[Simon Carter]

Would those who have swapped from a squeegee to a WFP for over six months say that their customers are more happy, less so, or about the same?.
I ask because I've had a run of cancellations lately. I had a few initially from people too set in their ways to even give it a chance. It then settled down, but just this week, I've had a bunch. I'm wondering if these are customers who have given it that chance, because we asked them to, but frankly were never happy.
I did one the other day inside upon request. It gave me a chance to judge what I had done outside. It wasn't great. At least with a squeegee it is perfectly clear whether  we've done a good job or not. With an upstairs wet window, it's very hard to judge. We are talking residential here.
Our TDS is ok, & all my operatives are diligent. Is it something we are doing wrong, or is it that we have sold WFP window cleaning to ourselves, having made the jump, where as in truth a squeegee does a better job?. I don't think that's the case. I've just had a bad week & I'm looking for a bit of reassurance from those who bought into the pole more than six months ago.

[matt]

i did a insides today aswell (nice earner)

now ive been doing them with WFP since start to dec

9 windows upstairs,

1 had a thin line at the top, it looked like the rubber seal had gone and taken water in, then the water had slowley seeped out and left this thin line

2 windows had small dirty runs, a series of SMALL spots about 3 inches long

the customer is happy, didnt complain

i guess we will allways have issues like this, as the rubber seals go and let in water

Before the few start, no i dont think its becasue of my DIY trolley  :

[matt]

Simon add a poll so we can vote on it

I like polls i does 

[thewindowcleaner1]

I've been using a pole for over three years now, and I still get worried that it may be the cause of a customer cancellations but by the next day I don't worry as I've picked up new customers.

I've also had a run of cancellations over the last few days nothing to worry about so far but I do get concernd as I like to know why it is happening,
My conclusion so far is the weather is nice my prices went up a couple of months ago and the casual work force is out and about after beer garden spends,
 O well I charge new customers more anyway and if the old ones want to come back to me they have to pay the new rates as they have lost thier customer Loyalty discount (thats what I tell them anyway)

[TERRY AB]

Its all a matter of how you sell thewfp system to the customer;
let them know that you want to get off ladders !. "Its much safer"
I have never had a problem, but have always told the customers in
advance how and why I want to use the System.
No one wants to see a WC fall off a ladder !.

[marc al]

  I use a mix of both at present, I let customers trial the system by doing the upstairs font windows only, then the next month we go full bore if they like it, most are happy and love the fact that they aren't getting ladders marks/window cleaner imprints in their lawns!
  I have lost only 1 customer to the pole, but I think she was going to be trouble all the time anyway. Had an elderly customer today very pleased I was back as she thought the few we tried last time were wonderful and wanted me to do hers and her friends with it as well.

[Simon Carter]

Interesting reply's, but is everyone confident in the main that WFP window cleaning does the job just as well if not better than a squeegee?

[Duke]

well I am......try another suit...paranoia doesn't fit you...

[AuRavelling79]

I am now on third/fourth month of pole. (Peter Fogwill's aquatec trolley - variable flow rate pump and remote control - with one or two mods) I have not lost one customer yet (I am not complacent though). WASH THOROUGHLY ON THE FIRST CLEAN -AND DON'T TOUCH VENTS!

One customer said "I don't like the spots on some of my windows" (1st clean) now says "all OK"
Several have said it gives a really bright sheen to the windows.

On some of my commercials where I do the inside I can see the results - in the early days a bit patchy by my standards but as my technique has improved and by changing my brush head things are good now.

I also leafletted my customers beforehand mainly on the safety angle and didn't promise spotless cleaning but "a high quality finish".

If they are home I still often blade patios and front doors (after brushing them with pole with waterflow at a minimum) and even the room they are sitting in sometimes - 1. To assuage my fears 2. to save on water as I can only carry 200 litres a day.

So - about the same but rather quicker and safer and they often get previously inaccessible windows done too.

[Duke]

I too have noticed the gleam on the windows now....better than I could have done the 'old way'...they look 'polished'....

[matt]

i only WFP upstairs

this is for a few reasons

1. Safety

2. Working at height directive (it works for me)

3. downstairs still look A1 (tip top, first class etc)

4. i only use 100 - 150 L's a day

5. thats about it really

[replacement]

I have been WFP over a 1yr now all on domestic's Up and Down and only lost 2 customers due to it. One was milky runs off the paint and i reaslly did not know how to solve it ( do know thou ), and another was the customer just did not like it. I had a call back in September last year on some runs and thats it, apart from one customer today saying there was a run on one window last time but nothing every before, i offered to clean today free but they refused, i think i hit the top fasica last time on that one.

I would say 99% of problems or even 100% of problems are down to User Error, nothing else.

Some important things to help.

(1)Clean the frames well
(2)Rinse the frames as well as the glass
(3)Make sure you rinse the glass well
(4)Make sure the brush head is cleaned
(5)Check water TDS reading Below 15 ppm
(6)Dont have to fast a flow as spray will hit brick work or very top frame and bring runs down when you have finnished.

Remeber its not a magic wand that can clean house's in seconds.

Get out there and pratice and pratice some more on your own home to understand it better.

