[dazmond]

some customers have no idea about costs in your business and think your earning too much and ripping them off.

they never stop to think of

no holiday pay

no sick pay

bad weather days

taxes,insurances,van and equipment expenses etc

only earning when actually window cleaning(5 or 6 hours day "on the glass")

i have had a few comments lately and i think its a mixture of cleaning quicker,charging more for the clean and the impression its easier than climbing a ladder waving a pole about.

im finding wfp is just as hard work as climbing ladders all day but earning more and shorter hours.i think its cos im getting older!even with extreme poles im tired at the end of the day!!

its my neck that seems to be giving me a bit of grief lately!aching after a days poling!


your thoughts guys!

[Clever Forum Name]

How old are you?

[colin bird]

some customers have no idea about costs in your business and think your earning too much and ripping them off.

they never stop to think of

no holiday pay

no sick pay

bad weather days

taxes,insurances,van and equipment expenses etc

only earning when actually window cleaning(5 or 6 hours day "on the glass")

i have had a few comments lately and i think its a mixture of cleaning quicker,charging more for the clean and the impression its easier than climbing a ladder waving a pole about.

im finding wfp is just as hard work as climbing ladders all day but earning more and shorter hours.i think its cos im getting older!even with extreme poles im tired at the end of the day!!

its my neck that seems to be giving me a bit of grief lately!aching after a days poling!


your thoughts guys!

I hear where your coming from re aching and tired,I feel the same I'm 52

[bobplum]

some customers have no idea about costs in your business and think your earning too much and ripping them off.

they never stop to think of

no holiday pay

no sick pay

bad weather days

taxes,insurances,van and equipment expenses etc

only earning when actually window cleaning(5 or 6 hours day "on the glass")

i have had a few comments lately and i think its a mixture of cleaning quicker,charging more for the clean and the impression its easier than climbing a ladder waving a pole about.

im finding wfp is just as hard work as climbing ladders all day but earning more and shorter hours.i think its cos im getting older!even with extreme poles im tired at the end of the day!!

its my neck that seems to be giving me a bit of grief lately!aching after a days poling!


your thoughts guys!

I hear where your coming from re aching and tired,I feel the same I'm 52

+1

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

It might have something to do with the fact that you've just put all their prices up Daz?

[PoleKing]

Majority of mine seem happy that I make ok money.
A few say things like "your hourly rate ain't bad" or "you know how to make money" in a sort of half jokey way but rarely with any attitude.
I do make a point if saying I'm not cheap though.
Some people are prepared to pay for what they want.
These are the customers everyone wants.

(Not dissing the cheaper lads in any way) but I actually think charging a bit more reflects well.
There are still some dodgy gits out there who clean and do naughty things too.
If you charge higher prices, they think you're doing ok so won't rob their gaff while they're on holiday.
Not researched at all-just my 2 bobs worth.

[dazmond]

im 42 but been cleaning windows for 21 years and lived an unhealthy "rock n roll" lifestyle for over 10 years!

not anymore i might add!

also not been sleeping too well as girlfriends had the pee taken out of her by her so called business partner.unbelievable whats happened this weekend!

[elite mike]

as for your neck prob, try extending your extreme a bit more and standing further back, found this worked a treat for me,

[Johnny B]

I am 100% trad, but am in the South West of Ireland where wfp on residential propertries is very rare (I've yet to see one in action where I am).

People here think that I clean windows 'for a bit of extra money'. I always correct them by saying that as a self employed person I am neither entitled to or claim 'the dole', but that I am properly registered with the Revenues Commision and this is my sole source of income to support my wife and children.

Most are surprised to say the least.

John

[kempy]

Prices up in this climate isn't a good plan , yes they may keep you on , but I wouldn't be suprised at all if customers are moaning at you .

£5 to £6 , yes it's only a quid , but it's 20% rise .

Doesn't take a brain surgeon to work that one out .

But you can't put up by 10p,20p or even 50p .

If your going to put prices up by a £1 , make sure it's every 3 years perhaps ?

