[j timms]

my customer base is about 50% trad and 50% wfp.  Now whilst i can see the benefits of wfp the only customers that i ever have moan or cancel are wfp jobs.
Why are people still so opposed to it despite the far superior cleaning of frames.  Does anyone find trading the bottoms on wfp jobs keeps the custie happier. Also as anyone got good advice on removing black rain marks from guttering and sills.

[capn sparkle]

Black rain marks -Cillit Bang shower and bath does it for me.

[8weekly]

If they are cancelling it is either natural churn (less likely IF it is really only WFP customers), poor workmanship or poor salesmanship. 

[C o z y]

Tosh and Mrs Tosh trad bottoms and WFP tops. Works well for them.

[j timms]

If they are cancelling it is either natural churn (less likely IF it is really only WFP customers), poor workmanship or poor salesmanship. 

I know its not poor workmanship as I'm probably the most OCD window cleaner i know , especially when cleaning wfp. it just seems that my customers would rather me clean trad
By the way been cleaning windows 27 years the first 24 being trad only. Have had more complaints since wfp (three years) than in whole time (24 years ) i was trad.

[capn sparkle]

I'm 90% trad 10% wfp

custies have to trust that you're using the best option for their house

I take it you've explained the merits of wfp to the moaners???

[j timms]

I'm 90% trad 10% wfp

custies have to trust that you're using the best option for their house

I take it you've explained the merits of wfp to the moaners???

yes mate i have . But every time i build the confidence with wfp i get a moaner and start worrying again. Its really getting me down at the moment and I'm thinking of reverting back to trad . just lost 2 biggish jobs to a trad window cleaner even after they told me they were happy with wfp.

[DG Cleaning]

Just crack on with the pole.
I've had fewer complaints than ever once I went wfp.
Moans get you down sometimes but you've got to work through it.
Couldn't trad bottoms either it takes far too long compared to wfp and at least 50% would require a pointer anyway further wasting time.

[dazmond]

i very rarely get any complaints about wfp or trad.a couple a year at most.invariably its usually on the inside or the windows "blown"(seals have gone)allowing condensation to enter between the double glazing making it look dirty.

i do indeed lead a charmed life!!

[8weekly]

Just dump them. After 27 years surely you can afford to dump the ones who are happier seeing you risk your life rather than take a safer and arguably better option?

[squeegee master]

Most people prefer trad, been using wfp for a few months now, got my technique down and everything, its not as straight forward as it looks ,takes a bit of skill to get great results. Had a call back the other day, some guy wasn't happy, I went straight round expecting to see streaks and spotting.... Nothing, windows were drying off nicely, he just didn't like the fact that we leave them wet lol.

He must get a panic attack when it rains,  encountered loads of these types. Going back to trad and just use the pole for awkward stuff

[dotty]

i like to w f p tops on some of my fussy custys and trad bottoms

[Jonny 87]

It's pretty simple really.......

I tell people "seeing is believing. If you are not absoloutely happy with the end result of your window cleaning just let me know and I will come back and re do them for free."

If anyone seems unsure, I make sure I go the extra mile on their house so that the windows come up perfect.

If they complain after that then it shows they are serial moaners and I'm better off without them anyway.

In the modern days that we live in its daft not to move with the times and use equipment that faster/safer and in most cases does a higher quality job.

Then again, some people do just like everything done the old fashioned way. They like to cut trees down with an axe instead of a chainsaw, or use carrier pigeon instead of telephone. 

There will always be a place for trad, and always a place for WFP.

[rosskesava]

I sometimes think the windies who have these reoccurring problems with customers who don't like wfp are projecting their own misgivings about wfp onto the customer in some subtle way. I was one of those once.

I'm now enthusiastic about wfp to customers although to begin with, when I first used wfp as opposed to doing the job trad, I wasn't but was hoping my explanations to the customer would keep them happy. It didn't untill I was sold on doing the job wfp and then hey presto, as if by magic the customer was also then happy with the idea.

Since then I've had no real problems. The odd moaner here and there over the years - dumped.

There's very few windows that come up better trad. Maybe shop windows or large panes but that only because the of the size and the amount of water and time needed wfp.

[8weekly]

I sometimes think the windies who have these reoccurring problems with customers who don't like wfp are projecting their own misgivings about wfp onto the customer in some subtle way. I was one of those once.

I'm now enthusiastic about wfp to customers although to begin with, when I first used wfp as opposed to doing the job trad, I wasn't but was hoping my explanations to the customer would keep them happy. It didn't untill I was sold on doing the job wfp and then hey presto, as if by magic the customer was also then happy with the idea.

Since then I've had no real problems. The odd moaner here and there over the years - dumped.

There's very few windows that come up better trad. Maybe shop windows or large panes but that only because the of the size and the amount of water and time needed wfp.

I think your first paragraph is spot on. Funny too that those that have "problem customers" almost always do tops only with WFP or are only 80% WFP.

[Mist A Bit]

A lot of people don'tlike change I had a few as been wfp i think 4 years now but keep confidence in the
Pole, I still loose a few even 4 years on but iI gain much more than I loose, I went looking for the type of work that's impossible trad and increased my income dramatically in the first year of wfp even tho I was loosing a few houses. You can loose a reasonable size house and pick up an apartment block up, swings and rounabouts but your always move forwards if you stick to moden ways of working

[windowswashed]

I converted to wfp in 2000 when it was unheard of here and I had mostly OAP's moan like merry hell. Had lots of explaining to do. Probably lost about 25 percent of my work but perservered. New customers weren't worried about wfp, just my old customers. You'll pick up more than you lose in the long run and be able to work safer, quicker and earn more. Just perservere and don't cave in to your customers and eventually you will end up 100 percent wfp if that's what you want. If you let customers dictate the way you work you'll never convert to wfp as customers who are in prefer trad as a rule and couldn't care less for your safety as they know another window cleaner will be along shortly, your choice. Me....I say.....perservere and believe in your method and technique and have confidence in it so the customer has confidence in you. You are selling yourself, be confident in wfp

[Mike #1]

Some people just prefer trad now if your wfp custys are driving past you one day and you are up a ladder cleaning trad and you are refusing to do theirs trad for instance .

Then you can expect cancellations i only did trad and wfp as i was converting my round over a period of 2 months because i was using a trolley and had limited water , Their is no way i would be doing 50/50 wfp all the way otherwise how can you convince the doubters . Mike

[Paul Coleman]

I sometimes think the windies who have these reoccurring problems with customers who don't like wfp are projecting their own misgivings about wfp onto the customer in some subtle way. I was one of those once.

I totally agree with this paragraph Ross.  Some of my first cleans were imperfect.  I lost a few customers too when I first switched. But I was unwittingly giving off the message, "It really works. Please believe me."  I wasn't helped by the fact that I wasn't aware of any other WFP cleaners in my area, on residential, when I first switched - so some people thought I was taking the p.  With the upsurge in WFP, it's rarely questioned these days.

[j timms]

thanks guys for all your input. I really need a boost of confidence at moment and a lot of the replies have helped. I think the whole being positive about wfp comments are true , as you say my new customers are fine with it , its just the old brigade. In  some ways half my problem is i do such a good job trad that my older customers don't understand change. Today is the start of new positive me about wfp.