[ian kev]

Hi all, in the last 2 days ive had 3 people say that there windows are still clean so will leave it for another weeks :. does this happen often?? luckily they were just down the road but was thinking what if it was someone out in the sticks, would be a waste of time/petrol. do any of you bother to ringing first if you have to travel. Im sure it would have been ok if they were out. cheers ian

[Erithwc]

never happen to me yet the windows are always very dirty when i turn up every six weeks had some one turn me away due to them having the house painted though   

[Pope vader]

these people are the same one who will say not in winter, as isnt worth it,   dump and replace

[monkeyboy950]

Tell them that's the point in doing them wfp so they don't attract the same amount of dirt and by doing them regular they keep clean so there easier to maintain thus keeping your prices reasonable,but now next time you do them they will be dirtier so will cost more to clean

[mci services]

these people are the same one who will say not in winter, as isnt worth it,   dump and replace

or if you are short of work replace then dump

[ian kev]

thanks guys, i reckon your right they will be moaning come the winter, i dont want to dump them just yet as still trying to get customer base up plus being out and about seems to very productive in getting new custys so far, perhaps ive just done too good of a job first time.... .cheers Ian

[ian kev]

exactly what i was thinking stu.

[SunShineCleaning]

I would keep them and increase the price to allow for their fussiness.

I tend to offer them a bimonthly arrangement if they do it twice in a row.

Any 'out in the sticks' will be well worth the drive and I do those on appointment only anyway.

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

I only notify big jobs via phone or text otherwise it gives people the opportunity to cancel and you can't make a living with people having you clean their windows only when they feel like it.  If you've only started recently you'll find you end up with a lot of rubbish customers that you will gradually replace over time.

Simon.

[Helen]

Hi all, in the last 2 days ive had 3 people say that there windows are still clean so will leave it for another weeks :. does this happen often?? luckily they were just down the road but was thinking what if it was someone out in the sticks, would be a waste of time/petrol. do any of you bother to ringing first if you have to travel. Im sure it would have been ok if they were out. cheers ian

Did you confirm your T &C's in writing after speaking with them?
Probably not
You'll still get this problem even if you do to some extent, but at least you can remind them of that.
Of course it would have been ok if they were out : or are you intending to ask every customer is it ok to clean today?
Get some T & C's and start giving them out to new custies you take on

[Perfect Windows]

these people are the same one who will say not in winter, as isnt worth it,   dump and replace

Yep, dump 'em.  

Then someone who offers the service the customer requires can pick them up by offering them half the frequency for (say) a 50% uplift on the per clean price.  A third of my customers are on this service - imagine what it could do for your daily earnings.

Vin

[John Walker]

I know what you mean about windows still being clean.  In Kent with all this recent heay rain, it's cleaned the windows to quite a good extent.  It must have been clean rain too with no Sahara dust etc.  Combined with high winds it's been like a mild pressure-wash.

Not been turned way yet but half expecting it.  Easy work though - cleaning clean glass and frames  - so not complaining.

[Dave66]

DUMP NOW!!!

[bobby p]

i always seek fresh customers if i hear any bleating like you heard.

 one other thing,i pledge to  NEVER let them back on my round once i have  dropped them, not for double money even  ,"not for  all the tea in china"  ( my favourite catch phrase and messers dont like hearing it said  !

[Crystal-clear]

explain you are paid to keep them clean thats why its that reasonable price if they would prefer a clean when they choose give them your one off price if you do them.

[Londoner]

If you clean your customers every month you are inviting this. The windows on my house are fine and they haven't been cleaned for a lot longer than a month.

Whats all this dump stuff? Ask the customer if they would like to change the frequency. And in the winter you are glad of a few customers who say come again in March. You are running a business, the idea is to make money. You won't make anything out of a dumped customer.

[bobby p]

If you clean your customers every month you are inviting this. The windows on my house are fine and they haven't been cleaned for a lot longer than a month.

Whats all this dump stuff? Ask the customer if they would like to change the frequency. And in the winter you are glad of a few customers who say come again in March. You are running a business, the idea is to make money. You won't make anything out of a dumped customer.

youre looking at dirty glass through a mans eye vince, i bet their minging

 trub is  you will then get the customers saying come "now and then " and it will spread to others that youre quite happy to be a now and then man.   i personally prefer to have a rigid list of 6 weekers, theres more than enough of them out there waiting in my experience .

 i dont want any "floaters" so to speak

[Craig 72]

When you are building a round a 'now and then' customer is better than no customer at all.I would agree with those who say try bi monthly instead of monthly.You have to expect for the first year or two that a certain amount of customers you get will be the crap that another window cleaner has dumped.Once you have built a reasonable round then you can start dumping the crap yourself.

[bobby p]

When you are building a round a 'now and then' customer is better than no customer at all.I would agree with those who say try bi monthly instead of monthly.You have to expect for the first year or two that a certain amount of customers you get will be the crap that another window cleaner has dumped.Once you have built a reasonable round then you can start dumping the crap yourself.

good point

 its often good if you can follow in the tracks of a bad cleaner who created "round windows" and then stopped coming , the customers then are truly grateful and they treasure the fact they have got a cleaner . this type wont pull strokes as a rule

[ian kev]

Thanks for the input guys, i think i was just unlucky in the fact that when i turned up they were there yapping in the garden, i actually had one custy last week come running out saying "i think it might be raining later could you come back when its sunny" so i stuck to my guns and said that i probably wont be in that area for a while, (although im just down the road) so ended up with an " ok, carry on and do them"....like its never going to rain again.grrr.Im learning all the time and i can see why you guys drop custys now and again.I will get tougher as my round grows im sure. ;Dcheers