[gary mcd]

I've been trying to build a round for a while now with limited success. I've taken lots of advice from this forum, which in the main is good advice, the thing is though I wonder if some of the advice on here applys to north of the border.

A fair percentage of window cleaners in the area that I'm trying to build a round aren't reliable, and thats not me saying this it's the customers, but they still use them. I think this is partly due to the fact the customer knows that if they change window cleaner it may cause a problem. As the window cleaners in this area are known for not holding back if someone comes into their territory

I often see older window cleaners doing commercial work using a pole and what looks like bar towels, cleaning some well known department stores, and you just know that they've been using this method since the 1950's.

 Some of the posts on here have spoken about how they get on well with other w/c in their area, but if you were to try and be sociable with another w/c in this particular part of Scotland you would soon regret it. The area I'm talking about has 2 famous football clubs one of which is in deep finacial trouble. Don't want to mention it by name,  don't know who's watching

I maybe exaggerating to a degree but there are issues within the window cleaning industry in certain areas of Scotland. Generally there seems to be lack of development where window cleaning is concerned, and it can be highly territorial.

Has anyone had a window cleaning round north and south of the border and if so what are the main differences you found?

Sorry if this seems to be a bit of a rant.

Cheers

[bad trippy]

The mighty Dundee and Dundee Utd?

[Dave Willis]

Manchester I reckon. 

[simonr]

if you mean trouble wise no difference, i worked newton mearns, kilmarnock, saltcoats, kilwinning & dalry & never had a prob with any of the lads i met & i'm english 
price wise my ex in kilwinning has just had her 3 bed put up to £3.50
down here in mighty cumbria  i'd do it for £6
but i did hear the old paul ferris had his fingers in glasgow window cleaning at 1 time probably pub talk though

[Johnny B]

It's my understanding that window cleaners in Scotland have to be licensed.

Perhaps someone in the know can enlighten us all on how this affects those who are joining the game up north, and how such new ones can be protected from the turf war tactics that some cave men still seem to employ to keep their so called patches to themselves.

John 

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

I've been trying to build a round for a while now with limited success. I've taken lots of advice from this forum, which in the main is good advice, the thing is though I wonder if some of the advice on here applys to north of the border.

A fair percentage of window cleaners in the area that I'm trying to build a round aren't reliable, and thats not me saying this it's the customers, but they still use them. I think this is partly due to the fact the customer knows that if they change window cleaner it may cause a problem. As the window cleaners in this area are known for not holding back if someone comes into their territory

I often see older window cleaners doing commercial work using a pole and what looks like bar towels, cleaning some well known department stores, and you just know that they've been using this method since the 1950's.

 Some of the posts on here have spoken about how they get on well with other w/c in their area, but if you were to try and be sociable with another w/c in this particular part of Scotland you would soon regret it. The area I'm talking about has 2 famous football clubs one of which is in deep finacial trouble. Don't want to mention it by name,  don't know who's watching

I maybe exaggerating to a degree but there are issues within the window cleaning industry in certain areas of Scotland. Generally there seems to be lack of development where window cleaning is concerned, and it can be highly territorial.

Has anyone had a window cleaning round north and south of the border and if so what are the main differences you found?

Sorry if this seems to be a bit of a rant.

Cheers

My advice would be to widen your area & get out to them big country homes.

[stuart mc]

thats weegies for you nah only kidding it can be a bit like through here as well, to a lesser degree, there is few w/c that just glare at you and won't talk, never had any bother though

to be fair through here every domestic window cleaner has gotten used to a large firm with 6 vans and a load of lads clean in just about every area anyway.

that lad that cleans my street is a bit territorial as well, reminds me I need to tell him he has just lost two houses on his round

[gary mcd]

You would think that the licenceing would make a difference but in reality all it has done is make the councils some money.

There are still plenty cleaning without a license, and those I know with a license have never been asked to produce it.

Gary

[stuart mc]

You would think that the licenceing would make a difference but in reality all it has done is make the councils some money.

There are still plenty cleaning without a license, and those I know with a license have never been asked to produce it.

Gary

yep same here

[jouk45]

you mean govan team lol

[alanwilson]

Never been asked either, waste of time in my opinion.

Select - Glasgow can be hit and miss, we do work in Glasgow but nearly all gov buildings and commercial so no experience of dealing with other wcs.

We've been shopping wcs without a licence for a long time and not one prosecuted yet.

[gary mcd]

As you say Alan if you've got commercial contracts then you don't need to deal with other w/c. But as I'm domestic it's a different story. I've leafleted areas and before the end of the day I'm getting calls from w/c telling me I've no right being in "their area", and there's me thinking it's a free market.

[richardlingard]

i have had a round in the north east and south east, there is no difference, if you knock on enough doors for long enough you will have a round

[alanwilson]

Select - that's a tricky one. We do some domestic (about 200 houses) but then there's 4 of us.

That could be a reason why we've never had hassle, Wilson junior is shortest at 5'11 whilst big mac is tallest at 6'7

Bottom line is I wouldn't care what anyone says, bar the customer.

Do you do any work round denistoun? Was up there today ( not working ) and there's plenty of apartment work up there.

[stuart mc]

just ignore them select I did when I leafleted domestic, I work on my own and have had no problems apart from the odd evil stare, my work is canvassed often enough and when a customer mention's it I just say, aye there are windows everywhere, they are just trying their best, I think they think I will get upset at the news but I couldn't care less to be honest

[gary mcd]

Mostly over at the southside Alan. Been thinking about trying other areas like renfrewshire & east renfrewshire.

Are you familiar with these areas?

I no what you mean Stuart, just have to try and rise above it. Although it does seem to make the job harder than it needs to be.

Gary

[stuart mc]

tell you one thing I do know about your area, I get emails from service magic trying to sell me leads, I agreed to the emails just not pay them, but I usually get at least one a day and they are 60% from your area, well I am saying that but always a GXX postcode and the other 40% is from EH post codes