[Dean Aspects]

My main reason lately for dropping customers is non paying

In the past its been for messers awkward windows/customers and early on for undercharging which even now i still manage to do every so often

[Klean07]

I had a guy who only ever had me do his windows as and when, would here nothing from him for months then he phones and tells me he has visitors coming on the friday and wants the windows done on the thursday, but thinks its ok calling me on the wednesday afternoon to tell me. he must think  I am sitting at home waiting for him to call.

Pmsl 

[mattywig]

I won't clean for any Indian or pakastani customers over the age of 50. Over the last 7 years I have either been sacked by or got sick of and dumped dozens of them.  As a group they are a window cleaners worst nightmare ie: Always wanting extras done for free, arguing over payment/price, rubbing their fingers over the frames really hard while your standing there and then showing you whats left on their finger!!!

However I have plenty of younger generation (20 to 40) year old Asian customers that are perfectly good customers some of whom are good friends of mine.  This I believe is because they have been brought up in the UK and know what behaviour is acceptable from going to school over here etc.

I must emphasise that I am anti racism and this is just an observation about older asian customers.  I think it's a culture thing not a race thing.

[NWH]

Just got an invite to go to a British National Party lol.

[AuRavelling79]

I had three asian customers and now have one.

The first to go was a bad payer. (Oh and she called me 24 hrs after I'd cleaned to say there was a massive load of bird's poo on a window that had landed after I'd cleaned and she wanted me to go out and clean it off.)

The second had restricted access to the rear of her property and it meant meeting her at 4pm after the school run (hers). The second time she cancelled because she had to get young Gupta from after school piano lessons and so couldn't make it was the last time I called ....

The third was very pleasant, gave me a key to the side gate but was a bad payer so I stopped calling. As I clean her next door neighbour she saw me "miss her out" about 3 months later and asked why. I explained politely and took her back on on a standing order basis. She is still a good custy.

So not hugely different to all nationalities that I clean for - but I agree it is a culture thing.

Oh and the one that got away - Iranian lady I think - came up to me in the street and said in broken English "You do my windows!" (More of a demand than a request.)

I said I'd give her a quote shortly and she said "No! No need - you do them for five pounds!" Not liking her attitude I simply said no thank you and left her to it. Next month she said much the same but raised her offer to £10. I said no thanks.

A third time:- "OK you quote!" Me:- "Madam I wouldn't do your windows for £100!"

Finally, she comes up and says "You the normal window cleaner?!"

Me:- "Fairly normal but I have my limits madam..."

Her:- "I don't want you I want the other one!"

Me:- "Nope, you've lost me there ..."

Her:- (literally stamping her foot!)" No, there is another window cleaner I don't want you! You're the normal one!"

Me:- "Well I never thought being called normal by someone would make me feel they were so rude madam! - good day and good-bye."

I think Starion who lurks about on this forum does her house for about a tenner more than I charge her adjoining neighbour - but horses for courses eh?

[Chameleon]

Too many 'not this time.'
Having to keep chasing up payment.
Was underpriced to begin with and they weren't happy with a previous price increase.
I simply didn't like the job or the customer.

This comment just about says it for me too!

[sparklebright]

i had a customer who was a bit short with me, but I didn't take it personally and carried on with their windows.

One time I cleaned them and they called me back saying I had missed a window.
The window was clearly wet from being cleaned but had a large fresh bird poo in the middle that was actually running with the water left on the window from where I had cleaned it. I said 'You can see that this has happened since I did them but I 'll it clean as I'm here'  They said nothing, not thank you or anything, so I said "No really you're welcome!" so next clean I upped their price by 35%, and they called after to cancel. When called I said 'Oh good thank you' just so they got the point

[martinsadie]

Just got an invite to go to a British National Party lol.

might see you at a meeting 

[jonisondell]

all BNP members are scum and have an iq of 7 

[sageorgeta]

all BNP members are scum and have an iq of 7 

And with general observations like that your IQ must be ...what 8.....

[jonisondell]

all BNP members are scum and have an iq of 7 

And with general observations like that your IQ must be ...what 8.....

bnp are thick racest scum, trying not boast i have an hnc, 2 a levels, and 6 o levels

[cozy]

Racest as in racist???   

[kenaltobelli]

i dont think any of these observations are racist but i will say i have never got on
with yanks just one of those things also while we are on about the bnp
why do you think theire list was published and ase a political party if your a copper
how can you join the tories or labour but not the bnp open up your eyes you are
living in a fachist party state or maybe commy state either way new labour
are as oppresive as the chinese not that i have any intrest in polatics

[cozy]

Look, I think somebody is telling porkies about qualifications here and trying to take the intelectual high ground, let's get back to the subject.
Bad payers and moaners are the main reason I dump custies. I've always found that when I open a new custy base in a new area, I lose the bad payers and the "not this timers" in the first three months. Everything after that stays the course, if you know what I mean.

[sparklebright]

You can guarantee that you will lose a third to half of customers you have canvassed for in the first few months, either because you boot them or because they just want a spring clean on their windows.

I think people who join parties like the BNP do so because they feel the need to focus their anger over their inadequaces on others.

If your life is crap it must be someone else's fault, I think is their general outlook.

[tonyoliver]

made an inappropiate racist comment

[AuRavelling79]

i dont think any of these observations are racist but i will say i have never got on
with yanks just one of those things also while we are on about the bnp
why do you think theire list was published and ase a political party if your a copper
how can you join the tories or labour but not the bnp open up your eyes you are
living in a fachist party state or maybe commy state either way new labour
are as oppresive as the chinese not that i have any intrest in polatics

See, the above poster has an IQ at least as high as room temperature - in fahrenheit, too!

...

I think people who join parties like the BNP do so because they feel the need to focus their anger over their inadequaces on others.

If your life is crap it must be someone else's fault, I think is their general outlook.

Spot on!

[kenaltobelli]

free tibet human rites for evryone  you would march throug london  and demonstrate
for freedom of speach but deny it to enyone who disagrees or happens to vote a different way to you.
is it all right with you if i read jewish literature or would you like to burn it for me?

[AuRavelling79]

free tibet human rites for evryone  you would march throug london  and demonstrate
for freedom of speach but deny it to enyone who disagrees or happens to vote a different way to you.
is it all right with you if i read jewish literature or would you like to burn it for me?

Sorry? What is all this about? Is it aimed at anyone in particular or is it simply a rant?

[kenaltobelli]

its aimed at you why whenever a mention of the bnp comes in anywhere
do you just denounce them as neandertholes
and say they have alow iq you just have to have a go and put them down   why