[paul alan]

How many strikes do you give this type?

Had one yesterday and layed the "terms" out and they were fine, was suprised.

Had one this a.m and she she wants them leaving till next wednesday. I said l wont be back for 4 weeks etc and offered 8 weekly at +25% and explained why 8 weekly costs more to get the point accross that if shes leaving it another 4 weeks its going to be more work for us at the same price.

No answer as yet but lm inclined to sack her off( had insomnia last 3 nights-not great mood).

Before l do anything rash, what does everyone else do in this situation? How much do you stand for?

Obviously shes going to do this again at some point.

Makes me laugh now that she told me how her last window cleaner just dissapeared, knew something was amiss at the time as that sets my "dodgy customer" sensors off.

 She does live next door to a customer of mine so its not out the way. Not needing the work either.

Whats the policy here?

[Dry Clean]

Go with your gut and dump, personally I cant be bothered with the can you leave it until next time or clean when it suits them types.

[jo5hm4n]

How many strikes do you give this type?

Had one yesterday and layed the "terms" out and they were fine, was suprised.

Had one this a.m and she she wants them leaving till next wednesday. I said l wont be back for 4 weeks etc and offered 8 weekly at +25% and explained why 8 weekly costs more to get the point accross that if shes leaving it another 4 weeks its going to be more work for us at the same price.

No answer as yet but lm inclined to sack her off( had insomnia last 3 nights-not great mood).

Before l do anything rash, what does everyone else do in this situation? How much do you stand for?

Obviously shes going to do this again at some point.

Makes me laugh now that she told me how her last window cleaner just dissapeared, knew something was amiss at the time as that sets my "dodgy customer" sensors off.

 She does live next door to a customer of mine so its not out the way. Not needing the work either.

Whats the policy here?

Paul, for me personally there are a number of factors involved.  Firstly, i would give the customer 2 strikes before i say, right its every 4 weeks or every 8 weeks or your dumped end of.  I give them 2 strikes because some times customers have genuine reason for you not being able to come, so i try to be kind and allow for that lol.  Secondly, if it's not going out your way, then sometimes it's not much extra effort to clean theres whilst doing the next doors house.

Too be fair though, i have about 5 customers who are "iffy" about the weather, i keep them on the books because otherwise they are good always pay and let me crack on. 

Depends how you are feeling though, sometimes i just can't be bothered, especially if i am getting dodgy vibes, either as you say 8 weekly up the price, or just dump them.

Some times i choose different approach for how i am feeling at the time.

[nathankaye]

It depends on your position.
When I first switched over from trad to wfp I went through all the info about working in rain and why I can with all my customers. The next month it was drizzly so not even heavy rain. The last customer on same street as everyone else's which I was cleaning, said "can you skip today its raining"
I explained how I told them how I can but he wasnt having non of it and so I politely told him to find a windiw cleaner who is prepared to loose an income due to it raining"
Since then, if Its a legit good reason I allow as at end of the day they employ me. But if its on a wim then I fire them!

[M & C Window Cleaning]

Had one dash out to put me off the other day due to it raining.   Only the 'rain' was me cleaning his windows.  Poor chap looked a bit embarassed when I pointed it out to him. "Ah! Carry on." he said, and quickly dived back indoors. Made me 

[jonboywalton75]

It depends on your position.
When I first switched over from trad to wfp I went through all the info about working in rain and why I can with all my customers. The next month it was drizzly so not even heavy rain. The last customer on same street as everyone else's which I was cleaning, said "can you skip today its raining"
I explained how I told them how I can but he wasnt having non of it and so I politely told him to find a windiw cleaner who is prepared to loose an income due to it raining"
Since then, if Its a legit good reason I allow as at end of the day they employ me. But if its on a wim then I fire them!

Yeah
On a whim!!
Dump immediately

[tlwcs]

Had one dash out to put me off the other day due to it raining.   Only the 'rain' was me cleaning his windows.  Poor chap looked a bit embarassed when I pointed it out to him. "Ah! Carry on." he said, and quickly dived back indoors. Made me 

What's the matter with theses idiots?

[8weekly]

SeanK in a rare moment of being right said customers like these sap your spirit. Dump 'em or you'll forever feeling uneasy when you turn up. I don't take it quite so personally now I have a couple of guys working fior me, but if you work alone and are a "bit sensitive" DUMP! 

[swanson]

Customers have the right to say don't clean them today due to rain
I would be the same.
I never clean windows in the rain what's the point .
4 weekly or 8 weekly the windows  are practically the same in terms of dirtyness
Just move on and go back next week or in 4 weeks time.

