[Walter Mitty]

FICTITIOUS STORY:  I hired a carpenter ther other day.  When he went outside and used his electric saw, the air was grey with sawdust.  When I told him that I wanted him to use a hand saw, he very politely told me that he would charge double for the extra time - or I could go forth and multiply.

It's YOUR business andf YOU choose the work method.  If the customer doesn't like it, they can go elsewhere - as can you.
Neither of you imposes your will on the other.  They want a service that you don't supply.  Agreement terminates.

[Smurf]

I had to laugh at the sawdust thing as reminds me of a contract I have. Anyway no sooner than I finish off a job the building site workers decide to kick up a dust storm. I sometimes wonder why I bother but at least I still get paid I suppose

FICTITIOUS STORY:  I hired a carpenter ther other day.  When he went outside and used his electric saw, the air was grey with sawdust.  When I told him that I wanted him to use a hand saw, he very politely told me that he would charge double for the extra time - or I could go forth and multiply.

It's YOUR business andf YOU choose the work method.  If the customer doesn't like it, they can go elsewhere - as can you.
Neither of you imposes your will on the other.  They want a service that you don't supply.  Agreement terminates.

[Klean07]

Personally I'd ask them why they didn't want WFP?

Even show them how it works and tell them I offer 100% satisfaction guarantee policy and will return if there's anything they are unhappy with.

If there was a legitimate reason why it has to be trad ( i.e leaking windows ) then they would be looking at double the price atleast, but more likely than not I'd pass it on to another window cleaner.

I don't get up ladders unless I really have to these days.

+1

[samson]

I recon im one of the cheapest windy s around MY PATCH ,im wfp I make sure I under quote my work simply because their are windys coming out the wood work around here .ive got afew new custys that ive picked up by word of mouth. wfp as never been an issue with me its quite the opposite. so if any windys can or want to under cut me they will be working for penneys.then when winter comes it usualy culls them .ive learned from having been under cut make it as hard as possible with your price structure to be beaten.ive had quite a few people say is that all.my last window cleaner charged a lot more and could not do windows over the connie or steep roofs to dorma window.etc

we do the total opposite, we price high and concentrate on providing really high quality service.   Don't have time for price shoppers, and turn more work away now.   It takes longer to build a round this way, but it is worth it in the end 

[dave the rave]

Dave F you are selling your self short pricing work just to get work it's does  not help you in the long run with the kind of though process, You once  put one of your cards through a house I do Quoted  £7 for a 5 bed with a conservatory on the owner asked how does he make a living with that price

[Smurf]

Dave F you are selling your self short pricing work just to get work it's does  not help you in the long run with the kind of though process, You once  put one of your cards through a house I do Quoted  £7 for a 5 bed with a conservatory on the owner asked how does he make a living with that price

Indeed ...Work smarter not harder springs to mind as anyone can sell on price alone. 

[the king]

i pick what i wana trad i find some jobs easer trad most i wfp, but i think its nce to b able to do both , also i wipe all fraims an sills when i trad just like i do when i wfp ,i cant stand it when i c these trad coyboys doing glass only an sill,, the fraims just look manky an they stain in the end, i no lots who dont wipe them, also there r some wc's that have never used a squeege as there just wfp i dont get that at all, one guy on a nother forum changed frm trad to wfp he diched his squeeges one of his custmers said can u clean my inside windows an he wfp the blady inside custmer put towels down   he told her i dont use old way any more!!! wtf is that about lol

[Shane sharples]

i pick what i wana trad i find some jobs easer trad most i wfp, but i think its nce to b able to do both , also i wipe all fraims an sills when i trad just like i do when i wfp ,i cant stand it when i c these trad coyboys doing glass only an sill,, the fraims just look manky an they stain in the end, i no lots who dont wipe them, also there r some wc's that have never used a squeege as there just wfp i dont get that at all, one guy on a nother forum changed frm trad to wfp he diched his squeeges one of his custmers said can u clean my inside windows an he wfp the blady inside custmer put towels down   he told her i dont use old way any more!!! wtf is that about lol

He wfp the INSIDE???!!!! Omg wtf   

[stevon]

i see a lot of ops with wfp, when theres no access,getting the ladders off,dragging the hose over the roof.then dropping the ladders down again to get to clean the backs.whats that all about?spoken 2 a few.they simply cannot use a squeegee & that's the truth

[Smurf]

Why wfp guy's do those sorts of jobs beats me when there is plenty of easy work about 
As for not being able to trad then that is up to them if they want to learn or not I suppose

i see a lot of ops with wfp, when theres no access,getting the ladders off,dragging the hose over the roof.then dropping the ladders down again to get to clean the backs.whats that all about?spoken 2 a few.they simply cannot use a squeegee & that's the truth

[Shane sharples]

My trad skills need to be better for the insides of homes, been practicing on my back door since 6am , think iv just about cracked it now. The unger rubber was a bit long and was causing the edges to need to much detailing, trimmed it and no more detailing! Amazing what a bit of practice does 

[stevon]

but surely in reason its quicker to get the ladders off in some areas of the job.you just carnt turn down a job simply because you cannot climb over a roof.would this be an extra cost???

[the king]

i wont turn a job away i take one anything at the rite price its all part of the game i think

[stevon]

your right there king you have to charge accordingly.im going to charge extra to get my step ladders out 

[the king]

 

your right there king you have to charge accordingly.im going to charge extra to get my step ladders out 

   
                       

[Rob.Hall]

Price up accordingly.
If a customer wants trade and is prepared to pay the extra then its fine. You have a valid reason to charge more.
As for safety then its up to you to risk manage the job.
You are a business not a charity. Start thinking that way.
All the best..

[stevon]

why all this extra? get the ladders off!!!! in some cases its much quicker using ladders for certain situations.

[Phil J]

money is money at the end of the day.  if it takes a little longer then charge accordingly and just explain that they'd need to pay a premium for trad services.  especially if its a recommend customer because in  my experience they will tend to recommend you themselves and you never know what will come of it! 

i have a mixer of trad and wfp work and to be frank i don't care how the customer wants their windows cleaned its about the days turnover for me
Hey Jon,
I think we are singing from the same hymn sheet on this one 

[Bungle]

I just flat out refuse trad jobs (domestic) there is enough work out there for everyone.

I don't care if you can earn a higher wage for a few hours a month from doing some people who are willing to pay more for "traditional cleaning" ! You won't be earning naff all if you fall off a ladder.

OP base prices on hourly rate.

If you want some advice dump all your trad work and just go WFP i dumped all my domestic trad work. Best thing i ever did IMHO

Oh and before the ladder safety brigade come on i did 10 years trad.

Where's the like button. This geezer talks sense kids!

[dave budden]

I have just recently gone wfp after 26 years trad and love it but still trad some ground floor stuff if i fancy it
Any time i do a quote i don't mention the method as imo they are asking how much to clean their windows so that is what i do
Haven't even mentioned it to existing customers unless they come out and ask as i don't see they need to know how you do the job you are paid to do
I wouldn't say to a mechanic "use hand tools mate i don't like that pneumatic stuff"
I used to use trad pole and wagtail for a lot of maintenance cleans and never felt i needed to ask can i use my pole or do you want me to use ladders..same thing with wfp i reckon