[Suffolkcleaners]

Moved over to wfp 6 months ago now and love it. It's taken a while to have the confidence to use wfp methods on all jobs but it's getting to the stage where i don't want to use ladders on any jobs if i can help it. What would you guys do on this job?

It's a £40 8 weekly job,quite a big old fashioned sash windows which some of the windows are too high to do off a ladder. I did it the first time wfp a few months ago and she couldn't fault the standard but complained the water was getting through some of the windows(which i find hard to believe as i have other jobs that haven't been a problem) so the next time to keep her happy i used ladders for the ones i could get(as some on a flat roof) and the high windows i used a traditional pole with combined washer/squeegee. The last time i went she said i made a right mess of the ones i used a pole on and i tried to explain that i don't feel i can do a good job on those higher windows unless i use wfp methods and would she be happy to compromise and just let me do those few windows that i can't get(4 windows)wfp....

She was having none of it as has got it in her head that water will get through. I felt i compromised as i'm already using a ladder for the flat roof windows and all the ground floor ones. As i never had my traditional pole with me she said don't do them until you bring the pole. As i made a hash of them the last time it just seems it's a no win situation.

3 choices.... 1... BIN
                   2.... Attempt to clean next time with trad pole(but try to do a better job
                   3..... Write a letter explaining that i use those methods for health and safety and that's the only methods i am prepared to use for those windows....

I even said i would turn the pressure down to ensure water wouldn't get in. I clean her daughters also and she said don't do hers also(like the daughter doesn't have her own mind)

What would you guys do? If it was a tenner then i would defo bin but both jobs together are £55 every 8 weeks and as i have a slower week(1 in 4 weeks have less work) maybe i should just do as still money?

It is annoying though as i just want to convert 100% to wfp and it's more annoying just having a handful who want u to use a ladder.

Comments guys? 

[Avo]

Just for safety reasons alone I wouldn't do it £10 or £100.

I no a guy who broke both arms 4 weeks ago and he's not at work now.

Turn the flow right down and clean wfp

If she doesn't like the way you do things get rid..

[Leeds]

Easy:

1) Using poles for traditional is the only way that other trads will do it, and the  finish will be the same (because i'm a good window cleaner), so if you dont want WFP, this is how it comes out, cant be reached any other way.

2) Let me do WFP again, and i'll check the windows where there's "leaks" after, and if there is, i'll fix it myself/Free clean, if there isn't, shutup.

If she accepts neither. A kind boot up the backside is in order.

Meridion

[Suffolkcleaners]

Thanks guys. Apparantly her old window cleaner used to do the whole lot of ladders(i wonder why he stopped coming) and she said the reason she took me on in the first place is cos i used trad methods(which i did when i took job on)

Maybe i will write a letter explaining that the best i can do is significantly reduce the flow rate as for health and safety i don't feel safe. Or like you said maybe just do with trad pole and if she doesn't like results then tough...

[EandM]

Given the house description and the perceived degree of risk: Customer would be converted into an ex-customer.

[Richard iSparkle]

just explain that this is how you clean them from now on, due to your need to protect your own health & ability to work.

i wouldn't bother writing a letter as it won't make any difference.

she may well have leaks from WFP. some windows do leak, especially sash ones (tho we do loads of these windows without trouble)

if she doesn't want you to clean the WFP then don't go back.  it's a customers right to choose if they want to use your service, and its your right to look after yourself and do what is needed for your business.

[dannymack]

I'm sorry m8 I'd tell get to get another windy.

If not tell her your not insured on ladders at certain heights and this is the way forward  wfp

[ascjim]

Just explain that you will not clean them any other way.
if she does't like that, then would bin her. Her lost more thrn yours

[Window Lickers]

Just get rid. There's so many reasons to not do it traditionally and possibly one to not use WFP. AsK her - what happens when it rains?

[Tom White]

I'd give her the option of letting her see what the results are with one clean of the wfp.  If she won't budge on that, then dump her.

[andyM]

I happen to think that she has a valid point if one or more of her windows is leaking as to why she's not keen on wfp.
Wfp will highlight any problem windows and though it's not the window cleaners fault I can fully understand why some people are not impressed when water starts running down the inside of the window.
I have a few properties where one or two windows leak, what I do is very carefully just wet the window and then scrub the glass with the water off, then give a quick rinse of no more than a couple of seconds making sure no water gets in at the top of the frame.
It should be ok.
But if she won't let you try again just take her off the round and move on. 

[LWC]

Ask her what happens when it rains

[SeanK]

Totally agree with Andy, I have a few on my round that leak luckily they are on the ground floor so can
get them using traditional methods.

[SeanK]

Ask her what happens when it rains

That's the mystery, I have a few windows that leak when I clean them but they don't leak when it rains.
I have tried turning the flow down, putting less pressure on the glass when scrubbing but it makes no difference.
The water runs in through the frame so its not getting through vents or anything like that.
I have the same on my own property its a window above a letter box, if I clean it using WFP it leaks like mad
but I have never got so much as a spit in the heaviest of rain.
Strange.

[LT carpet cleaning]

Shes the boss, do as she wants or she will easily find someone else? Or you don't want to go up ladders, get rid. Easy really.

[Perfect Windows]

Find her a trad cleaner who you trust.

I've done it and the customer''s happy because you've solved her problem.  You're happy because you don't want unhappy customers.  The Trad guy's happy because he has the work (and may pass on difficult ones to you, as another bonus).

Vin

[dazmond]

i had a customer who lived in a large house with deep ledge georgian windows.half of them were pretty rotten.when i switched to wfp she didnt like it and said would i go back to ladders.

i simply said no and walked away.ive never lost out by walking away from certain jobs as ive always picked up other work(usually much better priced or easier work)thats more suited to wfp.

some windows were just too dangerous to clean from a ladder and i decided i wouldnt take risks anymore.id already had 9 lives from 17 years on the ladders so i dont take a job on unless i can use wfp on all upper windows.

walk away mate if she wont accept wfp.i also have a few windows that leak on some work but their just too dangerous to clean off a ladder so the customers accept it.

[Suffolkcleaners]

If anybody works in the ipswich area and wants to swop a few jobs then let me know. Maybe a trad cleaner would want it and swop it with a job that's easier to do wfp. Anybody who does then let me know. I might as i have to do some trad anyway just attempt one final time with the traditional pole and try to spend abit longer. thanks for advice guys :-)

[bobplum]

CLEAN.........CULL........CANVASS

[AuRavelling79]

Dump.