[dwc]

I Have only started window cleaning the traditional way since before christmas. I put out flyers one day then a week or two later go doorknocking. This is the way I build my window cleaning business up.

If the potential customer tells me they already have a regular window cleaner, i thank them for their valuable time and leave. There is no heavy sales pitch or trying make myself out to better than the other guy.

I recently picked up over a dozen new customers in an area where a window cleaner had not turned up for over 5 months

( apparently retiring and leaving business to a relative to carry on) 

The relative has in the past couple of days knocked the customers to let them know he will be starting his round again.

I have not lost any of the customers I gained and have been told by them that they are staying with me.

Is this poaching, or running a business.

[Count Phil]

Running a business. Keep them.

[pylofm]

Thats running a business...Just keep what your doing

[Dean Aspects]

not turning up for 5 months!!
jobs are yours mate

[simon knight]

Yep all yours.

[Ladders]

Yes i would keep these clients too, it would seem he has no idea how to run a buisness.

Jeff

[ac_cleaning]

Jobs all yours, what do they expect after five months not turning up.

[LSB]

5 months is definately taking the ' P '   
even the customers recognise that they are much better off with you !

[macmac]

totaly yours mate, not poaching at all, how were the people supposed to know he was ever gonna come back?

[Alistair@AWC]

DWC,

Theres no such thing as poaching or a patch, you cant steal a happy customer!!

[Russell Macdonald]

In my oppinion 3 months is more than long enough to take over, again, my oppinion, if they have not seen him in 5 months they have no WC, the job is yours.

[davey c]

keep them all yours

[AuRavelling79]

( apparently retiring and leaving business to a relative to carry on) 


Is this poaching, or running a business.

Poaching is going down to the woods by the river and fishing for salmon in the middle of the night.   

[brett walker]

( apparently retiring and leaving business to a relative to carry on) 


Is this poaching, or running a business.

Poaching is going down to the woods by the river and fishing for salmon in the middle of the night.   

My idea of poaching is going out to the fields with nets and a ferret to catch a few rabbits now thats real poaching 

If a window cleaner hasnt been round for 3 to 5 months and he is ill or for any reason really he should at the very least sent a letter explaining why, his customer will appreciate this and he will find nearly everyone will wait.  If he doesnt show them any regard why should they show him any loyalty so after 5 months i would definately say the work is yours

Brett

[mike richardson]

i had the same yesterday.

my opposition is 72 he hasent benn round in nearly 10 mnths,

he stopped yesterday said he wanted a chat, & that he'd sold his work to a lad 20 mile away & would i not take any more of his customers. as this new lad who hadent ever cleaned windows b4 was doing them form now on.

i smiled & said no prob but if they ask me it would b rude to say no,

then he said the lad waas a BOXER so does that make him a better window cleaner than me a said,he said no but i shouldent mess with him,

so i said it was the lads choice he cud b nice to me & i may pass some spare work his way, or he could be an arse & after doing karate for 26 yr i would nick all his customers lol, & meet him on the village green lol.

to b continued nxt week when he starts in the area,

[macmac]

Poaching is going down to the woods by the river and fishing for salmon in the middle of the night.   

i have a customer who did this and earned 1k per night, unbeleiveably all the local hotels & resteraunts were buying it from him & serving it on their menues, untill he got caught!!!!

[Londoner]

Mike my experience is that the new guy will probably never materialise and even if he does put in the odd token appearence he wont stick at it.

I have seen it all before

[mike richardson]

ye me aswell loads of times, plus iam very well known in my area as being dead reliable, trustworthy, & do a good job thats why i got loads of his customers already,we will c if he turns up eh,

if he is nice to me i might let him have a go with my wfp,

[JM123]

i had the same yesterday.

my opposition is 72 he hasent benn round in nearly 10 mnths,

he stopped yesterday said he wanted a chat, & that he'd sold his work to a lad 20 mile away & would i not take any more of his customers. as this new lad who hadent ever cleaned windows b4 was doing them form now on.

i smiled & said no prob but if they ask me it would b rude to say no,

then he said the lad waas a BOXER so does that make him a better window cleaner than me a said,he said no but i shouldent mess with him,

so i said it was the lads choice he cud b nice to me & i may pass some spare work his way, or he could be an arse & after doing karate for 26 yr i would nick all his customers lol, & meet him on the village green lol.

to b continued nxt week when he starts in the area,

a boxer?  ooohhhh we're all scared - you should have said nothing, took a few more customers and then give him a good old smackdown.  I hate people trying to intimidate me - it doesn't work, even when it should.

[texas girl]

Mike,

The old guy was out of line for even approaching you. The customers you gained were not "his".   :

A service was needed and you were available to provide it. He did not provide it satisfactorily for a long time.

If he intended to sell his list of customers to some one else he handled it very irresponsibly. Even if done in a responsible manner there are no guarantees that the customers will like a different cleaner.

But in this case this guy was completely wrong for even saying anything to you. What an idiot!

If I were you I would pick up as many customers as possible and as quickly as possible!

Good Luck,

Texas Girl