[Dry Clean]

Theres no reason why you shouldnt achieve your goals. Stay focused, break the end goal into smaller 6 mothly chunks and work towards each one at a time. Then the end goal takes care of itself.

My goal of hitting the 60k mark is nearing now, and im starting to get that feeling of, oh wow! its really quite simple. I am a little behind on my 15month push to 80k, its going to be more like 20 months tbh, I reckon i will be at he 60k mark by the end of this financial year and will have another van up and running for my next push to 80k and then to 120k.

I stopped updating on here because of the haters; and i just had to say to myself i am doing this for me and no one else; my way my rules my business.

Link some of these hate replies Marc, if you have no interest in what anybody else has to say then that's fair enough but don't blame it on hate.

[Scrimble]

some excellent advice on this thread

[Perfect Windows]

I’m talking about real nutters. Not just a complaint.

Example. Windows cleaned three weeks ago. We’ve had storms in the last week too. A couple of days ago (2 1/2 weeks after clean) he emails to say he’s not happy with the results and cancelling and won’t be paying in full. Now how do you solve that?

Just say "Sorry it didn't work out" and move on.

If you've lost, say £10 or £20, I see that as £10 or £20 spent to work out that someone's an ar**hole and that I need to move on to a better customer.

I know you won't like the idea but you did ask how to cope and it works.

Vin

[John Mart]

I’m talking about real nutters. Not just a complaint.

Example. Windows cleaned three weeks ago. We’ve had storms in the last week too. A couple of days ago (2 1/2 weeks after clean) he emails to say he’s not happy with the results and cancelling and won’t be paying in full. Now how do you solve that?

Just say "Sorry it didn't work out" and move on.

If you've lost, say £10 or £20, I see that as £10 or £20 spent to work out that someone's an ar**hole and that I need to move on to a better customer.

I know you won't like the idea but you did ask how to cope and it works.

Vin

It grates though.

The thing you find is that there’s an awful lot of liars out there.

The worst one was a guy that absolutely swore no one had cleaned his windows and he’d had no bill through the door. My worker was adamant he’d done it. The guy was very shouty. Eventually I went round to look and instead of showing me he came to the door with a cheque and the bill he’d sworn he hadn’t received. Honestly, that was a turning point with me. Naively I actually couldn’t comprehend that people like that existed.

[paul alan]

Some mothers do "av em".

For the most part people are decent, you do come across the odd walley but that goes for whatever you do in life.

I for one know what you mean, it hacks me off too when I let it. And then I get over it. You have to develop some kind of internal dialogue that will justify the situation.

There is a certain breed of idiot around, I do most of my quotes in person and through a quick chat you can usually suss them out.


One the first questions I ask now is "have you had a window cleaner before" if they say "yes" the next question I ask is "what happened there?" them 2 questions give an awful lot away!

[Go]

I just don’t care anymore, it’s just numbers. Jobs come and go.
I find the crazies humorous. Brightens up the day.

[John Mart]

Some mothers do "av em".

For the most part people are decent, you do come across the odd walley but that goes for whatever you do in life.

I for one know what you mean, it hacks me off too when I let it. And then I get over it. You have to develop some kind of internal dialogue that will justify the situation.

There is a certain breed of idiot around, I do most of my quotes in person and through a quick chat you can usually suss them out.


One the first questions I ask now is "have you had a window cleaner before" if they say "yes" the next question I ask is "what happened there?" them 2 questions give an awful lot away!

I used to do that. That filtered out a lot, but when you're picking up 30 or so a week you just can't. Which is why I get so many I expect.

[John Mart]

It all boils down to "pride". I really need to address it. 

[Arnold Palmer]

It's the dreaded window cleaner's inferiority complex.

[Jonny Swirljet]

I'm not a confrontational sort of chap as i have a dark side which barely ever surfaces unless threatened. If you're going to spend the early hours of the morning mulling over text messages or emails sent to these people without first reflecting on the problem first then i suggest "no further contact" Most of these individuals are just amorphous golems without souls

[G Griffin]

It all boils down to "pride". I really need to address it. 

"Pride only hurts, it never helps". 
 Marcellus Wallace. 
 
And you mention perspective on t'other section. Get some.
Go and visit someone in hospital or a home.

