[Ian101]

call me a snob  .... but if they have to cancel to save a few quid then do u really want them on your books ?

as for cancelling over winter ... no worries if u can fit them in next year then fine if u cant then u cant .... stick em up a few quid and put them onto bimonthly perhaps

[SeanK]

I think some guys think if they allow one customer to do this then everybody else will want it, I have a few
that do this and it helps because I always have a few who want an extra clean over Christmas and they tip well
for the privilege.
Sometimes you need to take a step back and ask yourself if you are cutting off your nose to spite your face.

It's like that for me. My Brit customers are mostly under 30 and everyone knows every other bod on MOD estates. So word spreads fast here.If I allow one or two of these girls to have 4 cleans a year, I'll have about 20% of the rest wanting it too.
Even though my Brit custies are limited to four areas in Germany, I have to provide a service. To do that well, there have to be limits and expectations.

I still find customers easy to replace, as the Brits move every couple of years to new places. I've found that giving an inch and having some take a yard, is just not worth the effort. Would you still allow people to change the service to suit them if you had 50% more work??

I'm not arrogant in any way with customers. They get 6 weekly cleans, that's it. This service costs "x". Want to change? Get the other guys to do it. I know the saying "customer is king", but you can only serve so many of them, when they start moving limits around, I find it easier to get a new custy instead. No need to be nasty etc, what I'm saying is, why try to fit everyone's need?

There are millions of people who want or need your service. All you have to worry about is to get as many as you can manage within your catchment area. Start fitting their wants and quirks into your business, and where do you stop?
I could understand it if customers were hard to get and keep, but not as just part of the service. When I get new custies, I don't say "It's a six weekly service, unless you get fed up of us tipping up every six weeks, and decide to change to eight weekly, or even as and when you need it. Also, just drop the service in winter, as windows stay clean then, and when we come back in spring, we'll happily scrub away for three times longer to get the gunge off the frames etc. PLEASE be a customer, please".

Works for me.

HTH

PLEASE read my post please, I have a few customers who drop of in the winter, this helps me because I have customers
who want an extra clean before Christmas and pay extra for it.
I also overload in the summer months so I don't have to work in the minus temps so loosing a few in the winter helps
with this also.
It not about begging to keep customers its about working to suit yourself.
I could dump them in the morning because my round is full to bursting but why should I.

[C o z y]

No Sean, I just usedyour post as to make my point. "I think some guys think if they allow one customer to do this then everybody else will want it".

Not the rest. Hope that makes sense.

[SeanK]

No Sean, I just usedyour post as to make my point. "I think some guys think if they allow one customer to do this then everybody else will want it".

Not the rest. Hope that makes sense.

Yes, I now see were your coming from.

[Dave Willis]

Used to bother me but I've never taken anyone back on who stops for the winter. Strangely none of them have ever phoned again in the summer.

[C o z y]

Dave, if they want to stop for "winter" here, it's 6 weekly. So if they want to miss December and end of Jan.........................

What are they saving? The point is, why bother explaining? If 15 quid every 6 weeks is an issue, then best they leave window cleaning out of the little luxuries they have.

[ALF.LEVER]

Had a few who have asked lately can u leave over winter ,I just leave them for good ,I can't say to my morgate company can I pay u in March next time ,12 month service or nothing with us only have proper customers who want clean windows all year round...get rid not worth having

[Dave Willis]

Dave, if they want to stop for "winter" here, it's 6 weekly. So if they want to miss December and end of Jan.........................

What are they saving? The point is, why bother explaining? If 15 quid every 6 weeks is an issue, then best they leave window cleaning out of the little luxuries they have.

Generally I am overloaded with work and anyone who doesn't want me through the winter gets dumped. I don't tell them they are dumped or explain anything - just never go back, to be honest come the spring I can't squeeze them back in anyway. My whole round is now supposed to be six weekly but I rarely get round that quick.

[Ian Lancaster]

My take on this was: A customer who doesn't have their windows cleaned is worse than no customer at all, at least if you don't have a customer, you can go out and get one but if you are 'keeping a slot' open for someone who doesn't use it you are missing out on earning.

