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Window Lickers

  • Posts: 2196
Buying into a franchise in Southampton.
« on: October 16, 2014, 10:19:34 pm »
Thought that'd get your attention  ;D




None of my guys ever use a squeegee.  If a job truly required a squeegee for an interior clean (and I've not come across one yet) then we wouldn't do it.

Vin

Can you use a squeegee, competently, for the purposes of cleaning windows, with either hand whilst up a ladder to the satisfaction of your customers and own standards?
Liberace's ex looking to meet well built men for cottaging meets.

CleanClear

  • Posts: 14600
Re: Buying into a franchise in Southampton.
« Reply #1 on: October 16, 2014, 10:35:31 pm »
Getting the pop corn ready for this !!  ;D
*Status*--------Currently Online---------

richywilts

  • Posts: 4261
Re: Buying into a franchise in Southampton.
« Reply #2 on: October 16, 2014, 10:53:50 pm »
yep ;D ;D
Richard Wiltshire
Window Clean Direct

richardwiltshire36@yahoo.co.uk
www.windowcleandirect.co.uk
07894821844

Ian Lancaster

  • Posts: 2811
Re: Buying into a franchise in Southampton.
« Reply #3 on: October 16, 2014, 10:59:00 pm »
I can do it standing on my head, one hand tied behind my back and a spare squeegee rubber clamped in my teeth ready to replace the one in my squeegee just by using my little finger.

All whilst balancing on the rubber point at the top of my ladder ;D

supernova77

  • Posts: 3547
Re: Buying into a franchise in Southampton.
« Reply #4 on: October 17, 2014, 08:21:23 am »
Quote
None of my guys ever use a squeegee.  If a job truly required a squeegee for an interior clean (and I've not come across one yet) then we wouldn't do it.

Vin

Vin,

How do you clean internal windows? Or do you avoid them?

Also... What if a customers front door leaks using WFP... How would you clean it?

Andy

Perfect Windows

  • Posts: 4178
Re: Buying into a franchise in Southampton.
« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2014, 08:39:48 am »
Quote
None of my guys ever use a squeegee.  If a job truly required a squeegee for an interior clean (and I've not come across one yet) then we wouldn't do it.

Vin

Vin,

How do you clean internal windows? Or do you avoid them?

Also... What if a customers front door leaks using WFP... How would you clean it?

Andy

Avoid them where possible - as mentioned elsewhere, reduces our hourly rate.  What we generally do is offer a good, high quality microfibre free of charge to the customer and a minute of tuition on how to use it.  Then we offer, if they have any problems doing the insides with them, to clean inside at twice the price of the outside.

We don't lose customers like that and, in (I think) every case where we've offered that, they don't ask us to do the insides.  We also end up selling a large number of microfibres to customers for their friends.  This suggests to me that the customers are happy with the solution.

Doors we just spray and microfibre.  It does the job and doesn't require keeping clean water in a bucket on the van so it's overall quicker.

Vin

Stephen.C

  • Posts: 450
Re: Buying into a franchise in Southampton.
« Reply #6 on: October 17, 2014, 07:19:59 pm »
Yes £400 a day to you Bateman :P
I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I am saying.

www.pureh2owindowcleaning.com

Arnold Palmer

  • Posts: 20706
Re: Buying into a franchise in Southampton.
« Reply #7 on: October 17, 2014, 07:57:19 pm »
 :'(

Window cleaner can't clean windows properly.

 :'(
They're eeeting the dogs.
They're eeeting the cats.
They're eeeting the pets,
of the people who live there.

ChumBucket

Re: Buying into a franchise in Southampton.
« Reply #8 on: October 17, 2014, 09:14:59 pm »
Quote
None of my guys ever use a squeegee.  If a job truly required a squeegee for an interior clean (and I've not come across one yet) then we wouldn't do it.

Vin

Vin,

How do you clean internal windows? Or do you avoid them?

Also... What if a customers front door leaks using WFP... How would you clean it?

Andy

Avoid them where possible - as mentioned elsewhere, reduces our hourly rate.  What we generally do is offer a good, high quality microfibre free of charge to the customer and a minute of tuition on how to use it.  Then we offer, if they have any problems doing the insides with them, to clean inside at twice the price of the outside.

