van insurance

This is an advertisement
Interested In Advertising? | Contact Us Here

Warning!

 

Welcome to Clean It Up; the UK`s largest cleaning forum with over 34,000 members

 

Please login or register to post and reply to topics.      

 

Forgot your password? Click here

Stoots

  • Posts: 5986
Can i have a quote
« on: June 24, 2022, 05:41:33 pm »
So today i was cleaning a house when a neighbour came over and asked the old "How much do you charge" ?

Ill come and have a look when ive cleaned this...

Then he proceeded to tell me this story...

He had told his window cleaner last time he saw him to not clean the windows because it was going to rain the next day so whats the point in doing them ?, waste of money he says he had a habit or doing them the day before rain was due  ::)roll

Then he says the window cleaner last month turned up cleaned a few neighbours and missed his house out. When he questioned the cleaner he apparently had an attitude problem as he refused to clean them  ;D

Honestly i couldnt believe what he was telling me i didnt know what to say, i just drove off and never went to quote him haha


Blue Frog Systems

  • Posts: 3813
Re: Can i have a quote
« Reply #1 on: June 24, 2022, 06:18:28 pm »
People like that don't realise they are telling you they are a bad customer. In their head the window cleaner is in the wrong.

I've got a customer similar who says no if it might rain in the next few days. Haven't cleaned them in 6 months now and she has stopped asking. Each time I've told her it's due to rain and no point . Still clean the neighbours either side
Only those who risk going too far will truly know how far they can actually go

Simon Trapani

  • Posts: 1460
Re: Can i have a quote
« Reply #2 on: June 24, 2022, 06:28:08 pm »
I wouldn’t of driven off. I would of told him straight up why & that I couldn’t run my business like that. Now the clown is none the wiser.

Stoots

  • Posts: 5986
Re: Can i have a quote
« Reply #3 on: June 24, 2022, 07:02:44 pm »
I wouldn’t of driven off. I would of told him straight up why & that I couldn’t run my business like that. Now the clown is none the wiser.

Yeh it's easy to say that, that's what I said to myself after hed walked off...damn should have told him that I work in rain and put him straight blah blah.

But at the time he's already asked and I'd already said I'll be over, then he told me that story and by the time it had sank in he'd gone.

So to flounce seemed the only option  ;D

AuRavelling79

  • Posts: 23264
Re: Can i have a quote
« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2022, 09:20:21 pm »
I wouldn’t of driven off. I would of told him straight up why & that I couldn’t run my business like that. Now the clown is none the wiser.

Yeh it's easy to say that, that's what I said to myself after hed walked off...damn should have told him that I work in rain and put him straight blah blah.

But at the time he's already asked and I'd already said I'll be over, then he told me that story and by the time it had sank in he'd gone.

So to flounce seemed the only option  ;D

I haven't had a good flounce for ages.  ;D
It's a game of three halves!

james peters

  • Posts: 931
Re: Can i have a quote
« Reply #5 on: June 25, 2022, 08:27:27 am »
I  have  a ball ache customer that will be educated next time shes due, or dropped.
she always tries to tie me to a time.  then its fuss fuss fuss.

last month she asked if i knew any lawn cutting men as her guy had just stopped calling , and wont answer his phone . ;D ;D

I know a few , but there is no way I would give her their number ;D


richard connett

  • Posts: 292
Re: Can i have a quote
« Reply #6 on: June 25, 2022, 09:16:01 am »
Depends on my mood wether I take the time to educate people. Most of the time I can’t be bothered and just steer clear of people like that . Your wasting your breath

EandM

  • Posts: 2163
Re: Can i have a quote
« Reply #7 on: June 25, 2022, 11:25:04 am »
I had one yesterday:

Phone call from a customer about 20 minutes from me;

" Our windows are being painted on Monday and we need them cleaned beforehand.
We have a reliable window cleaner who we can't get hold off - we think he's on holiday.
Can I clean them now? "

I had 90 minutes before I went to my last two jobs, so I did. Quoted them upwards of £50 for 32 windows and five skylights in a farm complex.
Cleaned them and then it was,

" But you we're only here 40 minutes? " - Yes, plus 40 minutes traveling and about £9 diesel.

" It's twice what the other chap charges " - The one you can't get hold of?

" There are water droplets on the lower parts of some of the windows " - Those not facing the Sun and out of the wind you mean?

" My other window cleaner uses blades " - So did I, 15 years ago.

" I need to dry the windows off myself " - No, you need to be patient.

Bottom line:

If you have a window cleaner prepared to do this work for £25 then cherish and nurture him.
Put him in your will and most importantly, give me his number so I can sub him out.


