[matt]

Seragota

A lot of this went on before i was a moderator on this section.

Its ok to always blame the mods, but as Hants cleaning will testify as soon as it gets reported it gets acted upon.

As yet no one has reported this post to the moderators.

the question is though dave, what is to report ? ? ? ?

a guy who is either having a bit of a laugh or is serious ( to me it doesnt matter )

he signs on the dole, does a few houses and is happy, is he really doing window cleaners any harm ? ? ? ?

Yes he is not only to himself because ultimately he isn’t going nowhere, but also this type of window cleaner doesn’t project anything positive for the window cleaning industry in fact it’s detrimental. It does make things more difficult for professional window cleaners because customers may not differentiate.

Think about your one example of your dole cheat then times that by tens of thousands.

Or think about how things would be for all the professional window cleaners if all the cowboys stopped operating. What would be the benefits?

tens of thousands.is a bit strong imho

but it comes down to he does what he needs to to survive, i work 3 hard days and this week 2 early mornings and 1 late night, i have a hernia and im struggling, but i get the work done, because thats what i do to survive

its easy to sit and knock people

i find the image of window cleaners is still very poor, that means when people find some1 who is regular, they can trust, does a good job, they recommend them, thus i fit the bill and get recommended fairly often, does the public idea of window cleaners help in this case ? ? ? ? i dont know, but its a good discussion

[dmlservices]

Seragota

A lot of this went on before i was a moderator on this section.

Its ok to always blame the mods, but as Hants cleaning will testify as soon as it gets reported it gets acted upon.

As yet no one has reported this post to the moderators.

the question is though dave, what is to report ? ? ? ?

a guy who is either having a bit of a laugh or is serious ( to me it doesnt matter )

he signs on the dole, does a few houses and is happy, is he really doing window cleaners any harm ? ? ? ?

i think that type of  window cleaner does immense damage,

they reinforce the general publics  perseption of your average window cleaner,

they charge peanuts, 

it has been said loads of times before , but i believe a licensing system ( as in scotland )would be a good move forward.

it would certainatly make it harder for them .

daz

[mark dew]

fair play matt. He ain't doing me any harm either. 
I dunno how much is the truth or just a laugh but bumpers posts are a breath of fresh air and i have a good laugh reading them.
And this topic as well now. 

[Paul Coleman]

Seragota

A lot of this went on before i was a moderator on this section.

Its ok to always blame the mods, but as Hants cleaning will testify as soon as it gets reported it gets acted upon.

As yet no one has reported this post to the moderators.

the question is though dave, what is to report ? ? ? ?

a guy who is either having a bit of a laugh or is serious ( to me it doesnt matter )

he signs on the dole, does a few houses and is happy, is he really doing window cleaners any harm ? ? ? ?

We all pay his dole money through our taxes

we do, i know that


BUT

he would still sign on the dole, regardless of him doing a few windows a day

so we would still be paying his dole

I don't believe it is someone on the dole though because he probably wouldn't be telling us about it.  If he is signing on and shining then yes, I believe it does do window cleaners some harm.  It's not only about image but about rates of pay.  Someone W/Cing without the proper overheads can undercut by a long way.  Even if they don't target anyone's work, there is the effect of holding down the rates generally.
Personally, I wouldn't have a problem with someone doing it for a few months to get themselves out of a hole.  I would have a problem though if they became more permanent competition as there's no way I could compete with fiddlers.

[tonylee]

Hi. This is a good thread.
I don't think they do any harm at all. The public get what they pay for and some are happy to pay peanuts to have a unreliable service. We will not change that.
I think the vast majority of customers go through several part timers, beer merchants, dolies and summer merchants before the settle on a reliable proffessonal person. They will also pay well and appreciate you working in most weathers all year round.
Let em come and go!

[simon knight]

Hi Hants Windows,

Firstly I really do believe that "Bumper" is a wind-up merchant and I like him for it (and if he really does look like the picture he's posted...well then I like him all the more!)

But let's assume that his postings are how he genuinely works and what he genuinely believes:

You Hants, me 'ol buddy, me 'ol best pal  should be delighted as he makes you look soooo good in comparison that you'll have zero difficulty in taking his customers.

A thing I've never understood: Why are some window cleaners so desparate to give the industry a "good name" that they'll willingly pay £100s in annual licence fees to try to achieve this?

If people ask what I do for a living I tell them I'm a window cleaner and if that makes me scummy in their eyes so be it.  I'll not be less scummy when asked what I do for a living and I replied "I'm a licenced window cleaner".

Licences will not send the cowboys packing, after all it hasn't in the cab trade, plumbing trade, sparks trade. building trade (the list is endless) so why should it impact the Bumpers of this world in the window cleaning trade?

