[Craig 72]

Afternoon all.Bought a round last week.A very nice £950 of work a month for £2k which I'm pleased with.I've been round delivering changeover letters and had 4 people reply,for various reasons,that they didn't want my services.That's out of 40-50 letters.For people that have bought a round before,what kind of percentage of customers did you lose during the changeover?I realise there are countless variables but I'd be interested to hear people's experiences.

[simon knight]

I bought a small commercial round about 6 weeks ago. 23 small shops (weekly).

Lost 2...Starbucks being one of them who decided that they were going to do their own windows. I used to go into Starbucks for a coffee...decided to make my own now

So about a 10% fallout which doesn't seem too awful. I suppose that the ones who drop out were probably wanting to anyway and the change-ever gives the ideal opportunity.

[Craig 72]

Thanks Simon,yeah I'm on about 10% as well at the moment.Just hoping it doesn't rise too much more.

[matt]

i have taken over 3 rounds ( off 2 people )

1 of the rounds i had to put the prices up by 1 quid each to make it work, i lost under 10 %

the other 2 rounds i lost a odd house, i guess these were looking for a excuse as they hadnt even met me

[landy2]

when i take over new rounds dont tell  them anything just turn up and do them dont givve them any reason to think

[tomy jackson]

thats why its 50 50 cash ,so you take the = wot you payed for out of the last 50%

[GWCS]

when i take over new rounds dont tell  them anything just turn up and do them dont givve them any reason to think

If that happened to me, somebody new turned up without notification and was on my property without permission they'd get the boot right away.

But i suppose its how your new customers feels about having a new window cleaner without even knowing or agreeing in the first place.

[R W C]

thats why its 50 50 cash ,so you take the = wot you payed for out of the last 50%

totaly agree, I knock and intrduce myself

[windymiller]

I just turn up and clean the windows,  when the customer asks i just say im cleaning them  for the previous window cleaner. After about 3 cleans i then tell them im taking over and they dont say anything as they have seen the standard of my work. I havnt lost any customers this way.

[martinsadie]

I just turn up and clean the windows,  when the customer asks i just say im cleaning them  for the previous window cleaner. After about 3 cleans i then tell them im taking over and they dont say anything as they have seen the standard of my work. I havnt lost any customers this way.

thats the way we do it here 

[luther1]

I just turn up and clean the windows,  when the customer asks i just say im cleaning them  for the previous window cleaner. After about 3 cleans i then tell them im taking over and they dont say anything as they have seen the standard of my work. I havnt lost any customers this way.

thats the way we do it here 

Thats the best way

[Nathanael Jones]

when i take over new rounds dont tell  them anything just turn up and do them dont givve them any reason to think

If that happened to me, somebody new turned up without notification and was on my property without permission they'd get the boot right away.

Couldn't agree more.

[Craig 72]

Seems a bit of a difference of opinion on this.For my money I thought it was worth putting some introductory letters through doors first.I was tempted to just turn up though,I must admit.From my limited time in window cleaning a lot of customers seem very protective of their window cleaners so I thought better of it.

[matt]

might be a idea to do this

put out a flyer introducing yourself and say you are helping out " mr X the existing WC'er " ( of course tell the bloke you are buying it off what you are doing )

then you will be in the door ( so to speak ) and its job done

[R W C]

might be a idea to do this

put out a flyer introducing yourself and say you are helping out " mr X the existing WC'er " ( of course tell the bloke you are buying it off what you are doing )

then you will be in the door ( so to speak ) and its job done

Pay him the money then after a few cleans he tells the custys hes back, and carrys on cleaning them.