But great if you get majority up

[dazmond]

kempy there is a window cleaner i know who does put his customers prices up 20p!

i wouldnt bother for 20p myself.

ive put quite a few up from £15 to £20 without any problems whatsoever!!

and most customers have been ok with a quid price rise.its only the odd one or two customers who moaned or cancelled.

i must admit its made this months work a bit more interesting!ill be glad when ive sorted all prices out to the new prices though!

it should be an extra £200-£250 a month more in earnings so £2,200 -£2,750 per year extra based on 12 months(1 month for holidays).

it wont make me a millionaire but every little helps.i hope to pick up some extra better paying jobs this year which should take me up to £5,000 extra earnings over the course of the year.

im a very well established window cleaner and i reckon im worth more than im currently charging for my services.

[dazmond]

some customers will have another moan when i get my new van next month and get it sign written!!

[James Bulton]

These are all a back lash to an industry with a bad self image in the eye of the customers. When we come to realize we need to correct the image we project things will change for us. In some ways we have all the poles and the latest equipment which is  great and we deserve them and the holiday pay and sick pay.
        But having  members who steal and brake into houses and commit crimes while at work and so forth. Every week we read about these  windies in the news papers. We all know about them.  Dress and behave like toerags and wanting to stay the way we are is stagnating this industry and more so what customers think of us. Its whats  in the papers project, becomes the brush with which we all get tared.
   All one needs is to get a few feel good story in the paper to uplift our public image.We all have a duty to do what we can for our industry and stop thinking we a island, immune to the rest of what happens to our future industry. The shame is there are good guys in this business and do deserve better.
         Time to wake up or suffer the consequences of our lot.

[gary999]

some customers have no idea about costs in your business and think your earning too much and ripping them off.

they never stop to think of

no holiday pay

no sick pay

bad weather days

taxes,insurances,van and equipment expenses etc

only earning when actually window cleaning(5 or 6 hours day "on the glass")

i have had a few comments lately and i think its a mixture of cleaning quicker,charging more for the clean and the impression its easier than climbing a ladder waving a pole about.

im finding wfp is just as hard work as climbing ladders all day but earning more and shorter hours.i think its cos im getting older!even with extreme poles im tired at the end of the day!!

its my neck that seems to be giving me a bit of grief lately!aching after a days poling!


your thoughts guys!

Neck ache matey! you are unevenly working muscles and straining
tendons,swop hands and change body position.

Didnt think these things happen with extreme poles

[Dave Willis]

Just lucky your customers don't come on here!

[rosskesava]

These are all a back lash to an industry with a bad self image in the eye of the customers. When we come to realize we need to correct the image we project things will change for us. In some ways we have all the poles and the latest equipment which is  great and we deserve them and the holiday pay and sick pay.
        But having  members who steal and brake into houses and commit crimes while at work and so forth. Every week we read about these  windies in the news papers. We all know about them.  Dress and behave like toerags and wanting to stay the way we are is stagnating this industry and more so what customers think of us. Its whats  in the papers project, becomes the brush with which we all get tared.
   All one needs is to get a few feel good story in the paper to uplift our public image.We all have a duty to do what we can for our industry and stop thinking we a island, immune to the rest of what happens to our future industry. The shame is there are good guys in this business and do deserve better.
         Time to wake up or suffer the consequences of our lot.

What?  

I don't want to sound rude but your post reflects more perhaps about your self image than anything else.

From time to time I meet someone who does think of window cleaners as the dregs. My experience with my customers is generally the opposite.

[James Bulton]

Read the post it about customers perceptions. My image is no problem at all its the perceptions of your industry we are talking about not your Mr Ros. Its the image we have of not deserving an increase in our income.Why do you think customers think like this..

[AuRavelling79]

Read the post it about customers perceptions. My image is no problem at all its the image of your industry we are talking about not your Mr Ros. Its the image we have of not deserving an increase in our income.Why do you think customers think like this..

Lazy thinking.

[Dave Willis]

Because a customer on £10 and hour would be in a reasonable job, a customer on £15 an hour would have a good job and a customer earning £25 - £30 an hour would be in an excellent job (something like a pharmacist) when they work out that an uneducated numpty can earn £60 an hour wiping dirt off their window they aren't going to be best pleased.

[James Bulton]

Why don`t those pharmacist and  leave there badly paid jobs, buy a van  and poles etc and  become numpty uneducated window cleaner? Because they could not live with our image. What would there friends say.