[dave f]

iknow a lot of you guys don't collect. and its a p.i.t.a for those who do  but I find it a personal touch get a understanding with your customers  and not just another faceless person wanting money imo  having said that  I have asked quite a few of my customers about d d  standing orders e t c but most like to pay with cash  I have been asked by a few all the young ones to set up something  its not worth for just a few accounts

[Marc Stock]

You just have to think about whats best for you. I think it also depends on where you live. For example a friendly town in the midlands, id imagine that most people would be in, and  woukd be happy for some smalltalk on collection of monies. But down here, no one has the time, no one even has this time to remember to make payment these days, its no mallice its just the way it is. No one even has time for smalltalk, its mostly morning how are you, and yep fine, and you mught get a cupa tea here, but if you stand at the door trying to chat and then expect cash payments, your going to be looked at very strangely down here. Its funny isnt it.

[PHILIP HARDY]

I really dont understand all this collecting nonsence, If you  provide a service then surely it is the customers responsability to pay for it, you dont go down to Asda fill your basket and then tell the checkout girl to pop round after half five for the money.
I have been window cleaning for the last Eight years and you can count on the fingers of one hand how many times I have been out to collect money (and then usually for some old girl who had missed me and was a bit panicked), All my customers either pay on the day, pay via PayPal or Bacs or quite simply save it and pay double next time, I always tell new Custies that I never collect and the onus is on them to pay.
C'mon guys making a 3 mile journey to collect a tenner is senceless it wil take 20 minutes and £2 in fuel and wear and tear, what does that do to your hourly rate??

[duncan h]

Used to collect 3 nights a week when I was a milk man all those decades ago. HATE IT.
Takes up time and fuel. No need nowadays

[Marc Stock]

I do see where dave is coming from though. Even though its true, its simply not needed anymore with bank payments and go cardless etc. But it does take the personal touch away, he does have a point

[nathankaye]

I do agree. Ive enjoyed collecting over the years and it does build a relationship with the customer. This and a great job done has seen competitors just simply dismissed.
However with three young kids at home and a great wife, ild sooner spend my time with these rather than be out for an hour or two in the evenings to hear how they dont have any money in the house.
It does pee me off a little sometimes though, after hearing how they dont have money in house and so give them a couple of electronic means to pay and they still need reminding

[tlwcs]

What beats me is when your asked if they can pay on line and you say yes, here's my bank details.
I'm wondering if the customer hears, great I can pay online at some point after 30 reminder texts when I can be bothered, maybe.
Cash customers who would leave money out on the day, suddenly become S41te given pay online option.
Tony

[dave f]

the tips come in  handy I use it to buy new gear. so its swings and round abouts do you guys who don't collect get tips

[nathankaye]

the tips come in  handy I use it to buy new gear. so its swings and round abouts do you guys who don't collect get tips

Apparently paying online makes you get more in tips.........place a service charge ontop come december 

[dazmond]

my collecting has been drastically reduced over the last few years.now its down to an hour or two 2 or 3 times a month on a monday evening.

I like a mixture of cash,BACS,standing orders and cheques.i also like to have face to face contact with some customers and ask how their doing,sort any problems out,extra add on jobs etc.

i prefer not collecting as much and it suits me fine but i also feel its a bit sad that people seem to be more alienated from each other in general these days.

[Scrimble]

gocardless?

[Stoots]

Never collected right from day one. Why would you do that.

Im not interested in the personal touch either,  no interest in chatting and being social. I like to turn up clean and get paid into the bank.

If you start to get all friendly you end up doing favours and maybe knocking a tenner off there  conny roof quote etc. I'm not in it to make friends I'm in it to make money as efficently as possible.

[Johnny B]

I still collect in person from all of my customers. Most pay on the day or I'll collect on a Friday evening or when I am passing. One or two actually call to my house to pay me.

I love the personal touch. In a small town like mine (and I am a foreigner) I find it good to keep in touch with my customers. It really helps with recommendations to their family and friends because, not only are they happy with my work, but they actually know me.

John

[dazmond]

Never collected right from day one. Why would you do that.

Im not interested in the personal touch either,  no interest in chatting and being social. I like to turn up clean and get paid into the bank.

If you start to get all friendly you end up doing favours and maybe knocking a tenner off there  conny roof quote etc. I'm not in it to make friends I'm in it to make money as efficently as possible.

i like the personal touch with my customers.it also benefits me when yet another window cleaner goes knocking on my customers doors.i very rarely lose any.

some ive known for over 20 years and ive seen their kids grow up and i generally have a good rapport with most of them.a 5 min chat and a laugh goes a long way both for me and the customer and helps the day along.

i will charge less for some customers for add ons etc or just do a freebie  sometimes depending on the customer/circumstance/how im feeling that day.

window cleaning has been good to me and without good customers i have nothing.

[dave f]

well said could not agree more