[WavieDavie]

you don't knock then Tosh? my partner never did and i found this to be awkward and rude, i alwasy knock as i know what i'd do if someone just turned up to my house and let themselves in so to speak, i have always found that a little odd, mind you he can get more work done in a day than i can maybe i'm slowing myself down a little

steveaqua,
If the folk know you're going to be there as arranged, I don't see any point in knocking to let them know you're there, and then knocking again to let them know you've finished and need paid.

We turn up and clean so that we finish at the door, then ring the bell at least one window away from it  - that way there's even less time wasted while they faff about finding their money.

That'll be a fiver - thanks.

Sorry for the hijack . . .
As she was an old biddy, I thought you'd be polite-ish and say it wasn't convenient too.

[Allways Cleaning]

Jay,
this is what you could have said,
“ I have a shiney bright yellow microbore hose that will fit perfectly between your buttocks. or i can fit it to my pole and continue cleaning, the choice is yours!" 

regards

[steveaqua]

you don't knock then Tosh? my partner never did and i found this to be awkward and rude, i alwasy knock as i know what i'd do if someone just turned up to my house and let themselves in so to speak, i have always found that a little odd, mind you he can get more work done in a day than i can maybe i'm slowing myself down a little

steveaqua,
If the folk know you're going to be there as arranged, I don't see any point in knocking to let them know you're there, and then knocking again to let them know you've finished and need paid.

We turn up and clean so that we finish at the door, then ring the bell at least one window away from it  - that way there's even less time wasted while they faff about finding their money.

That'll be a fiver - thanks.

Sorry for the hijack . . .
As she was an old biddy, I thought you'd be polite-ish and say it wasn't convenient too.

they know the week we come but not a day as work is always alittle all over the gaff, maybe its the way i've been brought up i dunno, just found it odd and a little uncourteous not letting people know your there, don't normally have to knock twice, normally once they know i'm there they bring the cash out to me.

[RO-Sheen]

Great answers! especially Toshs'!!!

I think some of you are too hard though (or am I too soft??) Maybe the old lady didn't think when she asked you to come back next month, she was apologetic so maybe something bad had happened, death in the family? Family crisis (hence the sons attitude - but Im not excusing that) etc. If a customer repeatedly turned me away I would definately dump them!

As for knocking on the door. I always clean the front and then knock before I go around the back for 2 reasons.
1, It makes it more difficult for customers to turn you away when you have half done the job and
2, It is polite to let the customer know that you are letting yourself go around to the back of their property

[Fast 1 *]

this is what does my head in about window cleaning.Wouldnt it be nice to actually have your services appreciated.The only time people appreciate their windows being cleaned is when they are noticibly dirty,and that usually takes more than four weeks.The comments in the last thread says it all really,the fact that we have to maybe not knock on the door,on the basis it makes it harder for them not to pay you?What other trade is like that?No wonder window cleaning is the way it is.It makes me laugh how people are all up for regular cleans after the initial first clean(which,financially we sometimes lose money on),only to treat you like s*it after a few months.The fact that you feel you need to justify yourself all the time?whats all that about?
It doesnt matter how professional you try and appear,how courteous you are,or how good a job you do,you still get people treating you like the s*it on their shoe.
I myself,prefer it when my services are actually wanted,and i normally get a good idea what the person is like after a couple of cleans.It doesnt take alot for me to say see ya.A slight bit of disrespect normally does it.Funny thing is,alot of them are so ignorent they probably dont realise what theyve done.T*ssers.
Treat people how you expect to be treated yourself,thats what i think

[Paul Coleman]

this is what does my head in about window cleaning.Wouldnt it be nice to actually have your services appreciated.The only time people appreciate their windows being cleaned is when they are noticibly dirty,and that usually takes more than four weeks.The comments in the last thread says it all really,the fact that we have to maybe not knock on the door,on the basis it makes it harder for them not to pay you?What other trade is like that?No wonder window cleaning is the way it is.It makes me laugh how people are all up for regular cleans after the initial first clean(which,financially we sometimes lose money on),only to treat you like s*it after a few months.The fact that you feel you need to justify yourself all the time?whats all that about?
It doesnt matter how professional you try and appear,how courteous you are,or how good a job you do,you still get people treating you like the s*it on their shoe.
I myself,prefer it when my services are actually wanted,and i normally get a good idea what the person is like after a couple of cleans.It doesnt take alot for me to say see ya.A slight bit of disrespect normally does it.Funny thing is,alot of them are so ignorent they probably dont realise what theyve done.T*ssers.
Treat people how you expect to be treated yourself,thats what i think

Sure thing.  That's why it can take quite a while for some people to build a genuinely sound business.  It can take quite a time to weed out the customers who are......... unreliable payers/start padlocking their gates/start saying "Not today, thank you"without good cause/start timing you and assume they can calculate your hourly rate from it/after a few cleans try to reduce the frequency of visits/think they know how to clean windows properly and tell you how to do it/suddenly decide that it would be a great idea to stick spikey bushes in front of the window/get a dog and train it to c r a p on the places I need to walk etc etc.  I even had one guy waste my time by regularly preaching to me to become a "born again" christian.  With a background like mine that is way, way off limits.  Sometimes I wonder if he only asked me to clean for him so he could do a "captive audience" preach  .  That's one place I definitely wouldn't knock before starting.  I try to get finished before he's noticed me.
However, the above is far outweighed by the many genuine customers who really want their windows cleaned and are happy to pay an honest guy (moi) a decent rate to do it.  Those are the customers I want more of and there are plenty of them out there.

