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simbo

  • Posts: 609
they are like locusts
« on: June 10, 2009, 04:41:48 pm »
I am sure its the same everywhere at the mo but every man and his dog is having a go at shining. I know the current money climate has made a big difference and also the fact that now wfp makes it so easy which i think is a bad thing for all of us. Now i have not lost any customers to anyone but used to get the odd call all the time without advertising but now nothing as there are so many about so it is effecting me even though i am not really looking for more now. What worries me is the customer has more choice now which puts them in a much stronger position on price as the old "I can't get a window cleaner" days are going to be over soon at this rate.
Mind you a large % will pack in as they insist on starting out with a mate, can't work that one out.
bit disheartened with window cleaning lately,
weather not helping either
paul
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herbiefatboy

  • Posts: 361
Re: they are like locusts
« Reply #1 on: June 10, 2009, 04:47:45 pm »
paul that is why i am a bit nervous to put my prices up this year. but i do think a lot of people think window cleaning is easier than it is.
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Scrimble

  • Posts: 2038
Re: they are like locusts
« Reply #2 on: June 10, 2009, 05:22:24 pm »
every other car around here seems to have a set of diy ladders and a set of pointers on the roof from people carriers, micras, old mondeos to beaten up old escort estates.

had a laugh yesterday seen a guy on a bicycle with a bucket on one side of the handlebars and a ladder on the other with a scrim hanging out of his back pocket!
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LWC

  • Posts: 6824
Re: they are like locusts
« Reply #3 on: June 10, 2009, 05:25:15 pm »
Quote from: ST1Allstar on June 10, 2009, 05:22:24 pm

had a laugh yesterday seen a guy on a bicycle with a bucket on one side of the handlebars and a ladder on the other with a scrim hanging out of his back pocket!

Now thats a proper window cleaner. And safe too.
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martinsadie

Re: they are like locusts
« Reply #4 on: June 10, 2009, 06:32:34 pm »
we dont have the problem with new starters round here,perhaps it the benift of the patch system  ;D ;D
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JSMC

  • Posts: 3511
Re: they are like locusts
« Reply #5 on: June 10, 2009, 06:43:18 pm »
god you would think people on here were the only ones with the right to clean windows ff's. also a lot of snobbery regarding people who start up and work from ladders etc or dont have the latest kit.

wind yer neck in ff's and grow up
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martinsadie

Re: they are like locusts
« Reply #6 on: June 10, 2009, 06:47:30 pm »
Quote from: JSMC on June 10, 2009, 06:43:18 pm
god you would think people on here were the only ones with the right to clean windows ff's. also a lot of snobbery regarding people who start up and work from ladders etc or dont have the latest kit.

wind yer neck in ff's and grow up
well put  ;D ;D
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Ian Lancaster

  • Posts: 2811
Re: they are like locusts
« Reply #7 on: June 10, 2009, 06:52:48 pm »
If I had a pound for.........

............every attempted new start I've seen over the past 40 years..........

...........I'd probably have about £100 now ;D
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herbiefatboy

  • Posts: 361
Re: they are like locusts
« Reply #8 on: June 10, 2009, 06:53:18 pm »
JSMC and STAN THE MAN i never said i was the only person allowed to clean windows and i am not a snob.i just mentioned about putting my prices up.
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cybersye

Re: they are like locusts
« Reply #9 on: June 10, 2009, 07:01:14 pm »
funny how you never see anyone complaining when new wfp suppliers crop up all over the place bringing cheaper poles resin accesories etc. to the masses. Not to mention the harris pole !  ;D
A casual observer to this site would regard us all as skinflints wanting to know "the cheapest place to buy such n such",
then brag about "not getting out of bed for less than x £s " lol.
It does'nt matter how you dress it up, we are WINDOW CLEANERS, if you think your anything special or more than that you are deluded. We are in a service industry in a recession and in a buyers market, just like so many others.
Who the hell is anyone on here to knock someone elses efforts to put food on the table for their family ?
If you wanted a more exclusive profession then you should have paid more attention in school and become a doctor.
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Craig 72

  • Posts: 526
Re: they are like locusts
« Reply #10 on: June 10, 2009, 07:06:48 pm »
At the end of the day everybody needs to earn a crust.The reason I started doing this about 6 months ago was that it is relatively easy to learn and you can get a cash flow immediately for minimal outlay.I would say that it is a damn sight harder than I imagined before I began,in terms of actual work and gaining good customers.Even in the area I work I've seen two or three start up in the last couple of months but so long as everybody plays the game,I can't believe there isn't enough work to go round.I would suspect a lot of people won't persevere at wcing for long,especially if the economy picks up and jobs become easier to come by.
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m b shaw

  • Posts: 101
Re: they are like locusts
« Reply #11 on: June 10, 2009, 07:15:05 pm »
i have nt got a problem with anyone trying to earn money to provide for their family,it s the ones who do it while receiving benefits that does my head in.not only does it drive the price down it convinces people that we are ALL doing it.i ve been trying donkeys years to make my clients aware that we are a legit firm and then some crettin comes along does a few windows and goes straight to the pub,i bet you ll soon be joining him one person said to me,i won t bore you with what i replied.  cheers mick
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sparklebright

Re: they are like locusts
« Reply #12 on: June 10, 2009, 08:27:30 pm »
I was a newbie once too, I don't mind them.  :)
The people who annoy me are the ones who do it to suppliment their benefits during the summer.
I live in a seaside town, and every year, and I mean every year you get the hedgehogs come out and clean windows.
They are called hedgehogs because they hibernate when it gets cold. And by the sea the wind blows VERY cold in winter.

I have found the best thing to do is just do my work. I have uniform and a sign written van and I accept cheques and have a professional attitude.
My customers know I do this for a living and I won't be nicking their lawnmower!

And come the winter it's just me and the old boys all over again.  ;D
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