[AuRavelling79]

Mrs. R and Mrs. D  live next door to each other and are "marginal" customers. If I work briskly I take an hour to do both and earn £36.00 the pair. Mrs D's takes 25 minutes, Mrs R's took 35 minutes. (her bungalow needs a 30ft pole to reach the dormers over a small rear porch which one side of has to be done trad as their freezer is up against it)

I say "took" because Mrs. R has just been dumped earlier this afternoon.

These ladies are in their late 70's/early 80's but one is a jolly down to earth sort and the other ... is not.

I knock on Mrs D's place.  No reply and I crack on and as I get round the back I see her on the sun lounger - she's a big old bird and she laughs and says "Carry on Malcolm, if you don't mind seeing me in my swimming cozzy!"

I laugh and say "It's a treat to behold Mrs. D! (it's not, but hey  )" and she laughs and says "maybe thirty years ago it was!"

So no problem and that's that.

Then I go next door, move the door mat in preparation and start on the side window as Mrs. R comes to the door, holds up her hand and imperiously tells me "No! I have friends round and we're sat in the garden."

My face must have said it all as before I could utter a word she says "This is the first time I've turned you away, I didn't even stop you in the showers back in the spring."

I simply say "I'll put this back then." (and replace the doormat and turn and leave with no further word or even a flounce  )

She calls after me "You don't mind do you?" Which I ignore and quietly reel in and drive off.

It's great to be free of this job - it's been getting under my skin for years and I'm glad of an excuse to be rid. Bliss!

[Shrek]

Underpriced too!

[dazmond]

Mrs. R and Mrs. D  live next door to each other and are "marginal" customers. If I work briskly I take an hour to do both and earn £36.00 the pair. Mrs D's takes 25 minutes, Mrs R's took 35 minutes. (her bungalow needs a 30ft pole to reach the dormers over a small rear porch which one side of has to be done trad as their freezer is up against it)

I say "took" because Mrs. R has just been dumped earlier this afternoon.

These ladies are in their late 70's/early 80's but one is a jolly down to earth sort and the other ... is not.

I knock on Mrs D's place.  No reply and I crack on and as I get round the back I see her on the sun lounger - she's a big old bird and she laughs and says "Carry on Malcolm, if you don't mind seeing me in my swimming cozzy!"

I laugh and say "It's a treat to behold Mrs. D! (it's not, but hey  )" and she laughs and says "maybe thirty years ago it was!"

So no problem and that's that.

Then I go next door, move the door mat in preparation and start on the side window as Mrs. R comes to the door, holds up her hand and imperiously tells me "No! I have friends round and we're sat in the garden."

My face must have said it all as before I could utter a word she says "This is the first time I've turned you away, I didn't even stop you in the showers back in the spring."

I simply say "I'll put this back then." (and replace the doormat and turn and leave with no further word or even a flounce  )

She calls after me "You don't mind do you?" Which I ignore and quietly reel in and drive off.

It's great to be free of this job - it's been getting under my skin for years and I'm glad of an excuse to be rid. Bliss!

mmmmm..............sometimes i do think your a bit petulant malc and prone to throwing a childish "huff" at the slightest hint of disharmony with a customer.......however "ive got friends round" is not a good enough excuse to skip so i would of done the same BUT without ignoring her.....i would of told her matter of factly i wouldnt be calling again before reeling in and driving off....

[The Jester of Wibbly]

I work on a traffic light system.

All customers are green.   Goes to amber if they mess me about on the day of clean.  Goes to red when they do it again.
   
Red customers get dumped.

[PHILIP HARDY]

I think you have been a bit harsh as well, I detect you have been a bit "anti" them for the reasons stated but I would have tried them on the price rise route before a quick dump, you know they will come pestering you next time your next door and if your feeling friendly you will set em on again and the only loser is "self respect", £36 an hours decent but £40 is better and if it was £45 you would put up with a biting dog, 580 Plant pots and 14 wheelie bins in the yard. 

[AuRavelling79]

Shrek - underpriced - indeed. The main reason I'm glad to drop; along with a bit of wet weather "grumbling" from her and her old man over the years.

Daz - Me petulant???!!! Childish!!!!! Moi??? How very dare you!!!!? 

JofW - That is a good system - but only for the - hitherto - very best customers. Scaffolding up; painting being done; someone's just died; then fine. But sat in the garden with your friends or the weather looks like rain is instant "red".

