[davids3511]

I have been putting out my leaflets ove rthe last few weeks in an effort up get a decent round up and running and have been having some good success. My leaflets are the put in the window and I will call back variety.

Walked up today to one that had my leaflet in the window. Knocked on the door, no answer. While I was waiting this other guy tured up and asked if there was anybody home. I said I though there was as all the lights were on but that nobody was answering. I guess he was collecting as he was rattling some 50p coins together.

I turned to leave and he asked what I was there for anyway, I gestured to the leaflet in the window and said I am a window cleaner. He looked a little shocked and said 'but I am their window cleaner'. Rather awkwardly I said I wonder why they have put the leaflet in the window then. He said he didn't know but was their cleaner for the last 9 years. I said 'well, you need to speak to them as they are obviously not happy. They are either looking for a new cleaner or just price surfing'. He said he would indeed speak to them.

I assured him that I wasn't interested in stealing anybodies customers and if someone already had a cleaner I would walk away. He seems a nice guy, just a little bemused at the turn of events.

[windowwashers]

I have been putting out my leaflets ove rthe last few weeks in an effort up get a decent round up and running and have been having some good success. My leaflets are the put in the window and I will call back variety.

Walked up today to one that had my leaflet in the window. Knocked on the door, no answer. While I was waiting this other guy tured up and asked if there was anybody home. I said I though there was as all the lights were on but that nobody was answering. I guess he was collecting as he was rattling some 50p coins together.

I turned to leave and he asked what I was there for anyway, I gestured to the leaflet in the window and said I am a window cleaner. He looked a little shocked and said 'but I am their window cleaner'. Rather awkwardly I said I wonder why they have put the leaflet in the window then. He said he didn't know but was their cleaner for the last 9 years. I said 'well, you need to speak to them as they are obviously not happy. They are either looking for a new cleaner or just price surfing'. He said he would indeed speak to them.

I assured him that I wasn't interested in stealing anybodies customers and if someone already had a cleaner I would walk away. He seems a nice guy, just a little bemused at the turn of events.

they could have been filming you, you can see some strange things online these days  :

[supernova77]

I have been putting out my leaflets ove rthe last few weeks in an effort up get a decent round up and running and have been having some good success. My leaflets are the put in the window and I will call back variety.

Walked up today to one that had my leaflet in the window. Knocked on the door, no answer. While I was waiting this other guy tured up and asked if there was anybody home. I said I though there was as all the lights were on but that nobody was answering. I guess he was collecting as he was rattling some 50p coins together.

I turned to leave and he asked what I was there for anyway, I gestured to the leaflet in the window and said I am a window cleaner. He looked a little shocked and said 'but I am their window cleaner'. Rather awkwardly I said I wonder why they have put the leaflet in the window then. He said he didn't know but was their cleaner for the last 9 years. I said 'well, you need to speak to them as they are obviously not happy. They are either looking for a new cleaner or just price surfing'. He said he would indeed speak to them.

I assured him that I wasn't interested in stealing anybodies customers and if someone already had a cleaner I would walk away. He seems a nice guy, just a little bemused at the turn of events.

Maybe they thought the leaflet was from the other guy? They could have thought he had changed the way he works in that he posts a leaflet through the door a couple of days before cleaning, asking if they want them doing this time round?

Andy

[davids3511]

True, but he said he had cleaned them 3 days earlier.

[matt]

are they old ? ? ??

as that sound like a thing a old person would do

[Londoner]

I get a lot of people who are just price fishing. They don't tell you thats what they are doing but there are signs like clean windows when you call.
Occasionally I have quoted a price and been told that its higher than their present cleaner. At that I say well if you already have a window cleaner why are you wasting my time? They usually say they thought I might be cheaper. Fat chance, Im always dearer.
By the same principle I have lost what I thought were established customers to a lower price from someone else. Because I don't try to be cheap its always a risk.

There have been posts on here in the past from WCs saying that their customers were loyal and wouldn't ever consider switching to another WC because he was cheaper. That may be true but only up to a point.
My experience is that quite a few would actively look for another quote if a leaflet drops through their door.

[pingu]

Customers are that and just that....I am not loyal to Tesco or Sainsbury's and neither are our customers....most I would imagine will continue to use our services until another opportunity raise's it's head.....

I view my accounts as that....I am friendly and professional but they are only as good as the last time I cleaned for them and the last time they paid.

I would imagine that believing customers are 'loyal' is a dangerous thought process.  I do not decieve myself....

This is all just honest thinking on my part and no malice is held.

[Paul Coleman]

Customers are that and just that....I am not loyal to Tesco or Sainsbury's and neither are our customers....most I would imagine will continue to use our services until another opportunity raise's it's head.....

I view my accounts as that....I am friendly and professional but they are only as good as the last time I cleaned for them and the last time they paid.

I would imagine that believing customers are 'loyal' is a dangerous thought process.  I do not decieve myself....

This is all just honest thinking on my part and no malice is held.

I found out a lot about loyalty when I was unable to work for a few months - and notified them all.  Funnily enough, most of the ones I lost I regarded as underpriced anyway.
I believe that many would go somewhere cheaper if they could trust the new W/C to be regular and reliable for the long term. However, usually thay can't, and many of them have experienced fly by night W/Cers before.  Therefore they stick with the devil they know in case the potential new guy is likely to let them down.

[davids3511]

So what do I do? I drove past today and they still have my leaflet in their window. Do I call or do I stay away?

[windowwashers]

So what do I do? I drove past today and they still have my leaflet in their window. Do I call or do I stay away?

call round and say that you met their window cleaner and find out what the problem is they maybe confused.

[Village Gleam]

Was the other wc telling the truth?

Ie. he was calling to collect paymeny and had done them three days prior? Was he even a window cleaner, or playing an improv joke?

You are going to have to knock the door to find out. Just ask in a pleasant slightly perperlexed way.

[M & C Window Cleaning]

My most awkward moment was when a few years ago a buddy of mine started suffering with serious blood pressure probs that stopped him working for the better part of a year. He left notes with all his custies. They all stayed loyal for about eight months then started asking me to do their windows. I agreed, on the understanding that I was only standing in for my pal and I would only do them at my prices when I discovered his were about half what mine were. However when the time approached to hand them back, they didn't want to go, even though I was charging them nearly twice as  as my pal had been. Fortunately for me he dicided that he was going to trim down his round dramaticaly to reduce his workload and told me to keep the custies I was doing. Huge sigh of relief!!!

We're still good pals!