[Dave Turley]

i've just lost a job i've been doing for over 2 years as the blokes mate has been laid off the roofing, bought a van, and starting up window cleaning.

it was only a £7.50 8 weekly so no big loss. got 3 £20 4 weekly l jobs this week so it don't matter, just hope every other bugger don't have the same idea!

[Pristine Clean]

People seem to tell everyone there is plenty of work out there for everyone.

I think more and more will go into window cleaning especially at a time like this.

Price probably is more important than the quality in todays climate. Everyone that has difficulties is trying to save money in some way.

Sorry you lost the job, customer loyalty should not be taken for granted. Lets face it, we only clean there windows its not like we are saving a life. Any good window cleaner can clean a window blind folded. Its that easy.

And that is why more will go into it. So get prepared all of you.

Dave

[matt]

it will onlyhave 1 effect, it will drive the price DOWN

you clean for 20 quid

some1 qoutes 10 quid, the home owner thinks " wow thats really cheap " but stays with you

next person comes along and qoutes 15 quid, " thats cheaper than my current guy, i will give you a go

[dd]

If you treat your customers well the majority will be loyal.

I believe one key to being successful is to genuinely like and appreciate your customers - even the akward ones.

[sherco]

My accountant told me when ever there is a recession he get lots of new business, when people get made redundant they start up gardening and window cleaning as its very little outlay to start.

[Dave Turley]

Sorry you lost the job, customer loyalty should not be taken for granted. 

thanks dave, not worried about it though.

i'm sure most of my custies are loyal, just the new guy is his mate

[weetot]

If you have reach & wash, you could do both, i.e watering the garden, after youve cleaned the windows......................................................................o.k I'll get me coat.

[tonylee]

Hi Dave,
aint going to say sorry for your loss as your well up on the week!
Loads of people start window cleaning as it's easy to start, but most fail to see just how long it takes to create a decent income from it. They also underprice as they have very little idea or experience of it.
Use it to your advantage and tell the customer that when he fails to make a living and gives up, you will take them back
Regards
Tony
Stuff the blues on Saturday

[simon knight]

There'll always be undercutting recession or no.

Personally I can't think of a worse time to go into what is at the end of the day a non-essential service...and it's winter! I mean I'm fairly well established but I'm finding more than a few customers a bit shy of me at the moment.

As an example: A house I've been doing for years at £14. Lady always gave me a tenner and fiver and said "keep the change".  Last time I went she held her hand out for the £1...sign of the times I'm afraid

[mr D]

if i lost a job i'll be looking at my self b4 i get upset with the doode who's taken it from me.

at the end of the day when i started up i took jobs from nurmous w/c's dont feel bad for it just hope i dont make the mistakes they did.

[Dave Turley]

Hi Dave,
aint going to say sorry for your loss as your well up on the week!
Loads of people start window cleaning as it's easy to start, but most fail to see just how long it takes to create a decent income from it. They also underprice as they have very little idea or experience of it.
Use it to your advantage and tell the customer that when he fails to make a living and gives up, you will take them back
Regards
Tony
Stuff the blues on Saturday

you're right tony, for the first couple of years I was way too cheap, with inconsistent pricing.

4 years on i've passed all that work on and my round is very well priced and wfp friendly.

my first year was real hard work, I don't envy anone trying to drum up new custom from scratch in this economic climate

[sussex187]

theres a guy in my area posting leaflets saying "all bungalows £5.00" lost one today to him i was charging £11.00 should have been £15.00 dont know if he is a new up start or what but its quite a bold statement to make some of my bungalows take more than an hour but like i say if he can survive on that taking in to account rain,fuel insurance etc i know i couldnt

[jaykie]

theres a guy in my area posting leaflets saying "all bungalows £5.00" lost one today to him i was charging £11.00 should have been £15.00 dont know if he is a new up start or what but its quite a bold statement to make some of my bungalows take more than an hour but like i say if he can survive on that taking in to account rain,fuel insurance etc i know i couldnt

where in sussex are you

[Central Window Cleaners]

Same here, we just lost a job we have had for many years, becasue someone in the family has started up and she wants to show her support.

[sussex187]

worthing

[jaykie]

Not to far from steve-uk and cleanerglass, maybe its the same bloke that cleanerglass lost commercial shop fronts too who is doing for £3 or £4

[simbo]

too many think this is easy! well i don't think so, it will be hard for anyone starting any biz at the mo certainly window cleaning.
sometimes i love it sometimes i hate it, crap weather, customer iritations, chasing money, bloody gates, dog crap, and i could go on. Building a decent biz is hard and requires a lot of effort to keep it.
as you might guess not really enjoying much lately
paul

[sussex187]

^{Not to far from steve-uk and cleanerglass, maybe its the same bloke that cleanerglass lost commercial shop fronts too who is doing for £3 or £4}seems like the same in my opinion underhand tactic, i dont mind competition that will always be there but in this current economic climate he could  in theory wipe out 60% of my round that i have worked for years to build,but i dont think most of my customers would change tho but money talks as they say.......and if it is the same bloke i doubt he will   last too long undercutting the shop front fellas before something happens

[Chris Galloway]

I live in a small bungalow estate, i was considering offering all my neighbours in my road preferential rates for those times when i have 40 mins to spare before it gets dark, and head home..

I dont think the local guy would be very pleased. But hey its where i live! I wouldn't do it for other homes around the area thou - id be mugging myself out then.

[kenaltobelli]

wait while they have to find the overheads tax car tax accountants bill rain snow wind
i have allways found work and i could do 80 hours a week instead of 30 and i would make no more than i do now to make a living in this game you need a lot of good custies willing to pay all the time thats the trick time is the one thing no one has at the moment xmas coming up and a lot of winter still to come if anyone wants to come to the republic of yorkshire and undercut us so be it but i dont fancy doing shops for 3/4 a go esp when you have to wait to clean inside lots of lost time