[sunshine windows]

Just a thought from me after several cans of Strongbow. (Not getting paid for advertising, promise).

I think it would be best to nip this in the bud before it even starts. By this i mean explain to your customers when quoting that you will not accept being confronted on the doorstep, or hollered at down the road, NOT THIS TIME MATE, IS THAT OK. To which i normally reply, 'Yeah no problem'. Only because i can't be arsed to explain the fact that i sometimes give up my weekends to clean customers windows on time. And the fact that i try and schedule a certain amount of work into certain weeks, so thanks for putting my takings down when i could have cleaned someone elses today.

Anyway, onto my solution.

I was thinking of drafting up a letter, explaining to customers that due to the number of people taking advantage of my kind nature. I have no alternative other than to stop cleaning unreliable customers who don't appreciate the length i go to to get their windows cleaned on time every month/2 months.

Yes can you believe it, i've had bi-monthly customers tell me not this time too.

Were it not for the fact that i'm now employing someone, these customers would be dropped like a hot potato. As it is i'm just about tolerating the ***** (Sorry Mods)

If anyone else would be interested in this letter then let me know as it would give me an incentive to get it sorted out once and for all.

Regards,
Lance

[Paul Coleman]

Just a thought from me after several cans of Strongbow. (Not getting paid for advertising, promise).

I think it would be best to nip this in the bud before it even starts. By this i mean explain to your customers when quoting that you will not accept being confronted on the doorstep, or hollered at down the road, NOT THIS TIME MATE, IS THAT OK. To which i normally reply, 'Yeah no problem'. Only because i can't be arsed to explain the fact that i sometimes give up my weekends to clean customers windows on time. And the fact that i try and schedule a certain amount of work into certain weeks, so thanks for putting my takings down when i could have cleaned someone elses today.

Anyway, onto my solution.

I was thinking of drafting up a letter, explaining to customers that due to the number of people taking advantage of my kind nature. I have no alternative other than to stop cleaning unreliable customers who don't appreciate the length i go to to get their windows cleaned on time every month/2 months.

Yes can you believe it, i've had bi-monthly customers tell me not this time too.

Were it not for the fact that i'm now employing someone, these customers would be dropped like a hot potato. As it is i'm just about tolerating the ***** (Sorry Mods)

If anyone else would be interested in this letter then let me know as it would give me an incentive to get it sorted out once and for all.

Regards,
Lance

I found that it helped when I switched from monthly to 6 weekly.  It helped me cram all the work in too.  Even at 6 weekly I get occasional "not today thanks).  Unless it's a job I really want (rare), that's the end of the service.  Sometimes there are genuine reasons though so it's good to be a bit flexible.  e.g.  windows being painted, building work going on etc.  One guy said "not today" just because his wife wasn't in.  Seemed a bit odd but I really don't need a £6.50 underpriced job on its own so that was the last he saw of me.
I do have a several 12 weekly jobs but they are larger ones.  I wouldn't do it for the bog standard semi.

[pylofm]

Being a new window cleaner I have written out a page of my terms and conditions which each new customer receives....on that sheet it clearly states amongst other things that if I attend to clean their property and they tell me 'not today' for no good reason....50% of the normal clean price.

Not had anyone take up the offer yet

Cheers
Dave.

[Jon T.C.]

Just a thought from me after several cans of Strongbow. (Not getting paid for advertising, promise).

I think it would be best to nip this in the bud before it even starts. By this i mean explain to your customers when quoting that you will not accept being confronted on the doorstep, or hollered at down the road, NOT THIS TIME MATE, IS THAT OK. To which i normally reply, 'Yeah no problem'. Only because i can't be arsed to explain the fact that i sometimes give up my weekends to clean customers windows on time. And the fact that i try and schedule a certain amount of work into certain weeks, so thanks for putting my takings down when i could have cleaned someone elses today.

Anyway, onto my solution.

I was thinking of drafting up a letter, explaining to customers that due to the number of people taking advantage of my kind nature. I have no alternative other than to stop cleaning unreliable customers who don't appreciate the length i go to to get their windows cleaned on time every month/2 months.

Yes can you believe it, i've had bi-monthly customers tell me not this time too.

Were it not for the fact that i'm now employing someone, these customers would be dropped like a hot potato. As it is i'm just about tolerating the ***** (Sorry Mods)

If anyone else would be interested in this letter then let me know as it would give me an incentive to get it sorted out once and for all.

Regards,
Lance

Yes , I would be interested , as bugs the hell out of me. But as you say, sometimes I can't be bothered to explain to them.

Regards Jon

[geefree]

me too cheers

[Helen]

Please, no one take offence, but the phrase "can't be bothered" If you can't then why should the customers

[geefree]

well i meant i would like a letter, just for future reference....

helen your having a go at people lately you 

just kidding i dont want the wrath lol

[Helen]

Hi Gazza,
No I'm not having a go at people, but just sometimes and THIS IS NOT AIMED AT ANYONE ON HERE
people think that they can start up a WC Business and it will just fall into their laps, cos it is all so easy. Most if not all people on here will understand and will have gone through the trials and tribulations of a start up situation and are willing to help and offer advise to "newbies", but at times you have to think for yourself and make decisions by yourself for your own business. We have all been in the situation of "what do i do?",and we have all got through that. It is a very old fashioned way of thinking, but it is right that you do learn from mistakes and move forward. You also have to have the right attitude for having your own business and that attitude should be to make it as successful as you want it to be . No-one else can do that for you. You should never have the attitude of can't be a****** today, although we all wake up in that mode from time to time, you should not take it outdoors with you. This is a good industry to be in otherwise we wouldn't be in it, but all in all it is probably one of the most hardest industries to be successful in

[geefree]

yes i agree with most of that, but this forum is what its all about is it not?

for people to ask the most basic questions to learn by other peoples mistakes, and i am making my own share of them,

but hopefully... in the future    when somebody asks a question and i think i can answer.. and help, no matter how trivial or obvious that question is,  then i will help all i can.

