[sparklebright]

I thought for a refreshing change how about we list some of the bad things about being a w/c. We all know the good bits and talk about them a lot, how about a good whinge

No holiday.
No sick pay.
No company pension.
All those things your boss sorted out for you, well they're all down to you.
People assume you are thick, even though you have your own business.
Other windys whose sole method of getting work is to charge v v low prices
It's always funny when you're out and people ask what you do, and you tell them and they pull that "But you look so normal" face.
Extreme cold: slows you down, or stops you working = no money
Heavy rain: as above
Equipment issues: your job not someone else's
Awkward customers: we've all got them, and as much as you would like to you can't in reality tell everyone who upsets you to get lost.
Low starting wage: when you start you have to find the work. It can take months and months to build up a round that pays your bills
Canvassing: I don't enjoy it, "Well...not sure my mum's windy miles from here charges less..."etc etc ad nauseum
Running costs: Your boss used to pay them, now everything that goes wrong is your problem.
People who assume that because you clean windows, you want to do their Nan's bungalow 15 miles outside your area for £3 and will pleased about it.
No work = no money, if you don't work you make nothing, so no matter how ill you feel, off to work you go.
Early starts. today I'm starting at 4:30, for the 3rd day in a row, not easy if you want a social life.

Ah! That's better, needed that. I had more, but you know, gotta go, got to find my wages after paying that tax bill all in one lump. Oh and my back hurts, and look at these shoes, I've only had 'em 3 weeks and heel has worn right through...

[Mike 108]

What the heck were you doing at 4.30 am?

[Count Phil]

tell me about it.

needed a new windscreen and the retards took all day yesterday to do it. no money.

i've had it with this job.

[windowwashers]

What the heck were you doing at 4.30 am?

looking at the snow if hes in the southest :

Bad thing for window cleaning is snow/ice and -1 or lower

[matt]

at times very lonely

[MSTAV]

in a lot of cases we have to wait to get the money at a later date. customers never in and late sending cheques.

[Londoner]

Yup! all of those  plus

(1) nextdoor neigbours who object to you parking 1cm over their drive even though they don't actually want to go out.

(2) Curtain twitchers

(3) Customers that give you the whole chapter and verse about their operation just because you poitely asked if they were OK now.

[windowwashers]

bad payers also is very annoying

[Oakley Windows]

bad payers also is very annoying

Yes and its those that theoretically have the most money are the worst.

Im owed £250 from one, with very high Royal connections, been owed it for 2 months now, but theyre loaded to the hilt.

To be honest the fact that his wife died probably got something to do with it; so I feel guilty chasing it.

[sparklebright]

What the heck were you doing at 4.30 am?

Well, I was meant to be cleaning the glass canopies at a shopping centre, but the water just froze on the glass, so I guess I'll do that tomorrow.

Being a window cleaner is a good job sometimes, but I felt it was worth pointing out some of the problems, for the benefit of newbies reading up.

[Egg]

Customers who say not today when you turn up

[dai]

Customers that won't open the door when you know the buggers are in.
customers that wave goodbye and leave without paying.
customers who leave knowing the back gate is locked.
customers that never have cash or a cheque book.
customers that don't even start looking for the money until you knock.
customers that come out and insist on paying when your in mid rinse.
customers that have no money even when they know you are collecting that evening.
customers that leave huge dollops of dog muck for you to drag your hose through.
customers that plant thorny bushes under their windows.
customers that save all their shrapnel to pay the window cleaner.

Nothing much wrong with window cleaning, it's the customers that need sorting.

[mlscontractcleaner]

Spot on; and I thought it was only me who had customers like that 

[Dean Aspects]

It seems it doesnt matter where you are in the country we all have the same problems with customers and work all the above moans apply to my round
Because sometimes this job can be lonely and boring you think you are the only one with these problems so glad im not the only one suffering for my art 

[pjulk]

Dai

I think you must be working my round 

Except mine do offer cups of tea, When you on the last window 

[dave.e]

as paul said you have just done last window and thay come out with cupa and wants to talk to you for 30 odd mins and thay go on on on on on on on on till in the end you have just fell a sleep you look at the time and think ho sh.....t time to go home . don,t you love them.dave

[ronaldo]

Wheelie bins             

Collecting

cat and dog sh##

Garden furniture

kids toys and bikes

[s.hughes]

I was told I look to posh to be a w/c, is that a good thing?

[sparklebright]

if its that bsd ,jack in and get a factory/office job 

With respect my post was done tongue in cheek.
I wouldn't change jobs, unless it involved somewhere sunny st tropez for example?

[geefree]

Customers that won't open the door when you know the buggers are in.
customers that wave goodbye and leave without paying.
customers who leave knowing the back gate is locked.
customers that never have cash or a cheque book.
customers that don't even start looking for the money until you knock.
customers that come out and insist on paying when your in mid rinse.
customers that have no money even when they know you are collecting that evening.
customers that leave huge dollops of dog muck for you to drag your hose through.
customers that plant thorny bushes under their windows.
customers that save all their shrapnel to pay the window cleaner.

Nothing much wrong with window cleaning, it's the customers that need sorting.

every single one of those has happened to me.... and probably all of us... cant believe , you got that so spot on dai.