[robbo333]

From the customers' point of view, I think they want an honest, friendly, reliable window cleaner who does a good job for a fair price. I don't really think they care about qualifications.
However, if a window cleaner wants to better himself by getting qualifications, I think it is a real shame that people knock him! Also, by going on these certificated courses, he may learn some tips that make him, quicker, more effective, better quality, just a little something that means he can add a bit more profit to the working day. Fair play to them.

[Window Washers]

From the customers' point of view, I think they want an honest, friendly, reliable window cleaner who does a good job for a fair price. I don't really think they care about qualifications.
However, if a window cleaner wants to better himself by getting qualifications, I think it is a real shame that people knock him! Also, by going on these certificated courses, he may learn some tips that make him, quicker, more effective, better quality, just a little something that means he can add a bit more profit to the working day. Fair play to them.

i think this a very good post indeed.

I like to standout from the crowd from a marketing angle I also like learning new things that was two good enough reasons for me tondo this a couple of years back.

Just to reply to my avid fan I certainly will not kick my cat as i dont have one

because some cant see it as a benefit makes no odds to me, though it is a shame. Things are changing.

if i said to you all 30 years ago that in time you will be cleaning windows with a carbon stick and an adapted floor brush with only water and you would leave the windiws wet you would have laughed me out the boozer, my point is times change some accept it some fight it but it changes regardless. Look at the Internet everyone said it wouldn't catch on lol.

Just to reply about the mates laughing.
 My mates USED to laugh at me for being a window cleaner, they don't laugh anymore,  they also know I have an nvq in it but they don't laugh at that either. did them laughing at me when i said is was going to become a window cleaner stop me doing it (Nope) they now get what I'm doing, to me the ones that laugh don't understand it or are missing the point totally IMO (I say IMO as that's my thoughts right or wrong) I know we are all different and have differnent views I respect.

I will carry on doing what I'm doing in my business using the nvq as a benefit, as will you guys do what you do. from the nvq and training side helping people is what I enjoy doing so is right up my street and will carry on regardless of the haters.

It is good that this is being discussed, I enjoy reading everyone's replies good or bad all feedback is useful

Now that's out of my head I better get back to work

[windiewasher]

From the customers' point of view, I think they want an honest, friendly, reliable window cleaner who does a good job for a fair price. I don't really think they care about qualifications.
However, if a window cleaner wants to better himself by getting qualifications, I think it is a real shame that people knock him! Also, by going on these certificated courses, he may learn some tips that make him, quicker, more effective, better quality, just a little something that means he can add a bit more profit to the working day. Fair play to them.

i think this a very good post indeed.

I like to standout from the crowd from a marketing angle I also like learning new things that was two good enough reasons for me tondo this a couple of years back.

Just to reply to my avid fan I certainly will not kick my cat as i dont have one

because some cant see it as a benefit makes no odds to me, though it is a shame. Things are changing.

if i said to you all 30 years ago that in time you will be cleaning windows with a carbon stick and an adapted floor brush with only water and you would leave the windiws wet you would have laughed me out the boozer, my point is times change some accept it some fight it but it changes regardless. Look at the Internet everyone said it wouldn't catch on lol.

Just to reply about the mates laughing.
 My mates USED to laugh at me for being a window cleaner, they don't laugh anymore,  they also know I have an nvq in it but they don't laugh at that either. did them laughing at me when i said is was going to become a window clear stop me doing it (Nope) they now get what I'm doing, to me the ones that laugh don't understand it or are missing the point totally IMO (I say IMO as that's my thoughts right it wrong) I know we are all different and have differnent views I respect.

I will carry on doing what I'm doing in my business using the nvq as a benefit, as will you guys do what you do. from the nvq and training side helping people is what I enjoy doing so is right up my street and will carry on regardless of the haters.

It is good that this is being discussed, I enjoy reading everyone's replies good or bad all feedback is useful

Now that's out of my head I better get back to work

Fair play to you fella and im not a hater.

[Window Washers]

From the customers' point of view, I think they want an honest, friendly, reliable window cleaner who does a good job for a fair price. I don't really think they care about qualifications.
However, if a window cleaner wants to better himself by getting qualifications, I think it is a real shame that people knock him! Also, by going on these certificated courses, he may learn some tips that make him, quicker, more effective, better quality, just a little something that means he can add a bit more profit to the working day. Fair play to them.

i think this a very good post indeed.

I like to standout from the crowd from a marketing angle I also like learning new things that was two good enough reasons for me tondo this a couple of years back.

