[dave0123]

Ian is spot on really,


I used to be a member of the federation of window cleaners no one knows who it is.. more importantly they don't care. If you turn up in a van with a name on gives you an advantage to sell your business because they will think its a proper business yes ( so they think your already reliable)..

But there not interested in training or any NVQ, it just doesn't sell it to them.. however other things like oh you can send a cheque in post.. or you can pay online can seriously win you the job! i say it was more price based over the last couple of years than anything else now.

[wfp master]

How would you feel if someone took your work and they had an NVQ?

so a customer ive had for 12 years says to me hes got a NVQ sorry i better get him to clean my windows now.does that mean because hes had his NVQ for 5 minutes hes an expert window cleaner?

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

How would you feel if someone took your work and they had an NVQ?

That would never happen for 99.9999999999999999999% of people.

On the other hand- How many people would pay the full price out of their own pockets for any of your courses?

[Dave Willis]

Yes, but when you start losing work to highly qualified competition then the only answer will be to match them and even surpass their qualifications. It's the only way forward. it's the future of your industry.

[dave0123]

Yes, but when you start losing work to highly qualified competition then the only answer will be to match them and even surpass their qualifications. It's the only way forward. it's the future of your industry.

That would't happen tho because no customer is interested domestic anyway! they just want clean windows done what they agree to! monthly six weekly or what ever.. and it all comes down to price most of the time (price) for a reasonable price... end of story!

[Johnny B]

Not one of my customers have asked if I have a qualification, or even how much experience I have.

They simply ask 'how much' and 'when can you do them'.

John

[Ian Lancaster]

........in whether you have certificates, been on courses, got insurance etc.  When I used to go canvassing if someone said "No thanks, I've already got one", I would ask who it was, so I could build up a picture of who was working the area, and how carefully they had covered it.  The number of people who didn't know their window cleaner's name (other than maybe a first name or nickname) far outstripped those who did.  As for whether that window cleaner had insurance, had been on Health & Safety courses etc it had never occurred to them and this seemed to be true even for those who did know who their window cleaner was.

The only criteria they were interested in was that he should be reliable and do a reasonably good job and not cause any damage in the process.

I once mentioned that I had attended a course at the British Window Cleaning Academy - the custy fell about laughing, she was sure I was winding her up, after all, whoever heard of an "Academy" to teach people how to clean windows?

My point is that laudable, and even mandatory it may be to undertake these courses, acquire the certificates and obtain the insurance, the average domestic customer couldn't give a whatsit.  It may be necessary, it may enhance your own feeling of self worth, you may even avoid killing yourself in some stupid accident but from the customer's point of view it makes no difference whatsoever and will do nothing to increase your customer base and the real value of your business.


DISCUSS.........

Re my initial post: I believe "Our Industry" is two quite distinct entities.  I am not disputing the requirement for all the bells and whistles if you intend operating in the commercial sector.  I do not believe any of it is relevant in the domestic sector, for the many reasons documented throughout this thread

[DG Cleaning]

If Dave Willis is right and we'll start losing our domestic customers to better qualified window cleaner, perhaps someone can come on and give us an example of a customer who has sacked them? Scaremainering comes to mind. What most customers want is to look out of their kitchen window when they're doing the pots and see a nice clear view of the back garden. The rest is just fluff.

[king marko]

Yes, but when you start losing work to highly qualified competition then the only answer will be to match them and even surpass their qualifications. It's the only way forward. it's the future of your industry.

Can you honestly say that you're gaining customers due to being "highly qualified".
How many of these customers that you've gained insisted on only taking on the most "highly qualified?"
How many insisted on seeing all you lovely certificates?
And, therefore, I'm assuming, these highly sensitive and choosy customers have already informed you that as soon as a more professional and even more highly qualified outfit knocks on their door then you will be dumped?

[Moderator David@stives]

Hi Ian

I should learn to read the full post doh

[wfp master]

highly qualified because you have a NVQ so thats better than 20 years experience cleaning windows. my customers would laugh at me if i said i have a NVQ in cleaning windows as would everyone i know.imagine going to the pub & telling all your mates ive got a NVQ in cleaning windows i would be laughed at all night. they would think i was taking the p***.

[robertphil]

customers know they are lucky when they find a decent cleaner,

 i believe this "lucky feeling" could be milked more by wearing embroidered badges of  qualification so they know theyv got an extra special one . 1 of my workers was wearing a beanie hat with a lovely red n gold embroidered patch and customers commented on it-Quite  by chance i found out its a patch belonging to "the Meridian Bloodline " gang on a Tottenham estate

[rosskesava]

Yes, but when you start losing work to highly qualified competition then the only answer will be to match them and even surpass their qualifications. It's the only way forward. it's the future of your industry.

Sorry Dave, but highly qualified for what? Cleaning windows? Are you serious?

I can just imagine having to show Mrs Bloggs all my certificates just so as I can clean the windows of her 2 up 2 down semi.

What's next, an accountancy NVQ to write out a receipt?

[Dave Willis]

Highly qualified to do your job of course. You wouldn't employ someone to fix your brakes for you with no qualifications would you?

[richywilts]

i wonder how all those customers feel now where window cleaners have died on there properties tho and been subject to hse investigations etc this guy sums it up in this article so maybe customers should be more aware of not really caring who they sign up and its down to us window cleaners to make them aware

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/9466514/Jeremy-Vne.html#

[Johnny B]

Here's my twopenneth.

One could have all the academic qualifications in the world, but lack the one thing we need to apply in our game - common sense.

John

[Steve Sed]

Yes, but when you start losing work to highly qualified competition then the only answer will be to match them and even surpass their qualifications. It's the only way forward. it's the future of your industry.

Is this a hijacked account?

[rosskesava]

Highly qualified to do your job of course. You wouldn't employ someone to fix your brakes for you with no qualifications would you?

Analogies are best when like is compared with like. The above is a red herring.

Window cleaning bears no resemblance to having brakes fitted.

[Dave Willis]

Would you employ Dr Crippen to bake you a cake? Stevie Wonder to decorate your house? Garry Glitter to child mind for you?
No, you'd want a proper person with credentials.

[rosskesava]

Would you employ Dr Crippen to bake you a cake? Stevie Wonder to decorate your house? Garry Glitter to child mind for you?
No, you'd want a proper person with credentials.

Ok. I fell for it.