[Jonathan Spencer]

I know this has probably been done to death but I was wondering what to tell customers when it is raining?

I am trad and slowly building my round up, probably about 2/3 full now.  I tell all new customers that I work in drizzle and showers (To mixed reaction).  The older customers are used to me turning up when it was dry as I was only part-time.  At the moment it is a constant drizzle and I cannot see a customer letting me clean there windows is their a way around this? .  Now I know that it does not make much difference if it rains 1 minute after the window is cleaned or 1 day.

Thank you the fountains of knowlege on this forum.

[Ian101]

Im hardly an expert (wot with 3 first cleans under my belt) but I did all of 3 of my first cleans in the rain on Monday .. no one complained

[Jonathan Spencer]

Hi im new on here too! But ive been cleaning windows for twenty years. i tell my customers that if i stopped everytime it rained i would no longer be able to offer the regular service they have become to expect this usually has the desired affect on the few that complain.

That is what I have been trying to say to.  I have told the new customers that if I stopped everytime it rained a bit I would have to treble my prices.

[paul rulton]

grab that money C&B lol  
wot u guys gotta learn is 2make the most of every good day, cause when the weather is
bad u just gotta wait it out   most of my custys dont like there windys being done when its raining  :

[dazmond]

ive been window cleaning for 16 years and have a well established round and at some point ive worked in the rain on all parts of my round!

i tell all my custys that i clean in light drizzle/showers/moderate rain sometimes as i do this as a business and if i dont work/i dont earn!

most custys are not too bothered as long as its not lashing down when cleaning!some really do not like it and one or two will give me a "not today thanks".

my personal opinion is that custys put up with it but dont like it esp if they are big posh houses that are well priced(i have quite a few!!).

i hate working in the rain so i dont do it that often esp when its chucking it down first thing in the morning!when i do i try and do the custys that are not in or a commercial job or an easy going custy who doesnt mind me cleaning in the rain and understands i need to make a living!

also i always say now."if your not happy with the clean ill come back and clean them again for free as long as its within 24 hours of the clean"

saying that ive hardly worked since last friday.its wet AND windy here!then i dont bother!

i work hard normally and we have very few weeks when we cant actually get 4-5 days work in but this week coupled with the bank holiday is one of them i think!

it looks like we,ll get a dry day tommorrow in the north west so ill be gettin a good day in then a 4 day break til tuesday!

[Jonathan Spencer]

ive been window cleaning for 16 years and have a well established round and at some point ive worked in the rain on all parts of my round!

i tell all my custys that i clean in light drizzle/showers/moderate rain sometimes as i do this as a business and if i dont work/i dont earn!

most custys are not too bothered as long as its not lashing down when cleaning!some really do not like it and one or two will give me a "not today thanks".

my personal opinion is that custys put up with it but dont like it esp if they are big posh houses that are well priced(i have quite a few!!).

i hate working in the rain so i dont do it that often esp when its chucking it down first thing in the morning!when i do i try and do the custys that are not in or a commercial job or an easy going custy who doesnt mind me cleaning in the rain and understands i need to make a living!

also i always say now."if your not happy with the clean ill come back and clean them again for free as long as its within 24 hours of the clean"

saying that ive hardly worked since last friday.its wet AND windy here!then i dont bother!

i work hard normally and we have very few weeks when we cant actually get 4-5 days work in but this week coupled with the bank holiday is one of them i think!

it looks like we,ll get a dry day tommorrow in the north west so ill be gettin a good day in then a 4 day break til tuesday!

Cheers for that Daz.  I know the people where I am due to go today quite well.  They are some of the first customers I had and are nice people.  Most of them got rid of the last window cleaning as he was taking the pee, missing windows out, saying he had done the back when he had now and working in all weathers.  As I do not have a full round yet I cannot aford to loose any customers by being "tough" with them.

Think I might just do some leafletting and then clean one new one I have booked in for today, at least she knows I work in rain.  btw the rain at the moment is the constant drizzle with a wind which will just go straight on the glass and make it hard to clean.

[dazmond]

i remember days when i used to curse the weather as i needed the money real bad!i was up to my eyes in debt and couldnt earn!thankfully them days are over!

price higher/work harder when weather dry then enjoy the time off when its bad!build an emergency fund up.

there is a lot to be said for "putting money away for a rainy day"

also i tend to do other things for my business when weather bad like i ordered some smart logo d polo shirts and fleece the other day.ordered some free leaflets from vistaprint.printed debtlists out etc

then of course its ok to do other things you enjoy if you have hobbies etc!

normally a few days off and im raring to go again and ill work pretty hard for 5 or 6 weeks till the next batch of bad weather arrives to put a fly in the ointment!chill out again!and so on and so on!!

