I arrived at my first three customers today, all within 70 yds of each other, to find the back gates locked; they know that I don’t climb over, so I knocked, and nobody answered.
Somebody was there at one, but wouldn’t come to the door, so all three were bypassed, and I continued.
Forgetful, or no money, I wondered?
Last week, I had two cancellations, one being from a young lady, who only booked me two weeks before – I’ve never done the job yet [!], the other from a dippy old bat who told me on the first clean, that she had very little money.
However, I have had several other enquiries for pricing new work recently, [all my work is domestic], and Friday afternoon is set aside for pricing up.
All of the jobs that I’ve “lost”, apart from the one that was never done, have only been done two, three, or four times, and before I get ribald comments, my standards of work, and finish, are the best.
I clean every part of every window, every time, and that includes under the sills when doing the trad bits, and as an encore, I even clean the glass!
They all tell me that I am the best window cleaner they have seen in years.
So, am I being “used” by custies, because I provide good value, do an excellent job, and people are getting me to do two or three cleans and then dropping me, because the finish lasts longer?
Should I tell the prospective new customers, that I can fit them in, but only as “casual” customers?
That way, they ring up when they want service, I go and work the magic, and charge ‘em, say one and a half cleans?
That way, it’s financially worth it for me, and I don’t have to be bothered about locked gates, because I’m working to appointments.
They get the cleaning done when they want, and have a enough shekels saved up.
Your valued opinions please, Ladies and Gentlemen.
Baldeagle
