[slap bash]

In a way they are your boss because  they are paying you .You can't dictate to a customer  what's happening 

Try telling Asda your there boss just because you are there customer.

[slap bash]

The road of the window cleaner is a long road of discarded customers>

[dave f]

i still find that customers still think that window cleaning in geral is done by chancers blokes on the dole etc, from the converstions ive had with quite a few of my customers .when ive had to explain to them its a thriving bussines in it own wright.not old jack the local handy man earning some beer tokens.and that window cleaning as moved on from  using scrims ,some see the light others dont bat an eye lid they still think we are at the bottom of the list if only they knew

[Spruce]

If you use written terms and conditions in your business then that's great but been at this for nearly 5 years and have given "bad" customers chance after chance in the early days but very few if any ever change their spots ... all the terms and conditions in the world wont have changed them.

My view now is the world is full of great customers and great window cleaners along with poor customers and poor windows cleaners - I consider myself to be a great window cleaner (as well as most if not all on here) so I only want great customers.

It all goes wrong when great window cleaners continue cleaning for poor customers (this forum full of funny / horror stories a few posted by myself  ) and when great customers have to deal with poor window cleaners.

Great customers deserve great window cleaners ............ the trick is to bring the 2 together and that chaps is down to us.

Canvas
Clean
Cull

or in simple terms drop the dross

  ... just my take of the situation.

Ian has said this before and I really like his thinking. It helps to keep things in perspective. If you are honest about yourself and the quality of the clean you did, then deducting where the issue is is very easy. 

[Walter Mitty]

In a way they are your boss because  they are paying you .You can't dictate to a customer  what's happening 

Sure thing - but this slices both ways.  I can't force a customer to operate a certain way.  All I can do is conclude the service if they won't play ball.
Likewise, if they want me to run their service in a particular way and it doesn't fit with my system, they can conclude the service.
If the customer wants the window cleaner to change it's usually due to convenience or perceived security issues.
The window cleaner has to be able to pay his way in life and customers who are unwittingly helping to prevent that could cause him to experience financial difficulties if there are enough of such customers.

[LT carpet cleaning]

i still find that customers still think that window cleaning in geral is done by chancers blokes on the dole etc, from the converstions ive had with quite a few of my customers .when ive had to explain to them its a thriving bussines in it own wright.not old jack the local handy man earning some beer tokens.and that window cleaning as moved on from  using scrims ,some see the light others dont bat an eye lid they still think we are at the bottom of the list if only they knew

If only they knew what?

[SeanK]

One good thing about having terms and conditions like the above is if the customer is still stupid enough
to take you on after reading them then they wont be hard to please.

[Johnny B]

I am probably more flexible in my approach than many, mainly because things are different here in the Emerald Isle.

I have a mix of regular weekly shops, and bi-weekly, monthly, six weekly and eight weekly residentials, as well as a good few who ring me as and when they need me. It probably sounds like a nightmare to anyone reading this, but it's really not so bad, because the thing for me is that I am out there earning, and that's what it's all about. I am picking up new work all the time now, so am able to organize and refine my run by dropping any that are serial messers or poor payers!

John

[C o z y]

I am probably more flexible in my approach than many, mainly because things are different here in the Emerald Isle.

I have a mix of regular weekly shops, and bi-weekly, monthly, six weekly and eight weekly residentials, as well as a good few who ring me as and when they need me. It probably sounds like a nightmare to anyone reading this, but it's really not so bad, because the thing for me is that I am out there earning, and that's what it's all about. I am picking up new work all the time now, so am able to organize and refine my run by dropping any that are serial messers or poor payers!

John

You forgot to mention how long it took to get like that mate.

This guys story makes it look like people like me had it easy. But he hasn't got all the way by keeping dross. If it looks like a messer,smells like a messer, and messes you about, drop it and get some more customers.  Messers are worth nothing. I don't think T's and C's make any difference.

[Johnny B]

I am probably more flexible in my approach than many, mainly because things are different here in the Emerald Isle.

I have a mix of regular weekly shops, and bi-weekly, monthly, six weekly and eight weekly residentials, as well as a good few who ring me as and when they need me. It probably sounds like a nightmare to anyone reading this, but it's really not so bad, because the thing for me is that I am out there earning, and that's what it's all about. I am picking up new work all the time now, so am able to organize and refine my run by dropping any that are serial messers or poor payers!