[Jack Wallace]

Where I am we seem to be fairly lucky and don’t loose much time due to rain, we are in a very dry part of the country, but we seem to be getting more than usual lately.
My lads don’t normally work in the rain which upsets them as they lose money so as of today things are changing.
We will now be working in light/moderate rain; all my customers will get the following letter to "educate" them. 


Dear Customer,

Your windows were cleaned today.
I am sure many customers worry about quality when we work in wet weather so I would like to take this opportunity to reassure you.
Rain does not affect our work which is why we are happy and confident to offer our 24 hour guarantee, so if ever a problem does occur please contact us and we will happily return to put it right.
Due to the fact we use highly purified water which leaves nothing behind once dry and that rain is almost as pure it does in fact help us by adding to the rinsing.
Even days after cleaning, rain still does not cause problems as there is nothing left on the glass, unlike when we used soap in the water as traditional window cleaners. It was this soap residue which would leave the spots after rain.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Kind Regards,

[Jonathan Spencer]

Where I am we seem to be fairly lucky and don’t loose much time due to rain, we are in a very dry part of the country, but we seem to be getting more than usual lately.
My lads don’t normally work in the rain which upsets them as they lose money so as of today things are changing.
We will now be working in light/moderate rain; all my customers will get the following letter to "educate" them. 


Dear Customer,

Your windows were cleaned today.
I am sure many customers worry about quality when we work in wet weather so I would like to take this opportunity to reassure you.
Rain does not affect our work which is why we are happy and confident to offer our 24 hour guarantee, so if ever a problem does occur please contact us and we will happily return to put it right.
Due to the fact we use highly purified water which leaves nothing behind once dry and that rain is almost as pure it does in fact help us by adding to the rinsing.
Even days after cleaning, rain still does not cause problems as there is nothing left on the glass, unlike when we used soap in the water as traditional window cleaners. It was this soap residue which would leave the spots after rain.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Kind Regards,

Would not work with trad.  I will not be WFP for a year or so until I build up a good base and can justify it.

[cozy]

The point is, about working in rain, light drizzle etc is, I thought the same way as alot of new guys when I first started WCing. Now we clean domestic work in any weather, providing it's not really peeing it down. The reason is, we don't like getting soaked 

Another thing I've found over the years is not to second guess my custies. It's a good idea not to try and see things from what you imagine they do. A good eyample of this would be my last big lesson from this forum. We have had 12 weeks of snow here in Boxheadland. Couldn't work with ladders, so was starting to get way behind on domestic work by the middle of January. Got the advice to do bottoms only or work with a trad ploe on the upsatirs.

I thought the custies wouldn't be happy about trad poling the upstairs. Second guessing them really. Did all our custies over a 6 week period. Lost none, no complaints. Enough said?

I would never consider for one second, sending them a letter to explain how I work. It's not being tough with them, it's just not worth the trouble trying to explain to some custies who have no idea about work, money, prices and costs etc, how you provide a service.

We all share the same custies, if you see what I mean. If a guy like me or Daz can run like we do, why can't other guys do the same. It's all down to attitude and how you are with your custies. Another example of attitude would be: If you have 400 custies and one comes out with "not today, it's raining", how would you react?
If you only have 50 custies and you get "not today, it's raining", how would you react then? Same custies, same problem.

Stop thinking they all think like you. A good way to test the water is, try cleaning 10 custies in light rain, see what happens. Not much damage can happen can it?

What I've found over the years is that more than half my custies aren't in when I clean them. So if it's rained during the clean, it could be dry and sunny when the get home. If we clean between showers and they come home to clean windows, how do they know it was raining as you cleaned them?

Most of our work is cashed up sometimes a week after cleaning, by that time they have forgot about the weather from when you cleaned them!

Don't let your biz get run by what YOU think THEY think.
Hope this makes sense,

[nelly]

I work through light drizzle,most of my custy's are fine with this, as they know i've got bill's to pay,but i do back and clean for free if not happy

When i started, i explained the condition's i work in, i do remind them every now and then,
when weather is poor,Just get me waterproof's out

 I work a 4 day week,so i've got 1 day to play with,,i.e return's,washdown's any other extra's

[cozy]

Nelly, how many call you back then? Just being nosey

[Jonathan Spencer]

Nelly, how many call you back then? Just being nosey

My missus just asked the same thing.  Will people just take the p1ss and get you to come back?

