[William Tyndale]

They shouldnt of even given a quote as the company had a cleaner, a mate of mine was poling the front of a house the other day and a w/c put a leaflet throught the door he was working on.

Why do Window Cleaners think they are immune to market forces?
Every other industry has competition, every other industry has to remain competative to survive.
That means either on price or quality.
To expect no other firm will provide a quote for work we currently do is unreasonable.
Unless you have a cast iron contract for a set term you have to expect that other firms, larger or smaller, will offer their own services.
They have every right to.

For too long, too many Cleaners have had it all their own way, too much work, no competition therefore quote what they like.
I think that in this economy, only those who offer a good service for a reasonable price will survive.

[Chris Galloway]

Yeah, i always miss out one that their doing and go back later!

[NWH]

Have you heard of the saying honour among theives,it`s the same with WC you don`t poo on your own doorstep.Do on to others and all that,it`s an un written law we should all abide by locally.I talk to and am in constant contact with WC`s in my area and wouldn`t knowingly take work off of them it`s the same as taking food from there kids mouths i wouldn`t want it done to me,we don`t even need to discuss it it`s just not done.If you go further a field to find work that`s another matter.

[Bobs Window Cleaning]

Many of the window cleaners around here look out for each other. We all get on and help each other when possible including passing on work.

Hence we all have good rounds,good income and no worries.

Can you say yes to all 3?

Bob

[William Tyndale]

Have you heard of the saying honour among theives,it`s the same with WC you don`t poo on your own doorstep.Do on to others and all that,it`s an un written law we should all abide by locally.I talk to and am in constant contact with WC`s in my area and wouldn`t knowingly take work off of them it`s the same as taking food from there kids mouths i wouldn`t want it done to me,we don`t even need to discuss it it`s just not done.If you go further a field to find work that`s another matter.

I know all the window cleaners in my area, and i get on with them all, but if I was expanding i would offer quotes at any property, I would put flyers out anywhere I felt I could gain work.

I would also expect others to do the same.

However, if someone contacts me and I dont want to put a quote in I happily pass this on to another cleaner. In fact i did this the other day to someone I know well who had flyered "my patch".

NWH you have just got to get over it, its called being in business!

Bob yes I can say yes to all 3.

[Bobs Window Cleaning]

There have been other cleaners delivering flyers where I clean but I always think as long as I do a good job I will be okay. If a customer leaves me for the sake of a couple of pounds then good luck to them.



Bob

[Pristine Clean]

Have you heard of the saying honour among theives,it`s the same with WC you don`t poo on your own doorstep.Do on to others and all that,it`s an un written law we should all abide by locally.I talk to and am in constant contact with WC`s in my area and wouldn`t knowingly take work off of them it`s the same as taking food from there kids mouths i wouldn`t want it done to me,we don`t even need to discuss it it`s just not done.If you go further a field to find work that`s another matter.

Absolutely bang on well done. First time ive seen anyone be honest... That right! To grow your bsiness you have to quote for more work otherwise you wont grow. Tough if you know the person thats already doing the cleaning. If it was good enough and value for money in the first place customers would not even consider getting other quotes.

Dave

[Chris Galloway]

Im not against to helping window cleaners..

I had a call asking if a did window cleaning on the A10 - No, came my reply.. where the hell is that i thought to myself as its no where near here in swansea... then it suddenly dawned on me she was after my uncles/cousins business - sharing the same name, she could only remember the name.. and they are in london..lol

[joe.b]

its aload of bull, i quote and leaflet every house i want, do you think any other business or trade doesnt quote because someone else has?
yes be friendly but you are running a business, ive got one bloke that trys to find out everything about my business and even tried to get me join our rounds up, dont let on too much about your business

[seandyer2003]

its aload of bull, i quote and leaflet every house i want, do you think any other business or trade doesnt quote because someone else has?
yes be friendly but you are running a business, ive got one bloke that trys to find out everything about my business and even tried to get me join our rounds up, dont let on too much about your business

I leaflet a 1000 houses a week, and i cant expect them not to land on anothers patch, i try not to take work, but if they insist in changing wc and i offer my price - i never ask there current price - and they accept mine, which i put in at my normal rate, then fair enough......if you lose a custy its your fault not mine, but i dont go round sticking a few quid less than everyone else as its not good business, but in this economy things may get cut throat, and will i do it then, if my family need feeding yes....i will be nice while things allow it but if it gets hard to find work then you are not breaking the law, just some unwritten tradition which is very unprofessional, and very anti business...as Ewan says (did i say that??) It amounts to price fixing in principle. but while things are well, best not to drive prices in the ground, but you may find yourself unstuck if in the future you dont think about yourself first in business