[busydaffodil]

this is what does my head in about window cleaning.Wouldnt it be nice to actually have your services appreciated.The only time people appreciate their windows being cleaned is when they are noticibly dirty,and that usually takes more than four weeks.The comments in the last thread says it all really,the fact that we have to maybe not knock on the door,on the basis it makes it harder for them not to pay you?What other trade is like that?No wonder window cleaning is the way it is.It makes me laugh how people are all up for regular cleans after the initial first clean(which,financially we sometimes lose money on),only to treat you like s*it after a few months.The fact that you feel you need to justify yourself all the time?whats all that about?
It doesnt matter how professional you try and appear,how courteous you are,or how good a job you do,you still get people treating you like the s*it on their shoe.
I myself,prefer it when my services are actually wanted,and i normally get a good idea what the person is like after a couple of cleans.It doesnt take alot for me to say see ya.A slight bit of disrespect normally does it.Funny thing is,alot of them are so ignorent they probably dont realise what theyve done.T*ssers.
Treat people how you expect to be treated yourself,thats what i think

You want to be special then?        Not even Doctors & teachers are appreciated anymore.  Why would a window cleaner expect different treatment..........get over yourself man! 










Now, I'm off to dive for cover....incase Fast One takes offence.   

[Fast 1 *]

no offence taken.

[busydaffodil]

WHEW!

Was shakin in my boots with terror 

[Sir Squeaky]

Oh come on Brett!

If they're not going to be there to see the benefits what's the point in having it done?
Especially as it's 50 quid!
Different if it was a fiver, they'd probably just give you it out of politeness...

I wouldn't shell out good money for windows if I was hardly there.

[windows_chepstow]

I wouldn't shell out good money for windows if I was hardly there.

I have on my 'Your window cleaner has been' chits my terms and conditions which state that I clean once per calandar month, as we originally agreed.

Earlier this year, one of my customers went on a three-month round-the-world-holiday (jammy buggers) and paid me three months worth of window cleaning money, so I'd clean them when they were away.

Honest!

That really surprised me and I did try to decline, but the lady insisted I took the money!!!

She must really like us.

[busydaffodil]

tis all those "extras" I've heard you do Tosh.

[windows_chepstow]

tis all those "extras" I've heard you do Tosh.

I wouldn't do any 'extras' for this lady, believe me.  She's around your age; about sixty I think.

[busydaffodil]

 You lucky chap....all that young meat chasing you.   

[windows_chepstow]

Well, I'm a good lookin' bloke - I look like Jackie Chan* - and my customers are only human.















*A fatter version with two-front teeth diffy*.


















*diffy = squaddy slang.  Abv for 'deficiant'.

[busydaffodil]

you just make me laugh all the time Tosh.

Dont know why you think you offend sometimes.

Squeaks does the same.   Hes very sharp & witty.

[Fast 1 *]

WHEW!

Was shakin in my boots with terror 

do i detect a slight hint of sarcasm,my dear?

[brett walker]

Oh come on Brett!

If they're not going to be there to see the benefits what's the point in having it done?
Especially as it's 50 quid!
Different if it was a fiver, they'd probably just give you it out of politeness...

I wouldn't shell out good money for windows if I was hardly there.

The customer in question is a millionaire and he knew the rules terms and conditions from the start, he didnt make his money through being messed about

It doesnt matter to me if its 5 pounds or 5,000 pounds an agreement is an agreement , shes just taking the p***

If i was to turn round and say i'll miss my mortgage this month because im not going to be in much it wouldnt go down well

I will not be messed about by any customer

come on Squeeky wheres this wfp youve been talking about

Brett

[busydaffodil]

WHEW!

Was shakin in my boots with terror 

do i detect a slight hint of sarcasm,my dear?

Course not.  I dont do sarcasm often......prefering the outright cheek method.

[Sir Squeaky]

It doesnt matter to me if its 5 pounds or 5,000 pounds an agreement is an agreement , shes just taking the p***

come on Squeeky wheres this wfp youve been talking about

Brett

It makes people talk like that, and I don't want to turn into a arrogant "sod the customers" person.

Not pointing the finger at you personally Brett, you can't help it.
Wfp ruins people's attitudes.