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Davew

Re: Customers attitudes
« Reply #20 on: October 18, 2007, 07:58:20 pm »
....... and another - conservatory roof today, new customer. " how much for the house?" ten pounds for this one. " ok i'll phone you then every time i want them done"(but not today either). >:( >:(

xxmattyxx

Re: Customers attitudes
« Reply #21 on: October 18, 2007, 08:17:54 pm »
I picked up a new one today, £3  ;D  ;D not bad for someone whos been in the game for 10 years  :D

Wayne Thomas

Re: Customers attitudes
« Reply #22 on: October 18, 2007, 10:40:40 pm »
I dropped a customer last year because they were messing me about on the third occurence.
Yesterday they asked me to re-start cleaning their windows again to which I replied, "no thank-you,  only clean for regular loyal customers". The expression on their face was worth the long wait. :)

Customers attitudes don't bother me so long as I'm paid and I'm not messed around when it comes to regular cleans.

mark dew

  • Posts: 2901
Re: Customers attitudes
« Reply #23 on: October 19, 2007, 01:14:47 am »
i lost a £40 job 'cos i told the customer she was rude for keeping me waiting 1/2 hour while she went out to survey her empire as i was just finishing.
Sometimes you just gotta say something. For better or for worse.

AuRavelling79

  • Posts: 25389
Re: Customers attitudes
« Reply #24 on: October 19, 2007, 12:42:08 pm »
Just home for lunch after this episode this morning!

Semi at the end of a cul-de-sac where custy has commandeered the turning space with 4x4 and end of his drive with an Escort. He's fiddling around by his garage door and I say "Hiya - just come to do the windows ok if I pull in here?"

He says "No, I'm going out" and he starts getting his other (3rd) car out the garage.

I take my pole to the house in anticipation and wait. And wait. I go to the van and write out a bit of paperwork ... and wait.

He drives out - I start up - then he reverses into the space and goes in the house.

I walk slowly up the path get my pole and walk back to the van .. and wait a bit more.

Finally I drove off and as I did so he comes out waving his arms.

Tough. Dropped - inconsiderate person.

(BTW - two months ago his wife asked me to miss them out this time "as they don't need doing" - should've dropped them then!)
It's a game of three halves!

Londoner

Re: Customers attitudes
« Reply #25 on: October 19, 2007, 01:29:53 pm »
I have had a customer leave me on the doorstep waiting to be paid while she chatted for ages on the phone to one of her friends. The door was open and I could her every word. It wasn't important or anything it was just chat.
When I rang the bell for the third time she said to her friend Oh don't worry, its only the window cleaner.
I don't do her anymore but it wasn't because of this incident.

xxmattyxx

Re: Customers attitudes
« Reply #26 on: October 19, 2007, 02:41:39 pm »
I used to do a customers windows, she mostly had a rather indifferent attitude. One day I was doing her place and was on the garage roof cleaning the one above that; she came out the house with her son and started to get into the car to leave; so I called down to her in the hope of her paying before leaving. She huffed and gruffed and went back into the house to get some money, when she came out she called up  to me 'Well, come on then hurry up I havent got all day you know' her son said' Mum, you cant speak to him like that!'.

Anyway, about a year after that I had done her windows when she wasnt in, so I went back to collect. No answer.

Went back the next day at the same time, 9.30 am. No answer but she wasnt the working sort, middle-aged, mostly in, bit quiet type; you get to know your custys after a while, it seemed strange no answer 2 days on the trot. So I looked upstairs and saw the curtain twitch, knocked again, no answer.

Went back the next day, no answer, this time saw her peeping out from behind the curtains.

Next day............no answer, but this time I rang her at the same time. She answered and I said 'Why arent you answering the door to me, its your window cleaner, youve been trying to avoid me the last 3 times I called.

She came down, paid me and I binned her. Told her why, she told her neighbour she'd binned me though, but her neighbour knows what sort of job I do and also what his neighbour is like (well he would wouldnt he, living next door to a looney !!  ;D )

Tosh

Re: Customers attitudes
« Reply #27 on: October 19, 2007, 04:42:45 pm »
(BTW - two months ago his wife asked me to miss them out this time "as they don't need doing" - should've dropped them then!)

Malc,

To me, unless there's a good reason (building work and can't get access is about the only reasonable excuse; just about (though I have had other real ones)), I drop the 'not this time' types straight away, after explaining my terms and conditions (again) and giving them a chance to reconsider.

It's just so RUDDY rude! 

I used to have something on my 'chits' along the lines of 'We've had to let three customers go recently because they said 'not this time' when we turned up to clean their windows.  May I politely remind you that we clean once per calandar month; unless you have arranged other terms and conditions with us.  Thank you.'

