[tom2009]

I've just taken on a new one who wasn't happy with her last 2 cleaners. The windows looked ok to me, trad cleaned they were, so I go in today with my pole and thrash away for ages scrubbing and rinsing like a man possessed. Finished and checked round, all looked good, in fact all looked damn hot if I do say so myself! Couple hours later I get a call, 'water marks' she says, I say have they dried properly yet? she says 'not quite' (damp/overcast here today)- I'm going back to look but I've got a feeling this lady (at home all the time) is going to be difficult to please. Anyone else got very particular customers, how do you handle them?

[Craig 72]

I try not to deal with customers like that any more.They'll always find something wrong and come up with an excuse not to cough up.I've had it myself,windows look great but they manage to find a grain of dirt on the cill.Not the worth the grief,there's plenty of good uns about.

[Kate2]

Yea OP, I think you will always get people like that, especially at home all day with nothing to worry about, so things tend to become more emphasised than they actually are.

[Johnny B]

I have one lady who always seems to find a small mark that I have left on one of the windows. I think she has OCD tendencies, although she is always pleasant when she tells me.

I work really slowly anyway, but on this house I take twice as long because I really want to give her no reason to complain.

Last time I was round, there were no complaints! Actually, she wants me to do the insides as well now, so there should be no more problems!

John.

[Newannaive]

sod the custards i've got to work with someone with OCD!! 

[david thomas]

these people cost you  in lost time and stress

[Taylor & Taylor WC Services]

When you first meet them and they tell you they've had several window cleaners in the past you just know you're going to get bother almost every time no matter how good a job you've done. Your better off without them especially if you take pride in the job as they'll always find a way to question your workmanship which drives me mad!

[Johnny B]

So true. It drives me a bit potty as well. I take so long and try to be so thorough that I believe I may have slight tendencies towards OCD myself!

When my customer complains (she is the only one of well over 400 customers that I have that ever seem to complain) it makes me even more determined to do a perfect job next time.   

John

[dazmond]

yep ive had a few but i just dump em after the "3 strikes"

one custy moaned that id left a droplet  of water on an upstairs sill and made me wipe if off!(when i was trad!)

1 STRIKE!

2 STRIKE!same guy came out another time and said he thought my standards had dropped when i cleaned them perfectly well just like i always did!

3 STRIKE!when i went wfp he said id not cleaned the upstairs sills properly(got ladders off and checked and they were sparkling!)at this point i just told him to stuff it!i will never clean his windows again!!it was a good paying job but some custies are just impossible to please!!

found out he d had lots of window cleaners before and is just a pain in the arse!!i still clean the other 3 four bedders in that close while his windows are filthy!!makes me smile everytime im there!!

[prestige cleaners]

ive only ever had to go back to 1 customer to redo their windows but on multiple times. in the end i stopped going as i was getting sick of it, she ends up calling me and asks, am i still doing her windows, and as im a nice guy, said yeah sure, sorry been a bit busy, will come tomorrow, hoping shes got the message, anyway she rings up a couple of weeks later and cancels as the windows are dirty again!

so annoying, but i was glad in a way at least i dont have to bother with her again, feel pity for the new guy, i cant believe i lasted 3 years with her

[Ian101]

have a few of these but wont drop em as mixed in with a very compact round I do and all the neighbours know each other and talk ..... what I do is what I used to do when selling these PIA customers a car and thats to make em feel special ... theyre all different so u will only know their "hot button"

1 of mine had a thing about other peoples dirty water when I was trad so every time I did hers she watched me change my water in the bucket b4 I did hers so when I went WFP she was a dead easy conversion ... another 1 has painted a gloss white "1"  border around the edges of his windows (no not making this up) and the frames and sills are that shiny that the guys in the space station can see the shine on a clear day so EVERY clean I tell him that Ive gave his frames and sills a double clean cos they're that nice they deserve the extra attention .... he of course loves that ..... none of this takes any extra time or effort and keeps these OCD lot happy .... simples 

[Kate2]

Good post Ian

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

mate ditch them now before she ditches you ad one last year youy had to take your shoes off before entering and watched everything you did she ditched me but i expected it
PS and you had to change your socks too

[geefree]

have a few of these but wont drop em as mixed in with a very compact round I do and all the neighbours know each other and talk ..... what I do is what I used to do when selling these PIA customers a car and thats to make em feel special ... theyre all different so u will only know their "hot button"

1 of mine had a thing about other peoples dirty water when I was trad so every time I did hers she watched me change my water in the bucket b4 I did hers so when I went WFP she was a dead easy conversion ... another 1 has painted a gloss white "1" border around the edges of his windows (no not making this up) and the frames and sills are that shiny that the guys in the space station can see the shine on a clear day so EVERY clean I tell him that Ive gave his frames and sills a double clean cos they're that nice they deserve the extra attention .... he of course loves that ..... none of this takes any extra time or effort and keeps these OCD lot happy .... simples

Thats the way,... it does not take long to find a persons "hot spot"..... and another thing everyone likes , is praise and talking about themselves,

so i start with them , praise them , tell them how wonderful there house is , and so on.....get to know them quickly

They become your friend for life.

[Kate2]

Yes, selling to the emotions

Its true if you know the buttons to press, and can provide reassurance, trust and understanding, normally I would think that they will begin to realise that you understand their needs.

[bobplum]

have a few of these but wont drop em as mixed in with a very compact round I do and all the neighbours know each other and talk ..... what I do is what I used to do when selling these PIA customers a car and thats to make em feel special ... theyre all different so u will only know their "hot button"

1 of mine had a thing about other peoples dirty water when I was trad so every time I did hers she watched me change my water in the bucket b4 I did hers so when I went WFP she was a dead easy conversion ... another 1 has painted a gloss white "1"  border around the edges of his windows (no not making this up) and the frames and sills are that shiny that the guys in the space station can see the shine on a clear day so EVERY clean I tell him that Ive gave his frames and sills a double clean cos they're that nice they deserve the extra attention .... he of course loves that ..... none of this takes any extra time or effort and keeps these OCD lot happy .... simples 

brown nose b*****d

[tom2009]

have a few of these but wont drop em as mixed in with a very compact round I do and all the neighbours know each other and talk ..... what I do is what I used to do when selling these PIA customers a car and thats to make em feel special ... theyre all different so u will only know their "hot button"

1 of mine had a thing about other peoples dirty water when I was trad so every time I did hers she watched me change my water in the bucket b4 I did hers so when I went WFP she was a dead easy conversion ... another 1 has painted a gloss white "1" border around the edges of his windows (no not making this up) and the frames and sills are that shiny that the guys in the space station can see the shine on a clear day so EVERY clean I tell him that Ive gave his frames and sills a double clean cos they're that nice they deserve the extra attention .... he of course loves that ..... none of this takes any extra time or effort and keeps these OCD lot happy .... simples

Thats the way,... it does not take long to find a persons "hot spot"..... and another thing everyone likes , is praise and talking about themselves,

so i start with them , praise them , tell them how wonderful there house is , and so on.....get to know them quickly

They become your friend for life.

sounds like I need to hunt out my old copy of 'how to win friends and influence people'