Spruce

  • Posts: 8345
Re: Can i have a quote
« Reply #8 on: June 25, 2022, 01:39:14 pm »
I  have  a ball ache customer that will be educated next time shes due, or dropped.
she always tries to tie me to a time.  then its fuss fuss fuss.

last month she asked if i knew any lawn cutting men as her guy had just stopped calling , and wont answer his phone . ;D ;D

I know a few , but there is no way I would give her their number ;D

Give her a mobile number of a guy in America ;D
Success is 1% inspiration, 98% perspiration and 2% attention to detail!

The older I get, the better I was ;)

EandM

  • Posts: 2163
Re: Can i have a quote
« Reply #9 on: June 25, 2022, 01:52:20 pm »
I  have  a ball ache customer that will be educated next time shes due, or dropped.
she always tries to tie me to a time.  then its fuss fuss fuss.

last month she asked if i knew any lawn cutting men as her guy had just stopped calling , and wont answer his phone . ;D ;D

I know a few , but there is no way I would give her their number ;D

I've just dropped one for similar reasons.

It was exhausting!

The last straw, after I finally managed to get a monthly clean established was them complaining that I'd turned up two days early. I tried pointing out that it was the correct month and it would still be 12 cleans throughout the year but I got nowhere.

I did ask what I should do about a non-leap year February, (29 day return) but I think it passed her by.

It's just occurred to me at 53 that I simply don't have the desire, the brain power or the energy to deal with stupid or mad people anymore.

I'm off to sit quietly in a field for an hour or two...

AuRavelling79

  • Posts: 23264
Re: Can i have a quote
« Reply #10 on: June 26, 2022, 10:35:26 am »
So today i was cleaning a house when a neighbour came over and asked the old "How much do you charge" ?

Ill come and have a look when ive cleaned this...

Then he proceeded to tell me this story...

He had told his window cleaner last time he saw him to not clean the windows because it was going to rain the next day so whats the point in doing them ?, waste of money he says he had a habit or doing them the day before rain was due  ::)roll

Then he says the window cleaner last month turned up cleaned a few neighbours and missed his house out. When he questioned the cleaner he apparently had an attitude problem as he refused to clean them  ;D

Honestly i couldnt believe what he was telling me i didnt know what to say, i just drove off and never went to quote him haha

Usually I would do the same as you. Once last year I had similar and a bit of time and basically said "Would you like me to explain why you can't find a window cleaner?"

To his credit he said yes. So I told him that ...

A reliable window cleaner usually has as much work as he can handle.
He will call on his schedule which is viewed as there to remove the last 8 weeks worth of dirt and filth, not worry about whether it is or certainly whether it will be raining.
He will generally only take on customers that fit in with his way of doing things.
He will only take on pleasant and accommodating customers.

The above means that he will avoid jobs that are ...
Underpriced. Have access issues. Or the customer refuses to give the gate lock combination, a key or let me use a short ladder to hop the gate.

And avoid customers that say "not this time because ..."
I am on holiday/it's gonna rain/my budgie died/it's too hot, cold, wet or icy.

At that point he told me he was not going to be dictated by a window cleaner to which I asked "Who has the attitude problem?" and turned away. ;D

It's a game of three halves!

dazmond

  • Posts: 23504
Re: Can i have a quote
« Reply #11 on: June 27, 2022, 07:47:39 pm »
As soon as a customer says 'can you miss mine as its going to rain later' get dumped straight away.....

Luckily it's only ever happened to me a couple of times in 29 years of window cleaning  ;D
price higher/work harder!

CleanClear

  • Posts: 14210
Re: Can i have a quote
« Reply #12 on: June 28, 2022, 08:16:47 pm »
So today i was cleaning a house when a neighbour came over and asked the old "How much do you charge" ?

Ill come and have a look when ive cleaned this...

Then he proceeded to tell me this story...

He had told his window cleaner last time he saw him to not clean the windows because it was going to rain the next day so whats the point in doing them ?, waste of money he says he had a habit or doing them the day before rain was due  ::)roll

Then he says the window cleaner last month turned up cleaned a few neighbours and missed his house out. When he questioned the cleaner he apparently had an attitude problem as he refused to clean them  ;D

Honestly i couldnt believe what he was telling me i didnt know what to say, i just drove off and never went to quote him haha

I'm finding it hard to believe you can't tell the truth and say the customer was Indian ? Or where they ?
*Status*--------Currently Online---------

Stoots

  • Posts: 5986
Re: Can i have a quote
« Reply #13 on: June 29, 2022, 11:22:23 am »
So today i was cleaning a house when a neighbour came over and asked the old "How much do you charge" ?

