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nathankaye

  • Posts: 5366
getting rid of the dross
« on: June 02, 2017, 10:43:24 am »
So had a phone call the other day and they left a message. Wanting to cancel service, so thought ok bye bye. I put their price up from the old low price of many years £7 upto £9. My old customers like this one who ive had for absolute years n years. Ive told them for last 2yrs all my new work is £10min so they still keep a small loyalty discount. Any ways this was 2months back and i last cleaned them 3 wks ago and paid new price and not a word.
I decided to phone them up and see if it was due to the service as to why they have cancelled. NO  infact they were singing my praises just thought £9 was too much.
Think they were after  reducing an already low price compared to all new ones etc and so i just thanked them for their custom over the years and ended the call.

Since all my price increases ive lost 5 customers in last 2months, because of price increases of £2 or more.
It only makes me chuckle as all my new work in last 2 yrs are happy to pay min of £10 upwards.  The amount of descent prices work (£20 n upwards, in south yorkshire) that ive gained in last couple of months makes me forget very quickly about the small amount of work ive lost)

Its peoples mentality that always suprises me. So like this one ive lost, they think a 2quid increase is too much. Whilst over the road a customer pays £12 without any quibbles. A new customer 2 doors up at £10 asked how soon i could start.

( haha the waffle is to stop people harping on about quality of work suffering if you work faster than they do. As i havent lost work on basis of quality. Or its a low price so they let me off on quality etc etc bla bla bla. Its purely being tight fisted yorkshire folk and what people are prepared to pay or think what a window cleaner should be on if they clean your house fast. Im sure if i took my time like a sloth then they wont habe a problem)
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Dry Clean

  • Posts: 9000
Re: getting rid of the dross
« Reply #1 on: June 02, 2017, 11:05:43 am »
There's no need to work like a sloth just to justify a price but I would say knocking out 30 to35 properties in around 5 hours
using roughly 10ltrs of water per property ( your words not mine )  would say lots about your quality.
Remember most people don't like to be confrontational and would rather leave on good terms than be honest.
That said it doesn't matter what others think about your quality if your way is working for you that's all that matters.

But even if they don't like your price it doesn't make them dross, (roll eyes) Are you dross when you shop around for something cheaper ?

nathankaye

  • Posts: 5366
Re: getting rid of the dross
« Reply #2 on: June 02, 2017, 12:02:28 pm »
Where do you get a working day equalling 5hrs in a day.
Whenever that post was, they asked how many houses are you cleaning. Im sure my answer was, depending on the round being cleaned, i can do between 30 - 35 houses. Im still struggling to understand why you guys are not. But i dont question your work ethnics etc.
Also who goes into trying to calculate how much water i use per house. I carry a 500ltre tank. If i should run out, a quick drive home to fill back up.

To say how long you or others have been wfp, is it because ive only switched 2yrs ago n doing faster work or something. Is that why i must wind you up or something to harp on about quality all the time.

We all know wfp can and should be faster than trad working and i was pretty fast at trad working as well. Dont know how many illustrations or comparisons ive made to help explain how backward some peoples thinking can be that speed equals less quality.
I also love how people try to use my own words against me...but come on get them right!!

When a customer has enjoyed low prices on purpose or whatever for many many years and moans at a slight increase of price. To me thats dross work, especially when i have customers in same area hapoy to get me to clean their windows and at a higher respectable price than what ive put this customers price upto. Then yes, i am happy to get shot of these customers.  My other customers recognise they have had the same price for years and realise that it wouldnt last forever.
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Dry Clean

  • Posts: 9000
Re: getting rid of the dross
« Reply #3 on: June 02, 2017, 12:19:05 pm »
Where do you get a working day equalling 5hrs in a day.
Whenever that post was, they asked how many houses are you cleaning. Im sure my answer was, depending on the round being cleaned, i can do between 30 - 35 houses. Im still struggling to understand why you guys are not. But i dont question your work ethnics etc.
Also who goes into trying to calculate how much water i use per house. I carry a 500ltre tank. If i should run out, a quick drive home to fill back up.

To say how long you or others have been wfp, is it because ive only switched 2yrs ago n doing faster work or something. Is that why i must wind you up or something to harp on about quality all the time.

We all know wfp can and should be faster than trad working and i was pretty fast at trad working as well. Dont know how many illustrations or comparisons ive made to help explain how backward some peoples thinking can be that speed equals less quality.
I also love how people try to use my own words against me...but come on get them right!!

When a customer has enjoyed low prices on purpose or whatever for many many years and moans at a slight increase of price. To me thats dross work, especially when i have customers in same area hapoy to get me to clean their windows and at a higher respectable price than what ive put this customers price upto. Then yes, i am happy to get shot of these customers.  My other customers recognise they have had the same price for years and realise that it wouldnt last forever.

