[simon knight]

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.

Wooah! That's £3.50-£5 per job which might take 10 mins...not £3.50-£5 per hour!

...I hope!

[bumper]

yes per house ,and im the dearest, the other window cleaners and i mean loads of cleaners about 10 others charge 50p less its dog eat dog round manchester areas every were you look theres a car with a set of ladders on.

[simon knight]

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. :

 poles,iranian,kurdish,turkish,pakistan,eastern europeans,russian,

Yeah but in all fairness these people don't get their windows cleaned anyway...95% of my custys are white English, 4.9% are white West Europeans and the remaining 0.1% is a black woman.

[geefree]

 

[bumper]

Bumper

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

Moderator

sorry dave,      but ive never met a windowcleaner who dosnt swear

[geefree]

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.

where did you get that info from lol.

[matt]

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!

exactly my point

[matt]

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 :

it would work if you had to prove you ran a legit biz etc etc

AND

you only had a admin fee to pay ( 30 quid a year )

BUT

we know the council will rake in a few extra quid and the honest workers will be stung with another tax

as you have said, who will care if you have a license ? ? ? ? i know most of mine wouldnt care, they just want a honest guy who does a good job

[bumper]

This cowboys been going for 25 years when most of you lot were at school

[williamx]

its dog eat dog round manchester areas every were you look theres a car with a set of ladders on.

And no wheels on it because they have been nicked :

[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 :

it would work if you had to prove you ran a legit biz etc etc

AND

you only had a admin fee to pay ( 30 quid a year )

BUT

we know the council will rake in a few extra quid and the honest workers will be stung with another tax

as you have said, who will care if you have a license ? ? ? ? i know most of mine wouldnt care, they just want a honest guy who does a good job

Most of mine seem surprised I have insurance.

£30 would soon become £50 then £100...and on and on.

Matt we read from the same page it would be a further tax and I reckon the guys on here who want a "licence" are deep down ashamed at what they do and for some bizarre reason think a licence and perhaps the chance to get to wear a badge like a bone fide cabbie suddenly puts them into the accountant, lawyer, neuro surgion etc bracket.

[dmlservices]

its dog eat dog round manchester areas every were you look theres a car with a set of ladders on.

And no wheels on it because they have been nicked :

 

daz

[dmlservices]

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 :

it would work if you had to prove you ran a legit biz etc etc

AND

you only had a admin fee to pay ( 30 quid a year )

BUT

we know the council will rake in a few extra quid and the honest workers will be stung with another tax

as you have said, who will care if you have a license ? ? ? ? i know most of mine wouldnt care, they just want a honest guy who does a good job

Most of mine seem surprised I have insurance.

£30 would soon become £50 then £100...and on and on.

Matt we read from the same page it would be a further tax and I reckon the guys on here who want a "licence" are deep down ashamed at what they do and for some bizarre reason think a licence and perhaps the chance to get to wear a badge like a bone fide cabbie suddenly puts them into the accountant, lawyer, neuro surgion etc bracket.

i am not ashamed of what i do , quite the opposite,

licensing would make it better for us all.


daz

[matt]

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 :

it would work if you had to prove you ran a legit biz etc etc

AND

you only had a admin fee to pay ( 30 quid a year )

BUT

we know the council will rake in a few extra quid and the honest workers will be stung with another tax

as you have said, who will care if you have a license ? ? ? ? i know most of mine wouldnt care, they just want a honest guy who does a good job

Most of mine seem surprised I have insurance.

£30 would soon become £50 then £100...and on and on.

Matt we read from the same page it would be a further tax and I reckon the guys on here who want a "licence" are deep down ashamed at what they do and for some bizarre reason think a licence and perhaps the chance to get to wear a badge like a bone fide cabbie suddenly puts them into the accountant, lawyer, neuro surgion etc bracket.

i am not ashamed of what i do , quite the opposite,

licensing would make it better for us all.


daz

remember this a discussion forum

now i dont want to sound argumentative

BUT

why would it be better for us ? ? ? ?

[matt]

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 :

it would work if you had to prove you ran a legit biz etc etc

AND

you only had a admin fee to pay ( 30 quid a year )

BUT

we know the council will rake in a few extra quid and the honest workers will be stung with another tax

as you have said, who will care if you have a license ? ? ? ? i know most of mine wouldnt care, they just want a honest guy who does a good job

Most of mine seem surprised I have insurance.

£30 would soon become £50 then £100...and on and on.

Matt we read from the same page it would be a further tax and I reckon the guys on here who want a "licence" are deep down ashamed at what they do and for some bizarre reason think a licence and perhaps the chance to get to wear a badge like a bone fide cabbie suddenly puts them into the accountant, lawyer, neuro surgion etc bracket.

indeed

though we seem to have some on here who do think they are as important and have the right to earn as much as accountant, lawyer, neuro surgeons etc

[geefree]

Matt we read from the same page it would be a further tax and I reckon the guys on here who want a "licence" are deep down ashamed at what they do and for some bizarre reason think a licence and perhaps the chance to get to wear a badge like a bone fide cabbie suddenly puts them into the accountant, lawyer, neuro surgion etc bracket.