I suppose I've got so much work on that the class "C" customers that I have tolerated are ripe for removal.

[Stoots]

I don't think you have been harsh I think you hated the job and have been looking for a way out lol

If that was a good customer skipping 1 clean in God knows how many years there's no way anyone should drop it.

But that sounds like you wanted an excuse 

[The Jester of Wibbly]

I had one last year that said not to come today as she had a freind around.  Then text me a week later demanding i come ASAP to clean.  I said no, as everything needs to be done in order and would need to wait till next month.  She thew a strop and threatened to find another window cleaner.  I replied with a simple 'no problem, I've cancelled your slot for you' .

[AuRavelling79]

I don't think you have been harsh I think you hated the job and have been looking for a way out lol

If that was a good customer skipping 1 clean in God knows how many years there's no way anyone should drop it.

But that sounds like you wanted an excuse 

You're pretty astute Gomo.

However, "friends round, don't clean" upon my arrival would be dropped even if they were otherwise stellar customers.

[Smudger]

great opening post - this is the way to tell a tale about cr@ppy customers

I think you were right too - many a time ive cleaned a custard while they are 'entertaining' friends/family - sometime you even get a job out of it.

can't wait until next months instalment   

will you take her back, what's the price increase going to be, will you buckle under a sense of guilt 

Darran

[Stoots]

I don't think you have been harsh I think you hated the job and have been looking for a way out lol

If that was a good customer skipping 1 clean in God knows how many years there's no way anyone should drop it.

But that sounds like you wanted an excuse 

You're pretty astute Gomo.

However, "friends round, don't clean" upon my arrival would be dropped even if they were otherwise stellar customers.

I think for me it would depend on their demeanour and how good a customer they were

A good customer for years who has never skipped asking nicely and apologetically would be given another chance.

One I don't like or had a bad tone from would have been dropped instantly.

[Crystal-clear]

See how you feel about it. You might want to call her back and explain Whether you're entertaining friends or not it's not a reason for me to not clean your windows also you may see me in more torrential rain and snow it's part of the job and it's what keeps the price what it is for as long as you want it of course..
You might want to also take the opportunity to increase the price by £5 I suppose that way it makes up a little bit. You can also say is nothing about what happened today it's something I've been meaning to do for a while. So you can give her another chance and put the ball in her court again
Amber light lol
See how you feel about it though:)

[nathankaye]

Tails of bad customers are always great to read and this was a good read.
.
.
.
Yet!  So many say they are glad to dump the customer because it was a bad price anyway....... Yes but who's fault is that? It certainly isn't the customers, that's for sure.

Look for an excuse to get rid, why?  If you don't like doing the job for whatever particular reason, either address said problem or terminate the job. Don't look for a petty reason to excuse your pent up feelings to justify a flounce 

I don't understand

[Arnold Palmer]

Spineless.

[davids3511]

great opening post - this is the way to tell a tale about cr@ppy customers

I think you were right too - many a time ive cleaned a custard while they are 'entertaining' friends/family - sometime you even get a job out of it.

can't wait until next months instalment   

will you take her back, what's the price increase going to be, will you buckle under a sense of guilt 

Darran

No way he'll buckle! Like a steel rod, he is

[Smudger]

I think it would be fair to say we all have/had underpriced work - either early on, a misjudgement of property or simply being keen to wrap up 2 or 3 cleans in a row and giving a little bit too much of a price trim, i've even dropped the odd price for the odd pensioner if I'm in the right mood,   sometimes down the line you get stung by that mistake/generosity

For me its a bit different as im not on the glass, so I would only get a report back from the lads - if it was a one time deal we would continue - if it happened again the service would be withdrawn - it would also flag up and id decide if on reflection the price was tight and come April they would be hit with a substantial price rise


Now if I was on the glass id dump and ignore - but only if she was genuinely rude
Darran

[AuRavelling79]

Tails of bad customers are always great to read and this was a good read.
.
.
.
Yet!  So many say they are glad to dump the customer because it was a bad price anyway....... Yes but who's fault is that? It certainly isn't the customers, that's for sure.

Look for an excuse to get rid, why?  If you don't like doing the job for whatever particular reason, either address said problem or terminate the job. Don't look for a petty reason to excuse your pent up feelings to justify a flounce 

I don't understand

Tales.

[nathankaye]

Ooops

 

[Slacky]

Ooops

 

Whoops.

[nathankaye]

Either is appropriate