[Chris Cottrell]

a while ago  a woman down a few doors to me asked me to do her windows
yeah no probs was my reply that'll be £xx
no she said im prepared to pay £xx
for it
I said nothing left it well alone
a lot of bad feelin under the bridge she sent her old man round tonight can you do me windows mate
yeah no probs
he's gone and i'm thinking should i have said no too busy mate no can do
something tells me they'll be trouble with a capital T
 

[AuRavelling79]

Trust your instincts!

[Chris Cottrell]

they'll be taking a long walk off short plank then

 

[Paul Coleman]

a while ago  a woman down a few doors to me asked me to do her windows
yeah no probs was my reply that'll be £xx
no she said im prepared to pay £xx
for it
I said nothing left it well alone
a lot of bad feelin under the bridge she sent her old man round tonight can you do me windows mate
yeah no probs
he's gone and i'm thinking should i have said no too busy mate no can do
something tells me they'll be trouble with a capital T
 

You may well be right about storing up trouble for the future.  I'm not always right but I can often sense when someone is going to be a problem customer.  Today I sacked a customer because I would feel irritated and a bit distressed whenever the job was due.  It is one of those places where the words "could you just...........?" seem to be a permanent part of the vocabulary.  On top of that she often follows me around looking for anything that may be wrong with the window cleaning.  On one occasion, she even followed me to the van when I was putting my ladder away to point out that I hadn't done the patio door.  You know the score, windy day so do all tops first, put ladder away, walk back and do the bottoms.
I didn't flip.  I just told her that I was unhappy working for her and that if she wished, I would ask around to see if I could get her another window cleaner.  I find stuff like that hard to say but I was very relieved to have said it afterwards.
So, regarding your customer, I think the view I take is if I feel a bit stressed each time for a while before I do a particular job, then I probably ought not be doing that job.  One of the best bits for me about window cleaning is that I don't have a foreman/manager constantly on my case.  When a customer persistently tries to set themself up as such, then they are removing the part of the job that I enjoy the most.

[rosskesava]

I think when you get that feeling with a capital T you usually do get problems.

There's 3 of us that work together and for this last year we've agreed that if 2 of us get that feeling then we don't do the job.

I know what you mean though, it's hard to say no.

The last job we done where I thought 'that's it, never again' was this ordinary 2 bedroomed house.

The lady was an OAP and after we started, having agreed £10, she came out and said could we do all round the front door, which I did. She then says about all the cobwebs in her porch and hands my mate a brush. Then it was the two small windows on the shed. Then it was something else and then something else I can't remember.

Then she gives us a fiver and starts saying how her previous window cleaner charged that and how '£5 for 5 minutes work' and she wished she could earn that and she had no more money. We were there nearly an hour and her windows were filthy and all for a fiver.

But right from the start I had a feeling about this lady and so did my mate.

Yup. Trust your instincts and now I'm braver I just say 'no sorry'. When they ask why I just say it makes no difference as to why but it's NO and I leave.

I often wonder why it's always me that has to say to them 'no' and not either of the other two I work with.

Hi The Shiner

I added this after I posted but what you wrote about a foreman/manager. Just how true that is. I'd forgotten that but boy oh boy, that hits the nail on the head.

Cheers

[Chris Cottrell]

the "can you just" customers I don't mind I just say yeah that'll be £xx

its the "pound of flesh" ones that i get jittery about

nice to know its not just me though

[rosskesava]

Nope.

It's not just you.

Some won't admit it but we're human and prone to these things.

Otherwise we wouldn't be compassionate.

Cheers

[richie_tracey]

I am new to wc and find it very hard to turn down any jobs but i have learnt the hard way.
The other day this one woman who hadnt had a wc for the best part of 6 months followed me round as i cleaned each window after agreeing on a price of £15 due to the fact her windows were filthy, after cleaning she complained her windows were still dirty, i said thats the inside love which it was and offered to do them for a price she got angry and just walked in without paying!!!!!
What do i do???

