[darren clarke]

squeaky this is for you mate

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-rJ-6hBfSo

[Sir Squeaky]

r the ones you are losing in when u do there windows

Oh yes, that's what I mean.
The ones who aren't are perfectly pleased.

[Sir Squeaky]

maybe theyve just found a much happier window cleaner that makes them smile eh squeaks??

Nah, rubbish mate. I'm probably the most chatty and friendly one in my area. I get on great with my customers.
I've done people jobs most of my life.

Nothing to do with me or what I've said.

[darren clarke]

u might just be unlucky mate,  but it seems odd that it is only the ones in that are cancelling,  do u collect on the day

[LWC]

I havent read through all the thread, but one customer that springs to mind, i picked them up and cleaned it for about 6 months and they were out every time. Anyway, the one day i go, and theyre an elderly couple. I do the fronts, go round the back and the lady comes out

"erm are you going to do the fronts?"
"hi, ive done them"
"no you havent youve just wet them all"
"yes thats how we clean"

She looked well miffed and in dis belief. So i finished the backs and knocked for money, they both come to door.

"are you going to finish the windows then?"
"i have, theyre all done"
"no you just wet them, we want you to get up there and polish them"
"this is the method i use, its fine youll see when they dry"
she then says to her husband "are you happy about this"
He mutters no and they paid

So next month im doing all the neighbouring houses and think i cant be doing with the hassle ill leave them out. Next minute the elderly lady comes out

"im so sorry for last month, we've never seen this system before and couldnt beleive how good it was. We're so sorry. Please can you do ours"

She could not apologise more...so moral of the story is, WFP is better than trad lol

[AuRavelling79]

I know old slumps doesn't "say it with flowers", Rog but he is right. It's your low self-esteem. Look, jump on the couch and Sigmund "Gold" Fraud will explain - sitting comfortably?

I'm well aware this will start a Trad vs WFP debate, but that's part of it.

My point is this...

Are customers running out of patience with water fed pole cleaning?

It seems to me that's case, certainly in my experience.
I'm still gaining more work than I'm losing, but I have lost a fair few this year.
Most have said they're not happy with wet or "unfinished" windows.

I know it's not a quality thing, as no-one has any particular complaints, just the initial result.

When I've mentioned it to neighbours or friends <see, you've brought it up because you are unsure of the method yourself>  of these people they've all said "Well I'm happy enough, but if I'm honest I preferred the old way"
Or "I did prefer the proper job you used to do, but understand you have to use this method now"

Now most of these are customers who I've had for years and have been done WFP for 3 and a half years now.

Could it be that they put up with it at first to avoid conflict and try to get on with it, but now the patience is wearing thin and they've had enough...?

I'm not overly concerned, as I get new work all the time anyway, but I can see many more who are "putting up with it" and will surely cancel soon.
I see a big opening for local trad cleaners...

Thoughts...? 

If you remember squeaks you fought a long and hopeless rear-guard action defending trad and telling this forum why wfp won't work and now you have reverted to type in your head and quickly assigned all cancellations to "hate wfp" when in reality it could be "skint-itis" - or that you put the thoughts into their head by asking the damnfool question. 

If you think you are earning too much for easy work then what do you think the custies will think? Now if you want to show some attention to detail when the custy is in then blade their front door glass and wipe all the bottom cills.

Then if they bring up wfp just tell 'em it'll dry perfect and to remember their gleaming frames and they'll love you.

That will be £120 please - the best Ton-twenty you'll ever spend! 

[G Griffin]

I havent read through all the thread, but one customer that springs to mind, i picked them up and cleaned it for about 6 months and they were out every time. Anyway, the one day i go, and theyre an elderly couple. I do the fronts, go round the back and the lady comes out

"erm are you going to do the fronts?"
"hi, ive done them"
"no you havent youve just wet them all"
"yes thats how we clean"

She looked well miffed and in dis belief. So i finished the backs and knocked for money, they both come to door.

"are you going to finish the windows then?"
"i have, theyre all done"
"no you just wet them, we want you to get up there and polish them"
"this is the method i use, its fine youll see when they dry"
she then says to her husband "are you happy about this"
He mutters no and they paid

So next month im doing all the neighbouring houses and think i cant be doing with the hassle ill leave them out. Next minute the elderly lady comes out

"im so sorry for last month, we've never seen this system before and couldnt beleive how good it was. We're so sorry. Please can you do ours"

She could not apologise more...so moral of the story is, WFP is better than trad lol

Moral of the story- make `um beg  .

[Smudger]

Gold - superb mate are you sure your a w/c ?