[andyM]

And you mention perspective on t'other section. Get some.
Go and visit someone in hospital or a home.

Wot just to make sure they know there's no escape from paying their window cleaning bill?
Crikey Griff you're a harsh man. 

[G Griffin]

And you mention perspective on t'other section. Get some.
Go and visit someone in hospital or a home.

Wot just to make sure they know there's no escape from paying their window cleaning bill?
Crikey Griff you're a harsh man. 

Time to get medieval on their asses.

[Arnold Palmer]

The traits that you often show on the forum are probably the same ones that are causing you issues with your customers.

If Tosh wants to dribble out his inane babble about brexit or Donald Trump, you can't help yourself but bite. Sometimes he'll argue a point that's so obviously not what he thinks; even Martin works it out, yet you can't help yourself, you have to keep it going, have to have the last word, have to be "right". I'm guessing your dealings with awkward customers carry on in a similar vein?

Invariably, when your bickering with Mr Cantankerousness-san comes to a head you throw a wobbly and stomp off in a huff for a while, and that's with someone who's opinion is of zero real consequence to you. I dread to think what you're like when there's money involved.

Get robust systems and processes in place. I suggest that your complaint procedure puts some distance between yourself and the complainer (at least in the first instance), you'll find then that when you are called in its for something legitimate.

A proper quote form and a starter pack detailing how you operate, and your complaints procedure is a useful tool to refer to when something goes wrong.

[John Mart]

It's the dreaded window cleaner's inferiority complex.

I think there's a truth to that.

[John Mart]

A genuine thank you for all the contributions.

[G Griffin]

Soupy spoke some sense, Steve.
But I also think Tosh gives you special treatment.
You should be flattered  .

[Smudger]

A superb thread - great advise and some of it from a surprising source

8W - read it, take it on board - you are taking it too much to heart - we were all there at some point ( well all of us that have a pride and passion for their business ) but really anything like this just needs to be swatted away without a second thought - yes they lie - yes they are unreasonable - but so what! time wise you'll lose more trying to chase/correct/argue than moving on - just take the sting out of their argument by letting them have a 50% reduction on the next clean.

once you master this you'll be well on your way with expanding your business

darran

[Dry Clean]

It's the dreaded window cleaner's inferiority complex.

I think there's a truth to that.

Agreed, just because we are window cleaners they think they can take us for mugs is something you often read on here when non payment is being discussed, fact is these types just want something for nothing and will do the same to anybody who offers a service before payment, unlike the guys in the building trade and so on who can get taken for thousands we are lucky that it tends to be small amounts.

[AuRavelling79]

Excellent thread and advice.

For me (King of the flounce of course  ) I am working on not taking it personally and it helps enormously with my inferiority complex.

I took on a chap in January who was a walk up in among a group of 4 others in a cul-de-sac- all "Oooh, a window cleaner, we're looking for a window cleaner!"

So I set out my stall - £20 first clean then £15.00 every 8 weeks - "Yes fine etc".

First clean 9th Feb. Paid 14th Feb.
2nd clean  6th April Not paid
3rd clean   1st June  Not paid

I let most go one clean as a maximum, but this one slid by the net being a low price and I did the second (1st June) and put a bill through for two cleans.

Went back on 26 July; didn't do them and wrote a note saying "suspended until paid" but more politely.

Got a text later that afternoon. "Sorry, will pay when I get home tonight." He didn't.

I decided that I won't be cleaning for him again but wanted to be polite and professional until I got paid

On 3rd August I sent him a polite reminder text.

He texted back "Sorry I forgot - will pay when I get in. Remind me later if not received!" 
I texted back "Will do."

Next day I texted "Payment has not been received (name)"

Now at this point I decided I definitely wouldn't dream of working for this thoughtless and selfish person but kept it to myself.

He immediately asked for bank details and paid it and I confirmed receipt and thanked him.

Now he probably thinks he will get his windows cleaned when I'm next there. He won't.

He may ask me why and I shall tell him he doesn't fit the profile of customer I'm looking to have on my books. If he pleads I shall tell him to set up a standing order (one-off clean price) and when the money is in I will then clean them. He won't I feel sure.

But I'm not getting wound up. Thoughts of a toothpick in his lock are dismissed and perspective is sought.