[geefree]

Does anyone know if the fairweather window cleaners hibernate in winter?
the 2.50 merchants..... has anyone actually noticed that they have vanished from your area?

just curious.

looking forward to taking the customers 

gary.

[jeff1]

Hi Gaz

You often find in the winter you will pick up more work, and you will probably hear them say, that they havn't seen there window cleaner for a while, this is usally a sure sign they had either a fair weather wc or a dole dosser.

You will also find that when a customer knows you came in all the cold conditions they will stick with you, its a reliable wc they want, and they don't usually mind paying the little extra.

[john tomkins]

Problem being the customer wont know for a few months that they aint coming back, its only been  this week that its turned real cold, so i think you would be looking at feb/march till the customers realise their windows are dirty and the WC aint been around for months!
When I was pushing flyers recently a couple of houses told me their WC hadn't been seen since last Feb but they were "holding on just in case he turns up again" loyalty eh 

[windows_chepstow]

Normally, I find Spring is usually my busy period.  

It's a time where a window cleaner (or two) has given it up as a bad job sometime during the Winter and the months have passed and potential customers are desperate for their windows to be cleaned.

I've been lucky these past two years, since I've found areas that previous window cleaners used to dominate; yet have given up window cleaning.

I also had a good idea of their charging, so could charge reasonably more.

If things do go quiet for you, just focus on Spring and all those customers you'll get.

Remember, if it was an easy job with nice working conditions, everyone would be at it!

[TVCS]

Its right what Tosh said.  If it was easy and pleasant there would be thousands of us.  Had about 5 customers comment today on the fact that its cold and icey and how their old window cleaners didn't bother over winter.  Had a pretty good day today and after starting late and finishing early I still made over £100.  Thats alot of money for me so it would take alot more than a little frost to stop me going out.   
Treated myself to a pair of long johns so bring on the frosts I say.

[Grafters Cleaning Services]

as soon as the sun has gone in the beerboys/doleboys soon follow

[Neil Williams]

The best time to pick up their work is in the spring.
It's still too soon to pick it up and with xmas on its way window cleaning isn't top priority for spending money on.

[geefree]

OH YES I FORGOT ABOUT XMAS.

will it hit me gaining new customers on the run up as i continue to canvass and leaflet drop?

has anyone built rounds at this time of year , does it get hard to gain new customers, and also do you find they dont pay on time?

not many Qs eh 

[Sir Squeaky]

I'm still going, and I charge £2.75.

[TVCS]

I dont know about canvassing at this time of year but I have been asked by quite a few of my customers to do an extra clean for them as close to xmas as possible.  Got family coming or having a party so they want the windows gleaming.  I dont know about you but when I go to a xmas do my vision becomes to impaired to focus on the windows.  If they are willing to pay me twice in 1 month then fair enough.
Ho HO HO

[master cleaner]

i dont know about winter window cleaners but what about this that happened to me last week
i was asked to clean a house because her window cleaner hadnt been in 11 months so i clean it frames and all make a really good job , then when i call 2 weeks later to collect she told me she was very happy with the windows but her window cleaner had decided to come back and i didnt mind did i

i clean fortnightly how many of you clean 11 monthly


gary

[matt]

I'm still going, and I charge £2.75.

just think if you has WFP you could charge 3 quid

this time next year you'll be a millionaire

[Trevor Knight]

Generally speaking, YES they normally do crawl back under their rocks.

I get about 5% more business in Jan/Feb just because we are still out there braving the hyperthermia 

[Londoner]

Never mind the dole dodgers and the beer money boys. I hibernate in the winter as much as possible.
First of all the weather and dark mornings and evenings mean itsharder to get round and I inevetably fall behind anyway.
Also, the customers in general don't really care so much so why bother pushing yourself in the worst part of the winter.
Its not one of those macho "you gotta be tough" things where you need to kill yourself.

[ok cleaning]

 you can allways dissepier inthe winter if you have noting to lose but beer money and this is very ennoying for us proper window cleaners and dameges our name for allof us i wish we could chance that

[window pain]

Does anyone know if the fairweather window cleaners hibernate in winter?
the 2.50 merchants..... has anyone actually noticed that they have vanished from your area?

just curious.

looking forward to taking the customers 

gary.

maybe they migrate to warmer climes, like the brent geese and such like.

[Paul Coleman]

maybe they migrate to warmer climes, like the brent geese and such like.

I once knew a window cleaner who only cleaned very large houses infrequently.  Each Winter he would depart to Australia for the worst four months (November - March) and return in our Spring.  He had some window cleaning work in Australia too to cover his holiday.  I think he stayed with relatives so his expenditure was minimal.  Sounds like an OK way to do things to me.  He never had to experience any serious Winter weather.

[geefree]

you can allways dissepier inthe winter if you have noting to lose but beer money and this is very ennoying for us proper window cleaners and dameges our name for allof us i wish we could chance that



 : we need a spellchecker on here 

[S_RICHARDSON]

I hope they have cos they really get on my nerves!!