Ill come and have a look when ive cleaned this...

Then he proceeded to tell me this story...

He had told his window cleaner last time he saw him to not clean the windows because it was going to rain the next day so whats the point in doing them ?, waste of money he says he had a habit or doing them the day before rain was due  ::)roll

Then he says the window cleaner last month turned up cleaned a few neighbours and missed his house out. When he questioned the cleaner he apparently had an attitude problem as he refused to clean them  ;D

Honestly i couldnt believe what he was telling me i didnt know what to say, i just drove off and never went to quote him haha

I'm finding it hard to believe you can't tell the truth and say the customer was Indian ? Or where they ?

No it was an old white bloke .

If they were Indian I'd quite happily tell you.

Soupy

  • Posts: 19326
Re: Can i have a quote
« Reply #14 on: June 29, 2022, 11:25:08 am »
So today i was cleaning a house when a neighbour came over and asked the old "How much do you charge" ?

Ill come and have a look when ive cleaned this...

Then he proceeded to tell me this story...

He had told his window cleaner last time he saw him to not clean the windows because it was going to rain the next day so whats the point in doing them ?, waste of money he says he had a habit or doing them the day before rain was due  ::)roll

Then he says the window cleaner last month turned up cleaned a few neighbours and missed his house out. When he questioned the cleaner he apparently had an attitude problem as he refused to clean them  ;D

Honestly i couldnt believe what he was telling me i didnt know what to say, i just drove off and never went to quote him haha

I'm finding it hard to believe you can't tell the truth and say the customer was Indian ? Or where they ?

No it was an old white bloke .

If they were Indian I'd quite happily tell you.

I find that almost all of the customers I've had over the years who act this way were white.
Every line of serious work that I have written since 1936 has been written, directly or indirectly, against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism, as I understand it - George Orwell

G Griffin

  • Posts: 40745
Re: Can i have a quote
« Reply #15 on: June 29, 2022, 01:06:37 pm »
So today i was cleaning a house when a neighbour came over and asked the old "How much do you charge" ?

Ill come and have a look when ive cleaned this...

Then he proceeded to tell me this story...

He had told his window cleaner last time he saw him to not clean the windows because it was going to rain the next day so whats the point in doing them ?, waste of money he says he had a habit or doing them the day before rain was due  ::)roll

Then he says the window cleaner last month turned up cleaned a few neighbours and missed his house out. When he questioned the cleaner he apparently had an attitude problem as he refused to clean them  ;D

Honestly i couldnt believe what he was telling me i didnt know what to say, i just drove off and never went to quote him haha

I'm finding it hard to believe you can't tell the truth and say the customer was Indian ? Or where they ?

No it was an old white bloke .

If they were Indian I'd quite happily tell you.
Ageist!
How do you know he- I'll leave his gender for now- wasn't Indian?
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ggh

  • Posts: 1681
Re: Can i have a quote
« Reply #16 on: June 29, 2022, 04:13:12 pm »
Could be a white Indian?
Z21 cherry picker and operator for hire
From £350/day
07813474290

Gringo

  • Posts: 308
Re: Can i have a quote
« Reply #17 on: June 29, 2022, 04:17:16 pm »
Or Albino indian

Stoots

  • Posts: 5986
Re: Can i have a quote
« Reply #18 on: June 29, 2022, 04:44:45 pm »
So today i was cleaning a house when a neighbour came over and asked the old "How much do you charge" ?

Ill come and have a look when ive cleaned this...

Then he proceeded to tell me this story...

He had told his window cleaner last time he saw him to not clean the windows because it was going to rain the next day so whats the point in doing them ?, waste of money he says he had a habit or doing them the day before rain was due  ::)roll

Then he says the window cleaner last month turned up cleaned a few neighbours and missed his house out. When he questioned the cleaner he apparently had an attitude problem as he refused to clean them  ;D

Honestly i couldnt believe what he was telling me i didnt know what to say, i just drove off and never went to quote him haha

I'm finding it hard to believe you can't tell the truth and say the customer was Indian ? Or where they ?

No it was an old white bloke .

If they were Indian I'd quite happily tell you.
Ageist!
How do you know he- I'll leave his gender for now- wasn't Indian?

Grey hair, white, thick Yorkshire accent, referred to me as cocker...looked like something out of the film brassed off.


G Griffin

  • Posts: 40745
Re: Can i have a quote
« Reply #19 on: June 29, 2022, 04:49:22 pm »
Cliff Richard was born in India and you can't get more British than him.
Except for the Royal Family, maybe.
Oh, hang on............
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