[leapstallbuildings]

I set a new record today for dumping a customer.  I actually dumped a customer before even laying brush on glass.
Yesterday I got a phone call.  After hassling me repeatedly, I reluctantly gave a non-commital estimate over the phone.  She then expected me to travel there within two hours to do the clean.  I reluctantly agreed to do them today at the end of my other work - even though it involved a twelve mile round trip.  She even tried to beat my price down on the phone before I had said the amount.  I felt pretty peed off with myself for taking the line of least resistance by allowing myself to be virtually nagged into cleaning her windows.  When I got there today, although the job was just about as described, there were a couple of bays and a some very large double width windows with eight average panes  (counted by her as one window).  I looked it over.  Access was OK but not brilliant.  I had felt on the previous day that this was a customer who would be high maintenance hassle.  Anyway, I added £3 to my estimate.  She complained.  I said it was a fair price.  She said it wasn't but do it anyway.  I said goodbye.
I felt so much better at walking away because sometimes you just know in your heart that somebody is going to be really difficult to do business with.  This was one such person.
It does seem a bit perverse in a recession but keeping my stress levels down is more important to me than getting or not getting a customer.

[EZclean]

good for you. sometimes the reason they have no window cleaner is plain to see

[niceandclean]

I have had a couple of customers like this, (even though i do not price without seeing the property) And they have turned out to be a couple of my best customers! Sometimes the easy ones at the begining, turn out to be the real pain in back sides!

[jonnyald]

i wish id named my biz  " 3 strikes and ur out "    ,just to set  my stall out,clearly .     


 i can sense from LEAP,  the true satisfaction of walking away ,and not looking back 

[GWCS]

I have had a couple of customers like this, (even though i do not price without seeing the property) And they have turned out to be a couple of my best customers! Sometimes the easy ones at the begining, turn out to be the real pain in back sides!

I never found that, its always been the ones that are a pain get to be even more of a pain..

[gerard mcmanus]

I had one yesterday, the guy called me over from cross the street. I went over and gave him a quote after him walking me round the property. There was a small issue at the back with a DIY decking made with flat planks, with no groves in it, kind of like what wooden crates are made out of. Any way I said I couldn't use a ladder on it, but would use an extention pole instead. He then agreed to a four weekly clean and I asked him for some details: -

name: bla bla
flat no: bla bla
house no: bla bla
phone number: "no!"

Now I have had a one or two oldies being a little reluctant to give there number out before, so I wasn't really bothered I just went on to explain that we don't give out the number to anyone and only use it to make alternative arrangements if it happens to be bad weather.

the guy then said "I don't give fcku who you are, I don't give my number out to anyone"

"ok, well I cant add you to my list then"

"Fine just do them today then, and don't come back"

me "No, I think we will just leave it there" and walked.

Now I am really not too bothered about not having a number for a customer, I do have a few I don't have numbers for on file, but this guy was paranoid nutter, who obviously though of himself as a bit a hard man, and knew he was going to be trouble, so I just walked.

[Ian Lancaster]

It always amazes me, the amount of hassle some of you are prepared to accept

Who's the boss?  If it's not you, what's the point of being self employed??

"Reluctantly gave a non-commital estimate over the phone"........

I never give quotations without seeing the property, and certainly never give "estimates"  The minute you tentatively suggest a price, they will sieze on it and swear blind you promised that would be a fixed quote.

No matter what they say, I stick to my guns and tell them I never quote over the phone.  If that's not good enough I just say: "I'm sorry, in that case I can't help you."

I MAKE THE RULES, NOT THEM

[TonyD]

It always amazes me, the amount of hassle some of you are prepared to accept

Who's the boss?  If it's not you, what's the point of being self employed??

"Reluctantly gave a non-commital estimate over the phone"........

I never give quotations without seeing the property, and certainly never give "estimates"  The minute you tentatively suggest a price, they will sieze on it and swear blind you promised that would be a fixed quote.

No matter what they say, I stick to my guns and tell them I never quote over the phone.  If that's not good enough I just say: "I'm sorry, in that case I can't help you."

I MAKE THE RULES, NOT THEM

My thoughts too.  Life's too short to mess with these type of customers.  Part of the perks of running your own working life is to have a say in what work you do.

[ian1972]

food for thought

[kenaltobelli]

coming on here and seeing other points of views is great good to know its not just
me; but lately i seem to be getting all the idiots one cancelld for winter today ive done them 3 times
three others i just fell out with but am getting more and more work all the time

[leapstallbuildings]

It always amazes me, the amount of hassle some of you are prepared to accept

Who's the boss?  If it's not you, what's the point of being self employed??

"Reluctantly gave a non-commital estimate over the phone"........

I never give quotations without seeing the property, and certainly never give "estimates"  The minute you tentatively suggest a price, they will sieze on it and swear blind you promised that would be a fixed quote.

No matter what they say, I stick to my guns and tell them I never quote over the phone.  If that's not good enough I just say: "I'm sorry, in that case I can't help you."

I MAKE THE RULES, NOT THEM

Ian.  I do normally adopt your approach too.  It was just an aberration on my part.  i haven't done anything like that in a long time.  She just kept nagging and nagging and I couldn't stand it any more.  That should have told me to turn her down flat at the beginnig.  I won't be doing that again.

[jeff1]

hehe you got off lightly my friend, I had the pleasure of a real witch 

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=41757.0

[EZclean]

hehe you got off lightly my friend, I had the pleasure of a real witch 

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=41757.0

 


eeee what a good laugh! turned out nice again misses

[Clive McDonald]

You made some good posts jeff, on balance probably some of the best posts in here.

[wizard]

You should have taken her a second bill just to stick the knife in.

[GWCS]

It always amazes me, the amount of hassle some of you are prepared to accept

Who's the boss?  If it's not you, what's the point of being self employed??

"Reluctantly gave a non-commital estimate over the phone"........

I never give quotations without seeing the property, and certainly never give "estimates"  The minute you tentatively suggest a price, they will sieze on it and swear blind you promised that would be a fixed quote.

No matter what they say, I stick to my guns and tell them I never quote over the phone.  If that's not good enough I just say: "I'm sorry, in that case I can't help you."

I MAKE THE RULES, NOT THEM

agreed however, i got so peed one day that i quoted £90 for 9 windows..LOL

suffice to say she didn't take me up on my competitive offer

[ccmids]

another one turning down a job , i dont get it its money at the end of the day .?

[R W C]

another one turning down a job , i dont get it its money at the end of the day .?

Because were the boss not the custy,you must be desperate for work if you allow people to dictate how things are done, I had a woman ring me from another area telling me she couldnt get a window cleaner as theres only one in the area and he not taking on anymore work, so I did 1st clean and she paid, went back 2 weeks ago for 2nd clean and recieved cheque few days ago with note asking for 3 monthly, looks like she will be looking for a new cleaner 

[ccmids]

yes but its what we go out for isnt it money, OK every three months thats not bad. some my cusys phone when they want theres done ,you can always work round that.

[EZclean]

yes but its what we go out for isnt it money, OK every three months thats not bad. some my cusys phone when they want theres done ,you can always work round that.

not for me that kind of work. unless they are £100 jobs