[Mr.G]

As the recession deepens, do you think we could get into a situation with too many window cleaners fighting over a smaller amount of work, price wars and stuff?  after all, it's a job any moron can learn to do in a few hours with no start up costs, and there's gonna be more and more unemployement.

[matt]

As the recession deepens, do you think we could get into a situation with too many window cleaners fighting over a smaller amount of work, price wars and stuff?  after all, it's a job any moron can learn to do in a few hours with no start up costs, and there's gonna be more and more unemployement.

  they will like you here 

didnt you know, its a skilled job, allmost on par with a brain surgeon, you can even get a NVQ in it now

[johns window kleen]

Yep its happening already.
Just pleased I do a good job for my customers. My first four told me they've been approached in the last week, and some canvasers were being very persistent with elderly ladies. Deplorable tactics really. All were told "no go away".
See loads and loads driving around today. One was obviously new guy WFP just looking at me.
In the past I would have said hello and all that, but now i just crack on.
Hard times are coming.
Why do they all seem to want to be W/C's?. I heard on the news tonight that 3 times the normal number of people are now training to become Plumbers.That costs a good few quid, whilst our trade costs nothing to start up really.

[Mr.G]

didnt you know, its a skilled job, allmost on par with a brain surgeon, you can even get a NVQ in it now

lol @ brain surgeon!  :-D 
The people with learning difficulties who sweep the floor at Macdonalds, they could clean windows, no problem!

[ronnie paton]

maybe so but not every one can run a succesful business

[gerard mcmanus]

Although I don’t think its quite there yet there is always a possibility, remembering that taxi drivers where once doing very well, and some still do make good money in London and Glasgow, but not the way it was. One of my custies used to be taxi driver and he said there is just no money in it now, as there are too many people at it.

I could see this happening to any service trade, like a mini recession for an industry. (Corny I know) but when the times get tougher, the tough get going. Its in these times that the weak and ones that cat be that bothered when things are good that fail and end up packing it in, then the cycle started again.

The problem that taxi drivers have is the there job involves most sitting around, and suits allot of well lazy people, but people who don’t really have a good work ethic might find taxi driving ok, but with window cleaning, they would quit in a week as it does have it challenges, and evolves hard work.

[pingu]

You have to admit it is easy to start up...but think back to when you started...how long did it take to build a round that paid your bills fully?

The actual job itself is easy but building yourself to become a 'good' business take time and alot of effort..

Just keep being regular, honest and do a half decent job and your custy's will keep you...and just keep on doing what you do....there is nothing to be gained about worrying that others are starting etc.

Personally I set out with trying to offer that little bit more...nothing really special but I offer schedule dated cleans 4 or 8 weekly, 24 hour call back, rain guarantee, payment to be made by bank transfer or cash...

All very little things but things to set yourself out from the many.

Cheers
Dave.

p.s the Dutch I have encountered seem to have in the most part a real 'chip' about serving others..so I try to fill this void with my customers in my own small way.

[supernova77]

As the recession deepens, do you think we could get into a situation with too many window cleaners fighting over a smaller amount of work, price wars and stuff?  after all, it's a job any moron can learn to do in a few hours with no start up costs, and there's gonna be more and more unemployement.

Were any guys on here window cleaning through the last recession?

What happened then?

Andy

[Ian Lancaster]

As the recession deepens, do you think we could get into a situation with too many window cleaners fighting over a smaller amount of work, price wars and stuff?  after all, it's a job any moron can learn to do in a few hours with no start up costs, and there's gonna be more and more unemployement.

Were any guys on here window cleaning through the last recession?

What happened then?

Andy

And the one before that, and the one before that

We got hundreds of newbies each time.  Sparkly new vans and ladders, pretty signwriting, adverts in all the local papers.  Then they sat around and waited for the work to come in.  A few had a go at canvassing and managed to scrape  a round of sorts together.

A very few made a good attempt, and are probably still going strong now.

After a few months the inevitable happened and those with no drive packed it in.  A while after that the phone started ringing:  "We had a bloke started, but he only came a few times and we haven't seen him for weeks.  Can you come and give us a quote.....?"

Easy pickings - they did all the work, I had all the benefit

[elite mike]

As the recession deepens, do you think we could get into a situation with too many window cleaners fighting over a smaller amount of work, price wars and stuff?  after all, it's a job any moron can learn to do in a few hours with no start up costs, and there's gonna be more and more unemployement.

Were any guys on here window cleaning through the last recession?

What happened then?

Andy

this is my third recession,

no real problems, thankfully

but this one is different to the others with the collapse of the banking system :

just keep going,  and dont worry 

[leapstallbuildings]

As the recession deepens, do you think we could get into a situation with too many window cleaners fighting over a smaller amount of work, price wars and stuff?  after all, it's a job any moron can learn to do in a few hours with no start up costs, and there's gonna be more and more unemployement.

Were any guys on here window cleaning through the last recession?

What happened then?

Andy

I started up because of the last recession.  No jobs around so I got my own job.  Although there have been odd days when I got peed off with it, I have never felt any regret for more than a day.

[andyatkinson]

ian lancaster your website is absolute first class!

[colley614]

didnt you know, its a skilled job, allmost on par with a brain surgeon, you can even get a NVQ in it now

lol @ brain surgeon!  :-D 
The people with learning difficulties who sweep the floor at Macdonalds, they could clean windows, no problem!

No chance! The fat girl who does the cleaning in my local macdonalds (Bromborough) is that slow there's still breakfast wrappers around at tea time.

[simbo]

Ian, how easy it to franchise out? or where can i find info on said.
cheers paul

[dai]

I have never seen so many new window cleaners, no worries, By 4 pm today I had shattered my previous best weekly earnings record, and it's only Thursday, giving myself a day off tomorrow.