[dazmond]

NOT ONE CUSTY HAS EVER CALLED ME BACK IN 16 YEARS!

[Jack Wallace]

The point is, about working in rain, light drizzle etc is, I thought the same way as alot of new guys when I first started WCing. Now we clean domestic work in any weather, providing it's not really peeing it down. The reason is, we don't like getting soaked 

Another thing I've found over the years is not to second guess my custies. It's a good idea not to try and see things from what you imagine they do. A good eyample of this would be my last big lesson from this forum. We have had 12 weeks of snow here in Boxheadland. Couldn't work with ladders, so was starting to get way behind on domestic work by the middle of January. Got the advice to do bottoms only or work with a trad ploe on the upsatirs.

I thought the custies wouldn't be happy about trad poling the upstairs. Second guessing them really. Did all our custies over a 6 week period. Lost none, no complaints. Enough said?

I would never consider for one second, sending them a letter to explain how I work. It's not being tough with them, it's just not worth the trouble trying to explain to some custies who have no idea about work, money, prices and costs etc, how you provide a service.
We all share the same custies, if you see what I mean. If a guy like me or Daz can run like we do, why can't other guys do the same. It's all down to attitude and how you are with your custies. Another example of attitude would be: If you have 400 custies and one comes out with "not today, it's raining", how would you react?
If you only have 50 custies and you get "not today, it's raining", how would you react then? Same custies, same problem.

Stop thinking they all think like you. A good way to test the water is, try cleaning 10 custies in light rain, see what happens. Not much damage can happen can it?

What I've found over the years is that more than half my custies aren't in when I clean them. So if it's rained during the clean, it could be dry and sunny when the get home. If we clean between showers and they come home to clean windows, how do they know it was raining as you cleaned them?

Most of our work is cashed up sometimes a week after cleaning, by that time they have forgot about the weather from when you cleaned them!

Don't let your biz get run by what YOU think THEY think.
Hope this makes sense,

Cozy
After today I totally understand what you are saying by this.
For years I have been second guessing my customers so thought giving out a letter was a good idea.
However after a conversation with a customer this morning I put them in the bin, (the letters not the customer) 
I said to her, we are working in the rain from now on here is a letter explaining why. She replied “Your the window cleaner not me, if your happy to work in the rain why would I worry.”
So it looks like I will be investing in a few sets of waterproofs, can anyone recommend any good ones. (Having never used them I don’t know good from bad)   

[Paul Coleman]

The point is, about working in rain, light drizzle etc is, I thought the same way as alot of new guys when I first started WCing. Now we clean domestic work in any weather, providing it's not really peeing it down. The reason is, we don't like getting soaked 

Another thing I've found over the years is not to second guess my custies. It's a good idea not to try and see things from what you imagine they do. A good eyample of this would be my last big lesson from this forum. We have had 12 weeks of snow here in Boxheadland. Couldn't work with ladders, so was starting to get way behind on domestic work by the middle of January. Got the advice to do bottoms only or work with a trad ploe on the upsatirs.

I thought the custies wouldn't be happy about trad poling the upstairs. Second guessing them really. Did all our custies over a 6 week period. Lost none, no complaints. Enough said?

I would never consider for one second, sending them a letter to explain how I work. It's not being tough with them, it's just not worth the trouble trying to explain to some custies who have no idea about work, money, prices and costs etc, how you provide a service.

We all share the same custies, if you see what I mean. If a guy like me or Daz can run like we do, why can't other guys do the same. It's all down to attitude and how you are with your custies. Another example of attitude would be: If you have 400 custies and one comes out with "not today, it's raining", how would you react?
If you only have 50 custies and you get "not today, it's raining", how would you react then? Same custies, same problem.

Stop thinking they all think like you. A good way to test the water is, try cleaning 10 custies in light rain, see what happens. Not much damage can happen can it?

What I've found over the years is that more than half my custies aren't in when I clean them. So if it's rained during the clean, it could be dry and sunny when the get home. If we clean between showers and they come home to clean windows, how do they know it was raining as you cleaned them?

Most of our work is cashed up sometimes a week after cleaning, by that time they have forgot about the weather from when you cleaned them!

Don't let your biz get run by what YOU think THEY think.
Hope this makes sense,

Spot on mate.
I recently said that it's OK to empathise with a customer but you can't afford to think like a customer because you would go broke.  Apart from that it's pretty much the way you said it because most of the time they are OK with cleaning in the wet so long as it isn't hacking down (I stop before that anyway).

