[DRS]

Was threatened today by local window cleaner.....said id have a nasty fall off a ladder if he sees me in his area again...wot should i do? anybody had an experience like that?

[mick hay]

i had 1 call me when my leaflets where delivered on "his patch"

i was very diplomatic towards him although he threatened me with violence. I saw him cleaning last week so went over and introduced myself,  never seen someone s**t themselves so much....lol.
I found it to be all mouth and trousers, although i do stay away as i wouldnt want to see him hurt 
I think most are mouth and trousers, just keep out of his way for the quiet life i spose, thats what i do, couldnt be bothered with it all!!!

[DRS]

think it is all mouth mate but hes known 4 getting young lads 2 do ur van inn......how do u prove that 2 the police? think i might set a camera up on my van just incase...any suggestions were 2 get a cheap cctv?
THANKS

[petetaylor56]

drs i have a cctv camera watching mine got it of ebay one ploblem all they have got to do is cover there faces but should act as a deterent

[DRS]

thats true mate will act as a deterant but 1 prob i live in a 2nd floor flat they prob wont notice it but better than nothing thinking about renting a unit but there pretty expensive and few and far between....anybody else rent a unit or garage?

[rosskesava]

If you put yourself in his shoes, what would he think you may do if he did anything to your van/car?

He may think that you'd go and do exactly the same to his?

Most of the problem  is that in these situations we do not know what the other person is thinking. If he is prepared to do anything, because he thinks like that, the chances are that he's also be thinking you'd do the same or worse back.

Personally, I wouldn't worry too much. We've been threatened a number of times and nothing ever came of it.

There's a world of difference between a threat and the 'carrying it out'.

It may be worth a trip to your local Police station to make a statement though (that you've been threatened) but you'll need a good description and his car number plates.

Then I'd tell him you've done that. Chances are if he's the type who would damage property, then he has a criminal record and if he isn't that type, then it may scare him from threatening you again.

[Jago]

If he is a good cleaner then why is he worried?

always makes me think that stick at it as he will probably be inside soon and his then so called regular customers will come your way.

You have to hope he will get a long stretch LOL

There Is Enough windows for everyone just some clean more than others and some clean better than others.

Stick at it he sounds a prat (moderated)

What area you in?

[jouk45]

DRS. Tell him thats why i turned to wfp m8 lol, no nasty falls of ladders

[AuRavelling79]

Ignore him - but if you have to respond use "we" rather than "I" - it's good to give the impression there's more than one of you!

[brett walker]

Agressive window cleaners

come accross a few of them in my time only one way to deal with them be agressive back.   No-one owns a patch its up to the customer who they have if you do a good job you dont loose your customers but then again yes you do get awkward funny customers : just drop them, stick with the loyal ones .  Then you should have no problem with people canvassing where you work i find the agressive window cleaners are the one that dont do a professional job.

One thing i do not agree with is under-cutting someone

Brett

[24-7 S C Services]

Evening Everyone,

I would not say i have actually been threatened yet, however, I have had my van egged and also i have had my 1000lt holding tank emptied twice now.

At the end of the day, they are just small minded individuals who have nothing better to do, than give someone grief.

As Jago says - 'If he is a good window cleaner, why is he worried'?, I have said that to a couple of window cleaners so far!! 'Why are you complaining that you have lost work to me? You must have provided a really bad service, especially as your old customer is now happy paying twice as much for her windows to be cleaned properly'. Now that normally shuts them up.

Many Thanks


Andrew

[r4g1t]

sorry mate but you should stay away from his patch, although he shouldnt  have threatened you,you must understand you are threatening his livelyhood.

[denb007]

there is no such thing as a patch. loads of windows for everyone look after your own customers and do a good job and theres nothing to worry about----- it does wind me up when someone thinks thay can tell you where to work he sounds like a bully to me next time you see him stand your ground and hold your head up

[Ian_Giles]

Stick with it, no one has the rights to a 'patch'.

But don't go in cheap and try to undercut, don't set out to take his customers. just go out there and offer your services.
There are estates in my town of Chepstow where there are close to a dozen...(maybe even more than that} other operators working the same 'patch'.

violence is never the real answer of course, diplomacy first, talk to him if you can, hell, send him a letter if you know his address!
Explain to him you are not taking his work, you are merely offering your services.
He won't clean every house.
Don't back down to him.
Be diplomatic but firm.
Violence and aggression really is the very last resort.
Stay mild mannered, inform him that threats of violence will leave you no option but to bring in the police.
And so on, when he knows you are there to stay he'll have little option but to back off.

