[chrismroberts]

Hi everyone,

As I'm a newbie to this business, and this is my first winter, and my first patch of really bad weather... I'm not really sure what to expect...

At the moment I'm about a week behind with my work, and was wondering what you all found was the longest your customers would wait before dumping? I know some customers are better than others, and I'm probably being paranoid.  But I've only now started making more than I was when I was employed... and so I'm a bit nervous about losing customers.... :S

Chris

[craig jwc]

I told my customers from day 1 that i might be late sometimes, but will always turn up.
Even now i tell new customers that because of the work increase, i have too shuffle around work into different areas etc to everyone can be serviced regular.
You find alot won't mind.
The longest i have been behind on an account is 2 weeks

[chrismroberts]

Yeh, some of them are really understanding, which is great. Just a bit nervous about some of the others... 
I think I may have taken on too much work for the winter...!

[chrismroberts]

ps... I like your website, craig!

[windows_chepstow]

Yeh, some of them are really understanding, which is great. Just a bit nervous about some of the others... 
I think I may have taken on too much work for the winter...!

I think you'd be able to miss them out for a month altogether without any complaints.  I'm about a week over now and have missed large chunks of work out altogether.

Keep your good accounts going; make them your priority.

[pjulk]

I would not worry most won't even realise.
Im never on time like i used to be but have not lost any customers through being late.

At the moment im about 1 week behind.
Last month i was 3 weeks behind.

I used to be the same worry about being late now i don't worry they get there windows cleaned when i get there.

Paul

[shammy davis jnr]

as long as it counts when you do get out thats what matters ,ive been 2 months late 
you cant win some times even if your early  just ride it out and blame the weather  most people understand this
but there will be the odd one
are they what you realy want any way
you will get there
i have never told as much lies about weather since i started this job lol
cant blame the snow in june though  shame that
  go get them tiger

[Bobs Window Cleaning]

Paul.
        If you were 3 weeks late last month, does that mean you start your cycle from that day or will you be back to clean their windows earlier next month?

         Bob

[pjulk]

I use george and i have my work down as every 4 weeks.
When i do a job whether im late or not george puts it 4 weeks from the day i completed the job for the next clean.

Paul

[chrismroberts]

Thanks guys, that really makes me feel a lot more confident

2 months late? wow... good stuff! did they notice? I guess youre right shammy, if they dont understand then theyre probably not worth having!

It has been horrible this week... was sunshine and blue skies yesterday until about 1 oclock, and then... out of nowhere, it dropped about 5C, went really dark and started raining... sideways!!

[edd]

i work in a very rural area sometimes we can be up to 14 weeks behind
never lost a customer yet plus there are lots of other window cleaners about
if your work is good they'll wait .i should really get rid off at least 150 customers
to make life easier but you know what its like oh will you do mine while your here
we have doubled some of the prices and still they wont .... off!! oh well its all good?

[shammy davis jnr]

thats right sheepy  i was going through a bad patch at time with dad touch in go with a massive heart attack 
i was not giving two s9its at the time work became irelivant as it does
but you bounce back  my motto is you cant have what you cant hold
sometimes i think there glad of a rest now and again off a week our so if you have just started they will crapp it and think you have given up
and be even more thankful when tey do se you im sure this happens to nearly every company on here
dont panic
its all part off the experience called window cleaning
 

[chrismroberts]

150 customers?! wow.... thats more customers than I have altogether! LOL! you fancy sending a few my way?

Im sorry youre dad wasnt too good shammy. I know how you feel, sometimes work is the last thing on your mind isnt it? I guess the beauty of this business is that it can be built around your life, which is the way it should be... not vice versa!

[marc al]

   I have had some moaning today that I am 3 days early!

   It is true I am early, but I am trying to do the whole of December before Xmas, I do not want to let any customers down and not get their windows done before the nig day, although some will be unlucky.

   Marc

[mark dew]

tell them when you see them next that you are really really busy with the window cleaning and (if you're doing a proper job) they'll probably feel grateful to have you.

As long as you don't take it personally losing the odd job here and there is probably a good thing.

[matt]

im on time for the first time in a long time

this week, ive had 2 complain im on time and the windows are not dirty

these are the same 2 who allways tell me im late to the number of days

you cannot win

[Paul Coleman]

A couple of years or so ago, I actually managed to be about 7 months late for a few jobs.  I wonder if that is a record.

[chrismroberts]

Nope, you cant win! At least the good customers outweigh the bad ones, eh?

Finally managed to get some done this afternoon! It was blowing a gale... but mostly dry! So took the opportunity to go out and earn some cash. Took me twice as long as normal tho  Chose the best 3 customers from this weeks work and got 3 tips too!

[edd]

Yeah but!! how the hell do you go and clean today in the worst day i have ever seen??its been raining and blowing for a week at least so an other week behind
i feel wow no money for Xmas ive heard that before!! and we've got floods everywhere 

      As for moaning im to old for that s..t it goes in one ear and out the other , like i said 150 customers to go the Victor Meldrew  ones first

[chrismroberts]

Floods?! Wow.... whereabouts are you?

It has been ridiculously windy today... was blowing my scrim + cloths all over the place, not to mention ladders! 

Had quite a bizarre incident with 2 windows diagonally opposite eachother, as I soaped + squeegeed one, it blew the soap back onto the opposite one... and vice versa, took me about 3 attempts!