There has been some great points made on this thread, i think it's more a combo of things that you are getting
cancellations - time of year ( the leave till spring brigade - esp those who you have taken on this year ) those who
are not normally home then see 'wet' windows as they have the day off and think you've done half a job. ( had 2 of these myself ) but realise it's fine when windows are dry.  and lastly as WFP cleans SO well - windows and frames etc
that people forget the initial stunning results and get used to permament shiney frames and glass thinking they have always been this way.

Darran

[Steve CM]

I find trying to work customers out can be tirsome. There is no consistancy and i believe most are just plain crazy don't give them a second thought and just replace them. By dwelling on it the only person you hurt is yourself

[Sir Squeaky]

I know old slumps doesn't "say it with flowers", Rog but he is right. It's your low self-esteem.

Oh my god! What is this self esteem crap?
One minute Tosh is telling me I think too much of myself, next you're saying the opposite. :
Please be serious. It wasn't a jokey thread, it was a serious question.

[Sir Squeaky]

If you think you are earning too much for easy work then what do you think the custies will think? Now if you want to show some attention to detail when the custy is in then blade their front door glass and wipe all the bottom cills.

Already do that thankyou. Not always the sills, but always the front doors.


Then if they bring up wfp just tell 'em it'll dry perfect and to remember their gleaming frames and they'll love you

Yes, obviously I do that too.

Any more silly ideas Malc? Or can we get back to serious replies?

[Steve CM]

If you think you are earning too much for easy work then what do you think the custies will think? Now if you want to show some attention to detail when the custy is in then blade their front door glass and wipe all the bottom cills.

Already do that thankyou. Not always the sills, but always the front doors.


Then if they bring up wfp just tell 'em it'll dry perfect and to remember their gleaming frames and they'll love you

Yes, obviously I do that too.

Any more silly ideas Malc? Or can we get back to serious replies?

That was a bit harsh wern't it? He was only giving you a few pointers

[G Griffin]

If you think you are earning too much for easy work then what do you think the custies will think? Now if you want to show some attention to detail when the custy is in then blade their front door glass and wipe all the bottom cills.

Already do that thankyou. Not always the sills, but always the front doors.


Then if they bring up wfp just tell 'em it'll dry perfect and to remember their gleaming frames and they'll love you

Yes, obviously I do that too.

Any more silly ideas Malc? Or can we get back to serious replies?

That was a bit harsh wern't it? He was only giving you a few pointers

He could use them and go back trad.
I agree with you though Steve, why try and guess what is going on in customers` heads. They are not a single entity. 

[Sir Squeaky]

If you think you are earning too much for easy work then what do you think the custies will think? Now if you want to show some attention to detail when the custy is in then blade their front door glass and wipe all the bottom cills.

Already do that thankyou. Not always the sills, but always the front doors.


Then if they bring up wfp just tell 'em it'll dry perfect and to remember their gleaming frames and they'll love you

Yes, obviously I do that too.

Any more silly ideas Malc? Or can we get back to serious replies?

That was a bit harsh wern't it? He was only giving you a few pointers

Yes, very funny I'm sure.

Go back trad? I'd rather pack the job in than that!

Wonder why window cleaners are so hard to have conversations with?
I wasn't asking for "help" or what to do about it, just pointing out what I've noticed recently.
I'm sure I've already said this, but it doesn't sink in does it?

[Steve CM]

i'm lost.

The way i read it was he was just giving you a few tips on maybe keeping your customers happy?

[Sir Squeaky]

i'm lost.

The way i read it was he was just giving you a few tips on maybe keeping your customers happy?

You've got a lot to learn about Malcolm then Steve.
He's always on the wind-up or offensive. I'm known him on here long enough to know when he's being sarcastic! Trust me, it wasn't nice. He knows I didn't need anyone's "help", that's why he did it.

[Steve CM]

i like a little sarcasm myself i didn't read it that way. i've only been on here 5 years so what would i know? (that was sarcasm)

[Tom White]

Oh my god! What is this self esteem crap?
One minute Tosh is telling me I think too much of myself, next you're saying the opposite. :

No, you're getting confuddled.  You can have a big ego and a low self-esteem.  They're different concepts, but they tend to go hand-in-hand. 

Does that help?

[Richy L]

Roger,
You can always pass them my number. I'm happy to do them trad!

[Nathanael Jones]

As a customer what would you choose? Two window cleaners turn up and quote the same price and are both experienced and very good at their chosen method, one is WFP the other is trad, I know which one I would choose, the one which leaves instant results without having to wait hours for you windows to dry   and yes I am WFP     If I was never in until evening then I would probably not give a toss but choose trad anyway  

I'd choose WFP,... I wouldn't want to risk a ladder monkey falling & suing me,..  :