[dazmond]

ive had enough of 4 customers on compact estate work.i told them im not climbing over their flat roofs anymore and ill clean fronts only if not in.2 of em dont want to open their garages for me if their in so i can clean the backs.they are all next door to each other.

3 of the flat roofs are a bit dodgy and need repairing IMO.

ive been cleaning their windows for over 12 years now.they dont seem to be bothered about my welfare in regards to climbing over.

so ive passed them over to a good trad windy i know who cleans one house in the corner next to these houses.

ive also gave him the odd account down streets where ive not been able to pick up any other work.


do any of you other guys do this from time to time?

[Marc Stock]

I have never given away work.

I had a handfull of customers left in addlestone from my early days window cleaning. was getting fed up of sittting in traffic for 50 mins to get to the round. and i wanted to seperate myself from my old life and needed closure.

i put it up on ebay got about 2.5 grand for it.

why give away work you have worked hard to maintain?

[dazmond]

i know this window cleaner and he s a good lad.100% trad.he cleans one house in the corner.i clean 80+ on this estate.

these 4 houses have always been a bit of a chore esp now im wfp.all the other customers that have flat roofs let me through or i clean front only if not in.its only a few customers that have access issues to be fair.

ive picked up  better paid work in the first few weeks of jan that more than cover these 4 houses.no access issues and more money.

im currently part of the way through putting over 300 accounts up in price coming into affect from april.i have also got add on jobs trickling in now for spring.

i think its good practice to help other window cleaners out from time to time whether its passing on jobs that you dont do(eg pressure washing or house roof cleaning) or the odd window cleaning job you dont want to do anymore.

[Clever Forum Name]

I give work and quotes away. But never get any In return.

But it's for my benefit tbh, building compact work is the way to go.

[richard groves]

I have plenty of what I call "fair weather customers", who are only needing windows cleaned if its not raining or about to soon. I was just going to dump them all, but if anybody would like them ? mind you, have not been done in months 

[Johnny B]

I gave some work away to a friend who was starting up a few years ago. Apparently he didn't last very long. If I had sold it to him he may have appreciated it more. Since then I have always sold excess work.

I have, however been given some work in the past too. I had some work in a village, and the other windy in the village offered me some customers. I offered to buy them, but he wouldn't take anything for them.

The strange thing is, that he still had some customers in this same village, and the customers he gave me were, without exception, reliable and good payers. Never got a 'not today' or the runaround for payment from any of them! Moreover, none of them dropped me either. I still miss them now, since I had to sell up and move to Ireland!

Daz, you're a good guy. What you gave away you will get back in multiples.

John   

 

[paul13]

I give work away if it doesn't fit in the run

[richard groves]

I gave some work away to a friend who was starting up a few years ago. Apparently he didn't last very long. If I had sold it to him he may have appreciated it more. Since then I have always sold excess work.

I have, however been given some work in the past too. I had some work in a village, and the other windy in the village offered me some customers. I offered to buy them, but he wouldn't take anything for them.

The strange thing is, that he still had some customers in this same village, and the customers he gave me were, without exception, reliable and good payers. Never got a 'not today' or the runaround for payment from any of them! Moreover, none of them dropped me either. I still miss them now, since I had to sell up and move to Ireland!

Daz, you're a good guy. What you gave away you will get back in multiples.

John    

 

It sometimes pays to keep others on side and gains a mutual respect, perhaps he was doing this ?
I know several window cleaners and have been passed work from them and forwarded enquirers to them when mutually beneficial to compacting our rounds or services.

Also it can be very useful to have allies when it comes to needing work covered due to holidays or sickness/injury

[Johnny B]

I gave some work away to a friend who was starting up a few years ago. Apparently he didn't last very long. If I had sold it to him he may have appreciated it more. Since then I have always sold excess work.

I have, however been given some work in the past too. I had some work in a village, and the other windy in the village offered me some customers. I offered to buy them, but he wouldn't take anything for them.

The strange thing is, that he still had some customers in this same village, and the customers he gave me were, without exception, reliable and good payers. Never got a 'not today' or the runaround for payment from any of them! Moreover, none of them dropped me either. I still miss them now, since I had to sell up and move to Ireland!

Daz, you're a good guy. What you gave away you will get back in multiples.

John    

 

It sometimes pays to keep others on side and gains a mutual respect, perhaps he was doing this ?
I know several window cleaners and have been passed work from them and forwarded enquirers to them when mutually beneficial to compacting our rounds or services.

Also it can be very useful to have allies when it comes to needing work covered due to holidays or sickness/injury

That's true Gordon. I always try to have a chat with the other windys in my locality. The one who gave me the work was well liked, and we always had a chat when we saw each other.

I have several windys local to me who are close personal friends. We look out for each other and cover for each other for holidays.

John

[Don Kee]

Ive had work passed on to me for which i'm very grateful....
It was a massove help when i started up
Didnt have to pass it on, but bloke who passed on the work (you knowwho you are!!)knows that i'll happily repay the favour of ever i can....

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

I've given lots of work away. If it's no good to me then I'll happily pass it on to someone else. I've also had the favour returned.

[PurefectWindowCleaning]

Ive given loads away...


It was furthest away jobs that also were a nightmare for what ever reason.



On the other hand, ive sold a few thousands pounds worth in the past, which was decent work.



 

[IDEAL50]

If you can help someone during the day, isn't that a good thing?

I bought work when I first started, never again, too expensive and besides there's something nice about drumming up your own business.

One thing I would say though is,

If someone's nice enough to give you leads or regular customers, have the courtesy to do them... or say no! 

[roundbuilder]

I have gave hundreds of customers away to other shiners as well as gave equipment away to them too.

[deeege]

I've never given work away but do sub a little bit out. I also turn down more work than I take on (from areas I have no interest in working in) if I knew any windies in them areas I'd happily pass the leads on. It's a shame though that most windies in my town would prefer to stare and scowl than stop for a quick chat. Anybody else find this?

(I'm not including you in this Dazmond, I know you happily stop for a chat!)

[roundbuilder]

I've never given work away but do sub a little bit out. I also turn down more work than I take on (from areas I have no interest in working in) if I knew any windies in them areas I'd happily pass the leads on. It's a shame though that most windies in my town would prefer to stare and scowl than stop for a quick chat. Anybody else find this?

(I'm not including you in this Dazmond, I know you happily stop for a chat!)

Lol the window cleaner dreaded stare!!!
It does make me laugh the way other shiners look at you whilst working or even how they look all serious when the drive past you.

[DaveG]

 

I call it the "Paddington Stare"!

I always smile and give them the thumbs up, seems to confuse them

[robertphil]

i wouldnt give my worst enemy some of the messers /problem houses i have had  .    talk about mean spirited ,they suck the blood with leaded windows all round  , meldrews to the core AND proud of it too

[Dave Willis]

I've tried giving work away - customers went berserk! I pass on lots of new jobs instead now.

[robbo333]

I dumped 15 nightmares about 3 weeks ago.
I should have given them to 'Vlad the Impaler'