Ian

[dave0123]

As far as i no there is no patchs iv been going about 2years now! and was worried about teading on people's shoes myself but iv worked doors away from another window cleaners n therv allways been nice had a little chat. Am in the yellow pages so iv you have any sort of advertising just say listen am not trying to pouch work or undercut i got these jobs from my advertising and no1 is going 2 say no i carnt do your windows its some1 elses patch:|

Its just talk and he knows he carnt really do anythink,
Dave

[RO-Sheen]

I just started up window cleaning a few weeks ago but when I was out delivering leaflets Mongo came running out of his house waving my leaflet and shouting 'Did you deliver this??'
This bloke was very big and very aggressive with a big scar across his broken nose.
When I said that it was my leaflet he shouted at me 'Leave it out' but then he laughed!
I really thought that he was going to go for me. We had a chat and he told me what areas he covered and that he was trying to build his business up as he had just moved to the area and wanted to transfer his business. I told him that 'we' are starting in this area too but I would keep away from where he is working.
I think he must have thought that I was well established business because he ended up asking me to give him a shout if I ever have any work for him!

It shook me up a bit but it wouldnt stop me from advertising. I will still canvass this week once I get my new uniform with name embroided on but I think I will leave his street out!!

[windows_chepstow]

Was threatened today by local window cleaner.....said id have a nasty fall off a ladder if he sees me in his area again...wot should i do? anybody had an experience like that?

Something similar happened to me/us; twice.  The first time was worrying as it was two guys who approached Wor Lass and I.

One was a window cleaner; the other was his Dad!  (honest).

But his Dad was quite a scary bloke.  I acted all 'Geordie'; (Come on, round the back NOW, sort of attitude and carried a 'tool' for a bit in my rear pouch).

They knew where the Little Un went to school and where we lived and mentioned 'bricks and windows' and stuff.

Anyway, Wor Lass reported it to the police (it really upset her when they mentioned the Little Uns school) and the police were on the ball.  They logged it and gave us a reference and said they could be done for harrassment if it happened again.

They offered to speak to the 'thickies' (I overtly wrote down their car registration; I stood right in front of their car to do it and wrote it on the back of my hand in front of them) but the cops said it could go in one of two ways:

Either raise the stakes and more possible abuse.

Or

Calm everything down.

Wor Lass opted for the 'say nothing' approach.

Ian_Giles offered to 'help me out' at the time; just to phone him and he'd be straight around to assist me in a tussle; and gave me some tips; good bloke he is.

The only other time was a feeble attempt at threatening me with a 'baseball bat' (he didn't have one in his hands at the time mind).  The guy threatening me was really scared and nervous; a complete drug-taking plonker!

Luckily enough, thickies like these lot are few and far between.

Anyway,

DRS,

It's a tough one mate.  If you're confident of your 'thumping' skills then crack on and work in 'his' patch.

But if you've enough work elsewhere; avoid the thickies!

Remember, window cleaning is meant to be stress-free(ish).

Anyway, I also hold a grudge for a long time; so my 'thickies' haven't got away with it.  It's just a case of biding my time, finding out the pertinent information and boxing clever.

[Biscute]

This is a complicated one for me, as for the thing as no1 owns a patch this isnt entirley ture, because if you pay 2 grand for a round in a close area i would consider that as being your patch. If you knock on the doors and ask them if they would like a window cleaner then that is fine but dont try to undercut and perposly poach off the guy who was there before you, because that is giving him reason to start somthing. as for him threatening you, if it was me personaly i would have gave him as good as he got but if but 1 thing iv learned from my army and doorman exspirience is 99% is all talk so dont worrie and keep trying.

[windows_chepstow]

as no1 owns a patch this isnt entirley ture, because if you pay 2 grand for a round in a close area i would consider that as being your patch. If you knock on the doors and ask them if they would like a window cleaner then that is fine but dont try to undercut and perposly poach off the guy who was there before you,

Biscute,

No-one does actually own a 'patch'.  When you buy a house, part of the agreement isn't, 'You must hav Biscute as a window cleaner and no-one else'.

The customer can choose.

Sometimes they choose other window cleaners because their present window cleaners are sub-standard, do a bad job, are yobbish or what-ever.

Who cares?  I've lost customers to other window cleaners but I'm not going to knee-cap any of them.

It's just part of the job!

[macc]

sorry mate but you should stay away from his patch, although he shouldnt have threatened you,you must understand you are threatening his livelyhood.

dont no how it works where he lives but down here no one owns a patch.