[KS Cleaning]

I would only go to a customers funeral if they owed me any money.  I could then pass the bill over to the family 

That’s what I do, only I don’t have the nerve to pass the bill on to the family at such a time, instead I find it a little more respectable to take out what I’m due from the collection box at the end of the service.

[Smudger]

Over the years I have sent flowers, mainly ones who I've cleaned for many years and who have looked after me.

That’s what’s needed - that’s not invasive

Also given donation to their favourite charity

Darran

[Shrek]

Theres some miserable old codgers on here isnt there. Dear me.

Yes its a business, why else are we doing this tedious boring job for if not to make money. Im not gonna do a lee n say my way is the best, but, theres a need for a certain level of communication with customers which is required. For me, i have a handful of customers who are great, we get on great and they have gotten me a tonne load of work. They also supply drinks be it cold or hot drinks which are appreciated through out varying weather conditions which we work in.
Now if i should pass away n my familybare at the funeral tears n all and one of my customers has turned up and managed to say a friendly word to my family, as in, he was a great guy or a lovely bloke.  That would help my family just a little.

Yet come xmass many will try little tricks to increase their tips etc. Not me, just being nice, turning up and doing a good job and passing a minute of their time with adult conversation, paves the way for good loyal customers.

Dear me , you and these drinks from customers- I really don’t understand why you need so many drinks in a day 
I always turn drinks down as I’m not there long enough for the kettle to boil. I thought you were the fast window cleaner in Yorkshire? Surely you’ve gone before they’ve even got to the sink

[nathankaye]

Theres some miserable old codgers on here isnt there. Dear me.

Yes its a business, why else are we doing this tedious boring job for if not to make money. Im not gonna do a lee n say my way is the best, but, theres a need for a certain level of communication with customers which is required. For me, i have a handful of customers who are great, we get on great and they have gotten me a tonne load of work. They also supply drinks be it cold or hot drinks which are appreciated through out varying weather conditions which we work in.
Now if i should pass away n my familybare at the funeral tears n all and one of my customers has turned up and managed to say a friendly word to my family, as in, he was a great guy or a lovely bloke.  That would help my family just a little.

Yet come xmass many will try little tricks to increase their tips etc. Not me, just being nice, turning up and doing a good job and passing a minute of their time with adult conversation, paves the way for good loyal customers.

Dear me , you and these drinks from customers- I really don’t understand why you need so many drinks in a day 
I always turn drinks down as I’m not there long enough for the kettle to boil. I thought you were the fast window cleaner in Yorkshire? Surely you’ve gone before they’ve even got to the sink

I have a handful of customers who are kind to me, scattered throughout my rounds. I can go days b4 i see a customer and so when they offer a drink and its nice, then thats a thumbs up from me. So come winter they already have the kettle on by time ive done the upstairs front windows! Come cold winters or cleaning in the rain (haha its safer to write cleaning than work  ) then these hot drinks are very much appreciated.

[dazmond]

ill stop and have a 5 min chat and a brew once or twice a day.....why not?if your rushing every job just to get home 5-10 mins earlier then you really are a sad individual IMO....

up here in the north west,the majority of people are friendly and down to earth,even the heroin addicts and alcoholics are mostly ok(as long as your not involved in their lifestyles).....

[RPCCS]

Theres some miserable old codgers on here isnt there. Dear me.

Yes its a business, why else are we doing this tedious boring job for if not to make money. Im not gonna do a lee n say my way is the best, but, theres a need for a certain level of communication with customers which is required. For me, i have a handful of customers who are great, we get on great and they have gotten me a tonne load of work. They also supply drinks be it cold or hot drinks which are appreciated through out varying weather conditions which we work in.
Now if i should pass away n my familybare at the funeral tears n all and one of my customers has turned up and managed to say a friendly word to my family, as in, he was a great guy or a lovely bloke.  That would help my family just a little.

Yet come xmass many will try little tricks to increase their tips etc. Not me, just being nice, turning up and doing a good job and passing a minute of their time with adult conversation, paves the way for good loyal customers.

Well said Nathan, couldn't put it better myself. Im not one for accepting cups of coffee,as I take a flask wirh me, stop for a coffee about 10/10.30, then dinner 12/12.30, but its still nice to get offered. If I didn't have interaction with customers, I couldn't do the job. To go through the day wirhout seeing or speaking to anyone would drive me mad., the job is boring enough to start with.
Each to their own I suppose.

