[Klean07]

I think this topic has been mentioned before but just lately I'm getting a few like this which after two consecutive months of getting the brush off I just delete from my schedule. Does everyone on here do the same or do some of you persevere with them?

[AuRavelling79]

I think this topic has been mentioned before but just lately I'm getting a few like this which after two consecutive months of getting the brush off I just delete from my schedule. Does everyone on here do the same or do some of you persevere with them?

I'm more severe. And I only pre-warn less than three or four of my customers.

If I arrive and it's couched to me as 'we're ok this month' or 'give us a miss' then I haven't trained them right.

If anyone says that and after I respond with 'is there a reason for that that I haven't taken into consideration?' and they just don't want it doing, then it is an instant dump.

Now to qualify the above - if I arrive and scaffolding is up (for example) and they say 'I'm so sorry we're having the roof fixed and I forgot to let you know.'  Then I'll give them a free pass.

[tonyoliver]

Get two to three when I text the night before
Best ones are Miss this month Miss next month are you haven’t been? We got someone else.

[Stoots]

If its a one off let it slide, if it becomes a habit in the bin. 

[Scottish Cleaning Service]

At the start I used to allow my customers to tell me how to run my business. Now with over 100 customers I just don't go back and don't even text them. If they text then I say I'm on a phased retirement and reducing my customer numbers.
One I took on a few months ago said I would like to go bi monthly because of the dark nights. I texted, fine but it will cost £30 instead of £20 and she was fine by that. I would prefer all my customers to be bi monthly as long as they pay an extra 50% on the monthly fee.

[ants]

I put a note through with a price increase for next visit
If they sack me Im happy,if they accept it Im happy

[Scottish Cleaning Service]

I put a note through with a price increase for next visit
If they sack me Im happy,if they accept it Im happy

That's actually a great answer. Just increase their price and they should realise why you have increased their price. If they keep missing then bump their price up and they will get fed up and look for someone else.

[dazmond]

At the start I used to allow my customers to tell me how to run my business. Now with over 100 customers I just don't go back and don't even text them. If they text then I say I'm on a phased retirement and reducing my customer numbers.
One I took on a few months ago said I would like to go bi monthly because of the dark nights. I texted, fine but it will cost £30 instead of £20 and she was fine by that. I would prefer all my customers to be bi monthly as long as they pay an extra 50% on the monthly fee.

I have over 300 customers(mostly 4 weekly) and some are large jobs and  im still only working 20 hours a week. On a 100 customers you must have loads of spare days for your add on handyman jobs.

[Scottish Cleaning Service]

At the start I used to allow my customers to tell me how to run my business. Now with over 100 customers I just don't go back and don't even text them. If they text then I say I'm on a phased retirement and reducing my customer numbers.
One I took on a few months ago said I would like to go bi monthly because of the dark nights. I texted, fine but it will cost £30 instead of £20 and she was fine by that. I would prefer all my customers to be bi monthly as long as they pay an extra 50% on the monthly fee.

I have over 300 customers(mostly 4 weekly) and some are large jobs and  im still only working 20 hours a week. On a 100 customers you must have loads of spare days for your add on handyman jobs.

If I could stop talking to my customers then I could race through my run. Problem I have is the location of my customers, some are 8 miles away. When I started up I went on Checkatrade and got customers all over the place. Near me they are building 1000 new homes so Going to try and pick up a few. I have 4 already and they have just started building.

[Stoots]

i think its an add on window cleaning round at 100 custys, a weeks work a month.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

We are looking at this the wrong way round.  Glass half empty or hall full?

For me, if I get skip, I think yea, one less job to do today,  More time to do what I enjoy. 

But on a serious note, on a skip, I always let them know I allow a maximum of 2 skips a year.  Education education.

[AuRavelling79]

We are looking at this the wrong way round.  Glass half empty or hall full?

For me, if I get skip, I think yea, one less job to do today,  More time to do what I enjoy. 

But on a serious note, on a skip, I always let them know I allow a maximum of 2 skips a year.  Education education.

That's not education. That's letting the class run riot.     

[Splash and dash]

If there is a genuine reason not to do them building work decorating no problem any other cancellation they are in breach of the verbal contract that we made so they are reminded of that if they still say leave it it’s an instant dump ,we would never take them back on , but we rarely get this situation as when at quoting stage it’s stressed they are agreeing to a regular clean all year in any weather within reason ,if they  hesitate they arnt a customer we want so don’t take them on this stops 99% of this situation developing

[Always shining]

All depends on where or who the customer is imo. If you do say five in a row it makes it more tricky to get rid of the middle customer if they are playing up. You’re allowing the possibility of a new cleaner jumping in right in the middle of your run. And also how friendly are they with their neighbours?
Just have to be aware that you could end up losing all five on the run.
Also if you have someone playing up but you do several family members and friends of theirs then again more tricky just dumping them.
Sometimes I find it’s just easier swallowing it.
If it’s someone stuck out on their own somewhere then of course it’s easier to just get rid.
Been in this game for 40 years now and I still haven’t completely fathomed out completely what a customer may or may not do.
My take on it is if 99% of customers play ball then I can live with the odd messer. Just got to not let it get to you.

[Splash and dash]

All depends on where or who the customer is imo. If you do say five in a row it makes it more tricky to get rid of the middle customer if they are playing up. You’re allowing the possibility of a new cleaner jumping in right in the middle of your run. And also how friendly are they with their neighbours?
Just have to be aware that you could end up losing all five on the run.
Also if you have someone playing up but you do several family members and friends of theirs then again more tricky just dumping them.
Sometimes I find it’s just easier swallowing it.
If it’s someone stuck out on their own somewhere then of course it’s easier to just get rid.
Been in this game for 40 years now and I still haven’t completely fathomed out completely what a customer may or may not do.
My take on it is if 99% of customers play ball then I can live with the odd messer. Just got to not let it get to you.

I here what you are saying personally I would take the chance on loosing the lot not that this has ever happened , it’s my business and run it the way I want ime not having customers just pick and choose when they want their windows cleaning if 50% of customers did this especially when employing  you would be in serious trouble , when we have occasionally had this happen quite often the  neighbours say they are a bit strange or what ever and you just loose the one , if it’s many family members again I just dump them if the rest get funny about it that’s fine go else ware , the old expression “ you can keep some of the people happy some of the time but not   all the people all the time comes to mind “