[AJ]

all of the first three. sounds helpful and leaves options open.

[Russell Macdonald]

I'll quite happily say ok and leave it until next time, as long as they don't make habit of it.

Once or twice a year, no problem, it's not like many do it.

Twice in a few months and I still say ok, but they don't see me again.

I wouldn't!

Are you telling me that you'd drive upto a house, unreel your hose, and just before you're about to start work, your customer sticks their head out of the front door and says, 'Not this month, mate'?  So then you've got to pack up and move on.

And then you'd return to clean them again?

No way... no ruddy way.

I've had ONE 'Not this month, mate' this year, and I dropped them.  It rarely happens to me, because I've always binned the customers who've tried this.

I've even binned a £100 domestic account (which Ian_Giles does now) because she did the same to me (but Ian and I did a bit of 'price discussion' on that one, so she's paying even more now.  That'll teach 'er

If you agree terms and conditions, stick to them; don't let your customers treat you like 'rubbish', or you'll end up with a naff load of work.

In previous years, some customers have approached 'Wor Lass', thinking she'd be a 'softer touch' than me, and when they've said, 'Can you leave us this month?', unless they've had a good reason, Wor Lass says, 'So you don't want your windows cleaned by us anymore?'

They've always relented; this is one of my pet hates.

Be firm with your customers when they're being unfair to you.

I'm with Tosh on this one, if the have a good reason like work been done i can live that. Other wise they are dumped & i will let some other mug pick up the grief.

I'm still picking up work so i'm sticking to my guns. Had 2 today asked & they are on my round even after saying i wont start them to January which they were fine about.  

[Wayne Thomas]

In my T&C I explain I have a cancellation notice, if they can't abide by it I charge a cancellation fee. I do make an alternative suggestion as they are struggling financially to clean this time and leave next time instead as then I have notice.

[AuRavelling79]

I'm very firm but polite about this. I do not allow customers to "not this time" me.

I'm not a complete idiot tho' (there are parts of me missing! )

If they have a good reason - like scaffolding and work being done then fine, but none of this Squeaky, namby-pamby, fannying about, bend over backwards stuff.

[john tomkins]

I'm with squeaky, be pleasant about it and I will let it pass, had one last month come out with " I'm going out, leave it till next time!" abrupt attitude .... Guess what's happening to that one

[Tosh]

but none of this Squeaky, namby-pamby, fannying about, bend over backwards stuff.

I'm sure Squeaks bends over forwards for some of them!  He may as well.

Squeaks, do you want to tell them about that lady in Mynth Bach, my ex-customer who I dumped, who you now do; according to her terms and conditions and cheaper too?

Or do you want me to tell them about it?  It's a funny story, and just shows how a customer can manipulate a soft window cleaner.

[Sir Squeaky]

but none of this Squeaky, namby-pamby, fannying about, bend over backwards stuff.

I'm sure Squeaks bends over forwards for some of them!  He may as well.

Squeaks, do you want to tell them about that lady in Mynth Bach, my ex-customer who I dumped, who you now do; according to her terms and conditions and cheaper too?

Or do you want me to tell them about it?  It's a funny story, and just shows how a customer can manipulate a soft window cleaner.

I'd rather you didn't, because you'd LIE to try to make me look less successful than you.

I've got no problem with her and the price is fine.
It also led to a £20, 20 minute job, and that led to another one, and now I'm in a new area.
Your loss, my gain.

[matt]

come on girls, put the handbags away 

[Tosh]

come on girls, put the handbags away 

I love a good bite, but the lady (Squeaks) doth protest too much.

 

[AuRavelling79]

So tell us the story then Tosh. Squeaky won't mind, he's way more successful than you. :

[Russell Macdonald]

So tell us the story then Tosh. Squeaky won't mind, he's way more successful than you. :

Tosh is only successfull cause of his fit mrs, if they were near me i would have them
to clean my windows. 

[geefree]

well, thanks for all that guys...

i was really curious, after having 3 people say that....

and i thought i would ask you all,

judging by the poll...so far, the courteous thing to do, is to just say ok , see you next month....

i think i would only put up with this ONCE, from any customer, under normal circumstances,

but we are not living in normal circumstances, so for the time being i will be holding on to all my customers... good and bad...,

You never know whats around the corner.


As much as it griefs me when they say it..... :,

but for us with only , or mainly domestics, with nothing else. to fall back on.....or still building a round,

i think the sensible thing is to keep them all for now.

[Sir Squeaky]

So tell us the story then Tosh. Squeaky won't mind, he's way more successful than you. :

Clearly. He throws away jobs over trivialities.
Obviously you believe his hot air stories then Malc?

You not really gullible surely.

[geefree]

So tell us the story then Tosh. Squeaky won't mind, he's way more successful than you. :

Clearly. He throws away jobs over trivialities.
Obviously you believe his hot air stories then Malc?

You not really gullible surely.

you've just changed that lol

[AuRavelling79]

So tell us the story then Tosh. Squeaky won't mind, he's way more successful than you. :

Clearly. He throws away jobs over trivialities.
Obviously you believe his hot air stories then Malc?

You not really gullible surely.

It's only a story Rog...

[karygate]

i would sooner miss them out this time than go onto a regular longer arrangement.its a bummer when it happens but at least they are still a customer during this current climate.

[tomy jackson]

now im WFP its not as bad as trad so i will do 2 muthly walst trad it wos a no no

[Tosh]

Clearly. He throws away jobs over trivialities.

Nope, I dump customers who try and mess me about.  Firstly she tried to say, 'Not this month', so I was firm with her and told her it was EVERY month, as we'd originally agreed, and the following month she wanted me to do 'outside only' one month, then 'inside only' the following month.

I said, 'No! If you want the insides cleaned, that's fine, but I do the outside every month as we originally agreed', and because of her attitude I dropped her.  I could've put the price up and did what she wanted, but I knew she'd say no.

And when she found Squeaky, she phoned me out of sheer glee to tell me; I just thanked the crazy woman and hung up.

So Squeaky works her terms and conditions, at a cheaper price; though she did con him. 

[Sir Squeaky]

So Squeaky works her terms and conditions, at a cheaper price; though she did con him. 

Told you he'd LIE.
Why are you so bitter?

I charge more than you did, and I've gained more good work from it.

[Paul Coleman]

So Squeaky works her terms and conditions, at a cheaper price; though she did con him. 

Told you he'd LIE.
Why are you so bitter?

I charge more than you did, and I've gained more good work from it.

Can I come to Chepstow to watch the punch up?