[Smudger]

nothing wrong with interaction - but does that seriously mean you would go to their funeral ?

Darran

[Shrek]

Have you noticed the ones who do all the talking and drinking cups of tea with customers  can’t earn enough from windows so they have to offer other services? .... makes you think doesn’t it...

[G Griffin]

There’s a big difference between a few pleasantries and turning up at a funeral

It’s a business when all said and done, a service which is paid for I wouldn’t expect or want the shop assistant at the local co op appearing at my funeral even tho we speak most days.

Darran

I was talking about Gomo who said he didn't do small talk; maybe I should have quoted him.
I wouldn't go to every funeral but I don't think it's invasive turning up at one either. You don't get invited to a funeral, do you?
I've never been to a customer's wake but I've been to a few services but I had been very friendly with them. A couple of times I've gone to the church, waited outside as the coffin's gone in and then gone about my daily business.
I suppose a lot depends on the relationship with the customer. The last one I went to was a lad I also ran into in the pub.
And I must be more popular than you lot  .

[Bungle]

One of my customers died the other week aged 58. I would text her the night before and she'd leave the money in the porch. As I pulled up her car was on the drive which was odd as she worked in a school and drove to work. I cracked on and looked for my money. No money so left a note. I got a phone call from her brother a couple of days later telling me she had died. He asked me how much she owed. Well she hasn't paid for the last 6 cleans at £20 a clean I said. I didn't really 😃. He BACS payment over. Fair play to him.

[dazmond]

Have you noticed the ones who do all the talking and drinking cups of tea with customers  can’t earn enough from windows so they have to offer other services? .... makes you think doesn’t it...

what are you on about?

[Shrek]

Have you noticed the ones who do all the talking and drinking cups of tea with customers  can’t earn enough from windows so they have to offer other services? .... makes you think doesn’t it...

what are you on about?

If you followed the threads you see what I was on about. The OP does coach driving 

[Stoots]

Of course i do the usual guys, wave and a nod/smile if i spot them through a window, hello and how are you if i see them. Please and thankyou, have a nice day etc. The basics...

But thats enough.... if they engage in conversation with me then i would talk back however im not good at small talk and making conversation, i can never think of anything to say apart from how are you, nice weather.. then an awkward silence lol. I have social anxiety to some extent and i dont do well with strangers, i can talk for ages if its a subject i have interest in but other than that im stumped. Anyone that meets me would say im quiet but around friends and family im the opposite.

Its not an ideal job for me, but its good money so i get on with it in a way that suits me and my personality.  If someone else wants to chat for 10 mins and sup tea thats good for them but they will earn less money or be home later. Personally i like to get work out of the way asap so i can get home.

[Johnny B]

I try to build a good rapport with all of my customers when I can. I have lost a few due to them dying, but have never gone to a customer's funeral . It's not out of disrespect, as I talk to their bereaved family members if they are known to me, and I offer my condolences and any help I can give.  Over here in Ireland you die one day and the funeral is often the next, so they're usually cremated or buried before I even get to know about it.

If the deceased customer owes me I always write it off. 

Would any of my customers  attend my funeral? I will never know.

John

[AuRavelling79]

I have only ever got involved with one customer's funeral. I turned up and pressed the doorbell and as there was no reply I cracked on and started the windows. I'd finished the top three at the front when a hearse and limousine drew up outside and a lady undertaker in full dress and top hat knocked the door.

This time my customer's husband answered and he and three other family members filed out and got in the limo. As I mumbled something about "Sorry I didn't realise" followed by "err sorry for your loss" he had the grace to smile and say "stick your bill through and I'll send you a cheque".

Bit flabbergasted to be honest (I knew my custy was very unwell but didn't realise she was terminally ill) but I wrote on my slip my apologies and said please have this "clean" on me - in the circumstances I thought it was a decent thing to do.

He remained my customer until I passed him on to Dan the Man when I split my round.

 

[RPCCS]

Have you noticed the ones who do all the talking and drinking cups of tea with customers  can’t earn enough from windows so they have to offer other services? .... makes you think doesn’t it...

what are you on about?

If you followed the threads you see what I was on about. The OP does coach driving 

Just for the record, I don't do the driving to earn extra money.I do it because I enjoy it, breaks the boredom of window cleaning. I make 3 times the hourly rate of driving when I work for myself, I don't HAVE to do it