[michael papworth]

Getting a mite fed up with people telling me how little their last window cleaner charged, I'm giving out a quote form.

Here is the text:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

- QUOTE -

This quote covers the following services
which will be carried out at every visit:

* dry brushing of all ground floor window
frames, door frames and doors plus the
surrounding masonry to remove cobwebs,
spattered mud, loose dust etc.

* washing of all safely accessible window
frames, door frames and doors removing
dirt, algae and other surface contaminants.
(This process will not remove deep staining.)

* washing the exterior surface of all safely
accessible window glass and door glass.

£_____

N.B. The quoted price is based on a six-weekly
cycle. One-off cleans are charged at 175% of
the above.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

What changes would you guys make?

[Mike 108]

You don't really do the 'dry brushing' bit, do you?
I've not come across that before.

Mike

[elite mike]

hi mike

i would not bother with the note.

i would just say ,take it or leave it

in a nice way   

[cbcs]

The 3 Mikes

[Mike_G]

I always ask what the last guy charged. Sometimes it is way more than I was going to quote and then all of a sudden it is a pound more than he charged and they go for it. If on the other hand the old chap charged 5 bob twelve then I put in a price I want and if I get it good if not there's no lost sleep. It's all part of the job

[chosker]

... The 4 Mikes...

[L.J.Thorpe]

You don't really do the 'dry brushing' bit, do you?
I've not come across that before.

Mike

i still carry a masonry brush for just that purpose
dont get used much anymore now
as for the note iwouldnt get into to much about what they will get for the money
rod for your own back cos some of em will be going round to check you did it all
i use quote form based on one from this site just modified to suit me
it just gives prices,frequency etc
the t+c's are aimed at what i expect from the customer,like notice of cancellation and the like
as for the "my last window cleaner......." tell em to ring him up again and then walk away
i dont haggle with customers anymore and the ones who come out with this sort of line aint the custs you want mate

[williamx]

Getting a mite fed up with people telling me how little their last window cleaner charged, I'm giving out a quote form.

If they tell me the price of there last cleaner, and it too cheap. I tell the person they were using a cowboy, point out a few differences and briefly explain the benefits of having a proffesional WC.

You get your answer straight the way, depending how you come across you can get a lot of these customers. You have to remember for residential customers WC is a luxury service, and not everybody can aford it.

Ewan 

All because a cleaner charges a couple of pounds does not make him out to be a "cowboy", on Sunday a friend of mine who has moved to Oxford phoned to say hello, in the conversation up came the fact that her window cleaner only charges £3.00, thats for front and back.

This guy has been cleaning for years and is totally legal, he now uses a wfp system with the "Reach and Wash" logo on his van, so we know what money he has spent on it.

He seems to be happy with the amount he charging, I personally think that he's mad, but if you are happy with you lot, who are we to cry "cowboy".

[L.J.Thorpe]

fact is ewan that "cowboys" overcharge as well mate
as for image,professionalism etc you will always be competing against cheap,seasonal,part time,doleboy
window cleaners.The trick is finding the customers who want reliable,trustworthy and good over and above the lowest common denominator of price

[RO-Sheen]

All because a cleaner charges a couple of pounds does not make him out to be a "cowboy", on Sunday a friend of mine who has moved to Oxford phoned to say hello, in the conversation up came the fact that her window cleaner only charges £3.00, thats for front and back.

This guy has been cleaning for years and is totally legal, he now uses a wfp system with the "Reach and Wash" logo on his van, so we know what money he has spent on it.

He seems to be happy with the amount he charging, I personally think that he's mad, but if you are happy with you lot, who are we to cry "cowboy".

[RO-Sheen]

All because a cleaner charges a couple of pounds does not make him out to be a "cowboy", on Sunday a friend of mine who has moved to Oxford phoned to say hello, in the conversation up came the fact that her window cleaner only charges £3.00, thats for front and back.

This guy has been cleaning for years and is totally legal, he now uses a wfp system with the "Reach and Wash" logo on his van, so we know what money he has spent on it.

He seems to be happy with the amount he charging, I personally think that he's mad, but if you are happy with you lot, who are we to cry "cowboy".

