[Purecleanplus]

I feel like I'm fighting a one sided battle at the moment!!
I cleaned windows traditional for 13years and left to try new things. When I decided to pick up my scrims again, my friend helped me get set up wfp, and what a huge improvement. However the area I work in has many window cleaners all trad except for one other wfp. Unfortunately for me, although he's a nice enough guy and a hard worker, I get loads of complaints every week about the job he does.
He has alot of work, due the fact that the other trad guys are stretched to the limit and he and his guy are able to take on so much more work.
I'm having the problem that most of my work I took over from a trad guy, and so wfp is new to these customers. It's a large but rural community and boy do they love to gossip, leading to the assumption that all wfp are the same. I keep having converstations along the lines of,
"I'm not sure about this system, I think I'll ask one of the normal w/c guys"
"I'm sorry to hear that, are you unhappy with the job I've done?"
"It's just that my friend says you do her windows and she's not very happy. The windows were spotted and streaky after they dried. So I think I'll ask the other man."
Once we establish that I don't clean these other windows, the other wfp's reputation still seems to count too much. It's daft, because I should be judged on my work not someone elses.
Of course I ask for their patience and that they base their decision on the job I do, but a couple of the other non wfp guys are using the situation to put the knife in. I've lost about 7 custies so far, none for doing a bad job, just because they are worried about the change!!
I know I've just got to stick it out and maximise the work I do have, just wondered if anyone else has been through similar.

[Rob_Mac]

We converted over 500 customers in exactly the same situation as you about 3 - 31/2 years ago. Had all the same problems, just tell them if they aren't happy when they are dry you don't want their money.

Rob

[d s windowcleaning]

i agree with midas.The hard bit was to convert customers from trad to wfp i managed without loseing any . all i said was if you wasnt happy after 3 cleans i would go back trad . they all gave me a chance to do my work that was over 2 years ago . gained alot more work since being wfp and kept all my custom .

[BUFTON]

Yes, people do hate change, but if you show them you are  confident in the system, eventually they will trust you. I did the same as you on my old customers and told them to give it 2 or 3 cleans before they decide. i also explained that even with the traditional squeegy method there are cleaners who still do a rubbish job. For new customers i explain the system then tell them to phone me within 24 hrs if there is a problem on the first clean, and i will come back straight away and do the offending window/s again totally free, because thats how confident i am in both the system and my standard of work. This seems to help settle their minds.Keep your chin up mate, you will succeed!  

[NWH]

You must stick at it cos it`s so worth it in the end,i know what you mean by being surrounded by trad WC`s slagging it off, my customers love it now and i gain work daily if i want it.All those trad guys slagging it off where ever they go tut tut,when they finally realise how good it is what are they going to say to there custies when they get one.You`ll never earn the same climbing ladders allday,never.

[Purecleanplus]

Cheers guys.
Certainly not bad mouthing trad guys,I took loads of convincing before trying wfp over trad and there are a few around me been at it years too. We meet up, talk shop etc, etc. No hassles.
Lost another today though, this time because 'I'm too fast and his friend didn't think wfp could work!!'. All these are on work I bought from the widow of a trad guy who died before christmas. I charge same prices for now, so he resented paying me more per hour because I was quicker.
Really didn't mind though as 2 of his neighbours had been looking for a w/c and each took me on at full price. Both v happy with the job on their windows and frames. Just want more of this weather and better, cause I love seeing the windows shine!!

[alanwilson]

it can be hard changing over but try presenting facts to customers - like on average 13wc'ers dying from ladder falls each year.

I know a guy who told several custies that should he fall from a ladder he can sue them and their house insurance would be void for letting him use ladders which are now illegal to use!!  Its all lies obviously but this guy is neither paying tax, insurance nor is he licensed but I thought it was so outrageously ballsy!!