Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Crystal-clear on January 14, 2014, 08:11:58 am

Title: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: Crystal-clear on January 14, 2014, 08:11:58 am
Have you ever booked yourself in with a couple of notification customers along with a planed day then in the morning not actually feel up to it  ???
Title: Re: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: Mitchellmoxo on January 14, 2014, 08:15:03 am
Lol has that just happened
Title: Re: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: paul ette on January 14, 2014, 08:20:17 am
my thoughts exactly this morning
Title: Re: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: dazmond on January 14, 2014, 08:34:50 am
very rarely as im motivated virtually all the time.

i have sometimes done it if im feeling run down.just text customers back and say you ll do them tomorrow instead.

enjoy your day off! :)

im the opposite at the moment.ive really got off to a flying start workwise this year.im on course for my best earning month EVER window cleaning.

ive picked up one or two new jobs virtually every day  since starting back on the 2nd of jan! ;D

onward and upward!
Title: Re: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: Crystal-clear on January 14, 2014, 08:38:07 am
Yes it has lol , might just make a cupa and dash out not sure!
Title: Re: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: dazmond on January 14, 2014, 08:40:07 am
i have an inside and out job booked in for 930am (£70)then 3 days on very compact work.followed by mainly commercial on friday.

love it! ;D ;D

slowly getting rid of the xmas overindulgence now!
Title: Re: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: PoleKing on January 14, 2014, 05:14:53 pm
No.
Once I've texted them I'm going. Pretty much no matter what. The last time I didn't turn up was because the wife had gone into labour.
If I'm planning a day off it'll be planned the night before.
Title: Re: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: Crystal-clear on January 14, 2014, 07:28:49 pm
Went out at 9.30 opperation clean what I need to and get the hell out of dodge lol ..

Didn't do to bad was back before 3

don't Know why but randomly window cleaning has began to annoy me at times not the cleaning just some customers , just little things like a random 2 year cancelation the other day who cancels on day and shouts saying GO AWAY I don't legally need to give notice I don't care that you jumped over my gate and unloaded van as you have been for 2 years I don't care that I agreed that its 2 weeks notice I don't care 2 year customer its not like its every day but still knocks you down

If only I had the guts to say direct debit or bye it would be so much easier and wouldn't have these problems as if they stop the payment you don't turn up therefore those situations don't happen

The problem is when you are told "we are happy to continue but pay after" you take it I'm thinking to offer further discounts like £20 houses down to £15 if direct debit only quite a bit of a hit but it would mean I could focus on cleaning windows employing a full timer and not worry about customer mind games, or have to endure the odd look of horror "it's gona rain nooooooo no no its gona rain!"  When they prepay online via direct debit its so much better I have a few have to push this really good this year !
Title: Re: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: rosskesava on January 14, 2014, 07:39:48 pm
Went out at 9.30 opperation clean what I need to and get the hell out of dodge lol ..

Didn't do to bad was back before 3

don't Know why but randomly window cleaning has began to annoy me at times not the cleaning just some customers , just little things like a random 2 year cancelation the other day who cancels on day and shouts saying GO AWAY I don't legally need to give notice I don't care that you jumped over my gate and unloaded van as you have been for 2 years I don't care that I agreed that its 2 weeks notice I don't care 2 year customer its not like its every day but still knocks you down

If only I had the guts to say direct debit or bye it would be so much easier and wouldn't have these problems as if they stop the payment you don't turn up therefore those situations don't happen

The problem is when you are told "we are happy to continue but pay after" you take it I'm thinking to offer further discounts like £20 houses down to £15 if direct debit only quite a bit of a hit but it would mean I could focus on cleaning windows employing a full timer and not worry about customer mind games, or have to endure the odd look of horror "it's gona rain nooooooo no no its gona rain!"  When they prepay online via direct debit its so much better I have a few have to push this really good this year !

I take it she didn't want her windows cleaned then?
Title: Re: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: colin bird on January 14, 2014, 07:51:24 pm
No,be reliable,you and your business will benefit,how many customers have you gained,due to there last window cleaner not turning up when he said he would.
There is always some one after your work,unless you are lucky ,you cannot afford to be complacent
Title: Re: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: Crystal-clear on January 14, 2014, 09:29:39 pm
Indeed ! Need to keep looking at the better sides of the trade and not get myself wound up!

