[Cleaning Buddy]

I know this is a silly question but as a newbie I need all the customers I can get

I saw custy last week and quoted £12 which he was happy with

He has a garage with an extemsion set back above and a window. I thought my pole could reach it, but it cant

Saw him today and did his windows but not the one over the extension. Before I started I explained I could not do that to his wife as he was out and said to the wife they the charge would only be £10 if she wanted me to continue - which she said was fine.

He came home just as i was finishing and i explained about the window. He said he expected me to climb on the garage roof and clean the window. I explained I dont climb on roofs and I did not have ladders.

He said that unless i came back and cleaned the window he would not pay anything

Thoughts please

[Erithwc]

don't clean the window tell him that his wife said it was ok to go ahead with the work plus tell him that you are not aloud to go on flat roofs due to h&s issues and (that ladders are now banned) only joking , once you have collected the payment if he is still funny don't go back  

[supernova77]

Although I use WFP I still carry a ladder on my van to get on to flat roofs etc...

Andy

[KLEENAWAY]

Have a read of this mate


http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=119251.0

Danny

[Helen]

I know this is a silly question but as a newbie I need all the customers I can get

But only good prospects, so yes it is ok to say no sometimes

I saw custy last week and quoted £12 which he was happy with

He has a garage with an extemsion set back above and a window. I thought my pole could reach it, but it cant

Never just "think" get your  wfp pole out and measure up
We've all done the "thinking" thing and got it wrong

Saw him today and did his windows but not the one over the extension. Before I started I explained I could not do that to his wife as he was out and said to the wife they the charge would only be £10 if she wanted me to continue - which she said was fine.

Ok so you clarified the point, reduced the price, that was thr right thing to do....she could of said no!

He came home just as i was finishing and i explained about the window. He said he expected me to climb on the garage roof and clean the window. I explained I dont climb on roofs and I did not have ladders.

Should have been explained to the customer at point of quote

He said that unless i came back and cleaned the window he would not pay anything

could it be done from the inside?
is it en route to others you have?

Nip in clean it from the inside, get your £12.00 and  clarify that for future cleans it is £10 (NOT including that window) and if they are in £12.00 and you'll clean that one from the inside. It's in their hands then to make the choice
You will have fulfilled your original agreement, they will have made THEIR choice and you can carry on building your round, with just a little bit more experience for when you quote

Thoughts please

[Paul Coleman]

I know this is a silly question but as a newbie I need all the customers I can get

I saw custy last week and quoted £12 which he was happy with

He has a garage with an extemsion set back above and a window. I thought my pole could reach it, but it cant

Saw him today and did his windows but not the one over the extension. Before I started I explained I could not do that to his wife as he was out and said to the wife they the charge would only be £10 if she wanted me to continue - which she said was fine.

He came home just as i was finishing and i explained about the window. He said he expected me to climb on the garage roof and clean the window. I explained I dont climb on roofs and I did not have ladders.

He said that unless i came back and cleaned the window he would not pay anything

Thoughts please

If he has such an attitude, he will end up being a bad customer anyway.  Write it off and be glad you found out what he was like this early.  He's trying to take control.  Customers who do this can be a pain.

[Cleaning Buddy]

Thanks for the comments. I went back home, got my ladders, climbed on the roof (cleaned it trad!).

Saw customer and he was absolutely delighted that I went to the trouble of getting my ladders.

He gave me £15 as I went the extra mile

Just goes to show .....

[andyM]

Thanks for the comments. I went back home, got my ladders, climbed on the roof (cleaned it trad!).

Saw customer and he was absolutely delighted that I went to the trouble of getting my ladders.

He gave me £15 as I went the extra mile

Just goes to show .....

And it would of cost you more than £15 if he had a dodgy roof and you had damaged it by walking on it!
It happened to a mate of mine so be aware.

[Pole 2 Pole]

Wi he pay your wages when you're in plaster for 3 months too? Wig Banker I agree. Only you know if the roof is safe though. Just don't be a wally. Many people have come a cropper for trying to clean that "extra" window.

[Pope vader]

r u wfp or trad

[Johnny B]

To answer the original question - If you feel that your safety would be compromised by trying to reach a window that you just cannot get to, then yes you are absolutely right to say no, you cannot reach it. Any reasonable customer would have no problem with this at all.

If anyone demands it of another to risk an accident or death for the sake of a clean window, they need their bumps felt.

Good for you that you went the extra mile, as it were, and it worked well for you. 

John   

[pure tech]

I think the customer was reasonable in expecting the window to be cleaned as he was employing a professional to do the job. He no doubt was aware that the flat roof was not dangerous to work from.
Good on you for seeing sense.

[TomCrowther]

It's definitely ok to say no. Each job that involves an element of risk is exactly that, a risk. You have to weigh it up and if you think you can do it safely then fine.
I have a few that are a bit risky e.g. that involve standing on a ladder and wfping over a skylight to get a decent angle to get at three windows which I can't reach from the ground. The ladder is butted up against a wall and while I don't have the three points of contact, it still feels safe enough.
Another one involved a high 1st floor flat roof but with a drop into a stairwell so it's a long way down. Customer asked me to clean his pyramid of a skylight. I told him I would have a look but the roof was covered in moss, slippy as hell and with only about 20 inches to the edge. He was a bit surprised when I said no, but he is still a customer so can't be that bothered.

[groundhog]

Just use common sense for goodness sake, if the roof looks in good condition then no problem, if it looks dodgy then don't walk on it!! You can always climb up your ladder and use the pole from the ladder to reach the window!!!!

[dazmond]

get a longer pole!my 25ft SLX reaches all windows above flat roofs,extensions etc bar a couple of windows on large high flat roofs.these i clean by getting the ladders out and take my pole up with me.

what size is your main wfp cleaning buddy?


regards

dazmond

[Cleaning Buddy]

I have a 25ft GXtel pole I believe. It came with the van when I bought it.

Heavy thing when fully extended and as limp as anything!. Its ok for straight up and down work but bending it over conservatories or garage roof its a nightmare

I need to get a decent pole and I am keeping an eye out - but its catch 22 I dont really have enough customers at the moment for that type of outlay, but I really need one to push on