I used to say something like: "That's fine Mrs.... Call me again next year when the weather improves and if I've still got capacity I'll fit you back in".

That way I wasn't making any commitment, it was up to the customer whether she wanted to take the risk or not.

In practice the ones who still didn;t want it done rarely phoned anyway.

[H20cleaning]

Are you all missing the point?

If you were full time at work and you were trying your hardest everyday and your boss said " i aint gunna pay you for a couple of months but i will take you back on in march" your saying you wouldnt look for a new job?

Jesus what is wrong with some of use 😂

The women clearly was trying to pull a fast one and she said " well i have no arrangements to go away yet so carry on cleaning "

[Mike #1]

I get your point and have the same view as you  to a point , But i think every situation has got to be sussed out and its worth a good debate to ensure we can all work out the pee taking custys .

The only custy who text me to say leave till spring was a young couple in their 20's with 2 kids in a new build house clearly trying to save money over winter with heating bills and xmas been factored in so it could be worth proposing an 8wk schedule and see what they say .

But what will always baffle me is they will be saving lets say £8.00 a month x4 = £32.00 hardly a massive saving and they will have minging windows 

[C o z y]

I get your point and have the same view as you  to a point , But i think every situation has got to be sussed out and its worth a good debate to ensure we can all work out the pee taking custys .

The only custy who text me to say leave till spring was a young couple in their 20's with 2 kids in a new build house clearly trying to save money over winter with heating bills and xmas been factored in so it could be worth proposing an 8wk schedule and see what they say .

But what will always baffle me is they will be saving lets say £8.00 a month x4 = £32.00 hardly a massive saving and they will have minging windows 

What he said^^^

[Sean Dyer]

I usually just say ok , your windows will be still be dirty and we clean all year round, and might not be able to fit you back in, if they still want it , i just wait and see if they ask again, if they do i explain that it has to be year round if i have the time , and the price goes up

[LT carpet cleaning]

Are you all missing the point?

If you were full time at work and you were trying your hardest everyday and your boss said " i aint gunna pay you for a couple of months but i will take you back on in march" your saying you wouldnt look for a new job?

Jesus what is wrong with some of use 😂

The women clearly was trying to pull a fast one and she said " well i have no arrangements to go away yet so carry on cleaning "

Use??

Completely different scenario. If you lose a couple of quid from one customer and you get "angry" it has no real impact on you. However a salaried job that doesn't pay for 6 months would be a serious issue.

If you were my window cleaner and got "angry" when I wanted to change the frequency or something, you would receive a boot up your backside.

[H20cleaning]

Are you all missing the point?

If you were full time at work and you were trying your hardest everyday and your boss said " i aint gunna pay you for a couple of months but i will take you back on in march" your saying you wouldnt look for a new job?

Jesus what is wrong with some of use 😂

The women clearly was trying to pull a fast one and she said " well i have no arrangements to go away yet so carry on cleaning "

Use??

Completely different scenario. If you lose a couple of quid from one customer and you get "angry" it has no real impact on you. However a salaried job that doesn't pay for 6 months would be a serious issue.

If you were my window cleaner and got "angry" when I wanted to change the frequency or something, you would receive a boot up your backside.

Ok then i wasnt angry i was frustrated is that better ? Its annoy when you offer a service wich they are happy in the summer with but do anything to save a few quid in the winter.
Most of you will say " she might of actually been going away" wich is true but then she could of said ok i will leave it with the neighbour or bank transfer... Simples

[H20cleaning]

And of you boot people like me up the backside expect a swift roundhouse kick 

[Window Lickers]

Now now children. Its only a forum.

[LT carpet cleaning]

And of you boot people like me up the backside expect a swift roundhouse kick  

People like you? Someone who gets "angry" because he might lose a few quid?

Yes right.  

Now get back to your ceebeebies.

[H20cleaning]

And of you boot people like me up the backside expect a swift roundhouse kick  

People like you? Someone who gets "angry" because he might lose a few quid?

Yes right.  

Now get back to your ceebeebies.

I didnt loose a few quid think you need to study the post more accurately... I kept the customer on monthly as she was trying to pull a fast one and it didnt work.

Not stop bashing that keyboard you will break a nail

[Dave Willis]

Snickers anyone?