[pylofm]

Hi all and happy new year...

I have just been having a mull over the events of 2006 and it comes to mind that my  better customers (i.e pay well, no problems, moaning) are those who are on bi-monthly cleans...I have also noticed that my monthly cleans are really clean still when I go to them....and some of my monthly's are starting to ask to go bi-monthly

I have to admit that I kind of prefer the bi-monthly cleans..this way the customer really see's a difference...

What do you find?

Cheers
Dave.

[simon knight]

Couldn't agree more.

[Bazzy1999]

I thought the idea of being a w/c is to keep them clean and by changing to bi-monthly are you not doing yourself out of work.
Every 4 weeks or 8 weeks for me, take it or leave it....plenty more out there.

Bazz...

[simon knight]

Bazz don't get me wrong I'd love to do people monthly but the vast majority of my customers want bi-monthly and even then they mutter "blimey that's come round quickly".

[MNWC]

I must admit since ive gone wfp ive had half a dozen say the same.

[steveaqua]

I've been thinking about this recently as well and i must admit i've lost a few recently due to the fact that i will only clean 4 weeks or not at all, i just don't want to start a frenzy be offering 8 weeks and then my monthly totals go down, once i've built up a lot of business i'm thinking of offering every 8 weeks but with a 20% price increase over the 4 week clean amount, i have noticed customers windows being extremley clean every 4 weeks, but then others are not

[Bazzy1999]

I wasnt getting at you Simon.
What i ment was i cant understand why Dave wants bi-monthly when they are already monthly accounts by changing them over to bi-monthly so his customer can see the difference he will be losing work.


Bazz...

[pylofm]

In this day and age many people are spending more and more on their 'living' expenses than ever before and I am seeing more and more of my 4weekly customers wanting to go to 8 weekly...even I have to admit that 4 weekly the windows do not seem to get that dirty and I can fully understand the customers thoughts on this.

Yes I understand that I should not be bullied by customers, however I do see that 4 weekly can seem like a waste of money in the customers eyes and I would rather up the price a little and do them 8 weekly than have them go elsewhere.

It is all very well 'giving it large' (no offence meant) and saying "This is what I do so take it or leave it", I would rather spend a little time gaining a stable customer base and trying to keep them onside for the long run.

I know I can be a little green about window cleaning...thus the reason for this post.

Thanks for your comments....

Dave.

[simon knight]

I wasnt getting at you Simon.
What i ment was i cant understand why Dave wants bi-monthly when they are already monthly accounts by changing them over to bi-monthly so his customer can see the difference he will be losing work.


Bazz...

Bazz I didn't fpr one moment think you were getting at me

[Bazzy1999]

We all have a business to run so if your happy changing to bi-monthly thats fine 




Bazz...

[marc al]

  If you can get all your customers to go bi-monthly and put the price up by 50% it is good, as long as you realise you will need double customers to fill the time, but it is a good way to earn more money for no more work.

[Paul Coleman]

I switched it all to 6 weekly some years ago (long before I had even heard of WFP).  A lot of the monthly customers were moaning and doing the not today thanks stuff.  I switched to 6 weekly but also said that I couldn't guarantee a service for anyone sending me away without good cause. "Not being able to guarantee a service" is code for dumping but sounds so much nicer    .  Apart from a very few larger customers, I do 6 weekly.  I do give 12 weekly for a few of the much larger jobs (and I quote well to cover it).

[macmac]

i started to get a few customers doing the same as i clean 4 weekly too, giving it the old "that's come round quick, doesn't seem like 2 minutes since you were last here" and the likes, but what i noticed is if i made it 5 weeks they never mentioned it. it was like that extra week was just enough to keep them happy. the accounts i'm talking about are good ones (pay good money etc) so i wouldn't want to lose them for the sake of a week, if it was lesser quality work i'd probably take no notice and carry on 4 weeks as i wouldn't be too bothered about loosing them. however, i personaly couldn't afford to make my whole round bi-monthly.
so maybe give the extra week a go and hopefully it might do the same for you.
                   

[Count Phil]

I do all mine 6 weeks. No every other timers. When I quote and say I do 6 weeks they all like it and say 'oh yes 4 weeks is too soon', or 'that's better 8 weeks was a bit long'. Then I say yes, 6 weeks is just right, they aren't too dirty but they do need a clean.

It works for me, but you do need the work. When I didn't have quite enough I did do them 5 weeks. But 6 is better.

[spotless2000]

For an 8 weekly service I charge my customers the 4 weekly price +50%.
They save over the year & my hourly rate goes up! Everyone's a winner!

[brett walker]

I do mine every month but im always late ive only got 2 jobs where they are done every 2 months, i find that sort of customer a waste of time, unless you get a really good price
They only want it done every 2 months to save money because they are tight

I remember when i first started window cleaning we used to clean windows every fortnight you got the odd one that wanted it done monthly but times have changed.

I had one one round that was always 2 pound per house every fortnight and told them they would be done once a month at 3 pounds i took a big risk there was no forums about then to help.  Im talking about years ago at these prices this all helped fit in with my other work and from then i only did my work monthly

Brett

[Londoner]

There is no doubt, WFP is too good for 4 weekly so make it a big selling point to your new customers and put them on 6 or 8 weeks but charge them more. OK you have to find more customers but thats not hard and when you do your sums and realise how much extra money you are going to take each month FOR NO EXTRA WORK you realise that its worth the effort
I wont do 4 weekly now.

[JohnL]

I do all mine 6 weeks. No every other timers. When I quote and say I do 6 weeks they all like it and say 'oh yes 4 weeks is too soon', or 'that's better 8 weeks was a bit long'. Then I say yes, 6 weeks is just right, they aren't too dirty but they do need a clean.

Exactly my position, and works well for me.

JohnL

[JM123]

pylofm  don't be intimidated.  Generally we are very easy going with our customers.  They want to change to every other month?  No problem, sometimes we up the price, sometimes not.  The important thing is to treat your customers like they treat you, ie good payers, friendly people, allow them a little slack - they may often have less money than you'd think.  Its the arrogant looking down the nose snobby type I can't have, they get no leeway with me.

[dai]

You don't have to change it all at once. I have put 3 estates on bi-monthly cleans at 50% extra. I am going to put more estates on bi-monthy this year. It's the only way that I can get the substancial increases that the round needs.  I couldn't do all the work in 5 weeks let alone 4, so I have nothing to lose. Dai