And rosskesava I guess she didn't mate haha I'm actually laughing to myself now ;)
Title: Re: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: trippyboy on January 14, 2014, 09:31:57 pm
Felt zapped today,had no energy in my body by 2pm so I called it a day.
Still had just over £100 to do too, that's not like me at all tbh,luckily I had only one texted customer left
Title: Re: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: Richard iSparkle on January 14, 2014, 09:36:57 pm
Indeed ! Need to keep looking at the better sides of the trade and not get myself wound up!

And rosskesava I guess she didn't mate haha I'm actually laughing to myself now ;)

i got wound up today by an idiot customer we've cleaned for 1. 5 yrs now.  no problems...  but they owe me 4 cleans worth, we arrive she has a look of horror on her face, i say 'everything OK' and she says husband was supposed to cancel you..  i ask what happened and she comes up a list of nonsense, claiming not to have recevied our calling cards, claiming we never cleaned etc etc.  really middle class home owners.  horrible woman.  i was doing well handling her and she got her chequye book to settle up...  but 5 min later we were having a row etc etc....

really fdrustrating these people.  glad to be rid of her.  she said her husband works in switzerland so forgot to cancel us?????  WTF???  if i had a gun i would have shot her ;)
Title: Re: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: Ian101 on January 15, 2014, 06:39:24 am

 if i had a gun i would have shot her ;)

Ask Bob if you can borrow his sawn off Purdy  ;)
Title: Re: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: Ian101 on January 15, 2014, 06:40:29 am
Went out at 9.30 opperation clean what I need to and get the hell out of dodge lol ..

Didn't do to bad was back before 3

don't Know why but randomly window cleaning has began to annoy me at times not the cleaning just some customers , just little things like a random 2 year cancelation the other day who cancels on day and shouts saying GO AWAY I don't legally need to give notice I don't care that you jumped over my gate and unloaded van as you have been for 2 years I don't care that I agreed that its 2 weeks notice I don't care 2 year customer its not like its every day but still knocks you down

If only I had the guts to say direct debit or bye it would be so much easier and wouldn't have these problems as if they stop the payment you don't turn up therefore those situations don't happen

The problem is when you are told "we are happy to continue but pay after" you take it I'm thinking to offer further discounts like £20 houses down to £15 if direct debit only quite a bit of a hit but it would mean I could focus on cleaning windows employing a full timer and not worry about customer mind games, or have to endure the odd look of horror "it's gona rain nooooooo no no its gona rain!"  When they prepay online via direct debit its so much better I have a few have to push this really good this year !

Time to find some better customers perhaps ?
Title: Re: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: dazmond on January 15, 2014, 08:30:00 am
richard dont let them get to 4 CLEANS WITHOUT PAYMENT!! ;D

2 cleans then dont clean until payment received.then if they dont pay its only 2 cleans.

i wrote off £81 last year.highest ever but its miniscule in the greater scheme of things.


regards


dazmond
Title: Re: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: dazmond on January 15, 2014, 08:40:01 am
in my experience of 20 years of window cleaning you need to look after yourself doing this job.

clean lifestyle.give up smoking if you do.eat well.keep drinking to weekends or give it up altogether.

get organised.up prices and work hard.

low motivation days very rarely come along these days but at one time i was absolutely sick of window cleaning when on the ladders and nearly threw the towel in!

keep plugging away lads.its a great business to be in. ;) ;D
Title: Re: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: Crystal-clear on January 15, 2014, 10:07:08 am
Richard that's exactly what does my head in and this message also ref to Ian101 its only good customers I take on but its when they all of a sudden turn bad out the blue with as Richard says a look of horror like you have just tryed steeling something form them, and its the ones who have been perfect for in my case 2 years Richards 1.5 ,
It makes you wonder well this customer used to make me cups of tea pay via online banking , thanking me each time then it ends like this ?? Well what's round the corner it gets you down!