John

You forgot to mention how long it took to get like that mate.

This guys story makes it look like people like me had it easy. But he hasn't got all the way by keeping dross. If it looks like a messer,smells like a messer, and messes you about, drop it and get some more customers.  Messers are worth nothing. I don't think T's and C's make any difference.

I've been in Ireland since July 2011, and started canvassing a week after arriving. I've had a shed load of messers, by which I mean those who want clean windows but are reluctant to pay! I also had to learn quite quickly that 'regular' cleans mean different things to different people, but even if they are periodical but still mean I make some bucks from them, I keep them and fit them in when it suits me. I currently have 371 customers on the books, but at the end of each month cull any that I haven't seen for a year (about 10 a month on average). I am picking up new ones at a similar rate, so don't even need to canvass to replace these ones.

I agree with you Cozy, that T&Cs make little difference, and in any case, I don't have any desire to force people to use my services if they really don't want to.

John   

[slap bash]

I have used T &C from day one and have always used them in my business life. I find my customers like my business proach to my service. They hardly every read them and do never question me on them ,but they have stopped the messers in there tracks. If there is a problem I just refer to my paper work and the customer stop the crap as "fore warned is fore armed. " I even have customer who do pay late by being forgetful and even add the 6 quid for late payment in my terms.
    I took one of my customers to small claims court and got my late payment charge and costs.
    My own experience in 45 years of business it works and has worked in many businesses and window cleaning is a business, so for those who don`t think they are a business and don`t need T&C its good for them, but for me its  way of professional conduct.

[CleanClear]

I am probably more flexible in my approach than many, mainly because things are different here in the Emerald Isle.

I have a mix of regular weekly shops, and bi-weekly, monthly, six weekly and eight weekly residentials, as well as a good few who ring me as and when they need me. It probably sounds like a nightmare to anyone reading this, but it's really not so bad, because the thing for me is that I am out there earning, and that's what it's all about. I am picking up new work all the time now, so am able to organize and refine my run by dropping any that are serial messers or poor payers!

John

I operate identical to you. There's no way i could operate that automated cleaning round software the way i work. If anyone wants some sort of service i'll provide it !! :-)

[Arnold Palmer]

I operate identical to you. There's no way i could operate that automated cleaning round software the way i work. If anyone wants some sort of service i'll provide it !! :-)

A wrong assumption.

Cleaner planner would work for ad hoc cleans as well as rounds.

[CleanClear]

I operate identical to you. There's no way i could operate that automated cleaning round software the way i work. If anyone wants some sort of service i'll provide it !! :-)

A wrong assumption.

Cleaner planner would work for ad hoc cleans as well as rounds.

If it can gauge my mood for the day, take into account what the weather looks like and produce the exact work that i fancy doing for that day i'll be well impressed.

[Arnold Palmer]

I operate identical to you. There's no way i could operate that automated cleaning round software the way i work. If anyone wants some sort of service i'll provide it !! :-)

A wrong assumption.

Cleaner planner would work for ad hoc cleans as well as rounds.

If it can gauge my mood for the day, take into account what the weather looks like and produce the exact work that i fancy doing for that day i'll be well impressed.

It can be used to record your work. It does not need to plan anything.

[richard groves]

i still find that customers still think that window cleaning in geral is done by chancers blokes on the dole etc, from the converstions ive had with quite a few of my customers .when ive had to explain to them its a thriving bussines in it own wright.not old jack the local handy man earning some beer tokens.and that window cleaning as moved on from  using scrims ,some see the light others dont bat an eye lid they still think we are at the bottom of the list if only they knew

If only they knew what?

That we only work 9 to3,3 weeks a month,drive a sports car at the weekends staying in 5 star luxury hotels and p in our custies rose bushes.

[CleanClear]

I operate identical to you. There's no way i could operate that automated cleaning round software the way i work. If anyone wants some sort of service i'll provide it !! :-)

A wrong assumption.

Cleaner planner would work for ad hoc cleans as well as rounds.

If it can gauge my mood for the day, take into account what the weather looks like and produce the exact work that i fancy doing for that day i'll be well impressed.

It can be used to record your work. It does not need to plan anything.

Cleaner Recorder then ?