[sageorgeta]

I have thousands of leaflets delivered by a leaflet distribution company every 3 months.They put them out in specific areas and i couldn't care less if any other wc operates there.
If a potential customer makes an enquiry then i will put in the price i want for the job...even if i know they have another wc.I know i will not go in lower than the previous wc as i am overpriced due to the amount of work i do have,but if i wanted work yes i would get it whatever way possible so that i could make a living.
Believe it or not this is whats called competition,and all that rubbish about patches and honour amongst thieves...well thats what it is RUBBISH.

When you are struggling for work,which i hope never happens to anyone,do you honestly believe that another wc will come to your rescue....not in a million years.

Businesses are competative by nature,thats how they succeed.How many double glazing leaflets come through your doors each year,do they all agree to the unwritten rule of not targeting each others customers...of course not...they are cut-throat and competative....just as the window cleaning industry is and should be.

[dai]

It's not the established window cleaners that cause problems, it's new guys that are boasting about being able to earn £10 an hour. I have never seen so many cars with new ladders on the roof, and it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

[NWH]

It's not the established window cleaners that cause problems, it's new guys that are boasting about being able to earn £10 an hour. I have never seen so many cars with new ladders on the roof, and it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

Boasting that there earning £10 an hour,sorry but that made me LMAO.

[NWH]

How can you earn £10 an hour and be self employed it aint happening Stan,the overheads i have that wouldn`t even pay my morgage and i`m not being funny.You can earn £10 an hour doing most things these days,if you think i`m being a snob that`s your opinion but £10 an hour is not good.

[johns window kleen]

 I've kept me peace up till now but Who in their right mind would want to do any job for £10 per hour?,ilet alone one thats  done in the freezing cold,working with water and  especially where they are putting their lives or bodies at risk.
If competition from some desperate underpricing people drives it down to that kind of level I think I would walk off, as it simply aint worth the hassle for that level of return.

Some of the pricing we hear about on here is not laughable its pathetic. £20 inside and out!!!!!

Some of you seem to think its OK, but to me it's industry damaging,and could drag you down to that level just to compete.
That kind of competition can not been seen as good can it?

[NWH]

I've kept me peace up till now but Who in their right mind would want to do any job for £10 per hour?,ilet alone one thats  done in the freezing cold,working with water and  especially where they are putting their lives or bodies at risk.
If competition from some desperate underpricing people drives it down to that kind of level I think I would walk off, as it simply aint worth the hassle for that level of return.

Some of the pricing we hear about on here is not laughable its pathetic. £20 inside and out!!!!!

Some of you seem to think its OK, but to me it's industry damaging,and could drag you down to that level just to compete.
That kind of competition can not been seen as good can it?

My god John i thought i was on my own here lol.

[ps outthere]

As someone has already said, 'Do unto others as you wiould have them do unto you'! Which is something I believe in.
For some individuals, 'Dog eat Dog' would be more appropriate.

[NWH]

I said do unto others and i beleive it to,what goes around comes around.

[Wayne Thomas]

How can you earn £10 an hour and be self employed it aint happening Stan,the overheads i have that wouldn`t even pay my morgage and i`m not being funny.You can earn £10 an hour doing most things these days,if you think i`m being a snob that`s your opinion but £10 an hour is not good.

NWH may offend some people with his attitude, but he is realistic about taking on work too cheap. £10ph is a waste of time if you are running a business with overheads and a job that is weather permitting in the customers eyes.. £10ph and you'll be either struggling to make it all pay or be the most ridiculous busy fool in the long run when you take into account bad payers, being ripped off, not this time ('cause it might rain), etc, etc.
I knew a cleaning company who were charging £10ph about 6years ago. They didn't last 6months. they folded with all the running costs of employing, sickness pay, holidays. Get real, £10ph in business....you might as well be in a dead end job on minimum wage with all the benefits tied in with PAYE.

[johns window kleen]

NWH , No mate i'm sure were not alone.
I wonder how much you get for stitching trainers per hour in the far east, these days.
Must be getting close to an interesting proposition for some people.