I think also whats annoying me is i found it really hard to take the business to the next level which was the perminant employ goal I have a Subbie who has been a dimond but only enough work for once/twice a week max and he doesn't want more
So the plan was to keep gaining customers and eventually I take a more lee prior role which is focusing on chasing new bussniess and making sales I like it when something is very progressive like window cleaning is except we are deeling with the public and they can be very challenging however I do feel standing orders or debits is the way to go.

if you want to develop that way window cleaning becomes the simple transaction I fell in love with Clean paid in advance and expand,no more speculation or surprise arguments if they don't want it you will know as you have the logs when they cancel the direct debit I defo think this is the way forward maybe I had really high expectations and not passing a certain level after a fair few years in the trade is also annoying

so I have a plan to push standing orders
£30 first clean try out
£20 2 monthly if you are happy and want to continue
£14 standing order

The £14 will be a gunuine price hit for us but I think its the only way to get them to do it and once I see a progressive structure ill get the fun factor back
I know some will take the £20 and pay after clean but surely after a couple they will see how much cheaper it is and join the standing order gang or I might give them 3 chances but that would be crazy refusing a good £20 job cos he doesn't want pay online, then again I know he doesn't want to cos somewhere down the line there is a good chance he cancels on the day or screems in horror at the pole his problems might be over a year away but still! ;)
Title: Re: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: dazmond on January 15, 2014, 06:58:29 pm
i think you need to move back up north crystal!

most customers are really great up here!! ;) :D

how long have you been established down south mate?


regards


dazmond
Title: Re: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: geefree on January 16, 2014, 07:04:48 pm
There aint enough hours in the day for me, i love it,... love working for mself, and being motivated constantly.... its me baby.lol
Title: Re: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: A & J Owen Window Cleaning on January 16, 2014, 07:11:27 pm
trying the first step to failure ;D
Title: Re: You ever book your self in then think sod it day off?
Post by: Richard iSparkle on January 16, 2014, 10:00:24 pm
Richard that's exactly what does my head in and this message also ref to Ian101 its only good customers I take on but its when they all of a sudden turn bad out the blue with as Richard says a look of horror like you have just tryed steeling something form them, and its the ones who have been perfect for in my case 2 years Richards 1.5 ,
It makes you wonder well this customer used to make me cups of tea pay via online banking , thanking me each time then it ends like this ?? Well what's round the corner it gets you down!

I think also whats annoying me is i found it really hard to take the business to the next level which was the perminant employ goal I have a Subbie who has been a dimond but only enough work for once/twice a week max and he doesn't want more
So the plan was to keep gaining customers and eventually I take a more lee prior role which is focusing on chasing new bussniess and making sales I like it when something is very progressive like window cleaning is except we are deeling with the public and they can be very challenging however I do feel standing orders or debits is the way to go.

if you want to develop that way window cleaning becomes the simple transaction I fell in love with Clean paid in advance and expand,no more speculation or surprise arguments if they don't want it you will know as you have the logs when they cancel the direct debit I defo think this is the way forward maybe I had really high expectations and not passing a certain level after a fair few years in the trade is also annoying

so I have a plan to push standing orders
£30 first clean try out
£20 2 monthly if you are happy and want to continue
£14 standing order

The £14 will be a gunuine price hit for us but I think its the only way to get them to do it and once I see a progressive structure ill get the fun factor back
I know some will take the £20 and pay after clean but surely after a couple they will see how much cheaper it is and join the standing order gang or I might give them 3 chances but that would be crazy refusing a good £20 job cos he doesn't want pay online, then again I know he doesn't want to cos somewhere down the line there is a good chance he cancels on the day or screems in horror at the pole his problems might be over a year away but still! ;)


hey crystal,

i think everything you say is right.

only thing i would recommend is not doing standing orders and going straight to direct debits.  you will regret it in the future if you dont.

dont be put off by the setup costs as they are much better from a business operations point of view (which is what you're taking about)

we've used SOs since the start for 3 yrs plus and now switching everyone to DDs which is a pain...

around 65% of our customers are SO the rest cheque.

by the end of this year 100% will be on DD or dropped  ;D