[DP365]

I just say “no problem”.

If it happens a few times, I’ll debate within myself if I want them as a customer.

Usually I’m  Not fussed, so just don’t go back unless they ask me.

Then I make the point of saying “I’m Fully booked up today, but I can put you back in the regular schedule for next month”? That makes the point that they can’t just hop in and out whenever they feel The need.  If they continue messing about after that I just say I can’t take hem
On anymore as I’m
Too busy with regular customers. If they wanted to come back in it would need to be regular.

Cheers Guys...
Is the Bane of my life lol as all customers require a text NB4 these days if you get a decent few drop off is very difficult to recouperate the loss. I think train them to begin with, set it out in stone is the way forward if you can but if like me then you take it on the chin and say no problems see you next time... Better four cleans a year than no cleans I guess...! Tell you what though sign up all Customers GoCardless on an 8 x per year no quibble agreement and your business is a little gold mine... Oh if only haha. Good luck fellas 🤪

what frequency are these customers on mate?

We clean on a 6 weekly & a 12 majority on the 6 and the majority of the postpones are the 6 🙄

[DP365]

I hear all your comments Guys, is a tough one for me this and been a constant conundrum as what to do for the best.. Massive part of me wants to just drop them as would make life so much easier but the other part of me knows it’s part of the window cleaning game if you want to grow as a business! Just need to somehow weed out the messers to those that are genuine. 🤪🤨🤔

[Johnny B]

I'll tell you what, in theory this job should be easy, the reality is it can be a ballache if you don't have the right customers. And even if you do it never runs smoothly, there's always one to ruin your day with a not today etc.

We might be able to earn good money, but we deserve it with all the crap we have to put up with at times, bad weather, bad custys, it's not all roses is it

I believe many people come into this game thinking it's easy work for easy money. They become disillusioned when reality hits them and many either give up or trudge on, seeing it as drudgery (albeit well paid drudgery).

I believe it's what you make it. I went into it with low expectations (I started off part time working for a friend).  When I went it alone I kept my sights relatively low and to this day (21 years later) I don't expect too much out of my business other than making a living from it.

I have enough work, I earn enough from it, but above all, I am content.

John

[dazmond]

I'll tell you what, in theory this job should be easy, the reality is it can be a ballache if you don't have the right customers. And even if you do it never runs smoothly, there's always one to ruin your day with a not today etc.

We might be able to earn good money, but we deserve it with all the crap we have to put up with at times, bad weather, bad custys, it's not all roses is it

if one customer  telling you to not bother cleaning their windows  adam ruins your day your in for a big surprise when you start employing.your gonna have a few proper problems/ballaches for sure!

IMO you need a change of  attitude.

every day i go to work i have a worksheet on my phone to get through.most of the time things run smoothly but i already know that things can change throughout the course of my working day.a "not today" because of building/landscape work,a front only customer who wants me to clean the backs or a new walk up job for example.

its swings and roundabouts.

[AuRavelling79]

Well my "stance" was tested today. Twice.

Very windy day but dry and improving  - two said "not today". (That never have before) They need training.

1. Old boy - Mr. H.  He's driving off as I pull up and lowers his car window as I'm unreeling. "Ooh - I get the weather here so I'll leave it today. See you next time." And he immediately drives off, leaving me standing there.

He's never done it before in 18 months and I do 5 small houses from one spot and I carried on and did his other neighbours who paid up as sweet as a nut.

Now he will get trained. I have "suspended" him on George and when I go next time he will be waiting at the door, money ready - rear gate unlocked. And I shall tell him I haven't scheduled him this time and he will either ask why or "get funny". I don't mind which.

I will politely (re) explain that I have a waiting list of customers who want a regular cleaner, that I don't accept doorstep cancellations and that I have scheduled my work for the day and haven't got time to do his windows. He'll either tell me to go away and never come back or accept my further explanation that I can only put him back on the round for next time if he assures me it won't happen again.

Could go either way and I really don't mind which.

2.  Mrs J. -  Normally they unlock the gate ready for my arrival after phoning at about 7 weeks to find out my likely day of arrival, or it's just unlocked. I never ring up to get gates opened. She hasn't phoned so I just turn up.

She says "Oh! Can I leave it this time? Only after you did them last time (Nov) - two days later they were filthy."

Me: "Well Mrs J., surely they'll really need cleaning now then won't they?  - As I said when I started - I provide a regular service every 8 weeks - if I leave them that will be almost 4 months."

Mrs J: "Well it's just that the weather lately is awful."

Me: "I know - that's an English winter for you - what would you like me to do?"

Mrs J: (Obviously a bit irritated - possibly wondering whether to drop me or to put up with me to retain "the devil you know" or keep a reliable and decent window cleaner - who knows?) "Well I suppose you'd better do them as you're here."

