[STEVE71163]

Hi Andy,
           I don't leave envelopes i just put a card in telling them that their windows have been cleaned and please forward on a check made payable to____________ and i find that this works. When i take on the work i explain how i work and most people accept it no problem.

Steve Lowe

[AMG]

Thanks for that Steve,

It's a great idea, I guess no one wants to go out in the evenings collecting money, especially if it's cold! I will give it a go, if the customers are happy to do that it will make a big difference for me..

Andy

[sam hughes]

I know what you mean andy, but is actually not too bad.
I always knock like u for cash preferbly , but if thier out leave a slip, I ve got a few that sometimes wait for me to come round next month and pay me double, most tho pay/post within a week.
I recommend you try it, even a few to start/test with, but life is so much easier now.

sam

[sam hughes]

too right steve, I dont why it took 6 months for me realise.

sam

[STEVE71163]

Hi Sam,
          I think if you explain how you run your business when you get the job and tell them that it saves them money because if you had to come out collecting the job would be dearer most are happy with that and it saves loads of work.

Steve Lowe

[sam hughes]

good point steve, I remember a while back a new customer said his old WC used to collect and was keen for me to do the same, and like you said -to keep myself competitive I leave slips and S.A.E.'s

Actually 2 old ladies I visit havent a cheque book and dont like sending cash, so they leave the money in a bird box and when I'm round leave a slip saying paid with thanks

[windows_chepstow]

I've been window cleaning for about seven months now and have built up a reasonable round of nearly 260 houses.

I've heard of George, but can use a spreadsheet ok and have columns for dates I've cleaned, who owes me money and use a code so I can pull up houses by areas.  You can also pull up houses by dates, so I don't think I need George yet.  I spent about fifteen minutes a day updating my Window Register and printing out my daily work sheet.

However, the best bit of kit I've got is free!  It's my missis.  She'll only work 3 days a week, and then only during school hours (because of our brat being at school), but in 5 hours we can earn £100.00 without beasting ourselves.

She only cleans around quarter of what I do, complains when it's cold, wet or too hot, needs the toilet frequently (but will pee behind sheds if no-ones in) and only cleans ground floor windows and doors.  But she helps setting up at each house (gets the bucket out, sorts out the clothes, hands me a shaken applicator (sponge T-Bar thingy), sexually harrasses me, collects the money, takes the A Frames and is good company (sometimes))!

I don't mean she's a thing, obviously she's a person, but she's my best bit of window cleaning kit!

[windows_chepstow]

As for getting customers to post cheques, I tried that.

I got a whole load of envelopes, rubber stamp with my address on it and a wadge of second class stamps.

I also printed out a short "Your window cleaner has been, please post a cheque etc.........." and stapled that to the envelope.

The month prior to using them I briefed each customer to post me a cheque.  Some said the couldn't as they had no cheque book, so I said just send me a five pound note and you can owe me the rest (if it was more than five pounds).

I even stuck a stamp on for them.

There's a delay in receiving your cheque of around 3 to 15 days on average, then you've got the delay in the cheques clearing in the bank for three days.

Roughly 80 percent of my round posted them, others did not - not because they couldn't, but because they forgot!

My direct debits just cleared and I have now reverted back to the old fashioned method as it's less stressfull.

I now knock once for the money, and if they're not in, stick an envelope through their door for them to post me the money.  I still stick a stamp on it, just to make it REALLY easy for them.  It's working so far!

Tosh (windows_chepsow)

[Majestic]

I think you have to educate your customers, when I take on any new customers I tell them that I only can clean there windows if I get paid as soonh as I have finished , if not I dont clean them .
I am now slowly getting rid of the call back customers in favour of the pay when done and its working

[simonb]

If you are reliable after a few months try standing orders Ive got 10 to do it who were always out. I get em to pay monthly but I clean four weekly so get a nice chunk of dosh straight into my bank on the first day of the month

[sam hughes]

hi simon,
I like the sound of that, have you asked all your customers? have any refused.
that is the only downfall to posting, some do leave it a couple of weeks and always it seems before I go on holiday

sam

[sam hughes]

hello all,
back to george and PDA's, does any one know the minimum system requirements needed on a PDA to run george , as I wouldnt mind sourcing a cheap second hand PDA, but want it to run, coundnt find anything on george website.

Any help much appreciated

sam

[STEVE71163]

Hi Sam,
          I think George will run on any palm but why dont you e mail support on the george website.


Steve Lowe

[simonb]

Sam
I only target the always out types. They are usually quite happy to do SO s if you have proved to be reliable.
Simon

[George Systems]

Hi Sam

Any current model and most second hand Palm machines are fine for PocketGeorge.

Have a look at the basic Palm Zire - here's one:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006YZ52/qid=1063438458/sr=2- 2/ref=sr_2_3_2/202-3357149-6411814


Paul Sanders
George Systems
http://www.georgesystems.co.uk

[steve_massey]

i've just started using george this week and it works great. Thanks to steve lowe for putting info about george on this site as i had never herd of it before. No more wet paper and pen marks what you carn't read in the rain.

[sam hughes]

cheers guys 4 the replys  

[STEVE71163]

Hi Sam,
          Did you manage to find a second hand pda

Steve Lowe