On the how many I do in a day thread you said around 30 to 35, that was before you converted to hot.
On one of the hot water thread you said you didn't increase the amount of properties you cleaned in a day by using it you
just had shorter days giving you a few extra hours over the day for Toby carvery's and so on.
On the how much water do you use in a day thread, you said you achieved 2.5 properties on 25lts, that's roughly 10ltrs per property.
Maybe its sad that I tend to remember things that I find slightly different to the norm,  but they're all from your posts.

chris turner

  • Posts: 1500
Re: getting rid of the dross
« Reply #4 on: June 02, 2017, 12:49:38 pm »
I can honestly say that I was faster trad then I am wfp. As a trad guy I would knock out around 17- 20 houses a day, charging a reasonable fee, working my nuts off.
Wfp for me wasn't just a new way of working, it was a way of dramatically increasing my prices and reducing my workload.
I could still knock out the same amount of work if I wanted but I choose the easier life. I'm much more content doing 10-12 houses a day, at a very high standard, for a premium fee.

Stoots

  • Posts: 6356
Re: getting rid of the dross
« Reply #5 on: June 02, 2017, 04:21:31 pm »
Anything under a tenner makes me sad to do the job.

That said the real dross is those that take the urine with paying.

Shrek

  • Posts: 3931
Re: getting rid of the dross
« Reply #6 on: June 02, 2017, 06:17:42 pm »
Where do you get a working day equalling 5hrs in a day.
Whenever that post was, they asked how many houses are you cleaning. Im sure my answer was, depending on the round being cleaned, i can do between 30 - 35 houses. Im still struggling to understand why you guys are not. But i dont question your work ethnics etc.
Also who goes into trying to calculate how much water i use per house. I carry a 500ltre tank. If i should run out, a quick drive home to fill back up.

To say how long you or others have been wfp, is it because ive only switched 2yrs ago n doing faster work or something. Is that why i must wind you up or something to harp on about quality all the time.

We all know wfp can and should be faster than trad working and i was pretty fast at trad working as well. Dont know how many illustrations or comparisons ive made to help explain how backward some peoples thinking can be that speed equals less quality.
I also love how people try to use my own words against me...but come on get them right!!

When a customer has enjoyed low prices on purpose or whatever for many many years and moans at a slight increase of price. To me thats dross work, especially when i have customers in same area hapoy to get me to clean their windows and at a higher respectable price than what ive put this customers price upto. Then yes, i am happy to get shot of these customers.  My other customers recognise they have had the same price for years and realise that it wouldnt last forever.

On the how many I do in a day thread you said around 30 to 35, that was before you converted to hot.
On one of the hot water thread you said you didn't increase the amount of properties you cleaned in a day by using it you
just had shorter days giving you a few extra hours over the day for Toby carvery's and so on.
On the how much water do you use in a day thread, you said you achieved 2.5 properties on 25lts, that's roughly 10ltrs per property.
Maybe its sad that I tend to remember things that I find slightly different to the norm,  but they're all from your posts.

Checkmate   :D

nathankaye

  • Posts: 5366
Re: getting rid of the dross
« Reply #7 on: June 02, 2017, 07:08:29 pm »
Erm that still doesnt stipulate 5hrs and the water usage was in relation to using a back pack. Which i also said i only use on houses etc which i cant get to. However the post in question which i think your refering i did mentioned i used it on the two houses which i included a picture of (for size reference) indicating on full flow that i was able to clean 2 houses from the back pack.

Check mate, i think not!
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dazmond

  • Posts: 24450
Re: getting rid of the dross
« Reply #8 on: June 02, 2017, 07:17:52 pm »
So had a phone call the other day and they left a message. Wanting to cancel service, so thought ok bye bye. I put their price up from the old low price of many years £7 upto £9. My old customers like this one who ive had for absolute years n years. Ive told them for last 2yrs all my new work is £10min so they still keep a small loyalty discount. Any ways this was 2months back and i last cleaned them 3 wks ago and paid new price and not a word.
I decided to phone them up and see if it was due to the service as to why they have cancelled. NO  infact they were singing my praises just thought £9 was too much.
Think they were after  reducing an already low price compared to all new ones etc and so i just thanked them for their custom over the years and ended the call.

Since all my price increases ive lost 5 customers in last 2months, because of price increases of £2 or more.
It only makes me chuckle as all my new work in last 2 yrs are happy to pay min of £10 upwards.  The amount of descent prices work (£20 n upwards, in south yorkshire) that ive gained in last couple of months makes me forget very quickly about the small amount of work ive lost)

Its peoples mentality that always suprises me. So like this one ive lost, they think a 2quid increase is too much. Whilst over the road a customer pays £12 without any quibbles. A new customer 2 doors up at £10 asked how soon i could start.

( haha the waffle is to stop people harping on about quality of work suffering if you work faster than they do. As i havent lost work on basis of quality. Or its a low price so they let me off on quality etc etc bla bla bla. Its purely being tight fisted yorkshire folk and what people are prepared to pay or think what a window cleaner should be on if they clean your house fast. Im sure if i took my time like a sloth then they wont habe a problem)


thats what happens when you dont put your prices up for years and years.some people will want you to clean their windows for ever for the same price...........oh and if you work in yorkshire! ;D

ive had the same over the years.i still wave and say hello to these ex customers when im cleaning all their neighbours windows or driving past in my brand new shiny van. :)....love it.
price higher/work harder!

