[davids3511]

Hi All

I am relatively new to this WC business and trying hard to build up a customer base. I have targeted new build estates thinking some will not have had a chance to get a window cleaner as of yet and trying to get my foot in the door. Basically I leafleted the estate about a week ago and went canvassing last Thursday. Came away with three new customers for an hours work.

I had intended to releaflet and revisit in about a month as alot of people were not home and I was off to pastures new for a few weeks to basically try the same formula, leaflet and follow up with a canvass.

However, today I go a phone call for an existing WC asking if I was the guy leafleting on his round. I asked where he was talking about and confirmed I was leafleting that area. He stated that was his patch and I should keep off it. He suggested there is an unwritten window cleaners rule that patches are to be left alone. I explained I was not trying to steal his customer, I was not undercutting him and if a householder said they had a cleaner, we left them alone immediately.

Apparently this is not good enough. The whole estate, which according to him are the houses he currently cleans, the houses he hasn't got as customers as of yet and houses as yet unbulit are his 'patch'. I told him to get stuffed and that if he could mark the doors of his existing customers with a big red cross, I wouldn’t leaflet or canvass them. I asked why he was so worried if he did a good job. His reply was that it was his patch, had been for 18 months and basically he would turn all the other window cleaners against me (I don't really care if he does if they are too stupid to see through him) if I didn’t go away. I can’t believe he really though I would say ‘ohh, really sorry, back on the dole for me it is sir’.

He also stated he would target every one of my new customers and offer them 3 months free cleans. I told him 'best of luck in working for nothing' and he replied 'he could afford it'. I don't really care about this remark; if he wants to kill himself for nothing then he is welcome to it. I will make sure I get as many customers as I can so he is very busy working for free for the next 3 months.

Basically, what pes me off s that I asked how he built his round and he said he cleaned the show houses for free so the estate was his. He couldn’t understand that if he was new 18 months ago, didn’t buy an existing round, then he is doing exactly what he is angry with me for doing. He is even going to specifically target my customers’ something I am not doing to him.

Basically, I feel like going into the sales office tomorrow,asking if they recommend a window cleaner and going and having a quite word, face to face, not over a phone call where I have restricted the sending of my number like this idiot. What do ya think?

Sorry for the long winded post, by the way.

David

[AuRavelling79]

Don't retaliate - just quietly go about your business and let it pass.

[rosskesava]

I've found that usually it's all hot air.

There's no rules between window cleaners. It's the customer that decides and not the window cleaner.

I'd just carry on. If he wants to do whatever then wish him the best of luck and forget him and if he phones again, just say ok, what ever you say but carry on doing what you want.

I think he's just 'windy'.

[davids3511]

Malc

Thanks, I'll try that. However, normally I am ok but 3 hours sleep in the last 36 is killing me now.

rosskesava

Yes, now that I have calmed down, I suspect you are right. I myself have often sworn mortal revenge on someone only to forget about it the next day.



David

[Kwackers]

There's no such thing as a patch.

Business is business and everyone is out to make there cash.

If you leaflet 1,000 houses, guaranteed 500-600 already have there windows cleaned, and how were you to know.

Like you say, if he is doing a good job, why is he bothered?

Customers will drift from one place to another but thats the world of business,and being self employed.

All i'd say, is if canvassing and they say they have a window cleaner, just leave them with a flyer and move on, leave it to them to decide.

[a-r window cleanin]

We had this yesterday afternoon.
We were cleaning a old ladys house in a village we visit and this bloke pulled up in white van and started saying what were we doing his brother is the window cleaner of this village etc etc So we tell him it's no-ones village and that we had been cleaning in the area for 2 years.
So he drives off and 5 mins later his brother is there telling us to leave his patch etc etc. Now Andi my co worker and I normally get on with most wc'ers around us but this geezer was a real pain.
He had been cleaning the village for years years and we only got customers there as they did not like the fact that he was too quick and left many windows dirty. Which we told him.
He just stormed off!!!!
My view is leaflet and canvass where and when you want. If the current wc'er has any worries then he cant be doing a good enough job.

[pylofm]

David I had this from 3 window cleaners when I first started last year...we just told them that we will not deliberatly steal work or underprice to get work....but they should expect to see our leaflets in 'their' area's from time to time.

I have not as of yet heard anymore....I would imagine it's not that someone new starts but if they decide to do 10 quid jobs for 3 quid...that will be the scary thing.

Cheers and good luck
Dave.

[EasycleanWindows]

Never have that problem thats the good thing about being 6 foot 2 and 16 stone ha ha ha ha they just walk away shame they dont even say hello maybe the growll's not helping oh well

[Nathanael Jones]

There's plenty of houses to go around,.. so this kind of agro is completely uncalled for.
Where I am, I know all the local cleaners, and often pass work on to them when I'm too busy,.. and they do the same for me when they have too much on. We all get on, and none of us are ever short of work!
I think if he's reacting like that then he must be feeling a bit insecure. Either he's been getting a lot of complaints recently, or a lot of custies drop him!
There's no unwritten rules between window cleaners,.. You can't know every WC'ers round, so leaflets will inevitably end up in the houses of someone's customers, there's nothing you can do about that,...but if someone tells me they have a window cleaner already, don't pursue it any further. You can't be fairer than that!
I think what you're doing is 100% right,... just carry on,.. ignore him, and concentrate on building a successful business!