[barry mallett]

tell them if there going out they might need a brolly ;)and dont forget to ask em if they wanna pay 

[Clive McDonald]

another one to say good post cozy.

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

The point is, about working in rain, light drizzle etc is, I thought the same way as alot of new guys when I first started WCing. Now we clean domestic work in any weather, providing it's not really peeing it down. The reason is, we don't like getting soaked 

Another thing I've found over the years is not to second guess my custies. It's a good idea not to try and see things from what you imagine they do. A good eyample of this would be my last big lesson from this forum. We have had 12 weeks of snow here in Boxheadland. Couldn't work with ladders, so was starting to get way behind on domestic work by the middle of January. Got the advice to do bottoms only or work with a trad ploe on the upsatirs.

I thought the custies wouldn't be happy about trad poling the upstairs. Second guessing them really. Did all our custies over a 6 week period. Lost none, no complaints. Enough said?

I would never consider for one second, sending them a letter to explain how I work. It's not being tough with them, it's just not worth the trouble trying to explain to some custies who have no idea about work, money, prices and costs etc, how you provide a service.

We all share the same custies, if you see what I mean. If a guy like me or Daz can run like we do, why can't other guys do the same. It's all down to attitude and how you are with your custies. Another example of attitude would be: If you have 400 custies and one comes out with "not today, it's raining", how would you react?
If you only have 50 custies and you get "not today, it's raining", how would you react then? Same custies, same problem.

Stop thinking they all think like you. A good way to test the water is, try cleaning 10 custies in light rain, see what happens. Not much damage can happen can it?

What I've found over the years is that more than half my custies aren't in when I clean them. So if it's rained during the clean, it could be dry and sunny when the get home. If we clean between showers and they come home to clean windows, how do they know it was raining as you cleaned them?

Most of our work is cashed up sometimes a week after cleaning, by that time they have forgot about the weather from when you cleaned them!

Don't let your biz get run by what YOU think THEY think.
Hope this makes sense,

Top post, niiiiiiiiice.

[prestige cleaners]

The point is, about working in rain, light drizzle etc is, I thought the same way as alot of new guys when I first started WCing. Now we clean domestic work in any weather, providing it's not really peeing it down. The reason is, we don't like getting soaked 

Another thing I've found over the years is not to second guess my custies. It's a good idea not to try and see things from what you imagine they do. A good eyample of this would be my last big lesson from this forum. We have had 12 weeks of snow here in Boxheadland. Couldn't work with ladders, so was starting to get way behind on domestic work by the middle of January. Got the advice to do bottoms only or work with a trad ploe on the upsatirs.

I thought the custies wouldn't be happy about trad poling the upstairs. Second guessing them really. Did all our custies over a 6 week period. Lost none, no complaints. Enough said?

I would never consider for one second, sending them a letter to explain how I work. It's not being tough with them, it's just not worth the trouble trying to explain to some custies who have no idea about work, money, prices and costs etc, how you provide a service.
We all share the same custies, if you see what I mean. If a guy like me or Daz can run like we do, why can't other guys do the same. It's all down to attitude and how you are with your custies. Another example of attitude would be: If you have 400 custies and one comes out with "not today, it's raining", how would you react?
If you only have 50 custies and you get "not today, it's raining", how would you react then? Same custies, same problem.

Stop thinking they all think like you. A good way to test the water is, try cleaning 10 custies in light rain, see what happens. Not much damage can happen can it?

What I've found over the years is that more than half my custies aren't in when I clean them. So if it's rained during the clean, it could be dry and sunny when the get home. If we clean between showers and they come home to clean windows, how do they know it was raining as you cleaned them?

Most of our work is cashed up sometimes a week after cleaning, by that time they have forgot about the weather from when you cleaned them!

Don't let your biz get run by what YOU think THEY think.
Hope this makes sense,

Cozy
After today I totally understand what you are saying by this.
For years I have been second guessing my customers so thought giving out a letter was a good idea.
However after a conversation with a customer this morning I put them in the bin, (the letters not the customer) 
I said to her, we are working in the rain from now on here is a letter explaining why. She replied “Your the window cleaner not me, if your happy to work in the rain why would I worry.”
So it looks like I will be investing in a few sets of waterproofs, can anyone recommend any good ones. (Having never used them I don’t know good from bad)   

ive been using hi-vis quilted jackets for years, but they're only shower proof, found some really good waterproof jacket/trousers at selco builders merchants, £25 for the set.