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cornwallwindows

  • Posts: 115
Thick skin needed.
« on: August 30, 2014, 02:33:34 pm »
After a few months pushing poles I've discovered that a thick skin and not to take things personally when pricing jobs. And some of the comments I get in response are ridiculous. It seems that people think window cleaners work for pennies and have no bills to pay!
I understand that Cornwall isn't the most affluent area of the country but a quote of £40 for all windows (10), cons, all plastics and gutters I would have thought is a pretty reasonable price, it seems not. "A little pricy"!

PoleKing

  • Posts: 8974
Re: Thick skin needed.
« Reply #1 on: August 30, 2014, 05:04:10 pm »
You're right.

I thought Cornwall was an affluent area though...
www.LanesWindowCleaning.com

It's just the internet. Try not to worry.

Clever Forum Name

  • Posts: 5942
Re: Thick skin needed.
« Reply #2 on: August 30, 2014, 05:23:21 pm »
Complaints, price to high, going with another cleaner etc etc etc Water off a ducks back. Customer will never give you the real reason for cancelling.

I had to price up a job last week... My dad dumped the customer for placing dog **** in the gutters and flinging it on the roof. My dad was trad and used to "grab" parts of the gutters to climb on the roof. This was about 3 years ago. They haven't been cleaned since my dad told them about the ****

Wide boy comes over, "gis us a quote" Played along. Had my mate with me. What happened to your last window cleaner? Old boy was rubbish, missed windows and never did a good job. Oh really, nothing to do with you throwing dog **** in the gutters. HE went BRIGHT RED and flounced off lol

So you see, customers talk poop :)

cgh window cleaning

  • Posts: 558
Re: Thick skin needed.
« Reply #3 on: August 30, 2014, 05:55:34 pm »
I always say "if you get every job you price your to cheap"
But I understand what your saying some people think we should be working for £10 an hour and be grateful of the work.

Knocker

  • Posts: 180
Re: Thick skin needed.
« Reply #4 on: August 30, 2014, 05:56:32 pm »
What kind of cu@t chucks dog s..t on their roof??

colin bird

  • Posts: 1263
Re: Thick skin needed.
« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2014, 07:12:14 pm »
What kind of cu@t chucks dog s..t on their roof??
.  +1

Window Lickers

  • Posts: 2196
Re: Thick skin needed.
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2014, 08:11:40 pm »
Saves it going into the lawn mower ;)
Liberace's ex looking to meet well built men for cottaging meets.

KS Cleaning

  • Posts: 4126
Re: Thick skin needed.
« Reply #7 on: August 30, 2014, 09:57:45 pm »
Complaints, price to high, going with another cleaner etc etc etc Water off a ducks back. Customer will never give you the real reason for cancelling.

I had to price up a job last week... My dad dumped the customer for placing dog **** in the gutters and flinging it on the roof. My dad was trad and used to "grab" parts of the gutters to climb on the roof. This was about 3 years ago. They haven't been cleaned since my dad told them about the ****

Wide boy comes over, "gis us a quote" Played along. Had my mate with me. What happened to your last window cleaner? Old boy was rubbish, missed windows and never did a good job. Oh really, nothing to do with you throwing dog **** in the gutters. HE went BRIGHT RED and flounced off lol

So you see, customers talk poop :)
Why would you need to "grab" parts of the gutter to climb on the roof? Surely if you are climbing on to a roof the top of the ladder would be above the roofline then you would just step on to the roof?

duncan h

  • Posts: 1875
Re: Thick skin needed.
« Reply #8 on: August 30, 2014, 10:03:40 pm »

Clever Forum Name

  • Posts: 5942
Re: Thick skin needed.
« Reply #9 on: August 30, 2014, 10:15:31 pm »
Complaints, price to high, going with another cleaner etc etc etc Water off a ducks back. Customer will never give you the real reason for cancelling.

I had to price up a job last week... My dad dumped the customer for placing dog **** in the gutters and flinging it on the roof. My dad was trad and used to "grab" parts of the gutters to climb on the roof. This was about 3 years ago. They haven't been cleaned since my dad told them about the ****

Wide boy comes over, "gis us a quote" Played along. Had my mate with me. What happened to your last window cleaner? Old boy was rubbish, missed windows and never did a good job. Oh really, nothing to do with you throwing dog **** in the gutters. HE went BRIGHT RED and flounced off lol

So you see, customers talk poop :)
Why would you need to "grab" parts of the gutter to climb on the roof? Surely if you are climbing on to a roof the top of the ladder would be above the roofline then you would just step on to the roof?