Me: "Honestly - I'm really busy with more than enough customers - I don't mind if you'd rather find another window cleaner ... "

Mrs J: "No, no - please carry on, would you like a cup of tea?"

Could have gone either way. I really don't mind.

...   ...   ...   ...

Funnily enough another customer said "Oh I'm glad you arrived today - my lean-to roof is covered in bits of moss from all the wind and rain - have you got time to give it a once over?"

(Sure - Mr. H sacked me off and you're a nice old biddy, why not?)

[dazmond]

i couldnt believe how windy it was this afternoon at times.shocking but i managed to get all my scheduled work cleaned with no cancellations. .

only fly in the ointment was cracking a pane of glass but i reckon ill get someone to replace it for £100.(its only a little ground floor top opener,outside pane).

[slap bash]

No today thanks: is proof they don`t consider you a business, but some sort of charity. Which I am not. They would not book a plumber then cancel when he arrives. Then why should we be any different?They can do the decent thing and cancel in advance. Or,  I would rock up at his house next time and say Sorry Mate I cannot clean your windows today. I am just as reliable as you are.
It only happens because we don`t have the balls to say so.

[Steve Newres]

I dumped one today. Is a slight pain in the backside job, but then about 6 months ago they got a dog and requested a text the day before as they now keep the gate locked. Texted this evening for tomorrow and get a “sorry tomorrow doesn’t work for us. Leave us until February “. Dumped. “Doesn’t work for us” in  text ought really to get more serious sanctions. It really is patronising.

[P @ F]

Exactly 12 months ago I put my prices up , as i posted the rise letter through the door of this 500k house the owner comes out the side gate and jumps in his Jag and says out the window  "Dont bother doing them now , i will call you when i need you "
I know he hasnt seen the rise so it isnt that , but being as he was a slow payer and a messer in general , i shout back  " Alrighty "

Today his wife pitches up as im doing next door and asks me to do them today , i tell her that i cant as im almost out of water and that i will do them tomorrow , ok lovely she says .

Tomorrow i will be doing 4 houses on the other side of them , then im going to pack up and drive off .

I will have lost £17 on this usual 20 minute clean , not that it would have been priced at that due to the 12 month gap  , the thing is , i am not going to do it for any inflated price out of spite , i have not missed his 17 notes and am not about to roll over like a good little doggie so he can bin me off again when hes sees fit .

You take the P and you are gone never to grace my books again 

[Marc Stock]

You know what guys. This game is tough.

So many people think its an easy living. Its just not is it.

Keep on going!

[G Griffin]

I dumped one today. Is a slight pain in the backside job, but then about 6 months ago they got a dog and requested a text the day before as they now keep the gate locked. Texted this evening for tomorrow and get a “sorry tomorrow doesn’t work for us. Leave us until February “. Dumped. “Doesn’t work for us” in  text ought really to get more serious sanctions. It really is patronising.

I agree, strongly.
Tomorrow doesn't work for them? Tomorrow is Friday, so tell them that you're no man Friday.
Then blow the gates off and let the dog out. 

[Johnny B]

I dumped one today. Is a slight pain in the backside job, but then about 6 months ago they got a dog and requested a text the day before as they now keep the gate locked. Texted this evening for tomorrow and get a “sorry tomorrow doesn’t work for us. Leave us until February “. Dumped. “Doesn’t work for us” in  text ought really to get more serious sanctions. It really is patronising.

I'm very tolerant and flexible regarding postponements or the odd skipping of a clean, but if I got a text like that I would drop then too.

For me it's about attitude. If they had said they wanted to leave it this time in a tactful way, I'd have accepted it. If they come across as patronising as the reply you received did, they're gone.

John

[Stoots]

I'll tell you what, in theory this job should be easy, the reality is it can be a ballache if you don't have the right customers. And even if you do it never runs smoothly, there's always one to ruin your day with a not today etc.

We might be able to earn good money, but we deserve it with all the crap we have to put up with at times, bad weather, bad custys, it's not all roses is it

I believe many people come into this game thinking it's easy work for easy money. They become disillusioned when reality hits them and many either give up or trudge on, seeing it as drudgery (albeit well paid drudgery).

I believe it's what you make it. I went into it with low expectations (I started off part time working for a friend).  When I went it alone I kept my sights relatively low and to this day (21 years later) I don't expect too much out of my business other than making a living from it.

I have enough work, I earn enough from it, but above all, I am content.

John

The frustrating thing is it should be easy work for way money.

You agree a monthly clean, you go out and do it and the money appears in your account. Of course we know it's not that easy, the weather will stop you cleaning it, the customer will stop you cleaning it and then never pay you.

What we need is contracts.

I think go cardless is the closest we are going to get to a guaranteed income.

