[Arnold Palmer]

Who employs smack heads for cheap labour? No-one that's who.

WFP is less of a skill than the old squeegee. It just is. The difference is when you walk away from a squeegeed window you know if it's clean.

[robertphil]

last week i happened to be eating in my local macdonalds as a wfp firm set to on the place . one lad doin the outside wfp and 1 lad doin the insides trad.    this was my first time seeing wfp really close up .  
   it was unreal how much water the outside lad used out there and he must have scrubbed each window a dozen times too.   i got to thinking that  hed be  better using a t bar scrubber as at least youd only need to scrub it one time ? why does wfp seem to involve mad scrubbing action?
  it looked very inefficient in my eyes , just saying.   the lad doin the inside didnt do any of the upper windows .  

was it worth it ,who knows ,i wouldnt want to wear waterproofs i do know that

[Carl2009]

I think that there are a lot of valid points being made here, on both sides. To be honest you have to give the OP a break. He's only letting you know what he saw and his thoughts - that's what a forum is for - to ask questions and open up debate.

Frankly 11 minutes to do 7 houses trad seems dodgy to me. I wonder what the finish is like. And I wonder what the results will be like in a day or two, whether widow marks, smudges and runs can be seen. A good trader will leave very few of these.

As Jonny said, wfp has its problems, but I don't agree that it gives a better finish. I've wfp and traded my own (I have a bungalow) and I wfp them every time now as the finish is better, for longer.

H20 was only pointing out H and S issues and making observations - we all do it. And he seems to be doing it from a position of knowledge about the individuals.

Personally I love bad window cleaners of any breed - their customers leave 'em and I pick them up.

[Tom White]

he must have scrubbed each window a dozen times too.   i got to thinking that  hed be  better using a t bar scrubber as at least youd only need to scrub it one time ? why does wfp seem to involve mad scrubbing action?

It doesn't; he was probably just insecure with his technique so over compensated.

[paul13]

he must have scrubbed each window a dozen times too.   i got to thinking that  hed be  better using a t bar scrubber as at least youd only need to scrub it one time ? why does wfp seem to involve mad scrubbing action?

It doesn't; he was probably just insecure with his technique so over compensated.

+1

[H20cleaning]

Tbh i am quite slow with WFP even after 4 years? But i think because im not fully booked with work i can afford to spend that extra few mins. I go round the houses quickly and wipe ledges to wich a lot of my customers prefer!

[SeanK]

he must have scrubbed each window a dozen times too.   i got to thinking that  hed be  better using a t bar scrubber as at least youd only need to scrub it one time ? why does wfp seem to involve mad scrubbing action?

It doesn't; he was probably just insecure with his technique so over compensated.

There could also have been a small amount of grease on the glass I find that on some fast food outlets
even the outside glass can get slightly greasy which wfp doesn't cope with well.
I have a few properties close to a chippy that don't come up well using water alone for these I use a mop
on a pole, I scrub them as I would trad with detergent and then scrub rinse off with pure.

[danny mckim]

Your original post opening

LOCAL LADDER MONKEYS

This is a poor comment  and one which most window cleaners who use ladders like myself will take offence to

If their customers are taking them out drinks they must be happy with the job they are doing

The customers you are picking up from them shouldn't  bother them in the slightest so what would you expect them to say to you

If a customer prefers wfp that's their choice

[H20cleaning]

Your original post opening

LOCAL LADDER MONKEYS

This is a poor comment  and one which most window cleaners who use ladders like myself will take offence to

If their customers are taking them out drinks they must be happy with the job they are doing

The customers you are picking up from them shouldn't  bother them in the slightest so what would you expect them to say to you

If a customer prefers wfp that's their choice

So you would tie yourself in with the term ladder monkey? Strange.

Theres a saying " your pay peanuts you get monkeys"
 
Ladder monkeys is the term i use for poor windows cleaners looking for quick beer tokens, whilst using ladders without the correct safety methods and doing a poor job.

We all use ladders wether its a 2 step or 12 step ladder so do i call myself a ladder monkey? Nope because i do a good job and my price reflects that, i am also fully trained and insured unlike them ladder monkeys i spoke of

[Clever Forum Name]

🙈🐵🙊

[robertphil]

he must have scrubbed each window a dozen times too.   i got to thinking that  hed be  better using a t bar scrubber as at least youd only need to scrub it one time ? why does wfp seem to involve mad scrubbing action?

It doesn't; he was probably just insecure with his technique so over compensated.

There could also have been a small amount of grease on the glass I find that on some fast food outlets
even the outside glass can get slightly greasy which wfp doesn't cope with well.
I have a few properties close to a chippy that don't come up well using water alone for these I use a mop
on a pole, I scrub them as I would trad with detergent and then scrub rinse off with pure.

thats what it must have been ,the grease.  course it may have also been seeing another team of windies sitting inside eating/watching him at work  made him determined not to "miss a bit" .     

