[Paul Coleman]

I did a job yesterday.  It's one of my minimum charge 10 pounders.  I do three in a row so can get through them quite quickly.  I went to collect the money from one of them (a serial moaner for the past couple of years) and she complained that I earn too much money.  I put it to her that the alternatives were for me to reduce my price or for me to work slower - neither of which I was prepared to do.  I did try to point out that I had paid a lot of money for the equipment that allows me to work at such speeds and that this needs to be factored into my hourly rates but she couldn't see it.  It just seems funny to me that the rate I charged her 3 years ago when working off a ladder is suddenly too much in spite of my costs riding sharply.  I did tell her that if I invested in all the equipment and still took the same time as I used to on a ladder, that would mean either a sharp price increase or me earning too littlke from the job and not being able to continue.  Some of them only see the time I was there and the price they have paid without knowing what goes on behind the scenes.
I suspect that what she should have said was that her budget is now tighter and she can no longer afford a window cleaner but she chose to project her financial problem onto me "earning too much".  I didn't actually get sacked strictly speaking but I told her that I wasn't prepared to work to her rules so I wouldn't be cleaning there any more.  I don't like stuff like that but sometimes it's necessary to make a stand.
I suppose that this is why my round is pretty much hassle-free.  I only keep problem jobs or problem customers until I can affored to let them go.  There is a risk that I will lose the others if they come out in sympathy but I'm prepared to take that risk.

[Tim Rose]

Couldn't agree more.  I've posted in this vein before now.

[tonylee]

sorry to hear that but well done to you for letting her go.
three years at the same price is damm good value regardless of the quicker time
tony

[Dean Aspects]

Our trade is seen as being of low value hence low pay
Window cleaning has moved up a few steps in the past few years and is now a great opportunity to earn good money if people still see us as we were a few years ago and want to look down their noses i say let them and move on to a customer that values us for the service we provide and charge a relevent value
I am low at the minute so any problem customer over the next while is going to be replaced with a job that reflects my new value no more underpriced jobs for me hassle free work all the way

Dean

[HIGH LEVEL WINDOW CLEANERS (scrimmy)]

i recently bought over a round that was done trad.....i laddered it twice myself and then converted it this month to wfp in line with most of my work......i knew i would have the usual hassles....6 people right away came out and moaned in the middle of the street while i was getting my stuff ready...no matter wot i said they moaned and the abuse was like the nurses and doctors get in A & E ..so i told them i am not doing your windows anymore....i aint takin abuse from the general public and if i was working in a hospital and you were a patient the police would come and arrest you...so for your sake and your liberty i am taking you off my client list.......if you decide next month you would like your windows cleaned with the pole system then feel free to phone me and we will reinstate our services to you.

2 hours later......while doing other houses in the same street, the spokesman for the 6 came and said sorry...can you fit us in today?........gladly dear.......will be round after this street.....all pleasantries after that.

so just bite the bullet and tell them you dont need to listen to rubbish for the sake of a few quid....and you may be suprised.

[DASERVICES]

Glad to hear that scrim, they obviously saw you were a decent chap 

Am working with Councils over the course of the year promoting wfp etc.. so hopefully will make our lives better.

When I first started window cleaning I got the impression that I was looked down on. Now gradly over the years my customers value my service, communication works wonders in winning your customers over.

But I still get the odd customer that will lock their doors when they see me 

[simon knight]

Clean Mrs Averages house...take 1/2 hr and charge her £15.

Her brain does the sums: 40hr week @ £30ph..."My God he's on £1200 a week"

I'm certain this is the way their minds work :

...if only it was true!!

[Paul Coleman]

Clean Mrs Averages house...take 1/2 hr and charge her £15.

Her brain does the sums: 40hr week @ £30ph..."My God he's on £1200 a week"

I'm certain this is the way their minds work :

...if only it was true!!

£1200 a week?  Maybe a day but not a week   

[Wayne Thomas]

I had a chap ask me how much is the house I was working on.  I told him the price. He said, "ok, I'll ask the wife and give you a phonecall", (fine, I thought, but i haven't looked at your house, so you're probably in for a shock, because I will price it before I give you an exact price which you'll have to agree to, otherwise, forget it, I'm not working for peanuts). Then he had the nerve to ask if I'd throw the conservatory in for free once every 6 months. I told him, "not likely, I'll price it up later" (then I'll double it for 6mths). Some people

[Wayne Thomas]

I worked really hard today. I finally got some money owed from a customer after 18months. Normally I would let it lie as it's too much hassle, but this chap really wound me up so I purposely went out of my way perservering in upsetting his Sunday morning lie ins just to wind him up. Failure cannot live with persistency. Feels good perserverance.

[johnny_h]

wayne factor in the price of the con clean into his usual cleaning price then do it "free"