[TLC]

Hi guys, just thought i'de try n find out if anyone thought they were losing customers or getting asked to clean windows less often in the face of the current financial situation???

I have noticed a slight increase in cancelations and people asking to be done every other month, but i am also picking work up regularly so im not really noticing it that much...

Also does anyone think there will be a flood of people who have lost their jobs trying to start up window cleaning?

Would be interested in your views/experiences....

Thanks, Tim

[Niall McAllister]

advantages of licensing limits the compitition
I pick up 2 or 3 cust a week for last few weeks.
just keep plodding on

[Skyglide]

We've found the odd one wants extended period between cleans.  Loads of new startups about and a fair few of our prospective new quotes are not accepted because all this on the TV makes Joe Public think they should be able to get things cheaper. They can always find cheap of cousre, but we all know cheap won't do the same reliable job.
So far no real problems, but I do wonder what is in store for us over the next year or two.

[Klean07]

I agree with last comment. Yes I've noticed a lot more new start ups just recently. Window cleaning is one of very few jobs that can be started on a very low outlay. Well trad anyway. In fact that's what I did in 1981 when I got made redundant. Though I only used to do it then p/t.

[Window Washers]

Lost quite a few over the last 3 months some due to credit crunch and alot to do with whats been happening in personal life, more are extending the clean to 8 weeks which is fine with me, there seems to be loads of start ups, the snow will not have helped them on the flip side there seems to be a few window cleaners stopping aswell as I am picking up work. The times are getting harder, it just means we all have to work a bit harder. I was getting worried last month but have put new things into practice to move forward these are out of my comfort zone but good all the same.

There are many people doing well out of the credit crunch, some are saving a small fortune each month on there mortgage so all is not as bad there is always some good somewhere.

[Tosh]

Yep, I've seen a fair few new window cleaners I haven't seen before; they look knew, but I haven't a clue how long they've been at it.

But with regards losing customers, I've lost four-or-five domestic, and two fairly large (by my standards) commercial properties due the credit crunch.  

Two of the domestic customers I lost was a builder and the other guy was a mortgage advisor; so you can understand why I lost these.

But with regards new work, I've taken on about four-or-five new jobs on in the past month ranging from £10 to £25, not brilliant, but it's still comming in, and we've just started pushing out 400 leaflets per week, targetting the posh estates and posh rural areas.

[supernova77]

I've lost a few to the credit crunch... But I've also picked up a lot of new customers recently (without even trying)... So I'm still slightly up on this time last year.

Andy

[telboy]

\We have lost about £8,800 in the last 9 months all commercial.

But we have picked up about £4.600 all commercial

So we are down about £4,000

[Steve CM]

\We have lost about £8,800 in the last 9 months all commercial.

But we have picked up about £4.600 all commercial

So we are down about £4,000

i won't say what i've lost but its more than that commercial seems real iffy to me at the moment

[Scrimble]

i havnt picked up many in the last two months at all, had a few cancelled and a few wanted 8 weekly instead of 4,

in my local paper it says theres been 78 percent rise in unemployment in the past year and theres a lot more old cars with ladders on their roofs driving about

[AuRavelling79]

Yes. And noticing other w/c's too - maybe we're all catching up after the cold spell?

[Sir Squeaky]

No, I haven't lost any.
Picked up plenty too.

Depends where you live.
There's no recession around here.

[jeff68]

I have put all my custies on 6 weeks now intstead of 8 and also gone water fed pole no more squeegee work and not one has complained(((yet)))..I have seen a few new guys in my area but I am not bothered as all my custies are loyal and treet me as a friend.I saw two guys pull up in an xr3 convertable with ladders hanging out the back.How proffesional is that!!!!

[cozy]

OI! That's MY car

[Pj]

I've noticed quite a few new w/cs in last few weeks.

Saw a couple the other day on a small terraced house, one was scrimming the other was leaning against his ladder watching him!
Both hoodies, looked freezing.  Must admit I felt sorry for them.

I've lost one!  £8!!

This area never came out of the last three recessions so it'll be a while before the hurricane hits here.

But come it will!

[jeff68]

OI! That's MY car

 

[Tosh]

No, I haven't lost any.
Picked up plenty too.

Depends where you live.
There's no recession around here.

I'm not sure about that.  Squeaky and I live in the same town, though neither of us have a lot of town centre work; the lions share of that is between two, maybe three, other window cleaners.

But I know Ian_Giles has had a good few town centre jobs cancel, some big pubs (one he's done for about 23 years), and the amount of shops closed down is scary.  There's empty shops all over the place.

I also notice a lot of pubs with 'for let' signs around here, including my local.

Chepstow isn't recession proof, though we're lucky that there's no single massive employer round here.

[Dean Aspects]

I have only lost two residential and one shop that was owned by one of them and i have had one go every eight weeks but picked up more than i have lost and thats without trying the credit crunch hasnt really kicked in here yet hopefully it wont be to bad here i have however seen a couple of new starts lately so its time to start a rumour that window cleaning is poorly paid menial work and really not worth the effort 

[cottonbud10]

i,ve lost 42 customers so far well over the last 1 year,but saying that i,ve gained 63 over the year but all in all it hurts alot when customers cancell.

[DaveG]

\We have lost about £8,800 in the last 9 months all commercial.

But we have picked up about £4.600 all commercial

So we are down about £4,000

Are you losing work to undercutters or are the commercial customers just tightening their belts?