[David Kent @ KentKleen]

Who employs smack heads for cheap labour? No-one that's who.

WFP is less of a skill than the old squeegee. It just is. The difference is when you walk away from a squeegeed window you know if it's clean.

Just to contribute to this topic. Sorry Soupy you are wrong! I know 'FACT' that certain companies in my area DO! As the OP also does, I take 'bucket' loads of there work from them.
   

[Mick Kent]

Your original post opening

LOCAL LADDER MONKEYS

This is a poor comment  and one which most window cleaners who use ladders like myself will take offence to

If their customers are taking them out drinks they must be happy with the job they are doing

The customers you are picking up from them shouldn't  bother them in the slightest so what would you expect them to say to you

If a customer prefers wfp that's their choice

So you would tie yourself in with the term ladder monkey? Strange.

Theres a saying " your pay peanuts you get monkeys"
 
Ladder monkeys is the term i use for poor windows cleaners looking for quick beer tokens, whilst using ladders without the correct safety methods and doing a poor job.

We all use ladders wether its a 2 step or 12 step ladder so do i call myself a ladder monkey? Nope because i do a good job and my price reflects that, i am also fully trained and insured unlike them ladder monkeys i spoke of

Lol give it a rest now will you lol..your just a baby..im surprised you have been going 4 years and havnt got a full work load??
Maybe these ladder monkeys do a better job in your area than you as they seem to be getting the regular custom..i bet they have decent phones too and not an apple lol..

[Arnold Palmer]

Why would anyone employ smack heads? I thought drugs were expensive - how on earth does employing smack heads equate to cheap labour? Surely you'd be better off employing Romanians or women. They'd be better 'cheap labour'.

How do you know they are actual 'smack heads' and not just your run of the mill stoners or richys? Do they have track marks? Do you see them queuing at the chemist every morning? It was my understanding that smack heads aren't really interested in working, just smack.

[David Kent @ KentKleen]

With police in the family and a friend living next door to the parents of one of these 'professional' cleaners I have a great deal of knowledge on the goings on of certain shiners. How about 'going tooled' up to work, and im not talking about a squeegee!
It goes on certainly where I live and work.

[Mick Kent]

Why would anyone employ smack heads? I thought drugs were expensive - how on earth does employing smack heads equate to cheap labour? Surely you'd be better off employing Romanians or women. They'd be better 'cheap labour'.

How do you know they are actual 'smack heads' and not just your run of the mill stoners or richys? Do they have track marks? Do you see them queuing at the chemist every morning? It was my understanding that smack heads aren't really interested in working, just smack.

I agree totally. Only an idiot would actualy employ smack heads and thats if like you said they actualy wanted to work which they simply dont and wont.
Some people in this window cleaning game realy think they are gods gift and above others, ooooo i run a few franchises so i must be right and i can shout by using CAPITALS like "FACT" why the hell would a company employ a heroin addic smack head thieving scumbag when there are so many normal people out there they could employ??.

[David Kent @ KentKleen]

Mick, wow whats up with you? Why you ask, I dont have a clue why, but they do FACT, and yes a few franchised vans on the go, with respectable, uniformed, polite, insured operators who are expanding my operation by been that way.
I love the fact that other companies may employ 'undesireables' it just leaves the door wide open for decent companies to pick up easy work.
Most people using this forum take there business seriously but we are the MINORITY! There are many more window cleaners out there that dont use this forum than do. People only interested in money and cheap labour.
SHOCKING!
P.S I love CAPITALS!

[H20cleaning]

Ow mick stop button bashing.

"Im surprised your not fully booked after 4 years? Thats because i have a life like going out on a weekend and not living to work! I decide how much effort i out into my business not you so keep your trap shut.

And as for them been smack heads have a read in the evening gazette this is one of the lads girlfriends who died from a drug overdose a few months ago, and there not much older than me so i know fine well what they are into.

As for employing smack heads they can still claim benefits whilst earning £30.00 a day window cleaning? are you that thick?
They are Probley really reliable workers because they need the money to fund their addiction you

[H20cleaning]

Mick, wow whats up with you? Why you ask, I dont have a clue why, but they do FACT, and yes a few franchised vans on the go, with respectable, uniformed, polite, insured operators who are expanding my operation by been that way.
I love the fact that other companies may employ 'undesireables' it just leaves the door wide open for decent companies to pick up easy work.
Most people using this forum take there business seriously but we are the MINORITY! There are many more window cleaners out there that dont use this forum than do. People only interested in money and cheap labour.
SHOCKING!
P.S I love CAPITALS!

I dont think they realise the north east has the highest drug users in the whole of england

[David Kent @ KentKleen]

Dont go upsetting people H2o, i think your comments towards mick your last post are unfair. We do indeed live in a problem area for drugs. I work in a relatively  small town so everyone knows everyone so to speak, in large cities you wouldnt have a clue on who is doing what.
Cream always rises to the top!
Gods gift to Redcars dirty windows is KentKleen, we are above most coz our vans are BIG!