Hard to explain, and tbh cant be arsed.

Ian101

  • Posts: 7889
Re: Thick skin needed.
« Reply #10 on: August 31, 2014, 11:29:31 am »
simple really .. windows ... connies ... fsg ... gutter cleaning ... pressure washing ... what ever job it is I price em high EVERY time .. if they go for it then good if not I don't care / worry as I will get the next one.

I had a full round (over full) until last week when Ive sold about a third off ... will I change how I price as now lower on work ??     ...................  NOT A FLIPPING HOPE IN HELL ............  :) ... if anything will price higher still.

I can remember cleaning connie roofs on a Saturday for £40 as I thought that was the going rate ... now price em at £120 +  for a normal sized roof and actually getting more of them.

http://www.h2oproclean.co.uk/conservatory-cleaning/  

Price high and work less or work more and have higher prices and have a better lifestyle  8)

C o z y

  • Posts: 7775
Re: Thick skin needed.
« Reply #11 on: August 31, 2014, 11:40:28 am »
Nice one.
No still don't understand, I must be thick

martinj

  • Posts: 86
Re: Thick skin needed.
« Reply #12 on: September 01, 2014, 05:36:13 pm »
Im with ian101 you will always get people who think a fiver for a four bed detached is crazy talk but in my experience you dont want them for two main reasons, first theyll dump you when someone offers to do it for 4.50 and second theyre more likely to whinge about the job no matter how good it is. Like ian says if you quote highish and have some faith in your skills youll get people who appreciate a decent job isnt cheap and the jobs you get will pay well. We all put low quotes in when we start and end up doing jobs for peanuts its part of the learning process i guess but with a bit of experience youll know a tight wad when you talk to them your windy spider sense starts tingling! Look out for the following;

In at number 1 ... My old windy only charged 50p / paid me for the privilage
2. How ard can it be f t'clean windows i could do it mesen
3. All that green will come off that conny roof in know time with just spit and a toothbrush
4. Ive been cleaning them myself and theyre not too bad
5. I need my windows cleaned now and probably every 6 months or so ill let you know
6. Double for the first clean #%=!*@$€&%!!!!!!!

I could go on at length but by now you should feel a tingling and be standing knocking the house next door!

cornwallwindows

  • Posts: 115
Re: Thick skin needed.
« Reply #13 on: September 01, 2014, 06:46:51 pm »
Im with ian101 you will always get people who think a fiver for a four bed detached is crazy talk but in my experience you dont want them for two main reasons, first theyll dump you when someone offers to do it for 4.50 and second theyre more likely to whinge about the job no matter how good it is. Like ian says if you quote highish and have some faith in your skills youll get people who appreciate a decent job isnt cheap and the jobs you get will pay well. We all put low quotes in when we start and end up doing jobs for peanuts its part of the learning process i guess but with a bit of experience youll know a tight wad when you talk to them your windy spider sense starts tingling! Look out for the following;

In at number 1 ... My old windy only charged 50p / paid me for the privilage
2. How ard can it be f t'clean windows i could do it mesen
3. All that green will come off that conny roof in know time with just spit and a toothbrush
4. Ive been cleaning them myself and theyre not too bad
5. I need my windows cleaned now and probably every 6 months or so ill let you know
6. Double for the first clean #%=!*@$€&%!!!!!!!

I could go on at length but by now you should feel a tingling and be standing knocking the house next door!

Haha, great reply thanks! I guess being new(ish) I'm going to notice the a*@%holes more and feel it when people tut and roll their eyes. But I'm pretty sure I do a good job, been given loads of compliments, so must be doing something right.

Bungle

  • Posts: 2563
Re: Thick skin needed.
« Reply #14 on: September 01, 2014, 06:50:20 pm »
Complaints, price to high, going with another cleaner etc etc etc Water off a ducks back. Customer will never give you the real reason for cancelling.

