A man who herds and tends cattle on a ranch, esp. in the western U.S., and who traditionally goes about most of his work on horseback. Or
A reckless or irresponsible person, esp. a show-off or one who undertakes a dangerous or sensitive task heedlessly.
One of the few sensible posts in this thread.
It is a potentially good thread but is being spoilt by antagonistic and beligerent replies.
Please people, ease up on the swear words too, outside of this forum I swear like a trooper, but on here it is frowned upon, putting asterisks or @@ in there hides nothing.
We all swear, but it isn't allowed on the forum guys.
However, to make a comment of my own on the subject of cowboys...
Mike's comment summed it all up I think.
And just because someone is using a tea towel for wiping down sills and frames does not make them either a cowboy or unprofessional.
The same goes for the type of bucket they use.
Othe descriptions of the reckless way in which they climb or use ladders is a better indication of whether or not they are cowboys.
Same as not having a BOAB or pouches, go back 25 years and you would not see any wiindow cleaners using this equipment.
I started 22 and a half years ago, I bought my equipment from a supplier we found in Brum, and he had some soft pouches for a squeeggee and other pouches for scrims.
When I got these, in my area there was not a single window cleaner using them, and all around I never saw anyone outside of my area either.
I developed the idea further and had my own designs made up for pouches and applicator/squeegee pouches.
Within a short time, a year or two, the guy who made them for me was making loads of them and selling them to other window cleaners, some of which I had but onto him, and others that had then did the same.
now of course just about all of us have them....so much so that SOME of us reckon that not having them makes us cowboys!!
There is also a big difference between being professional and
APPEARING to be
unprofessional, but that is appearance only.
What is being charged doesn't make you a cowboy either.
someone may have every appearance of being unprofessional, but is he skipping windows? not bothers with sills or detailing? Slapping in an invoice claiming to have done the work...but hasn't?
If the end result is a top class job, and providing he has at least followed safe practice with regards using ladders and so on, then just because he has the appearance of a cowboy it doesn't necessarily make him one!!
There is a guy in our area, Tosh and Squeaks will know him too, has a flat cap, scruffy, drab clothing, carries his ladder under his one arm and his round bucket under the other, and he looks as creepy as anything
But he has been going over 20 years and is actually a really nice chap.
He is very cheap and very slow, and to look at you would exclaim, 'Cowboy!!'
Would be very unfair to do so though....
A year ago I worked out the back of a 5 year old Toyota Corolla, today I am working out the back of a brand new Nissan Primastar van with a full van mount, and now Autumn is here I am back into my 'uniform', logo on cap and embroidered polo shirts, sweatshirts and Fleece (still to warm to wear the last 2 items though!

)
Compared to last year, my 'appearance' is way more professional...but the job I do is just the same....gets me a lot of work too
What is a cowboy is hard to define...but I like Mike's description

Ian