[NWH]

lost time = lost money. i do this to make money, not to watch the world go by when a little rain is in the air or heavy rain at that

I make enough cheers,enough not to have to worry about getting wet lol.

[traps7]

lost time = lost money. i do this to make money, not to watch the world go by when a little rain is in the air or heavy rain at that

I make enough cheers,enough not to have to worry about getting wet lol.

Agreed

[martinsadie]

lost time = lost money. i do this to make money, not to watch the world go by when a little rain is in the air or heavy rain at that

I make enough cheers,enough not to have to worry about getting wet lol.

Agreed

double agreed getting wet is for fools 

[Londoner]

The point is its not like it rain is completely unexpected. This is Britain after all.

I think that what SteveCM is saying is he had blokes working for him and he's not going to pay their wages to sit in the cafe.

This isn't then a do you / don't you clean in the rain question. Its about the relative cost issues regarding employing people. The one man bands don't clean in the rain, the crews do.

Thats one of the many reasons why I won't employ people, I have more than enough work and most of it is well priced. When you have people working for you they tie you down.

[traps7]

Fair point. I see what you mean.
I thought a lot of employees were paid on percentages though to how much work they've done. Which due to the weather in this country wouldn't be a lot some weeks. This is why personally I don't think I'd want to employ although this would obviously restrict growth. 'Peanuts' and 'monkeys' spring to mind.

But as for convincing customers about cleaning in the rain, I gave up on that years ago. At the end of the day they pay their money so I guess it's up to them but I never put up with any 'not today' rubbish not unless they have a valid reason. i.e. having building work done etc

[Steve CM]

lost time = lost money. i do this to make money, not to watch the world go by when a little rain is in the air or heavy rain at that

I make enough cheers,enough not to have to worry about getting wet lol.

so do i and i hardly pick up a pole in any weather

[johns window kleen]

So to summarise this, before I go out and do a full day in the dry, the general consensus is, from the one man band perspective, we dont like working in the rain, mainly & most importantly because in the main the customer doesn't like or want it, and secondly cos many don't like getting wet.

Personally speaking I would carry on regardless if it was OK by customers,but I know damn well it is not, so I don't.

If you employ understanably you have to pay your guys irrespective of the weather and therefore can't afford for them to sit around, as you dont earn from it, and are  in effect out of pocket.

It sure is a predicament. But this doesn't alter the fact that most people don't want it done in the rain, and I can only imagine you loose quite a bit of custom because of this, I am sure I would if I persisted.

Customer Satisfaction is paramount to me , and to most of us I'm sure, and in my experience they aren't satisfied if we clean their windows in heavy or persistent moderate rain. Hence no, or certainly reduced, Customer Satisfaction

Commercial might be a totally different animal.

To me the saying "make hay whilst the sun shines" is spot on. And incidentally I've never seen another WC cleaning in anything but very light  rain, all I ever see is us running for cover, and laughing at each other, Trad and WFP alike.

[Steve CM]

I can only imagine you loose quite a bit of custom because of this, I am sure I would if I persisted.

Customer Satisfaction is paramount to me , and to most of us I'm sure, and in my experience they aren't satisfied if we clean their windows in heavy or persistent moderate rain. Hence no, or certainly reduced, Customer Satisfaction

you were going well until this point

i don't lose any due to the fact of cleaning through the rain. We are paid to keep customers windows clean thats what we do regardless and thats why they don't mind us cleaning in the rain, because they are still clean!

[Nathanael Jones]

Regardless of the results being just as good, many customers still feel a bit ripped off if you clean in the rain, simply because of old prejudices. I did try working in the rain, it makes good business sense in some ways, but its not something I doo too often anymore

One day eventually ppl will begin to accept it more, as they accepted WFP, but until then I clean the ones I know won't be home on rainy days, because customer satisfaction is important to my business.

Personally though, I don't think its worth it. Getting soaked to the skin, possibly getting cold/flu from it,... no thankyou! I work in light rain if I'm behind, but mostly I earn enough and keep up to date enough not to have to work in the rain. I'm happier that way and so are my customers.

[Steve CM]

you lot would make terrible employees

[Oakley Windows]

Thats why theyre self-employed.

But then again, if you were employed and on the cards I bet you'd think twice about getting soaked for a few pounds an hour. Its easy enough to say that stuff when you are the employer sat in the dry.

[Sapphire Window Cleaning]

Matt working in the rain doesnt bother me, I have a set of good quality hi vis padded water proofs. 
The only thing that annoys me is the fact I have to wipe my glasses regularly. lol

[seandyer2003]

This time of year working in the rain is great as its never cold, winter is pretty miserable, but with decent w'proofs its fine any time, if your cold you aint working fast enough!!!!

[Steve CM]

Thats why theyre self-employed.

wow your sharp! nothing gets past you does it?

[Oakley Windows]

Lowest form of wit.

Still, youve done me a favour, youve reminded me why I dont come on here so much.

[Steve CM]

no problem. I share the same thoughts

[Steve CM]

This time of year working in the rain is great as its never cold, winter is pretty miserable, but with decent w'proofs its fine any time, if your cold you aint working fast enough!!!!

yes they are. the waterproofs i bought for the guys are about 60 quid a set i think. they keep them bone dry in most weathers

[johns window kleen]

Weirdest thing happened today, my oldest and one of my best custies, came home from shopping, and as it was raining on and off again {So much for my dry day comments}  I was sitting in my van ,parked on their drive,after having doing their fronts in dry conditions.

They said come and have a coffee and some biscuits, which they normally do.
I'm sitting their talking about our family stuff and it starts peeing down again. The lady said do you want to do the backs[ 3/4 of the bunce on this job} and I said yeah if your happy with this, they said "you might as well as your here now and we don@t mind as long as you are OK getting wet!" !!!!!

I WFP it all in heavy rain, can't see a bloody thing, but assume its all gonna turn out good. They thank me and I drive off thinking I'm now totally confused by peoples reactions.

[Steve CM]

Weirdest thing happened today, my oldest and one of my best custies, came home from shopping, and as it was raining on and off again {So much for my dry day comments}  I was sitting in my van ,parked on their drive,after having doing their fronts in dry conditions.

They said come and have a coffee and some biscuits, which they normally do.
I'm sitting their talking about our family stuff and it starts peeing down again. The lady said do you want to do the backs[ 3/4 of the bunce on this job} and I said yeah if your happy with this, they said "you might as well as your here now and we don@t mind as long as you are OK getting wet!" !!!!!

I WFP it all in heavy rain, can't see a bloody thing, but assume its all gonna turn out good. They thank me and I drive off thinking I'm now totally confused by peoples reactions.

nothing confusing about it. they want clean windows. if you tell them the way you work they accept it if they like you cleaning their windows. How many customers would say not today if you let them if they were on your 4/6/8 week rota? lots of them, but becuase you set it out that this is how you work they abide by it. Its the same with working in rain.

I was hesitant at first as i never worked through the rain. When i made the move to do it i thought there would be a backlash. there wern't! They all got a letter explaining it and all new sign ups are made clear. It works, customers accept it, they still have a reliable and regular service, they still have clean windows all year round, i make more bunce, the employees still hit their targets so they get their bonuses, everyones a winner