Rich

[Rick]

 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

have a very nice shotgun i can let you borrow if that helps, 

it gets my bloody back up when we get these jumped up customers..

about a month back i was called into a street so i canvased it to make it worth my time and picked a few up, i wasnt doing them that do so i just secured the jobs for the next day,

this one perticular customer a old muslim gentleman only wanted the fron doing so i charged acordingly but he had a garage that came out from the house and one of the top windows was above it, well i always ask for permision to go on the roof as iv had problems there before so i put it to him and he said no leave that one, so i ended up charging him 4 quid for 1 top window (in a bed of flowers i was told not to destroy ) his living room window and his porch....

anyway next day i turned up his wife comes out speaking to me like a peice of SHlt  well my instincts kicked in and thought i better bring up this window above the garage before she complains ans refuses to pay, so i did she noded and said there was a window round the back she wanted me to do.... ok no probs...

the husband came out and told me he had a ladder round the back wich at the time i was pleased about becasue the back was VERY tight, so i get this ladder and its a old wooden builders ladder about 2000ft long!!! now this window they wanted me to do was BIG it stretched the width of the house nearly leaded window in direct sunlight  :....

being as the ladder was so long if i put the laader on the garden path the ladder was resting on these wooden sills and taking into account the length of this window i know there would be some ladder acrobatics involved so asked the "gentleman" if i could place the lader a few feet back onto the grass to drop the top of the ladder under the sill, he refused and said he does this all the time and he would "foot" the ladder 

me being the fooll i am (i still dont know why i went up there) goes up and cleans the window, it was BLACK so his account of "i always do it this way" was bull obviously, 5 times i had to go up to this window due to the length and the ladder not being in a safe possition...

anyway job done he come out with (yes you guesed it) 4 quid, well my temper was already up and i just laghed and said no mate sorry that 5.50 he bursts into a raging fit saying i said 4 quid and i was robbing him  : normaly in those situations i just take it as a lesson especialy with me being so STUPID to even do the job, but i stood my ground and said im not leaving till i get my 5.50 he thretened me 3 times untill i swiftly gave him the answer to that , he stormed in the house for the extra 1.50 and threw it on the floor, followed with a "dont come back" i just laghed and walked off....

killed my whole day... i had at least 3 times were i thought this job was a bad idea but still went ahead now i dont even bother if i get the slightest feeling its NO!

[Paul Coleman]

I am new to wc and find it very hard to turn down any jobs but i have learnt the hard way.
The other day this one woman who hadnt had a wc for the best part of 6 months followed me round as i cleaned each window after agreeing on a price of £15 due to the fact her windows were filthy, after cleaning she complained her windows were still dirty, i said thats the inside love which it was and offered to do them for a price she got angry and just walked in without paying!!!!!
What do i do???

Rich

Well I suppose you could replace the dirt.  I've felt tempted a few times but never actually done it - YET !!!

Paul

[wash & go window cleaners]

I was a week late with a perticular street (reasons being family illness/ hospital visits etc...) It just put me behind a little.

No one complained (all but one) in fact they were quit sympathetic when i told them the full story.

But this one certain customer said "Your a week late where have you been in prison"?
This attitude disgusted me totally. I told her "Why do i turn up in a sign written van? Why do i wear a uniform whilst working, I have no criminal record"

I really didn't feel like expaining myself.

She was speechless when i said "find another window cleaner and  as long as i am in the trade i will never clean your windows again"

I really hope that she remembers her words to me when she can't see out her windows for grime!

Tom



 


 

[Davindo Cleana]

I won't do anyone's place in immediate vicinity cos if it goes belly up they are still there with their pointing and gurning - it might annoy them if you say you don't do stuff around here, but lesser of two evils -
I point them to a local bucket and cloth guy who charges a couple of quid - yip a couple of quid for a three bed semi - gonna ask him to do mine

[stephen]

i do all my street and never had any problems.

[williamx]

Chris

I would go around and look at all the windows they want cleaning, I would ask if its a one off clean or do they want it done every 4 weeks.

Now if they say its a one of I would charge double what I normally charge for this type of house.

If they want to go on the list and have them done every 4 weeks I would charge them 50% extra for the first clean and then the normal price per 4 weeks there after, I would also point out that if for any reason they did't have it done to your roto then they will be cancelled from your customer list and you do not re-clean cancelled customers ever again.

I have found this works quite well, you do get some jokers who don't believe you at first and when they cancel or say not today thank you, then I say its not anytime anytime, thank you.

