[Clean Cloth]

I have this 1 customer who is nothing but trouble. I was 17 minutes early today and he was not happy, came out with a notepad and pen and asked me all these question about "is this going to be your usual time from now on". I explained that every day is different, sometimes customers ask me to miss them out, others move or die etc.
I clean 3 others next door and across the road all in sight of the awkward customer. The other 3 are grateful that I turn up every 4 weeks.
How would you get rid of 1 and keep the other 3?

[tlwcs]

I’m sure the others you clean know what a PIA she is.
Politely tell her she no longer fits the criteria you set out that you need flexibility at work
Don’t bad mouth her to the others, just don’t go back
Tony

[Smudger]

As above these people are just a pain and everyone in the street knows it - just let him know your not available to clean him anymore

I’m certain it won’t effect the others - it never basin the past for me even when they are related

Darran

[Splash & dash]

Lol I would just tell him to his face find someone  else  simple as that just keep doing the others had a couple like this over the years pita

[SB Cleaning]

Lol I would just tell him to his face find someone  else  simple as that just keep doing the others had a couple like this over the years pita

Yep ,  this is what i would do or just don't go back.

[dazmond]

I have this 1 customer who is nothing but trouble. I was 17 minutes early today and he was not happy, came out with a notepad and pen and asked me all these question about "is this going to be your usual time from now on". I explained that every day is different, sometimes customers ask me to miss them out, others move or die etc.
I clean 3 others next door and across the road all in sight of the awkward customer. The other 3 are grateful that I turn up every 4 weeks.
How would you get rid of 1 and keep the other 3?

Just dump him!I clean 3 large detached properties down a posh cul de sac....have done for over 10 years now....it used to be 4 but he was an absolute pain!

Remember these type of people rub everybody up the wrong way so the neighbours will know what he's like....

I occasionally wave at him through the window when I'm cleaning the neighbours!😄...he hates it the miserable bugger!

[PHILIP HARDY]

You have two ways of handling it, If you say he's a real PIA and you dont want or need him as a custie, then you have to just drop him and if he asks, say you dont need the grief,.
Or-- You need to look beyond the PIA principle and try to understand why he acts the way you describe, coming out with a notepad and a list of questions is NOT normal behaviour but maybe he is not "normally wired"  If you can start to understand why he acts the way he does, (mayby autistic,controlling, OCD,Bi polar or other mental issues) ,where he needs a structure and order in life to avoid cracking up completley, Understanding these issues You should then be able to not let the eccentricties his personallity traits show effect your working relationship.
I am not suggesting you act as he phscotherapist merely try to see thing from his perspective could give you a little room for tolerating him before sacking him off.

[Slacky]

I don't understand what the issue is. Just get rid of the PITA custard and keep cleaning those that are agreeable.

[Simon Trapani]

Yeh I would just tell him you can't work like that. He can take it or leave it.

[windowswashed]

I wouldn't tolerate that, tell him straight you won't tolerate being scrutinised and to find someone else, life's too short.

[NWH]

I think everyone’s experienced this somewhere down the line if they have 3-4 jobs grouped together I would say,I wouldn’t take any of it from him I would say it’s done like this if you don’t except it get someone else you can’t go on being dictated to by any customers.
Why would you lose any of the others if anything you may gain a bit of respect from them.

[Stoots]

One of the biggest conundrums in window cleaning.

I've had loads over the years that ive wanted to dump but kept them on because i clean their parents, friends or neighbours.

I have one still to this day that I hate and I would have dropped years ago but i do her 3 immediate neighbour. They are all friends and came as a package, I'm certain if I drop her ill lose them all.

I guess you just have to drop them and risk sacrificing the others, depends if losing them all would be worse that keeping them all to you.

It's really annoying though when you have a few brilliant jobs spoiled by one.

[james peters]

very often, i just stop calling, without an explanation.
soemetimes they will ask why, but I think most can work it out for themselves.

for most people like this, it is a lifetime habit of annoying people , and they know why people avoid them

[NWH]

⬆️ I’ve also done this and it probably works the best just pull up in full view and clean the others,when he comes running out just say I’m leaving you out because doesn’t matter what I do you’re never happy.

[AuRavelling79]

I have this 1 customer who is nothing but trouble. I was 17 minutes early today and he was not happy, came out with a notepad and pen and asked me all these question about "is this going to be your usual time from now on". I explained that every day is different, sometimes customers ask me to miss them out, others move or die etc.
I clean 3 others next door and across the road all in sight of the awkward customer. The other 3 are grateful that I turn up every 4 weeks.
How would you get rid of 1 and keep the other 3?

Why are you giving them a set time that they complain about you being 17 minutes from?

Drop without a second thought and don't give set times to arrive.

[Richard iSparkle]

You have two ways of handling it, If you say he's a real PIA and you dont want or need him as a custie, then you have to just drop him and if he asks, say you dont need the grief,.
Or-- You need to look beyond the PIA principle and try to understand why he acts the way you describe, coming out with a notepad and a list of questions is NOT normal behaviour but maybe he is not "normally wired"  If you can start to understand why he acts the way he does, (mayby autistic,controlling, OCD,Bi polar or other mental issues) ,where he needs a structure and order in life to avoid cracking up completley, Understanding these issues You should then be able to not let the eccentricties his personallity traits show effect your working relationship.
I am not suggesting you act as he phscotherapist merely try to see thing from his perspective could give you a little room for tolerating him before sacking him off.

have to agree with this.. i would try a bit of compassion and just think.. this guy is struggling a bit with life.. i wouldn't change what i was doing, still turn up at the time and frequency that suits you, but treat him with kindness.

unless it just totally did my head in, when i would kindly explain that i didn't think my service was right for him anymore as you cant offer him what he wants.. and say would he like you to stop coming to his?

but i suppose if you CBA then just ditch him and carry on with the others!

[Splash & dash]

One of the biggest conundrums in window cleaning.

I've had loads over the years that ive wanted to dump but kept them on because i clean their parents, friends or neighbours.

I have one still to this day that I hate and I would have dropped years ago but i do her 3 immediate neighbour. They are all friends and came as a package, I'm certain if I drop her ill lose them all.

I guess you just have to drop them and risk sacrificing the others, depends if losing them all would be worse that keeping them all to you.

It's really annoying though when you have a few brilliant jobs spoiled by one.

I would take a chance on it if you loose the couple either side it’s no big deal , just replace them with Something  better paid , I certainly wouldn’t tolerate a customer with an attitude like that dumped many over the years like it

[H2GoKent]

Tell him you're not a dentist so you don't make appointments.
If the man notices you're 17 minutes early, he clearly needs to get a hobby or something to fill his time.

[NWH]

He must be sitting at the window waiting with tissues.