it and rubbed her finger across the glass
making sure that I could see what she was doing.
I took the money and replied from now on find somebody you can trust to clean your
windows as I only clean for people who trust me and I them.
My wife tried to defend her by saying that at times window cleaners don't have a great reputation
and you can understand why some people could be suspicious.
Her windows hadn't been cleaned in 8 weeks she knew rightly I had cleaned the back.
Like all messers they like the thought of getting their windows cleaned but after paying
a few times the novelty soon wears off.

[davids3511]

That's ok, it's more work for the rest of us to pick up.

Yeah, we all need more like her. Happy days.

[C o z y]

These types of custy are always out there, about one in every 100 or so. Doesn't take long before they make themselves known. If there are trust issues, then that's a real problem. Best to weed out the problem custies and get more "normal" ones 

I'd have done what Dave f did.Not being nasty to the custy or anything, but would have told her that she needed to find a new windy

[home6442]

These types of custy are always out there, about one in every 100 or so. Doesn't take long before they make themselves known. If there are trust issues, then that's a real problem. Best to weed out the problem custies and get more "normal" ones 

I'd have done what Dave f did.Not being nasty to the custy or anything, but would have told her that she needed to find a new windy

Totally agree Chris,
It just the way I have worded it here.
Wasn't as blunt with her as it sounds here but the same message given in a friendlier manner.

[dave f]

windiwasher i dint loose any work to tha canvasser

[dave f]

in hinde sight alarm bells should rang when i took her on board. her windows were manky.

[8weekly]

in hinde sight alarm bells should rang when i took her on board. her windows were manky.

Unless they have just moved in, filthy windows will 99% of the times be a one off or a messer.

[roundbuilder]

in hinde sight alarm bells should rang when i took her on board. her windows were manky.

Unless they have just moved in, filthy windows will 99% of the times be a one off or a messer.

No filthy windows means you have a 50% chance if you get them or not. I target expensive roads and always walk/drive round first to mark all the filthy/dirty houses as they are the ones im more than likely going to get.. A lot of the time its where the husband keeps saying he will do it to his wife but never gets round to it or they had a cleaner who hasnt turned up for ages which is a main one we get.. Targetting dirty windows is a good move.. Targeting  overgrown dirty gardens, houses with fridges/crap everywhere are the ones to avoid.
If you only targeted dirty windows and sold signs your on a recipe to succeed.
If you waste time knocking clean houses all the time you will lose the motivation hence why im always full of beans,, think outside the box and have the eye of the tiger..
Big tip is a violet lazer pointer at night is great for pointing at top of glass to see if it has the film of dirt on or not. Why waste time knocking on clean houses and only getting 1 or 2 customers when you can plan ahead and get 10/15 a night.

[DG Cleaning]

Wouldn't walking round at night pointing a lazer at windows get you arrested?

[mac74]

Big tip is a violet lazer pointer at night is great for pointing at top of glass to see if it has the film of dirt on or not. Why waste time knocking on clean houses and only getting 1 or 2 customers when you can plan ahead and get 10/15 a night. ??                   I dont know of a violet one mick, but i have a pre charged air rifle with a red/green laser on it, so maybe i will give that a go! I dont fancy taking it off the rifle so ill just leave it mounted, should be ok???       - Good points though, and u would prob pull in a higher ratio that way, (as this is best when tighting up your round) BUT sometimes ive hit doors that u would think they have 1 looking at the glass, and they want one???  Strange! (or maybe, they have not long got rid of a crap windy)

[8weekly]

in hinde sight alarm bells should rang when i took her on board. her windows were manky.

Unless they have just moved in, filthy windows will 99% of the times be a one off or a messer.

No filthy windows means you have a 50% chance if you get them or nott.

Yes, and at best a 50% chance of keeping them. If you had to do twice or three times as much work to get them up to scratch and I am assuming not charged more for the first clean, as you knocked, it's a poor return.

[koop]

I was chuffed to finally dump a fussy one that insisted i only clean her windows on a saterday... and she must be in...

the thing was it was a flat and I can clean the whole thing without her being there. 
I said to myself when I get 300 customers shes the first to go... I went to clean her last month and went at 8:45 (on purpose) and cleaned the windows, got the money and just walked off with a smile.  waiting for her to call this month.

still thinking of what to tell her

[Ian101]

I was chuffed to finally dump a fussy one that insisted i only clean her windows on a saterday... and she must be in...

the thing was it was a flat and I can clean the whole thing without her being there.  
I said to myself when I get 300 customers shes the first to go... I went to clean her last month and went at 8:45 (on purpose) and cleaned the windows, got the money and just walked off with a smile.  waiting for her to call this month.

still thinking of what to tell her

Just tell her the truth i guess

[roundbuilder]

in hinde sight alarm bells should rang when i took her on board. her windows were manky.

Unless they have just moved in, filthy windows will 99% of the times be a one off or a messer.

No filthy windows means you have a 50% chance if you get them or nott.

Yes, and at best a 50% chance of keeping them. If you had to do twice or three times as much work to get them up to scratch and I am assuming not charged more for the first clean, as you knocked, it's a poor return.

I dont get where your coming from. A first clean is a first clean so always going to be more work involved. After the first clean maintanence cleaning is simple and quick. How the hell is it a poor return cleaning a house with dirty windows to have as a customer. Id knock and charge £10 for the front which would take 15/20 mins first clean then 4/5 mins on maintanance cleaning. A fantastic return.

[8weekly]

in hinde sight alarm bells should rang when i took her on board. her windows were manky.

Unless they have just moved in, filthy windows will 99% of the times be a one off or a messer.

No filthy windows means you have a 50% chance if you get them or nott.

Yes, and at best a 50% chance of keeping them. If you had to do twice or three times as much work to get them up to scratch and I am assuming not charged more for the first clean, as you knocked, it's a poor return.

I dont get where your coming from. A first clean is a first clean so always going to be more work involved. After the first clean maintanence cleaning is simple and quick. How the hell is it a poor return cleaning a house with dirty windows to have as a customer. Id knock and charge £10 for the front which would take 15/20 mins first clean then 4/5 mins on maintanance cleaning. A fantastic return.

Because if you don't charge more for a first clean, you are working very hard with a low hourly rate. I reckon a retention rate on knocked houses with minging windows is much, much less than 50% so you arn't getting to do maintenance cleans on most of the first cleans. At least not more than a couple of times. The novelty of clean windows soon wears off for those type of customers, otherwise they would have phoned a wc up from Yell or wherever.

The fact is that when you knock for work you are in a very weak position in the relationship. You can't easily qualify whether the customer wants an ongoing service and you can't easily charge more for the first clean.