Shrek

  • Posts: 3931
Re: getting rid of the dross
« Reply #9 on: June 02, 2017, 07:23:32 pm »
Erm that still doesnt stipulate 5hrs and the water usage was in relation to using a back pack. Which i also said i only use on houses etc which i cant get to. However the post in question which i think your refering i did mentioned i used it on the two houses which i included a picture of (for size reference) indicating on full flow that i was able to clean 2 houses from the back pack.

Check mate, i think not!

You always say you work from 9/930 til 3?
Also you said you've never used 500 ltrs in a day

Dry Clean

  • Posts: 9000

Dry Clean

  • Posts: 9000

paul alan

  • Posts: 1683
Re: getting rid of the dross
« Reply #12 on: June 02, 2017, 07:36:22 pm »
Yeah lm sure l remember somewhere you said you have only run out of water very rarely, only first cleans or summat like that?

I think its time to post some cleaning videos! Would clear all this confusion up.

I would like to do one, but cant see myself doing it. I have noticed nathan likes doing pictures and videos.

So come nathan, do us a vid and show us all how its done mate. 

Dry Clean

  • Posts: 9000
Re: getting rid of the dross
« Reply #13 on: June 02, 2017, 07:37:25 pm »
There you go Nathan a couple of links to jog your memory.

Tosh

  • Posts: 2964
Re: getting rid of the dross
« Reply #14 on: June 02, 2017, 07:50:58 pm »
Does it matter?
*A HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE - THE SHORT STORY* 'Hydrogen is a light, odorless gas, which, given enough time, turns into people.'

p1w1

  • Posts: 3873
Re: getting rid of the dross
« Reply #15 on: June 02, 2017, 08:03:13 pm »
Does it matter?
unfortunately it does for some

G Griffin

  • Posts: 40745
Re: getting rid of the dross
« Reply #16 on: June 02, 2017, 09:10:55 pm »
But even if they don't like your price it doesn't make them dross, (roll eyes) Are you dross when you shop around for something cheaper ?
I agree with that.
They had their windows cleaned, paid and then cancelled (even threw in some compliments) so how does that make them dross? 
It sounds like Nathan is more bothered than he's letting on.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Dry Clean

  • Posts: 9000
Re: getting rid of the dross
« Reply #17 on: June 02, 2017, 09:25:31 pm »
Does it matter?
unfortunately it does for some

What s unfortunate about people willing to challenge the opinions of others ? if it wasn't for people like that we would all be cleaning with PPB machines and water full of all sorts of crap claiming to work miracles, that said Nathans a good guy but can be a bit of a Walter Mitty at times, the devil in me cant resist.

paul alan

  • Posts: 1683
Re: getting rid of the dross
« Reply #18 on: June 02, 2017, 10:17:17 pm »
I would just love to see a first clean done in 25ltrs, cos if it can be done l would like to know how so l can cut way down on time taken and water used.
Listening to other people on here and hearing whats acheivable l feel l must have a lot to learn.
Hearing what people say they can do would be so much more believable/helpfull if l could see it being done.
Videos would be the proof in the pudding and would prove all wrong/right to some extent.
Aslo would be very entertaining and educational.

nathankaye

  • Posts: 5366
Re: getting rid of the dross
« Reply #19 on: June 02, 2017, 10:20:18 pm »
On the two threads youve kindly researched whilst ive enjoyed a day out with family (looking on here periodically whilst kids have been running up n down beach. Tho, dont know why we picked cleethorpes for!, other than its only an hrs drive away). If you read my comments further down in thoses threads it sheds further light. Ie the water being used in a back pack. Perhaps i didnt make it as clear as i should (but i cant be bothered to read all the posts again to find out for sure) but i  posted a picture of the 2 houses i cleaned and said for an example i whipped out the trolley to clean them. In other words i usually use the van system. But trying to be helpful on a thread showing that on a regular maintained work a trolley can clean more than one house as some were saying that you need to drown the windows to ensure a quality clean. Whereas i was saying that, thats not the case as in this example!! On the same example i also said tbe flow was on the highest etc etc.

Same too on the other link, read what i say on face value and you might understand that im trying to offer people advice rather than trying to find fault or be negative.

Yes i have posted vids showing technique, all be it one handed which is very hard to do. I also mentioned thus and to imagine it being done properly with 2 hands and you will see the technique obviously better.      Lol what happened, people criticised the technique which was dodgey and the reason being it was done with one hand. So yea, i might get a slacky with me to film me cleaning a window. But quite frankly, why should i. Lol you might criticise the brush or the camera angle or something just as ridiculous just for the sake of finding something to moan at. Lol or even my poor typing skills on mobi 😂😂
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