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Dan91

  • Posts: 12
FAIL! Shattered Dreams.
« on: April 20, 2010, 05:08:07 pm »
Hi Guys.

Just had my window cleaning dreams shattered into pieces. After doing my canvassing and getting some 12 customers I searched all the draws and borrowed some money to get about £250 for equipment.

ONLY TO FIND OUT my university hall won't let me keep the ladder in here, I have no car which wasn't as bad because the area is not too far, but I could have at least kept the ladder on top.
And to finish me off. I went to one old guy at the beginning of my round (which is supposed to start in 10 days) to ask whether he'll let me keep the ladder there if i did his windows for free, but before I asked he told me he does not want them done and gave no good reason why. May be another window cleaner took them over. What if all of them do the same?  :'(

The only option i see now is to talk to "man and van" people to store it and rely on them to pick it up and take it back every day I work.

Was anyone out there ever as screwed as me and have any thoughts as to coming out of this nightmare?

mci services

Re: FAIL! Shattered Dreams.
« Reply #1 on: April 20, 2010, 05:20:19 pm »
dont tell them and hide your ladders at the back of a shed or bin area with a padlock on. never give in

markheaney2

  • Posts: 53
Re: FAIL! Shattered Dreams.
« Reply #2 on: April 20, 2010, 05:31:27 pm »
when my dad first started window cleaning he used to hide his ladders in the river to stop them getting nicked what a laugh
triple ladders frighten me

JSMC

  • Posts: 3511
Re: FAIL! Shattered Dreams.
« Reply #3 on: April 20, 2010, 05:46:16 pm »
surely you will find somewhere. any neighbours near to wher eyer staying? Explain situation and offer them  couple quid per week or something

Dan91

  • Posts: 12
Re: FAIL! Shattered Dreams.
« Reply #4 on: April 20, 2010, 05:54:03 pm »
Definitely not giving in! You Guys answered pretty much all my questions about WC and I feel confident about doing it (except lead of course), but this ladder business is so crap.

It will be 3.30 meters collapsed and weigh 15-20kg. Carrying it from here (10 min to work area) is enough trouble as it is let alone leaving it yet further away.
The problem with locking it somewhere or paying some random person is that it cost £150, when I buy it I will have no more money so if it gets lost I am totally screwed.

Alistair@AWC

  • Posts: 880
Re: FAIL! Shattered Dreams.
« Reply #5 on: April 20, 2010, 05:57:11 pm »
Dan,

You must have Uni mates who lives in private rented accommodation and not in university halls!

mlscontractcleaner

  • Posts: 1483
Re: FAIL! Shattered Dreams.
« Reply #6 on: April 20, 2010, 06:04:34 pm »
Dan, Finish your studies, pass your driving test, buy a small van and then start your window cleaning business in a proper manner. You can hardly start a business by carrying your ladders around with you all day - unless you live in Coronation Street I guess ::)

Better still, concentrate on your studies and go and get the job your studies were intended for ;D
Come and talk dirty to us!!!

Dave Willis

Re: FAIL! Shattered Dreams.
« Reply #7 on: April 20, 2010, 06:05:16 pm »
200kg! you'll be fit in no time.

Dan91

  • Posts: 12
Re: FAIL! Shattered Dreams.
« Reply #8 on: April 20, 2010, 06:11:43 pm »
 :D I meant to say 15-20kg.

The thing is I can't afford to take lessons yet and if I give up/postpone it, I will end up going to my parents and friends with my tail between my legs telling them they were right that I can't do it given the circumstances.
I will try to come up with something.

btw all suggestions are welcome.

Thanks


AuRavelling79

  • Posts: 26656
Re: FAIL! Shattered Dreams.
« Reply #10 on: April 20, 2010, 06:17:10 pm »
Dan just go out and canvass bungalows or ground floor flats for the mo'. Don't need a ladder then! And for higher windows use trad. tools on a pole.
It's a game of three halves!

mci services

Re: FAIL! Shattered Dreams.
« Reply #11 on: April 20, 2010, 06:46:18 pm »
is the door to the halls manned by staff if not stick it under your bed and leave early morning and return late at night

johnny_h

  • Posts: 689
Re: FAIL! Shattered Dreams.
« Reply #12 on: April 20, 2010, 06:54:14 pm »
where are you?
AUDI VIDE TACE

Dan91

  • Posts: 12
Re: FAIL! Shattered Dreams.
« Reply #13 on: April 20, 2010, 07:13:28 pm »
Hi

I'm in Reading.

I just found out that I can keep it in my room, (no need to use uni storage), as there are no cameras at one entrance. The thing is I don't know whether I will be able to take it to my room as a 3 meeter ladder will be hard to maneuver over the stairs and through the corridor.

The ladder I was planning to get was 3 X 11 rung, which is about 3 meters when folded because I want to comfortably do all 2 story houses.

Would a smaller ladder do the job? For example a 3x9 rung, which is about 2.40cm when closed.

johnny_h

  • Posts: 689
Re: FAIL! Shattered Dreams.
« Reply #14 on: April 20, 2010, 07:20:37 pm »
not sure what size ladders i have and im also wfp just remember gut the best ladder you can for the job dont go to b & q its you neck that gets broken if god forbid you fall
how about a self storage place there must be one local to you
AUDI VIDE TACE

Dan91

  • Posts: 12
Re: FAIL! Shattered Dreams.
« Reply #15 on: April 20, 2010, 07:25:52 pm »
Thanks for the replies.

No, no near storage.
I'm getting a good quality ladder, but how big does it have to be? Will a 3x9 rung do the job?
Because I want to be able to fit it in my room.

Thanks.

williamx

Re: FAIL! Shattered Dreams.
« Reply #16 on: April 20, 2010, 07:31:41 pm »
You are looking for trouble if you try storing in your room, firstly someone is bound to tell the uni, second you are liable to cause some damage to the decor trying to get a ladder up and around stairs, down corridors and then into a small room.

You have several options open to you, one is you are a student and being one you must know 1 or 2 or 40 pubs that are local to you, ask the manager if you can leave it round their backyard, these areas are normally secure, you might even pick the pub up as a customer.

The next option is you buy a di tank with resin, a backpack, a pole, brushead and pole hose as well as a sack truck from your local b&q or homebase, with this equipment you can wheel the di tank to your customers, connect to their outside tap,o fill the back pack via the di tank and bobs your uncle.

The only other way is you will need to rent some space from a access storage company.


Failing all that, go to you local cab company, pizza palour, double glazing firm, bathroom fitters and any other company in your area who have leaflets droped door to door, and do them for them for a fixed price per thousand.

If you don't fancy that and you still want to work in the window cleaning trade, you could instead canvass customers for other window cleaners and charge them 2 or 3 times the monthly charge as commission.

or there is always a paper round ;D

G Griffin

  • Posts: 40745
Re: FAIL! Shattered Dreams.
« Reply #17 on: April 20, 2010, 07:42:56 pm »
 Get bunk beds and keep your ladders at the side, you know... to the top bunk.

 Sorry, triple 2.5`s should be easily big enough. 
 
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

mci services

Re: FAIL! Shattered Dreams.
« Reply #18 on: April 20, 2010, 07:45:50 pm »
 a double 2.5 is too short it will need to be 3m double min or as mentioned 2.5m triple

geefree

  • Posts: 6180
Re: FAIL! Shattered Dreams.
« Reply #19 on: April 20, 2010, 07:48:15 pm »
Is this a serious thread ?