[Clearview]

I was doing a regular customer yesterday who i charge £16 for house & conservatory, which is pretty cheap compared to my other work. As i was getting started he came out & asked me to clean the white plastic awning above his bay window which obviously hadn't been done for a few years. I agreed but there was no discussion about cost.
After completing the work & ringing for payment, he comes to the door with £16 pounds in his hand. I say, "that will be £20 pounds today" & he almost falls over with shock! He cant believe that i had the audacity to charge him for the extra work that he asked me to do! 
"Your charging me £4 for cleaning that?! Its only took you 2 minutes!"
"Well its the result that your paying for, not the time it takes" I replied.
"I think thats completely unreasonable!" He said.
"You weren't planning on paying me anything at all, how reasonable is that?!" I said.

Needless to say i got my £20, but i've dropped him as a customer.
I never really liked him, always very condescending.  If i'd have liked him as a person i wouldn't have charged him for the extra. But the thing that really annoyed me is that he assumed that i wouldn't charge him at all. I'm running a business & that business is cleaning stuff. It took me 2 minutes because i've spent hundreds of pounds on equipment which enables me to do the work that quickly. If he'd tried doing it himself it would have taken 30minutes & he'd have probably fallen off his ladder!

I'm happy to help people out if they need it, doing extra work free of charge or a little food shopping trips for older customers who cant get out of the house etc. But some people feel that they're so entitled that they can extort free labour out of you.

Ok, rant over. have a great weekend everyone 

[Shrek]

I was doing a regular customer yesterday who i charge £16 for house & conservatory, which is pretty cheap compared to my other work. As i was getting started he came out & asked me to clean the white plastic awning above his bay window which obviously hadn't been done for a few years. I agreed but there was no discussion about cost.
After completing the work & ringing for payment, he comes to the door with £16 pounds in his hand. I say, "that will be £20 pounds today" & he almost falls over with shock! He cant believe that i had the audacity to charge him for the extra work that he asked me to do! 
"Your charging me £4 for cleaning that?! Its only took you 2 minutes!"
"Well its the result that your paying for, not the time it takes" I replied.
"I think thats completely unreasonable!" He said.
"You weren't planning on paying me anything at all, how reasonable is that?!" I said.

Needless to say i got my £20, but i've dropped him as a customer.
I never really liked him, always very condescending.  If i'd have liked him as a person i wouldn't have charged him for the extra. But the thing that really annoyed me is that he assumed that i wouldn't charge him at all. I'm running a business & that business is cleaning stuff. It took me 2 minutes because i've spent hundreds of pounds on equipment which enables me to do the work that quickly. If he'd tried doing it himself it would have taken 30minutes & he'd have probably fallen off his ladder!

I'm happy to help people out if they need it, doing extra work free of charge or a little food shopping trips for older customers who cant get out of the house etc. But some people feel that they're so entitled that they can extort free labour out of you.

Ok, rant over. have a great weekend everyone 

.... food shopping trips for customers??? Too much time on your hands

[Clearview]

.... food shopping trips for customers??? Too much time on your hands

Just a pint of milk or bread etc for some old dears who are housebound... Im not doing anyones weekly shop 

[nathankaye]

Lesson learnt, always let them know when they ask that yes/no you can at £x price for doing so.

[Stoots]

Food shopping ? Lol

What are you meals on wheels? 

I just clean windows.

[Dry Clean]

He's helping out a few needy pensioners its hardy going to bankrupt him, don't let customers like that get to you Clearview as
they're few and far between. that said I would always advise you to give the price before doing an add on no matter how small the job or how loyal your customer is as it keeps you right.

[Clever Forum Name]

.... food shopping trips for customers??? Too much time on your hands

Just a pint of milk or bread etc for some old dears who are housebound... Im not doing anyones weekly shop 

Fair play mate, i've given customers lifts in villages and towns with shopping and offered to get items from the shops. All about PMA and karma in my eyes.

[W.booler]

.... food shopping trips for customers??? Too much time on your hands

Just a pint of milk or bread etc for some old dears who are housebound... Im not doing anyones weekly shop 

Well done you two, I'm the same. It's all in the bank of karma. Hi Damo, hope you're well. I'm going to use your video on YouTube to give the pole a facelift

Fair play mate, i've given customers lifts in villages and towns with shopping and offered to get items from the shops. All about PMA and karma in my eyes.

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

I would do the same takes 5 mins out of you life to help an old person that cant get out the house and it means the world to them good for you

[PHILIP HARDY]

I also try to help with small things Stuck doors/windows, Taps, jam jar lids anything really,  I have spent many minutes in a psuedo counciling role to customers who have had recent tradegy  or death, be it of a partner, friend or even pets.
You cant just take money over humanity,  people sometimes need to talk and be listened to when they are in a bad place,its a basic understanding which we all may appreciate at some point.

[AuRavelling79]

"I think thats completely unreasonable!" He said.

"You weren't planning on paying me anything at all, how reasonable is that?!" I said.

Absolutely priceless! Brilliant, Clearview.

I'd have dumped the twonk too.

[AuRavelling79]

I would do the same takes 5 mins out of you life to help an old person that cant get out the house and it means the world to them good for you

See? Behind that tough exterior is a warm-hearted gal after all! And I bet Big Mick helps little old ladies across the road too.

Got you two rumbled Susan!    

[Tosh]

"I think thats completely unreasonable!" He said.

"You weren't planning on paying me anything at all, how reasonable is that?!" I said.

Absolutely priceless! Brilliant, Clearview.

I'd have dumped the twonk too.

That's the best come back I've heard I think, fair and to the point as well.

[Tosh]

I would do the same takes 5 mins out of you life to help an old person that cant get out the house and it means the world to them good for you

See? Behind that tough exterior is a warm-hearted gal after all! And I bet Big Mick helps little old ladies across the road too.

Got you two rumbled Susan!   

Susan is Mick I bet 

[AuRavelling79]

"Susan is Mick I bet  "

Wouldn't surprise me ...

But you're not Tosh.

[Clever Forum Name]

.... food shopping trips for customers??? Too much time on your hands

Just a pint of milk or bread etc for some old dears who are housebound... Im not doing anyones weekly shop 

Well done you two, I'm the same. It's all in the bank of karma. Hi Damo, hope you're well. I'm going to use your video on YouTube to give the pole a facelift

Fair play mate, i've given customers lifts in villages and towns with shopping and offered to get items from the shops. All about PMA and karma in my eyes.

Hiya Bud, yeah doing really well thanks.

Are you going to the show at all? Be good to meet up if you're. 

[W.booler]

Hi Damo. No, it's too close to a holiday, moving house etc.

[dazmond]

No way would I be nipping to the shops for customers for this and that.sorry but I'm there to earn money for me and my family.I'll help an old dear out by cleaning a inside kitchen window or helping out with shopping bags but there are limits!

To the OP.if a customer wants extra cleaning I'll agree a new price beforehand to save any confusion on the customers part when it comes to payment.common sense really. (Although I do realise a lot of window cleaners possess very little! )