[davids3511]

I think the consensus seems to be to ignore him and get on with the job. With a bit of luck he was just blowing off some steam.

EasycleanWindows -

I know what you mean; I get very little hassle face to face. I am 6'2" as well but a stone or two heavier.


Thanks for all the replies guys.

[Paul Coleman]

I think the consensus seems to be to ignore him and get on with the job. With a bit of luck he was just blowing off some steam.

EasycleanWindows -

I know what you mean; I get very little hassle face to face. I am 6'2" as well but a stone or two heavier.


Thanks for all the replies guys.

I get no hassle either.  Although I'm a big build myself, I hope that hasn't got anything to do with it.  I'm just not interested in heavy stuff like fighting for work.  I worked in a fair sized village for years and I reckon I must have had more work there than anyone else (probably because I was too cheap).  I never gave any hassle to other w/cers nor did I receive any.  IMO it's a pathetic attitude.

[danny mckim]

I can see both points here. This guy has obviously built up a decent run from this estate say a possible 60 houses in 18 months. A newbie windowcleaner arrives, leaflets all houses and picks up 3. 1st he is annoyed with himself for not getting these three then he is going to get even more annoyed when you leaflet this again. Personally i wouldnt touch an estate with a windowcleaner already there especially to do only 3 customers. On the other hand when you are roundbuilding you have to target any new houses in the area.

[xxmattyxx]

Show me an estate where all the houses are all dirty due to no cleaner being there. You'll have to look a long time.

[mark dew]

In my opinion, the words estate and decent round don't really go together. Sure, some people have got good rounds by doing estates but having other wc trying to get a foothold comes with the territory.
Where else are new wc going to canvas?
Doing a good job and just as importantly being reliable is the key to keeping customers happy. If both aren't achieved they will go elsewhere when they can.
Fortunately, almost all threats are just that.
I bet when he sees you out he will give you a wry smile and a wave.
Good luck, although you don't sound like you need it.

[davids3511]

Danny

I don't really understand where you are coming from. He is claiming houses that are not even built yet, how can that be right?

[davids3511]

By the way, just had a call from one of the 3 customers I had canvassed successfully. She was cancelling because another window cleaner offered 3 months free cleans. I saw red and drove to the sales office on the estate and politley asked if they had any window cleaners details.

The supplied one name and number, who I rang. He didn't answer the phone the two times I tried. I left a message to say I was David and was back in Manchester today and available to talk to him face to face. I explained that I had a drive aroung the area hoping to bump into him to continue our discussion but couldn't find him and if he could let me know where he was currently at I would be happy to come and see him.

He hasn't called back as of yet!

[d s windowcleaning]

good luck in building your round up mate dont let a arsehole like him stop you doing what tou want to do . ive been on a estate today with 3 other cleaners we all do our own houses have a chat with each other and pass work on to each other . thats how it should be . just go for it mate

[Paul Coleman]

By the way, just had a call from one of the 3 customers I had canvassed successfully. She was cancelling because another window cleaner offered 3 months free cleans. I saw red and drove to the sales office on the estate and politley asked if they had any window cleaners details.

The supplied one name and number, who I rang. He didn't answer the phone the two times I tried. I left a message to say I was David and was back in Manchester today and available to talk to him face to face. I explained that I had a drive aroung the area hoping to bump into him to continue our discussion but couldn't find him and if he could let me know where he was currently at I would be happy to come and see him.

He hasn't called back as of yet!

I think being angry about this is pointless.  If he wants to work for nothing for a while it's his lookout.  It's not you that's the mug.  It's him.  She will probably drop him as soon as someone cheaper comes along.

[AuRavelling79]

By the way, just had a call from one of the 3 customers I had canvassed successfully. She was cancelling because another window cleaner offered 3 months free cleans. I saw red and drove to the sales office on the estate and politley asked if they had any window cleaners details.
The supplied one name and number, who I rang. He didn't answer the phone the two times I tried. I left a message to say I was David and was back in Manchester today and available to talk to him face to face. I explained that I had a drive aroung the area hoping to bump into him to continue our discussion but couldn't find him and if he could let me know where he was currently at I would be happy to come and see him.

He hasn't called back as of yet!

Why are you getting angry? He's just doing what he thinks is necessary to retain his business. IMO He's a fool to offer 3 free cleans and she's not a customer worth having. I'd carry on with the other two customers just to be a thorn in his side!

[davids3511]

I am angry because he is a hypocrite. He accused me of stealing customers that are not even his yet while he thinks it is ok to specifically target my customers. I take someone making a concerted effort to put me out of business (at lease in his area) quite seriously.

The anger is gone now, determination is setting in. I am all ready to to knock on every door in that estate a little later this evening.

He still hasn't rang back by the way.