What a strange way to look at things.... the subject of " a license ".... is because the title of the topic is ... Window Cleaning-bad name?

So a license would not be readily available to the dole boys..and such.... who give w/c a bad name.

To say people want a license to put them into the accountant, lawyer, neuro surgion etc bracket... its ridiculous....also....who likes wearing a badge.?

[dmlservices]

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 :

it would work if you had to prove you ran a legit biz etc etc

AND

you only had a admin fee to pay ( 30 quid a year )

BUT

we know the council will rake in a few extra quid and the honest workers will be stung with another tax

as you have said, who will care if you have a license ? ? ? ? i know most of mine wouldnt care, they just want a honest guy who does a good job

Most of mine seem surprised I have insurance.

£30 would soon become £50 then £100...and on and on.

Matt we read from the same page it would be a further tax and I reckon the guys on here who want a "licence" are deep down ashamed at what they do and for some bizarre reason think a licence and perhaps the chance to get to wear a badge like a bone fide cabbie suddenly puts them into the accountant, lawyer, neuro surgion etc bracket.

i am not ashamed of what i do , quite the opposite,

licensing would make it better for us all.


daz

remember this a discussion forum

now i dont want to sound argumentative

BUT

why would it be better for us ? ? ? ?

matt
i think it would be for the better , even if it only stopped the dole boys, it would be worth it,

as it stands any one can easily set up , and still claim dole money , i wonder what you would think if one targeted your round, and went in with rediculious prices?

would you say good of him , ? dont think you would .

daz

[matt]

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 :

it would work if you had to prove you ran a legit biz etc etc

AND

you only had a admin fee to pay ( 30 quid a year )

BUT

we know the council will rake in a few extra quid and the honest workers will be stung with another tax

as you have said, who will care if you have a license ? ? ? ? i know most of mine wouldnt care, they just want a honest guy who does a good job

Most of mine seem surprised I have insurance.

£30 would soon become £50 then £100...and on and on.

Matt we read from the same page it would be a further tax and I reckon the guys on here who want a "licence" are deep down ashamed at what they do and for some bizarre reason think a licence and perhaps the chance to get to wear a badge like a bone fide cabbie suddenly puts them into the accountant, lawyer, neuro surgion etc bracket.

i am not ashamed of what i do , quite the opposite,

licensing would make it better for us all.


daz

remember this a discussion forum

now i dont want to sound argumentative

BUT

why would it be better for us ? ? ? ?

matt
i think it would be for the better , even if it only stopped the dole boys, it would be worth it,

as it stands any one can easily set up , and still claim dole money , i wonder what you would think if one targeted your round, and went in with rediculious prices?

would you say good of him , ? dont think you would .

daz

i can see what you mean

BUT

if a dole'y works now still signing on and not paying tax etc etc

i honestly do not see how a license would stop them, they would still work without one, afterall they are breaking the law by signing on and working, not paying tax etc etc, so would they bother with a license ? ? ? ? my feeling so no, it wouldnt make a jot of difference to them

[matt]

Matt we read from the same page it would be a further tax and I reckon the guys on here who want a "licence" are deep down ashamed at what they do and for some bizarre reason think a licence and perhaps the chance to get to wear a badge like a bone fide cabbie suddenly puts them into the accountant, lawyer, neuro surgion etc bracket.

What a strange way to look at things.... the subject of " a license ".... is because the title of the topic is ... Window Cleaning-bad name?

So a license would not be readily available to the dole boys..and such.... who give w/c a bad name.

To say people want a license to put them into the accountant, lawyer, neuro surgion etc bracket... its ridiculous....also....who likes wearing a badge.?

but will a license stop them ? ? ? ?

[dai]

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 :

Excellent reply as usual from you Simon, and Bumper tells it how it is in his area. Matt is objective, Ian Giles, Tosh and Dave St Ives tell the truth.
These guys are happy with who they are, what they do for a living is irrelevant. Because they are all emotionally intelligent people, they have good communication skills, really in tune with how the majority think, these skills are more important than any other in any business, not least ours, if you can endear yourself to your customers you will succeed.
You can have the best equipment, van, uniform etc, but if your not a nice person most of your customers will see right through you, A nice guy that does a good job will win every time in the long run, even if he runs a battered old Mondeo. When I say nice guy I don't mean some softy that allows himself to be walked on, I mean a guy with the perception to pitch the ball just where the client wants it.
Actually being able to clean a window is way down the list of skills required to be a successful window cleaner.