£3??? I live in Oxfordshire and cant imagine anyone charging that little! Out of interest where does your mate live? I might look out for this bloke and employ him to do my round for me while I sit at home watching Jeremy Kyle and bargain hunt all day

[pjulk]

Getting a mite fed up with people telling me how little their last window cleaner charged, I'm giving out a quote form.

Here is the text:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

- QUOTE -

This quote covers the following services
which will be carried out at every visit:

* dry brushing of all ground floor window
frames, door frames and doors plus the
surrounding masonry to remove cobwebs,
spattered mud, loose dust etc.

* washing of all safely accessible window
frames, door frames and doors removing
dirt, algae and other surface contaminants.
(This process will not remove deep staining.)

* washing the exterior surface of all safely
accessible window glass and door glass.

£_____

N.B. The quoted price is based on a six-weekly
cycle. One-off cleans are charged at 175% of
the above.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

What changes would you guys make?

I think you  are over complicating things.

If you are traditional its glass and sills.
Add a couple of quid for frames just do these with a cloth forget the brush its not needed.

Just tell them a price if there not happy with that price they can look else where.

[michael papworth]

My wife, who is a stickler for these things, tells me that it's a quotation - not a quote. So that's me in my place!

I simply carry a few of these A5 quotation forms behind my canvassing records on my clipboard, so it's quick and easy for both me and the customer to have a permanent record of the agreed price. It takes next to no time to fill in.

I've given five of these quotes quotations out today. Each time the customer was impressed with the service I was offering and accepted the price without a murmur.

I can accept that it's complicated, but it gives me the opportunity to explain exactly what I do. So far, we've been outside when I've given the quotation and I've been able to point out the spiders' nests and how the top of the frame is very dirty and gets cleaned as a matter of course. Then point out the algae in the crevices and tell them how that gets cleaned out so the frames gleam.

Customers seem to like being told what's going on. They like to know that they are talking to someone who is going to respect their property and do a first class job. 

The other idea is that they have something which they can show to their friends that's bigger and better than a business card. (My contact details are also on the quotation.)

[mr D]

lol this thread is a joke. serious doode there is no need to go printing out a contract for customs. if your a window cleaner you clean windows this in my book includes the frames and sills. a 3 pained ground floor window should take you 10 seconds to clean including frames. if thats too long so you need to cut back on the frames you a muppet! GET FASTER!!

also some 'so called' pro (i use the term VERY losely) w/c are so quick to brand other w/c as cow boys it sickens me! i use a y reg pug 406 est to do my work. am i a coy boy??? i use that because i dont /wont borrrow from a bank  or loan company to buy a van. my mum tought me if you want something save for it son. its our only vecheal so my 8month preg wife gets the bus. dont get me wrong, i've only just finished my 1st year going it alone and a very long way from struggling but there ane more important things in my life at the moment that buying a van when ive got a perfictly good car that dose the job! just because you go out and buy a wfp system,new van, nice glossy lefelets and a baceball cap with 'window cleaner' on it dont mean you the muts nuts and have the right to knock others.

if your worried about losing a load of customas to a w/c that only charges £3 a house on an est where the family income is just £15,000 pa then you cant be that good after all!!

rant over, man i feel better this is like theropy for w/c

[pingu]

What is a cowboy?.....

[gary999]

What is a cowboy?.....

he wears a floppy hat doesnt shave,like tassles on his trousers
shoots a colt 45,rides a horse and chases indians

[windowwashers]

What is a cowboy?.....

he wears a floppy hat doesnt shave,like tassles on his trousers
shoots a colt 45,rides a horse and chases indians

And can also be heard saying: yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee haaaaaaaaaaa

[williamx]

What is a cowboy?.....

It’s really Cowboy outfit. Is British slang for a firm or individual that specialises in shoddy workmanship and/ or dubious business practices.

Ewan 

[/qu

You mean the Labour Party and Gordon Brown then.

[gary999]

What is a cowboy?.....

he wears a floppy hat doesnt shave,like tassles on his trousers
shoots a colt 45,rides a horse and chases indians

And can also be heard saying: yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee haaaaaaaaaaa

aye up its the lone ranger!!

[Ravensford]

Or for DCS08 the loan arranger