I like the look they give me now every time I clean thier neighbours windows but I won't clean theirs no matter how much they want to pay you.

[craig jwc]

I did a first clean the otherday and got a funny look when i got my wfp out of the car. She asked what it was and i told her it was the pole system i told her about when i called round to price the house the week before. I had to explain it all again to her and she was still not completely happy about it but i just got on with it.
When i got round the back and started cleaning the windows above what they called a conservatory she said how do i know the windows are clean. I told her again how it all works, the filtered water etc but if she found that there was any dirt or marks on the windows to call me and i will come and do the dirty window again. She then started on how her last w/c only charged her £5 and used to climb up onto the roof of this conservatory and do the upstairs. I told her that due to the H&S side of it as it was only an old corrigated metal roof plus i'm not sure your insurance covers you to work on roofs like this and this method was a lot safer and just as good if not better than tradional methods. She started on again about her previous w/c so i asked her if she wanted me to do her windows. She said she did but stood and watched me.
When i had finished she asked if i would except a cheque which i said yes. I then said i would see her in a months time and reminded her if there was any probs to give me a ring. She told me she had changed her mind and wanted them cleaned every 3 months. I told her the price i gave her was for a monthly clean and it would be more if it was to be left for that time period. She then started AGAIN about her last w/c and how he climbed on this roof and charged £5. I had had enough now and asked her where this w/c was and why didn't he clean her windows anymore. She told me he FELL OFF HER ROOF.
I couldn't believe what she had just said and don't think she realised herself.
I've only done this house once but in two minds about doing this house anymore. I did manage to get a 6 week clean from it in the end.

[SWC_70]

What I've been finding out recently from my door knocking escapades is that when it comes to windows its the woman wearing the trousers and not the fella. I don't know how often I've had the husband say to me when I've asked him if he wants his windows cleaned, "I don't know mate I'll have to ask the missus". If thats just an excuse to get rid of me, it's a pretty pathetic one but if it's the truth then thats even more pathetic. How flipping difficult is it to make a decision on whether you want your windows cleaned or not? Jeez some people!
At first that reply bugged me now I find it pretty flippin hilarious. Whats even funnier though is people saying "No thanks I do them myself", standing below and beside the most disgustingly dirty windows in the whole freakin world. I just think to myself, "Oh yeah, right you do, better get a move on then mate otherwise you aint gonna be able to find em soon"
Anyway as for your problem Chris, the old lady has obviously had a change of heart and sent her husband round to do the grovelling as she's obviously too embarrassed to do it herself, which probably means to say the chances are she'll try and keep her distance from you in the future. I'd say give em a break and try not to pre-judge people, she could turn out to be one of your best customers.
I'd go back and clean them for them and then I'd really know for sure rather than wonder. If she is gonna be trouble chances are you'll find out pretty darn quick. Seems to me the old hag was just haggling with you, nothing wrong with that not in this day and age.

[williamx]

Craig

Have you asked this women whether her last window cleaner is making a claim against her insurance policy as she is liable for him having the accident and any damages he might win in court.

[Chris Cottrell]

Will

I like the sound of 50% for 1st clean not quite that brave yet
BUT did get round to this new one today , presented my self also presented my terms & Cons egerly awaiting a signature
she complained bitterly and started on about previous W/Cleaners and this and that
so brave as you like i said DO THE DAM WINDOWS YOURSELF and walked

Man it felt good

Regards Chris C

[dai]

The best thing about our profession is you can sack them for any reason you like.
I had a client who expressed to me her extreme racist views. Next time round I just missed her out. Do you know she never said a word. She never asked are you not doing mine , nothing. I guess we both knew the reason. My wife is Indonesian, she knows that. there was nothing more to be said.
Is it only me or is it fate that the only customers I ever seem to lose are the ones I don't want? It happened again today, I lost one  where I had to use a ladder to gain access to the back., Now just having started with WFP???
I love this job. DAI

[craig jwc]

Craig

Have you asked this women whether her last window cleaner is making a claim against her insurance policy as she is liable for him having the accident and any damages he might win in court.

[No i didn't. Would he be able to claim though as it was his decision to take that risk??]