I had to price up a job last week... My dad dumped the customer for placing dog **** in the gutters and flinging it on the roof. My dad was trad and used to "grab" parts of the gutters to climb on the roof. This was about 3 years ago. They haven't been cleaned since my dad told them about the ****

Wide boy comes over, "gis us a quote" Played along. Had my mate with me. What happened to your last window cleaner? Old boy was rubbish, missed windows and never did a good job. Oh really, nothing to do with you throwing dog **** in the gutters. HE went BRIGHT RED and flounced off lol

So you see, customers talk poop :)
Why would you need to "grab" parts of the gutter to climb on the roof? Surely if you are climbing on to a roof the top of the ladder would be above the roofline then you would just step on to the roof?

Hard to explain, and tbh cant be arsed.

Ohh, please tell us the story....
We look at them, they look through them.

Caleb Morley

  • Posts: 376
Re: Thick skin needed.
« Reply #15 on: September 02, 2014, 03:40:39 am »
simple really .. windows ... connies ... fsg ... gutter cleaning ... pressure washing ... what ever job it is I price em high EVERY time .. if they go for it then good if not I don't care / worry as I will get the next one.

I had a full round (over full) until last week when Ive sold about a third off ... will I change how I price as now lower on work ??     ...................  NOT A FLIPPING HOPE IN HELL ............  :) ... if anything will price higher still.

I can remember cleaning connie roofs on a Saturday for £40 as I thought that was the going rate ... now price em at £120 +  for a normal sized roof and actually getting more of them.

http://www.h2oproclean.co.uk/conservatory-cleaning/  

Price high and work less or work more and have higher prices and have a better lifestyle  8)

I'm impressed with your conservatory roof prices. I quote £40 minimum, but I've never gone above £60. Is there any method in getting roofs at your prices other than just asking? I have had quite a few think £40 was too much.

Cheers

Ian101

  • Posts: 7889
Re: Thick skin needed.
« Reply #16 on: September 02, 2014, 06:36:04 am »
simple really .. windows ... connies ... fsg ... gutter cleaning ... pressure washing ... what ever job it is I price em high EVERY time .. if they go for it then good if not I don't care / worry as I will get the next one.

I had a full round (over full) until last week when Ive sold about a third off ... will I change how I price as now lower on work ??     ...................  NOT A FLIPPING HOPE IN HELL ............  :) ... if anything will price higher still.

I can remember cleaning connie roofs on a Saturday for £40 as I thought that was the going rate ... now price em at £120 +  for a normal sized roof and actually getting more of them.

http://www.h2oproclean.co.uk/conservatory-cleaning/  

Price high and work less or work more and have higher prices and have a better lifestyle  8)

I'm impressed with your conservatory roof prices. I quote £40 minimum, but I've never gone above £60. Is there any method in getting roofs at your prices other than just asking? I have had quite a few think £40 was too much.

Cheers

yup go and look at job if not a regular customer and explain to customer whats involved as some of them think "you just point the squirty pole at it ... don't you ?"  ::)roll .... explain it takes time to do the job properly.

having website with before and after helps as well.

I don't get them all but if the phone call is a result from website then 99% certain.

Ian101

  • Posts: 7889
Re: Thick skin needed.
« Reply #17 on: September 02, 2014, 06:41:56 am »
http://www.thomas-sanderson.co.uk/conservatory-cleaning-service

apparently these guys charge £700 for a normal size conny clean in and out ??

C o z y

  • Posts: 7775
Re: Thick skin needed.
« Reply #18 on: September 02, 2014, 07:23:48 am »
http://www.thomas-sanderson.co.uk/conservatory-cleaning-service

apparently these guys charge £700 for a normal size conny clean in and out ??

More like restoration there mate. Bit more than a wash and blow dry  :)  We do something like that, but not with power tools!!! Some of ours can take half a day to clean, and cost more than 40 quid. !! Always inside and outside of course.

Depends what you offer.
No still don't understand, I must be thick

Window Lickers

  • Posts: 2196
Re: Thick skin needed.
« Reply #19 on: September 02, 2014, 07:51:05 am »

I can remember cleaning connie roofs on a Saturday for £40 as I thought that was the
I'm impressed with your conservatory roof prices. I quote £40 minimum, but I've never gone above £60. Is there any method in getting roofs at your prices other than just asking?

Yes! You don't ask - you quote.
Liberace's ex looking to meet well built men for cottaging meets.