[Fast 1 *]

I done a job today,and its one of them jobs that you get the feeling they think its a pain in the ar*e paying you every 4 weeks.Its one of those jobs where they dont really keep the insides of their windows clean.Every time i have done the job,i felt they were gonna say something,and today they said they only want a windowcleaner in the summer,and told me they didnt need me.They didnt even thank me for my servicesNow what im wondering is, is this quite common.Do window cleaners start losing a bit of work around winter time,or is it just a few dodgy customers.as you maybe aware,i have only been window cleaning 8 months,so i havent loads of winter experience.Are people alot less concerned in the winter about their windows being clean?

[pjulk]

I also lost one today.

I have only cleaned him twice and he moaned the first time as i parked my van on his drive.

The second time i cleaned him he said i left a mark.
I went round to check and it was on the inside.

Today he rang me and said.
Don't bother comming again i will do it myself.
Fine i said you were a bit of a pain anyway and you were already on my get rid of list.

He said nothing and put the phone down

I don't normally lose any work unless the move or die or i stop them for whatever reason.

But you do get the odd one that just wants a summer window cleaner.
These i don't take back on.

Paul

[AuRavelling79]

It has happened to me in the past - but not any more cuz when they come tugging at your sleeve in the spring you can say "Sorry - if you want a window cleaner in the summer then you've got to have them in the winter." or "I'm afraid my round is full of regular customers who are loyal and I don't want to lower the quality of my round" (Smile sweetly and walk away).

[Fast 1 *]

I also remember a little while ago,i was canvessing and i priced a front only job for five quid.They were lead windows and the frames were filthy,so really i went in too cheap.Anyway,drove there to do it,then the bloke came out and said"dont bother mate,my kids will do it for their pocket money"What a p*ick.judging by his house,this bloke wasnt short of a few bob.Whats a fiver to him anyway

[macc]

Hi FAST ONE.

Like you say mate its early days. In no time you will get a feeling about customers. The good ones way out number the bad ones so dont worry.

We have all had this & it wont be the last. At least in the spring if they have the front to ask, which often they do, its pay back time .

Macc

[paul mather]

Don't fret mate according to the latest statistics there are still 59,999,999 other customers to choose from, their loss.

[JohnL]

you will soon pick up more to replace him

 . . and he 's probably been reading your polls                  

JohnL

[Trevor Knight]

I have a few customers who go from monthly to 2 monthly but thats about it.

Like the guys have said, if i am not needed in the winter then when I come to take them back on in the spring my price would be double to compensate for lost work.

Business is business and bills need to be paid, ALL YEAR AROUND!!

Best wishes,

Trev

[matt]

i had 1 last year

i still laugh when i do all the other houses in the little cul-de-sac when i see they cannot see out of the top windows

of course they think we dont have bill to pay in the winter as we are all on the dole and just do it for beer money

[Paul Coleman]

I done a job today,and its one of them jobs that you get the feeling they think its a pain in the ar*e paying you every 4 weeks.Its one of those jobs where they dont really keep the insides of their windows clean.Every time i have done the job,i felt they were gonna say something,and today they said they only want a windowcleaner in the summer,and told me they didnt need me.They didnt even thank me for my servicesNow what im wondering is, is this quite common.Do window cleaners start losing a bit of work around winter time,or is it just a few dodgy customers.as you maybe aware,i have only been window cleaning 8 months,so i havent loads of winter experience.Are people alot less concerned in the winter about their windows being clean?

In fifteen years, the number of cancellations due to Winter have been in single figures.  A few have asked me to restart in Spring but I just tell them that I need to look after my regulars first.  Then they can either keep the service or cancel it.  One person even suggested I close my business down in the Winter.  He became an ex-customer.

[pjulk]

I tell them that they get more dirtier in the winter and they usually stay with you then.

Paul

[neil100]

I have two customers who only have their windows cleaned from April to September.

I charge those a pound extra when I do them. I dont mind if they miss the winter months  because I struggle to keep up with all my work through the winter.

This is the time of year when customers will stop haveing their w/cleaned. Short days and bad weather make people think they are throwing their money away. With riseing energy bills I am expecting to lose a few this winter.

Haveing said all that I have to say that August this year is the best month I have had for getting new customers. I have just finnished at 6.45pm cos people just kept asking me to clean their windows. They where Mesmerised by me cleaning with wfp. 5 new customers and £55 extra earned. Thats 24 new customers this month alone worth another £340. I have lost 5 customers worth £66. though.

Just stick at it Fastone, it will all come good. I know it hurts when you lose a customer and you dont have that many.

Nel.

[jeff1]

I tell them that they get more dirtier in the winter and they usually stay with you then.

Paul

So right Paul, I have lost one customer in 9 years to the winter attitude, all the time or not at all is my motto

[windows_chepstow]

Fast One,

I think during my first Winter I had three customers who asked me not to clean their windows till Spring; I dropped them.

During my second I had two (I think) who asked similar.  Dropped also.

During my third I don't think I had one who asked!

Now my terms and conditions are printed on my 'Your window cleaner has been chit' and I have very little trouble from my customers.

I clean at the appointed intervals to an acceptable standard and they pay me as we originally agreed.

My advice is to drop any customers who tries to mess you about or change the terms and conditions too much into their favour.  Obviously use a bit of discretion and common sense at the same time though.

For example, I have one 'class' commercial account and also used to clean the manager's residence on a monthly basis.

I think he found me too expensive, so only asks me to clean on an ad hoc basis.  Normally I would've dropped this account, but the commercial account makes this buggerance worthwhile.

[Pj]

Well, I don't really have too hard and fast rules. 
Generally when I take on new residential work they ask how often I will clean etc.  I tell them I prefer once a month and all year round and I only stop if the rain is too bad.  that sorts most out. 
The ones like you say are few and far between, some I have dropped, some, I put up with because I have priced it accordingly.  I have a handful that call me whenever they want me, mostly quite big country house types, "if the price is right....come on down!"  But there are the odd ones who are bread and butter price to start with - can't really justify being messed around too much by that kind.  But I usually try to explain it fairly and reasonably.  I tell customers I don't just come in the summer, this is my business, my living, I depend on it, I provide a year-round maintenance service!
Some say ok, go ahead, once it's explained, some still say no, I don't think any like that have ever had the nerve to call me again.

[EasyClean]

If a new customer asks to have their windows cleaned on a regular basis only I explain that I have a full round and that I will start cleaning their's in a couple of weeks time or the next time around as I've just finished the area I'm in. Judge the customer's reaction when you tell them this and in most cases you can 'sus' out who the genuine, honest, regular cusomers will be as they're not shocked and don't mind waiting.

[geefree]

Well guys , i must be the only one here who has not lost a single customer ever  ....

[captain lard]

I lost one a fortnight ago but only cos she is moving but she took me card to get me to do her new house so I think I am still in the havent lost one yet bracket but I have only been in the game 6 months.

[geefree]

nobody laughed, ive only been cleaning 3 weeks

[mustafa]

anotder day one custemer phone me i give him my price he said ok next day i did go the clean his windows and he told me can you do all frames and everything you see white i told him i charge extra . he said to me no this is doesn t take to long i done it myself and hesaid i give you bit more i said him this is my prices he said "no"too much . i said to him ifyou think this is doesn t take to long  why u dont do it urself why did you phone me
some people they want too job done but they don t wanna pay too much?
if custemer worying about  £2 or £1   it means in the fature if u put ur prices up they ll say don t come back again . don t never put ur prices down when u give them first time. lots of window cleaner  i do 3 bed semi house my prrices £10 they do £7   i work less then they work i get maybe more money cos they prices low.