But you are right, given all the problems that come with this job I can see why some people just do it part time and choose the cream work. Not a bad idea

[slap bash]

Bea man, start putting your foot down and get rid of these maybe customers and have a better happier business life. \Its only takes a 1-degree change in course to creating a new norm. We focus too much on the one crap customer when we already have many good customers. Get rid I say. GET RIDE.

[Stoots]

This was on monday, cleaned her every month for about 6 months.




I'm sure some people think we do this job for a laugh and that it's not serious, maybe we do it for few extra quid on the side of our proper job? I don't know why some think it's ok to pick and choose all of a sudden.

[dazmond]

You know what guys. This game is tough.

So many people think its an easy living. Its just not is it.

Keep on going!

its tough when your just starting out but once you ve got a good solid customer base i think its easy esp now with wfp,electronic payments and round software.

yes its hard work sometimes but not back breaking work like landcape gardening for instance.

[dazmond]

I'll tell you what, in theory this job should be easy, the reality is it can be a ballache if you don't have the right customers. And even if you do it never runs smoothly, there's always one to ruin your day with a not today etc.

We might be able to earn good money, but we deserve it with all the crap we have to put up with at times, bad weather, bad custys, it's not all roses is it

I believe many people come into this game thinking it's easy work for easy money. They become disillusioned when reality hits them and many either give up or trudge on, seeing it as drudgery (albeit well paid drudgery).

I believe it's what you make it. I went into it with low expectations (I started off part time working for a friend).  When I went it alone I kept my sights relatively low and to this day (21 years later) I don't expect too much out of my business other than making a living from it.

I have enough work, I earn enough from it, but above all, I am content.

John

The frustrating thing is it should be easy work for way money.

You agree a monthly clean, you go out and do it and the money appears in your account. Of course we know it's not that easy, the weather will stop you cleaning it, the customer will stop you cleaning it and then never pay you.

What we need is contracts.

I think go cardless is the closest we are going to get to a guaranteed income.

But you are right, given all the problems that come with this job I can see why some people just do it part time and choose the cream work. Not a bad idea

1.the weather hardly ever stops me cleaning windows

2.i very rarely get a "not today".if i do i simply move onto my next job.no worries.

3.i wrote off £100 last year out of  £43,000+ turnover.not worth bothering about.(its usually around £40-£50)

[chopsie]

I really must go out in all weathers like you Dazmond. It’s been crap all week here and is peeing down again this morning, I did a bit yesterday, but got soaked to the skin when the wind suddenly picked up and a downpour came along. I worry that the customers will complain about me cleaning in this weather, although the one I did in the downpour has text me this morning saying brilliant job and the money has been put in my account.

[Stoots]

I'll tell you what, in theory this job should be easy, the reality is it can be a ballache if you don't have the right customers. And even if you do it never runs smoothly, there's always one to ruin your day with a not today etc.

We might be able to earn good money, but we deserve it with all the crap we have to put up with at times, bad weather, bad custys, it's not all roses is it

I believe many people come into this game thinking it's easy work for easy money. They become disillusioned when reality hits them and many either give up or trudge on, seeing it as drudgery (albeit well paid drudgery).

I believe it's what you make it. I went into it with low expectations (I started off part time working for a friend).  When I went it alone I kept my sights relatively low and to this day (21 years later) I don't expect too much out of my business other than making a living from it.

I have enough work, I earn enough from it, but above all, I am content.

John

The frustrating thing is it should be easy work for way money.

You agree a monthly clean, you go out and do it and the money appears in your account. Of course we know it's not that easy, the weather will stop you cleaning it, the customer will stop you cleaning it and then never pay you.

What we need is contracts.

I think go cardless is the closest we are going to get to a guaranteed income.

But you are right, given all the problems that come with this job I can see why some people just do it part time and choose the cream work. Not a bad idea

1.the weather hardly ever stops me cleaning windows

2.i very rarely get a "not today".if i do i simply move onto my next job.no worries.

3.i wrote off £100 last year out of  £43,000+ turnover.not worth bothering about.(its usually around £40-£50)

I know mate.

But in the flip side

The weather this week has meant it's been my worst weeks earnings for about 2 years! Today is the only day when it's not been sideways rain.

Ive had 3 not today's this week and dumped 2 for bring long term Messer's.

I wrote off about 500 quid at least and have about another 100 that will be written off. I don't sent 4 to small claims court, got paid for 3 and the other no response so 25 quid more out of pocket on him.

We can earn good money but to get it with have to put up with a lot of crap, not to mention bookwork, taxes advertising, fixing stuff. The list goes on.

For me the job is still a farce at times, what keeps me going is that I know one day I can be just like you with a nice round and no stress, it's just a matter of time.

[JandS]

Unless it's for obvious building work I never get asked to leave till next time.
Then again I don't clean in high winds, driving rain or snow....makes you wonder.