Justin

[jsm]

we have only been wfp'ing  for 2 weeks and so far things have not been to bad , had a few insides to do which gives you a good look at what you have done , the first two houses we went inside and our faces turned pale  water marks on every window , I even did my house to see if my tds was working and to see if mine came out bad .
didnt sleep much that night thinking we have invested in a lemon here ... got up in morning and mine was gleaming  ( I've got leadys )

next day did a first clean on a leaded window bloody great big house inside and out - did the outside and went inside with our eyes shut  went round the whole house cleaning and to our amazment not one bad window !!! 
what did we do different ? - maybe a bitmore of a rinse but apart from that nothing !
she was so pleased that she put us onto her father - in -law who had a bigger house , did his today without no problems at all  about 20 dormer leadlight windows that no one has ever been albe to clean - nice little £65 we picked up because we had wfp  system .

so in short it's been better for us so far 
still the next time i see some water marks haha  
 
john malone

[s.hughes]

I have seen the result of a w/c who used the pole system. He was on his 1st month and wasnt sure if he liked it. he went over the office windows twice and I did notice that he had the presure on high.
I returned to the offices that evening and found that the windows had long large dirty drips down them. I dont know if the dirty frames were the cause or what and it didnt matter as it was offices. What though if that effect is the same on you residential customers? I am told that it takes a good 3 cleans to get it looking good but what about the 2 previous cleans, are the customers going to put up with it?
I am still going to build my system with the direction from Matts excellent site. I will start it off on houses where I do the insides as well and see how that goes.

Steveyboy

[pjulk]

I am on my fifth week using WFP and on my second time round.
Not really a problem with WFP and can't see any marks but last month i did a really good clean on every one.
And to be honest they say 2 or 3 cleans till there up to scratch.

I have done at least a dozen new cleans last month and one was pretty bad. And i managed to get the up almost perfect first time,
But i did use an applicator on the tops on a pole first with some GG4 to get rid of the worst and then went over with WFP.

I have had one call back due to a run. But i did tell the customers if there is any problem give me a call.

The problems i did have where the air vents but i was told a differant way of cleaning them with WFP that i did not try and they are comming up good now.

Glad i have changed over to WFP and now concentrating on getting larger house's with hard to reach windows and so far everything is working out great for me.

I only have about 10 customers i need a ladder for now and as i get more customers they might be gone as i want to be completely ladderless.

Paul

[ChInEaPpLe PuNkS]

All in all, I have found that WFP does not clean the glass as well as traditional window cleaning. But that's not to say it was'nt the best investment I have ever made. I do the frames as part of my clean. I tell the customer the price for the windows and I say that I'll do the frames for free. I can use this as something to fall back on if (for some reason) the customer is not satisfied with the windows. However, I hav'nt had any complaints as of yet.

I have a small car mount system which works great. On ALL my work I now earn £25 - 40 per hour and that's domestic which I think is good. Traditional window cleaning -  I was working between £15 - £25 - on the same houses.

I think overall cleaning results are massively dependant on the first clean. I spend AGES on first cleans - a good investment of time -  as this pays off on future cleans. From then on, it is so much easier to get a spotless clean with little effort. And once you're in the motion, you can absolutely fly with this money spinning wand. Again, best money I've ever spent.
 
Jon

[rosskesava]

This thing about the frames.

We will be going over to using WFP this year for sure.

The frames - some frames actually need rubbing with a cloth. I cannot see how WFP can get them clean other than to remove dirt or dust that accumulates.

Or am I missing something?

Also, we are still picking up the odd job because the previous w/c used wfp?

I am getting a bit concerned about how much work we will lose.

Having said that, WFP'rs seem to earn more. It's very confusing.

[ChInEaPpLe PuNkS]

rosskesava - As for the frames, I only clean them if they are plastic of course, but what I tell the customer is that the frames will come up like new over the course of a few months/cleans, which they do! This is another incentive for the customer to keep you on and for you to develop a good rappor...

I think pure water is relatively aggresive (someone will probably correct me), so you can actually see noticeable results each time you do the frames on a clean, and it's gradual progression from a mucky frame to a sparkling 'as new' one.

Regards,

Jon

[jsm]

This thing about the frames.

We will be going over to using WFP this year for sure.

The frames - some frames actually need rubbing with a cloth. I cannot see how WFP can get them clean other than to remove dirt or dust that accumulates.

Or am I missing something?



Also, we are still picking up the odd job because the previous w/c used wfp?

I am getting a bit concerned about how much work we will lose.

Having said that, WFP'rs seem to earn more. It's very confusing.

Ross you got to get on the wfp - round your way you have soooo much high stuff to target .

Even with the little problems like old sash windows and crap paint that runs off the pain as you brush it !! ( first time i see this my pants filled quick  ) we have made more money using it for sure in a day . The first week you will have a stiff neck but thats it LOL .

We went down Matts route and made our 2 sack barrow system and 2 30ft poles on a remote control  , works so well i cant see the need for a bigger system for domestic/ small comercial round .
( after using it for 2 days its now used  to  do the whole house as its sooooooo much quisker , we now go home for lunch !! to refill )

Already I have picked up some big jobs  that window cleaners have not been albe to do the old way in the past - so it swings around
You will learn quick and know what not to get wet as to make it a problem - as first we was cleaning everything near a window 
Plastic Frames and leadlights come out the dogs B's  - I have never cleaned them as good ever the old way .

The only regret we have so far is that we took a year of " shall we get a wfp system or not?  Both of use kick ourself's now for wasting a year being a dick 

[c w window cleanin]

judging by what ive seen personally and from what my friends who use wfp systems tell me, the years worth of soap in the frames is the problem on the first few cleans using the wfp(leaves those 'spots' and the odd run marks)-after that, the windows all look spot on, and i have to agree with the other guy who said that 99% if not 100% of problems with the finished result on wfp's is down to user error-also i agree, you need to keep the pressure lowish and give an excellant rinse whilst avoiding the bricks and all the crap around the edges of some frames etc.practice is the key