[wcs.]

?

[martinsadie]

we can afford to be cheaper because its all compact, i have a avenue of 110 houses and i clean 90

[PaulTh]

oh yeah its cos there too low bcos we scared that someone will come along at 3 times our prices and steal our customers lol

[martinsadie]

im cheap to a lot on here but this is a working class area and people on minium wage wont pay a lot,so having compact work helps with low prices,all cleaners round here stick to the patch and no one is expensive,i might move down south go door knocking at silly prices and become rich,but i think id rather live here  

[PaulTh]

its a bit like if you have a girlfriend does it mean because she doesnt have a ring on her finger that everyone can come round and bang her?

[chris@c.m.s]

I'm really trying to get my head around that one but cant, I must be tired 

[AuRavelling79]

No it's because they can't do a big area using a bicycle ...

[pingu]

Patches are for cabbages are they not?...we are all the service industry and what makes us different from most trades is that we regulary return to perform our services for a regular and set price...but it is for the customer to choose from whom, when and how they obtain those services not for the provider to control the availabilty of choice.

For those who have bought/given rounds...you cannot seriously believe that you own area's do you...because if you do own area's would you not have some legal proof?

A customer is only as good as the last time they paid..thats about as simple as it is...I personally would not want to keep all my customers...I have and 12% turnover per year and the new fresh customers allow for prices rises and change which are all healthy for a business.

Whilst I am here...for those who 'own' areas what happens if you stop cleaning for a customer for whatever reason...are they fair game to another cleaner? or how's about a customer drops you...could I then come in and clean for them?

Lets face it all of us would hate someone to target our customers with prices that are stupidly low but the truth is...everyone is entitled to seek out business and if someone decideds they will clean 5 bedroom houses for a quid..then that is their right to do so.

But again...the thought of owing area's still makes me chuckle.

Cheers
Dave.

[simon knight]

Of course we don't own patches...what a ridiculous notion!

However: When I do half the houses in a street and have done for years and suddenly a set of pointers are being bunged up 2 doors along from the house I'm cleaning I do think "where did he suddenly spring from...and how much is he charging her".

[leapstallbuildings]

I thought patches were for inmates who went against prison rules.

[Ravensford]

Patches are for people that can't break the habit

[Moderator David@stives]

For those who dont think there are patches try muscling in in some of the council estates up North.

Let me know when you try and i will come and watch lol.

It is definately a regional thing, mainly before window cleaners needed cars, you would just walk down one street and back up the other side cleaning all the windows in that particular street or estate, hence why it was called a round, Which you would defend to the death

The downfall of Milkmen over the years wasnt just supermarkets, but increased competition from more milkos muscling in.

Where i lived as a kid the there was 1 milkmen on the estate, 20 years on there was at least 5 or 6 for the same number of houses, bets are now that they have all gone.

[matt]

i guess people will think i have a patch as i do a very high % of the houses in that area

i stick to a price thats about the norm here, yes i have a few houses that are 1 or 2 quid under what i would charge now, but thats only because my new prices are higher as i have the work and dont really care if i pick up the new qoute or not, thus the slightly higher price

[cozy]

It is definately a regional thing, mainly before window cleaners needed cars, you would just walk down one street and back up the other side cleaning all the windows in that particular street or estate, hence why it was called a round, Which you would defend to the death

OOH! Think you went abit History Chanel there Dave

[pingu]

Dave Morris...there is no such thing as patches/area's only places where small minded, foolish bullies ply their trade..agreed there are places where starting will get you a kick'n...

But hopefully this is very rare in this day and age...I hope we never see anymore of that type of sub level IQ behavour...and for those on this forum who think they have area's...and prevent others from operating..I hope an gang of Eastern Europeans or Turks take your area's and you'll see what buying a round is worth.

Bullies and their tactics just make me boil..

Again patches are for cabbages.

Dave.

[GWCS]

For those who dont think there are patches try muscling in in some of the council estates up North.

Let me know when you try and i will come and watch lol.

It is definately a regional thing, mainly before window cleaners needed cars, you would just walk down one street and back up the other side cleaning all the windows in that particular street or estate, hence why it was called a round, Which you would defend to the death

The downfall of Milkmen over the years wasnt just supermarkets, but increased competition from more milkos muscling in.

Where i lived as a kid the there was 1 milkmen on the estate, 20 years on there was at least 5 or 6 for the same number of houses, bets are now that they have all gone.

You could say that anywhere..

I stay well clean of council estates - if i ever get a call from someone that lives close to one (not likely to get a call from someone living in one thou) then I will check the area first.. if the area looks ok, i will do it if the area looks a shot hole i refuse to quote.

However i do have 5 houses on a terraced road i do for free - just cos i have family there, and i know them all. The residents are peed at having crap windy's taking them for a ride.. i get a few looks by a local "patch" windy, but i say im working in this street only for family and if he wants to do them for free then they are all his..

Most of the work i do, id behind locked gates anyway - no chance of getting patch issues there

[matt]

Most of the work i do, id behind locked gates anyway - no chance of getting patch issues there

how does prison work pay  ?? ? ?

[GWCS]

Most of the work i do, id behind locked gates anyway - no chance of getting patch issues there

how does prison work pay  ?? ? ?

LOL - very well

[dai]

I have 6 days work on one estate, mostly small starter homes at £5.50/ £6 a go.
It remains my patch because it's not worth other window cleaners going there to compete with those prices.
I can do 4 an hour standing on my head, all open plan and next door to each other. If I park in the right place I can often get away with not moving my van all day, no travelling, just 7 hours of solid window cleaning.
The downside is that there is a hell of a lot of people that haven't paid by the time I finish.
I collect on Thursday nights. It's what I call my bread and butter work, and like Stan I have to compete in my own area.

[PaulTh]

Dave Morris...there is no such thing as patches/area's only places where small minded, foolish bullies ply their trade..agreed there are places where starting will get you a kick'n...

But hopefully this is very rare in this day and age...I hope we never see anymore of that type of sub level IQ behavour...and for those on this forum who think they have area's...and prevent others from operating..I hope an gang of Eastern Europeans or Turks take your area's and you'll see what buying a round is worth.

Bullies and their tactics just make me boil..

Again patches are for cabbages.

Dave.

Lol the English conquered half the known world apart from the scots and the irish not from want of trying so being half scots half irish im pretty sure me and my muckers could handle the turks and eastern europeans,infact im assuming you think their tough maybe down south they are but not up here.