We don't lose customers like that and, in (I think) every case where we've offered that, they don't ask us to do the insides.  We also end up selling a large number of microfibres to customers for their friends.  This suggests to me that the customers are happy with the solution.

Doors we just spray and microfibre.  It does the job and doesn't require keeping clean water in a bucket on the van so it's overall quicker.

Vin

What do you do with hotels, schools, nursing homes etc etc?

Frankybadboy

  • Posts: 9022
Re: Buying into a franchise in Southampton.
« Reply #9 on: October 17, 2014, 09:21:20 pm »
Yes £400 a day to you Bateman :P
at your speed ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Mick Kent

  • Posts: 1380
Re: Buying into a franchise in Southampton.
« Reply #10 on: October 17, 2014, 09:26:03 pm »
Whats 1 free microfibre meant to do when a customer wants there insides cleaned?? Id love to hear your advice you give them on how just 1 free microfibre will clean all there inside windows?? Surely it will get covered in dirt and dust from the first window??.
A squeege is a basic tool of the job as is wfp as is a microfibre or scrim. Any "proper" window cleaner should be able to do all especially use a applicator and squeegee.

8weekly

Re: Buying into a franchise in Southampton.
« Reply #11 on: October 17, 2014, 09:34:23 pm »
Quote
None of my guys ever use a squeegee.  If a job truly required a squeegee for an interior clean (and I've not come across one yet) then we wouldn't do it.

Vin

Vin,

How do you clean internal windows? Or do you avoid them?

Also... What if a customers front door leaks using WFP... How would you clean it?

Andy

Avoid them where possible - as mentioned elsewhere, reduces our hourly rate.  What we generally do is offer a good, high quality microfibre free of charge to the customer and a minute of tuition on how to use it.  Then we offer, if they have any problems doing the insides with them, to clean inside at twice the price of the outside.

We don't lose customers like that and, in (I think) every case where we've offered that, they don't ask us to do the insides.  We also end up selling a large number of microfibres to customers for their friends.  This suggests to me that the customers are happy with the solution.

Doors we just spray and microfibre.  It does the job and doesn't require keeping clean water in a bucket on the van so it's overall quicker.

Vin

What do you do with hotels, schools, nursing homes etc etc?
He doesn't do them. His focus is domestic. In all seriousness I think there are some very silly points being made on here. He has defined his market and gone for it. Successfully as far as I can see. It's a bit like companies that focus on tyres and exhausts rather than general maintenance.

Additionally, we all have work we won't do. I won't go through houses or garages, but I'll go down alleys (oo er) to get to the backs and charge very well for it. I almost always turn down interior cleans, but sometimes I will do them if it's the right property, the right price or I like the people and want to help them. I turn down almost all one offs except end of tenancy cleans.

I can trad, (I have one or two shops that I trad) but I wouldn't be anywhere near the speed of Cozy or Matt. Because of this, money wise it is quicker generally to microfibre internals. I used to plod on with the squeegee thinking I should, but at the end of the day it's all about hourly rate and I could cloth a cleanish window in half the time taken to squeegee. A dirty one I would squeegee.

Oh, and I could not squeegee with my left hand as I have a benign condition which means that my left hand coordination is poor.

I think Vin is a bit up himself at times on here (as we all are) and in the short term franchising isn't for me, but I genuinely admire what he has achieved. 1,500 domestic customers who are paying prices that many stalwarts on here wouldn't dream of.

8weekly

Re: Buying into a franchise in Southampton.
« Reply #12 on: October 17, 2014, 09:35:12 pm »
Whats 1 free microfibre meant to do when a customer wants there insides cleaned?? Id love to hear your advice you give them on how just 1 free microfibre will clean all there inside windows?? Surely it will get covered in dirt and dust from the first window??.
A squeege is a basic tool of the job as is wfp as is a microfibre or scrim. Any "proper" window cleaner should be able to do all especially use a applicator and squeegee.