[nathankaye]

Customers have the right to say don't clean them today due to rain
I would be the same.
I never clean windows in the rain what's the point .
4 weekly or 8 weekly the windows  are practically the same in terms of dirtyness
Just move on and go back next week or in 4 weeks time.

Firstly, no its not the same.  There is a big difference to windows n frames from 4weeks to being left 8wks. The huge majority of my work is 4wkly and I have the odd 8wkly as well and the difference is noticeable. Its also being business minded when choosing a pricing scheme as well.

Whats the point in cleaning in rain? (Are u wfp or trad)  rain doesnt affect the quality of the cleaning service you offer (apart from certain factors before everyone numps on bandwagon on this point). So it allows you as a business to stay on track with your work schedule and maintains your cash flow into the business.

Yes I work in the rain (it can be annoying and frustrating at times). Its not saying your desperate for money before anyone throws that into the mix!! But I would rather have the days off that I want, when I want rathet than swapping them for rainy days

[8weekly]

Customers have the right to say don't clean them today due to rain
I would be the same.
I never clean windows in the rain what's the point .
4 weekly or 8 weekly the windows  are practically the same in terms of dirtyness
Just move on and go back next week or in 4 weeks time.

They do have the right and the business has the right to not tolerate "not todays".

The point of cleaning in the rain is to get paid. It's a business not a labour of love. If by some outside chance they don't dry well just go back. Never happens.

[richard groves]

They can say not today
I just go straight on to the next one and they'll have to wait until next time.
If they do it again then they go to bottom of the list and will have to call me ....... if/when they do , I decide whether or not to continue cleaning for them then rather than being hasty or making a rash decision. Sometimes this has worked in my favour and they have not mucked me about again.

[Stoots]

Its got to be better earning say 90% of a days takings because a couple said they want to skip than to lose the whole days earnings.

yes its up to the customer to say not this time, and we can choose to get rid or not

If its only the odd one here and there that says not today then its no big deal, its a different story if they turn you away when you turn up though..its one thing to know in advance not to do it but another to get there, get all your gear out and then be turned away. Thats only happened to me twice i think, i dont clean either of them anymore.

[Tosh]

Too many people are blinded by their own sensitivity. Just leave it, go on to the next house and come back when your next due in the road.


Flamin' Nora, a lot of guys make a rod for their own back. Who seriously gives one real hard turd about a customer saying not today. Man up you poofs.

[paul alan]

Customers have the right to say don't clean them today due to rain
I would be the same.
I never clean windows in the rain what's the point .
4 weekly or 8 weekly the windows  are practically the same in terms of dirtyness
Just move on and go back next week or in 4 weeks time.

This might sound a bit harsh but l dont realy care what the customers want with regards when they have them cleaned.

If lm honest all l realy care about is providing a great service, my way!

Obviously it wont suit all but l couldnt give a flying modded about the ones that it doesnt, l realy couldnt.

The service l provide is honest and fair, fair upon the customer and me. They having windows cleaned and me earning a living.

How many window cleaners(proper ones) are happy to sit round all day on stand by in case someone somewhere would like a window clean today?

Its a modded joke!

Mod note: Do not swear in your posts please. Modded this time. If it happens again you will be on the naughty step.

[dazmond]

relentless rain all day here.all my scheduled work cleaned as normal.customers didnt bat an eyelid.a few made me coffee too.

im glad to be home nice and dry now though.

if a customer gives me a "not today" because of rain i simply skip them til next time their due.(i cant remember the last time this happened.its a few years ago!).

its the ones that say "not today because its forecast rain later".its only happened to me a few times but they get dumped straight away.

[Jonny 87]

Customers have the right to say don't clean them today due to rain
I would be the same.
I never clean windows in the rain what's the point .
4 weekly or 8 weekly the windows  are practically the same in terms of dirtyness
Just move on and go back next week or in 4 weeks time.

Do you clean windows if the forecast is for rain during the night? Or later that day? What if rain is forecast the next day? It makes no difference to the quality of the job if it rains. Gale force winds and storms..... yes. A general rainy day...... no.

If you want To give yourself plenty days off then go for it, but don't feel you have to justify it with the comment "there's no point in cleaning windows in the rain".

[JandS]

Apart from the fact your cleaning with dirty water.

[tlwcs]

Apart from the fact your cleaning with dirty water.

Rains not always dirty. If it comes from the Sahara, once or twice a year maybe,

[AuRavelling79]

Rain also does not always hit the windows.

I only work in light drizzle - did today - or if a bit showery I just dodge them if they get heavy.

I weeded out the pain in the rear customers years ago and tell them my terms when taking them on nowadays. (Which include that I will attend to any rain - dirtied windows if they call me within 24 hours - I have not had one call me back in five years but the fact they know they can gives them reassurance.)

Never had a problem.