Just to reply to my avid fan I certainly will not kick my cat as i dont have one

because some cant see it as a benefit makes no odds to me, though it is a shame. Things are changing.

if i said to you all 30 years ago that in time you will be cleaning windows with a carbon stick and an adapted floor brush with only water and you would leave the windiws wet you would have laughed me out the boozer, my point is times change some accept it some fight it but it changes regardless. Look at the Internet everyone said it wouldn't catch on lol.

Just to reply about the mates laughing.
 My mates USED to laugh at me for being a window cleaner, they don't laugh anymore,  they also know I have an nvq in it but they don't laugh at that either. did them laughing at me when i said is was going to become a window clear stop me doing it (Nope) they now get what I'm doing, to me the ones that laugh don't understand it or are missing the point totally IMO (I say IMO as that's my thoughts right or wrong) I know we are all different and have differnent views I respect.

I will carry on doing what I'm doing in my business using the nvq as a benefit, as will you guys do what you do. from the nvq and training side helping people is what I enjoy doing so is right up my street and will carry on regardless of the haters.

It is good that this is being discussed, I enjoy reading everyone's replies good or bad all feedback is useful

Now that's out of my head I better get back to work

Fair play to you fella and im not a hater.

Thank you and good to hear

[rosskesava]

Maybe write off to your local MP to have GCSE exams in window cleaning whilst kids are still at school? Come to that, why not have degree courses at universities?

Afterall, if someone I know has a degree in in small arms weapons of world war II why not have one for something like window cleaning?

[andrew hamshare]

You are making the argument 'for' risked a. You just can't see it, no offence but IMHO, you are in denial.

I've got bucket loads of quake from my social worker days. Not a single one has never been put to good use nor benefitted me directly. And they still help me in my work and benefit my customers to this day

For an example, I can counsell the bereaved, i have used that 'skill' very recently.

Any qualification makes us who we are; a sum of our parts.

[Window Washers]

Maybe write off to your local MP to have GCSE exams in window cleaning whilst kids are still at school? Come to that, why not have degree courses at universities?

Afterall, if someone I know has a degree in in small arms weapons of world war II why not have one for something like window cleaning?

im not getting into what I think about the gcse's and what schools teach as I don't agree with half of it but not doing some of the courses i regret, but that's another topic, uni degree  is a good idea always wanted some letters after my name if not before

[Dave Willis]

I can see it now Ian Wikes B.E.R.K.    


Britains educational and risk assessment king.

[H2GoKent]

From the customers' point of view, I think they want an honest, friendly, reliable window cleaner who does a good job for a fair price. I don't really think they care about qualifications.
However, if a window cleaner wants to better himself by getting qualifications, I think it is a real shame that people knock him! Also, by going on these certificated courses, he may learn some tips that make him, quicker, more effective, better quality, just a little something that means he can add a bit more profit to the working day. Fair play to them.

Best post of the thread.

Customers don't care much, but it could be good for US if we  go on courses.

What the customer cares about isn't the onlt thing to consider, for example the custy doesn't care if you buy a lighter brush, but you might benefit.

[Window Washers]

I can see it now Ian Wikes B.E.R.K.    


Britains educational and risk assessment king.

hahahahaha love it!

[Washing Windows]

........in whether you have certificates, been on courses, got insurance etc.

Been wanting to reply to this all week and not had time until this afternoon...

I would have to say that the majority of the time my customers have absolutely no interest what-so-ever,  I've even had a few laugh out loud and thought I was joking about the qualifications.

3 things price reliable honest

I agree but would put honest, reliable and then price
Art

Completely agree but would add the customer would want some confidence that you will do a decent job.

Whilst a customer might laugh at me for having any of the above, they do all help me demonstrate that I am honest, capable and reliable.

I don't like that I live in a "where there's blame there's a claim" culture! I don't like what I feel are stupid extremes that the HSE have started to shove down our necks with respect to what is common sense and health and safety. I feel like the government is just covering its arse and when it comes to small businesses it appears to do NOTHING to enforce some of the ridiculous laws they impose. In the summer half my competition is claiming dole and can't even spell HSE! Every time some minister some where says "reduce deaths" some dude in HSE looks at the 'statistics' and says thing like "avoid work at height!!" And then the government and insurance companies say "ahhh, he/she shouldn't have been doing that... it's not our fault / responsibility... we even advised them not to do it".

My customers may not be interest mate but in this day and age, I'd feel vulnerable without them.

On a more positive note, I know my certificates have given me business opportunities I wouldn't otherwise of had. I would go as far as saying 97% of my customers don't care but I know 3% of them do and they generate 7k per annum for me at the moment.  

Duncan