All this from the bloke who only does fronts!  :o

Mick Kent

  • Posts: 1380
Re: Buying into a franchise in Southampton.
« Reply #13 on: October 17, 2014, 09:39:31 pm »
Whats 1 free microfibre meant to do when a customer wants there insides cleaned?? Id love to hear your advice you give them on how just 1 free microfibre will clean all there inside windows?? Surely it will get covered in dirt and dust from the first window??.
A squeege is a basic tool of the job as is wfp as is a microfibre or scrim. Any "proper" window cleaner should be able to do all especially use a applicator and squeegee.

All this from the bloke who only does fronts!  :o
Meaning??

Frankybadboy

  • Posts: 9022
Re: Buying into a franchise in Southampton.
« Reply #14 on: October 17, 2014, 09:41:43 pm »
Whats 1 free microfibre meant to do when a customer wants there insides cleaned?? Id love to hear your advice you give them on how just 1 free microfibre will clean all there inside windows?? Surely it will get covered in dirt and dust from the first window??.
A squeege is a basic tool of the job as is wfp as is a microfibre or scrim. Any "proper" window cleaner should be able to do all especially use a applicator and squeegee.

All this from the bloke who only does fronts!  :o
Meaning??

you only do fronts ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Perfect Windows

  • Posts: 4178
Re: Buying into a franchise in Southampton.
« Reply #15 on: October 17, 2014, 09:44:15 pm »
What do you do with hotels, schools, nursing homes etc etc?

We don't clean any hotels, schools, nursing homes etc etc.  We're domestic only.

Doubtless that makes us useless.

Vin

ChumBucket

Re: Buying into a franchise in Southampton.
« Reply #16 on: October 17, 2014, 09:46:15 pm »
What do you do with hotels, schools, nursing homes etc etc?

We don't clean any hotels, schools, nursing homes etc etc.  We're domestic only.

Doubtless that makes us useless.

Vin

Doesn't make you useless but it does restrict you from this type of work.

Mick Kent

  • Posts: 1380
Re: Buying into a franchise in Southampton.
« Reply #17 on: October 17, 2014, 09:46:26 pm »
Whats 1 free microfibre meant to do when a customer wants there insides cleaned?? Id love to hear your advice you give them on how just 1 free microfibre will clean all there inside windows?? Surely it will get covered in dirt and dust from the first window??.
A squeege is a basic tool of the job as is wfp as is a microfibre or scrim. Any "proper" window cleaner should be able to do all especially use a applicator and squeegee.

All this from the bloke who only does fronts!  :o
you only do fronts ;D ;D ;D ;D
Meaning??


Lol franky do 1 :-)

Frankybadboy

  • Posts: 9022
Re: Buying into a franchise in Southampton.
« Reply #18 on: October 17, 2014, 09:49:02 pm »
Whats 1 free microfibre meant to do when a customer wants there insides cleaned?? Id love to hear your advice you give them on how just 1 free microfibre will clean all there inside windows?? Surely it will get covered in dirt and dust from the first window??.
A squeege is a basic tool of the job as is wfp as is a microfibre or scrim. Any "proper" window cleaner should be able to do all especially use a applicator and squeegee.

All this from the bloke who only does fronts!  :o
you only do fronts ;D ;D ;D ;D
Meaning??


Lol franky do 1 :-)
lets be fair nick you only do half the job any way

Perfect Windows

  • Posts: 4178
Re: Buying into a franchise in Southampton.
« Reply #19 on: October 17, 2014, 09:49:10 pm »
Whats 1 free microfibre meant to do when a customer wants there insides cleaned?? Id love to hear your advice you give them on how just 1 free microfibre will clean all there inside windows?? Surely it will get covered in dirt and dust from the first window??.
A squeege is a basic tool of the job as is wfp as is a microfibre or scrim. Any "proper" window cleaner should be able to do all especially use a applicator and squeegee.


All I can say is what I said above.  Customers seem to like it.  Whether you choose to believe it or not, they take the cloth and don't ask us to do the insides.  That's the aim and we get what we want without actually having to say "we don't want to do the insides because we earn less per hour than just cleaning your outsides" which I suspect would just hack the cusotmer off.

Vin