Sometimes i will ask the most obvious question , not because i cant think on my feet, ....and sometimes , not because i dont know the answer... i will put it to the forum out of interest.... just to see various responses and ideas.....

And that is knowledgeable to me, because i like to pick brains....

And lets not forget we are on a window cleaners forum,

A fantastic scource of help and information,...

My questions come in abundance for that very reason,

but you seem to think that any question that you have the answer to... that everyone else should too, including the person who asked it.

I dont want to go any further with this,   :Dbecause its not helpful nor informative to anyone at all. :

but the help and guidance on here is helping people make a success of their own new ventures into business,

some will succeed some will fail,... but from what i have seen on here,  is that most people are simply,

only too happy to share their knowledge and help .


Cheers

Gary.

[geefree]

oh and i dont have a cant be arsed attitude.... i said i wanted a letter for future ref....

i work all hours to get my business running,
so to say i have a  "cant be arsed attitude is quite insulting, as you have no idea whatsoever how i work, and i do work hard... or i would have stayed in my cushy sales job... earning a decent wage...(commission only, so cant afford an attitude when you have targets to meet.).... so helen, help people instead of presuming no one else but yourself can run a business.

 :

[Helen]

Gazza, you have misunderstood me and I will make it clear that it was not you that said "i cannot be a****. We have helped and advised many newbies as have many other people. The point that should have come across and I apologise if it wasn't clear that sometimes you (general you not personal) just have to get on with it, rather than debate or think too deeply, otherwise you might just do nothing instead of something. I never said that only we can run A business. i said that only YOU can run YOUR OWN business, no-one else can run it for you, nor should you let them. Before we had this business we would never have expected to be where we are now,and we never ever take it for granted, but we have not done that by wondering if this would work (or not ) we have got out there and tried things. If it worked then great, if not we ditched that particular idea and tried something else.  Somethings work for some people, and not for others, and it is no use "wondering" if it will work for you, you have to try it if that is the way you want to go. You have worked in commission only based sales before, so your income now is gained in a similar way. when doing those sales, I don't suppose you got every sale, but you still tried that individual, and that is exactly what I am saying now. If you don't try something then you will never know. We converted from trad to wfp, and you are now thinking of taking on new custom with wfp (i think i'm right in saying that?), why not devise a letter for those new customers based on you being the customer and needing to know.  I will fish out our letter when we converted, if we still have it and will e-mail you a copy if you like. The thing is it may not work for you as this was for our already established customer base

[AuRavelling79]

My twopenn'orth

Pre-handle the situation by explaining to a prospective customer that you only take on regular customers.

If despite this they "try it on" ask if there is a particular reason why they don't want you this month. (Valid reasons may be that they're having new windows tomorrow or that the roofers are putting up scaffolding that afternoon or their husband has just died, is still warm and the undertaker is on his way! )

If there is no valid reason, quickly ask yourself whether you still want this customer and if so explain that you only do regular cleans. If they baulk at this you may wish to ditch them. But make a rational economic decision.

If you're glad to be shot, but you were only calling out of loyalty (house on it's own, underpriced, don't like 'em etc.) just say I'm afraid I don't work on those terms so what would you like me to do? (Their pride will usually make them bristle at this and they will ditch themselves). Result.

[shammy davis jnr]

alas alas our labour is lost     they will allways be a not today thankyou  cant see any way round these kind off guys but what i have noticed if you let them off with it once  they are more likley to do it again i think shooting them and filling there house with good guys is the answer 
and if the good guys start it ,well it must   be something  in there water tank in which case the house should be blowin up  and replaced with a becham palace type  thing 
with a blond that says yes please esp today
sorry guys just on my 10th can lol
  we can all dream cant we 
till i seen the weather for the week ahead   
one of these days it will be plain sailin 

[WavieDavie]

alas alas our labour is lost     they will allways be a not today thankyou  cant see any way round these kind off guys but what i have noticed if you let them off with it once  they are more likley to do it again i think shooting them and filling there house with good guys is the answer 
and if the good guys start it ,well it must   be something  in there water tank in which case the house should be blowin up  and replaced with a becham palace type  thing 
with a blond that says yes please esp today
sorry guys just on my 10th can lol
  we can all dream cant we 
till i seen the weather for the week ahead   
one of these days it will be plain sailin 

Shammy, are you related to anyone called Mark, by any chance?

[shammy davis jnr]

SURE HAVE WAVY DAVIE DO U KNOW HIM IF YOU SEE HIM TELL HIM HE IS DUE ME A PENNY OUR TWO HE IS A SHADY CHARACTER HE WOULD TAKE YOUR HAND OFF BEFORE HE WOULD GIVE YOU THE PENNY .....A BIT LIKE SOME OFF THESE NON PAYERS LOL  NO HES OK HES A SOUND BROTHER REALLY  WOULD GIVE ME THE WORLD IF HE HAD IT HES ONLY   21     AND  HAS A LOT TO LEARN

[shammy davis jnr]

every one on here has a good attitude and i think works very  hard  a prob halved is a prob a shared is my opinion there are no wrongs our rights
if we all had the answer we would sit on a cloud not a forum   

[pjulk]

Not this time.

I have not had that for over a year.
And when i did they were dumped.

I have had a few ring me up saying can i miss a month as they were have new windows or whatever.
That i don't mind.

But me if they just say not this month and there is no valid reason there gone.

I don't mess about with people i pick up work all the time so can afford to pick and choose my work.

If they don't fit in to how i want it i don't do them.

Paul