The people who advocate licencing are simply and perversely wishing yet another tax on themselves...they'll pay an additional few hundred £ a year into local council coffers...and Bumper won't!  Means that Bumper can keep his "cowboy" prices the same whereas you have to up yours a bit to pay for your prestigious licence...like Mrs Smith gives a stuff whether you're licenced or not :

[bumper]

Its alright for some window cleaners who talk aload of  fairy  saying 2 men can earn 500 pound in a day,ive being doing window cleaning 25 years and i dornt know anybody who can do that much work in a day,and when  i come on talking fairy stories  there all up in arms and jealous,i start at 8.30 till  2 pm with 3 of us and we only do about 200 pound on a good day with prices range from £ 3.50 to £5.00 thats all you get up north greatermanchester, and your lucky if you get paid at all,its not like you southerners all ladi da  i get £25 a house ill not get out of bed for under   £20 i have a new van with a top notch system,and i bet most of you dornt declare what you earnings are,and if you do your lair.
              RANT OVER 

[Paul Coleman]

Its alright for some window cleaners who talk aload of bull poop saying 2 men can earn 500 pound in a day,ive being doing window cleaning 25 years and i dornt know anybody who can do that much work in a day,and when  i come on talking bullpoop there all up in arms and jealous,i start at 8.30 till  2 pm with 3 of us and we only do about 200 pound on a good day with prices range from £ 3.50 to £5.00 thats all you get up north greatermanchester, and your lucky if you get paid at all,its not like you southerners all ladi da  i get £25 a house ill not get out of bed for under   £20 i have a new van with a top notch system,and i bet most of you dornt declare what you earnings are,and if you do your lair.
              RANT OVER 

I'm sure there's a Monty Python sketch in there somewhere    .
Hey.  I can't help being a suvverner.  I was born and brought up down 'ere.
I know rates are generally lower up north but rents and mortgages tend to be a lot cheaper too.

[s.w.c]

You just did!

More like “window cleaners” not window cleaning.

 :

i just cant be bothered

[simon knight]

Its alright for some window cleaners who talk aload of bull poop saying 2 men can earn 500 pound in a day,ive being doing window cleaning 25 years and i dornt know anybody who can do that much work in a day,and when  i come on talking bullpoop there all up in arms and jealous,i start at 8.30 till  2 pm with 3 of us and we only do about 200 pound on a good day with prices range from £ 3.50 to £5.00 thats all you get up north greatermanchester, and your lucky if you get paid at all,its not like you southerners all ladi da  i get £25 a house ill not get out of bed for under   £20 i have a new van with a top notch system,and i bet most of you dornt declare what you earnings are,and if you do your lair.
              RANT OVER 

I'm sure there's a Monty Python sketch in there somewhere    .
Hey.  I can't help being a suvverner.  I was born and brought up down 'ere.
I know rates are generally lower up north but rents and mortgages tend to be a lot cheaper too.

Why should northerners care about rents and mortgages?...it's all paid for by DHSS anyway which is financed by taxpayers living South of Bedford.

[bumper]

Ill have to see if i can get a new computer from my sons school this windows 98 is so slow

[simon knight]

Ill have to see if i can get a new computer from my sons school this windows 98 is so slow

  ...

[Sir Squeaky]

Why should northerners care about rents and mortgages?...it's all paid for by DHSS anyway which is financed by taxpayers living South of Bedford.

[WCE]

Bumpers just a wind up surely???!!! If he isn't he certainly lurks as he disappeared for a few years until someone mentioned him and then low and behold he reappears! Is he genuine I dont think so surely if he was he wouldn't be so blatant about how he conducts business! He does make me laugh though as he plays the perfect stereotype of the wc's image...  

[geefree]

.

Why should northerners care about rents and mortgages?...it's all paid for by DHSS anyway which is financed by taxpayers living South of Bedford.

you been watching too much coronation street lol..... stick to posh eastenders.... you know the programme that shows off all the rich southerners..... doing the market.
anyone would think this country is the size of America... ooooh the great north south divide...

its the same in every town... you need to get out more. :

[Paul Coleman]

Ill have to see if i can get a new computer from my sons school this windows 98 is so slow

Great stuff !!   

[Moderator David@stives]

Bumper

I dont know if you are aware but swearing in any form isnt allowed

Moderator

[simon knight]

.

Why should northerners care about rents and mortgages?...it's all paid for by DHSS anyway which is financed by taxpayers living South of Bedford.

..... stick to posh eastenders....

Yer 'avin' a giraffe Guv. Now excuse me while I nip down the frog to the fish to get some bees for me sky to go out on the hit and later a ruby with me richard

[windowswashed]

I don't believe Northerners only charge £3.50- 5.00. What's the matter, have you no self respect. Minimum wage is nearly £6.00 If you're not confident to ask for decent prices, you'll always be the busy fool cleaning for peanuts. You need to market the right customers or find a job PAYE without the hassle of self employment if your wage is a joke.

[bumper]

anyone would think this country is the size of America... ooooh the great north south divide...

its the same in every town... you need to get out mor
e. :

It may not be size of america, but you can bet  thers   more people per square yard here in uk,it wornt be long before this country become a muslim country,everyware you go most folk talk a different language  poles,iranian,kurdish,turkish,pakistan,eastern europeans,russian, and WELSH TAFFFYS