Quite a few of my customers joked with me, saying 'not this time' when we turned up; then smiled when they saw me frown; but they all got the message.

Also at the quoting stage I'm quite firm with my terms and conditions and I honestly can't remember the last time I had a 'not this time, mate' said to me.


supernova77

  • Posts: 3547
Re: Customers attitudes
« Reply #28 on: October 19, 2007, 06:26:10 pm »
I had a customer (£25 every 8 weeks)... Everytime I went to clean the windows the woman (who was always in) phoned her husband at work to check that he wanted them doing!

Anyway about a month ago I went there... She phones her husband, he says not this time they don't really need doing but please please come back the week before Christmas as we have people coming to stay!

I didn't really say anything and just went back to the van and drove off... That evening they got deleted from my George database.

I'm looking forward to their phone call the week before Chriismas wondering where I am  ;)

Andy

supernova77

  • Posts: 3547
Re: Customers attitudes
« Reply #29 on: October 19, 2007, 06:31:28 pm »
I also used to have another customer (£40 every 8 weeks)... This is what happened:

I turn up... Unpack my freedom trolley and pole etc... Start cleaning some upstairs windows and then realise that about another 5 upstairs windows are open, so I go and ask if she could close them for me.

She refused to go and close the windows and told me to get my ladder out and do them off the ladder so that I didn't get any water inside!!!

She then started spouting off saying that I was scared of going up ladders and that I had been conned into buying a WFP system and no other window cleaners use them.

I didn't say a word... I just walked off, packed my stuff up and drove off... Leaving lots of downstairs windows wet from the top ones I had already cleaned.

Some people!     I'm glad that most the customers on my round now-a-days are ok.

Andy

FUN

  • Posts: 13
Re: Customers attitudes
« Reply #30 on: October 25, 2007, 11:47:42 pm »
If a customer is difficult, I either drop them or do a very quick job on their windows each time I go after that. I get paid the same for less work. Their loss! If I turn up to do a job and for no good reason they say leave it I charge them £3 if it's a small house or £5 for a larger one. They don't like it but why should I lose out?

G O A

  • Posts: 152
Re: Customers attitudes
« Reply #31 on: October 26, 2007, 12:02:34 am »
hmmph i had one bloke windows were a disgrace cleaned them saw his missus she was over the moon next month cleaned them and he refused to pay said they were worse than when i started,when i asked where he said they were the ones round the back,this is the only complaint ive had in six months and as this day was the day i discovered about using scrim and his was the first house with a fresh scrim belive theres no way the windows could be a mess
if i wasnt self employed i wouldnt work at all

rugby

  • Posts: 360
Re: Customers attitudes
« Reply #32 on: October 26, 2007, 01:16:30 am »
hmmph i had one bloke windows were a disgrace cleaned them saw his missus she was over the moon next month cleaned them and he refused to pay said they were worse than when i started,when i asked where he said they were the ones round the back,this is the only complaint ive had in six months and as this day was the day i discovered about using scrim and his was the first house with a fresh scrim belive theres no way the windows could be a mess

did you boil the scrim before useing it for the first time ? a brand new scrim can sometimes leave bits of cloth on a window,best to boil it first and maybe break new scrim in by useing them for wipeing sills etc for a while first.


FUN

  • Posts: 13
Re: Customers attitudes
« Reply #33 on: October 26, 2007, 02:48:07 am »
I turned up at one womans house and she rudely said "You always come when its about to rain"

So I said "What do you want me to do? Come when its raining and about to be dry"

She shut up then

Paul Coleman

Re: Customers attitudes
« Reply #34 on: October 26, 2007, 05:46:34 am »
I turned up at one womans house and she rudely said "You always come when its about to rain"

So I said "What do you want me to do? Come when its raining and about to be dry"

She shut up then

The way I would like to reply to that is "Yes.  Pending rain always makes me feel a bit fruity."  Of course I don't say it but sometimes it's very tempting.

Re: Customers attitudes
« Reply #35 on: October 26, 2007, 07:28:57 am »
I had a customer (£25 every 8 weeks)... Everytime I went to clean the windows the woman (who was always in) phoned her husband at work to check that he wanted them doing!

Anyway about a month ago I went there... She phones her husband, he says not this time they don't really need doing but please please come back the week before Christmas as we have people coming to stay!

I didn't really say anything and just went back to the van and drove off... That evening they got deleted from my George database.

I'm looking forward to their phone call the week before Chriismas wondering where I am  ;)

Andy
dpnt blame you when they call I would charge them for a one-off clean and a bit on top as christmas week aprt from last year is the best week to work IMO