Caustic isn't far wide of the mark in this instance, this isn't some single trader earning his crust, its a large company with many employees, if it is a University then it is a very big contract, personally as a single trader you can keep it!
But if the company isn't ensuring it's operatatives are properly trained then they deserve all they've got coming to them.
I would contact the Uni and tell them they shouldn't pay out until they have a job done to a reasonable standard, I wouldn't be after the job myself, but it should be the customer that puts in the complaint, not an outsider.
With a large company it is up to them to keep the standards of their operatives up to a competent level, they should ensure their workers are properly trained and should make regular checks on the work done.
I don't think it is the responsibility of the makers of WFP to make sure the equipment is used properly, that Ionics offer a training course is a credit to them, they do actually care about the industry, and it isn't just WFP courses they offer remember, they cover many aspects of the window cleaning industry, they do courses for trad too...or at least Craig Mowlem does.
As for those of us that self educate ourselves with a little help from forums such as these, then it is the individual that has to put the effort in.
Ultimately it isn't rocket science whether trad or WFP, but it is a skill that has to be developed, and as has already been said, some people just couldn't give a stuff, all they care about is getting the money in for as little effort as possible.
Customer not in?
Mmm, how many windows can I get away with out cleaning?...sod it, I'll just invoice them and won't do the job at all.
And yes, I've known of instances where that has happened.
Last week I cleaned the wrong house (should've done the one next door...I know, I know, but I had a senior moment
) it was a new account, I checked the windows over first...downstairs looked like the customer had done them herself, I could see the squeegee marks and poor effort at detailing, and the frames were stinking.
So washed it WFP, frames and windows spotless, massive difference...only to have a phone call that I ad done the wrong house, her own window cleaner had been round the week before
It was only a £9.00 account, so not a big loss, but she now has a spotless job done...it'll take months now for the frames to get in as bad a state as they were before...I've made the other window cleaner look good!!
This house had all UPVC windows and came up perfect, the house I wassupposed to do (and did the next day) had tired old wooden windows with oxidized paintwork
great
I cleaned the windows and frames, milk running down the walls
I finished the job, grabbed my squeegee out of the back of the van and was resigned to at least squeegeeing off the downstairs windows.....
But lo and behold they were drying out perfect
Every last one of them.
The point I am labouring to make here is that it is really down to the individual, I care aboutthe quality of the job I do, I understand how my WFP works, I also understood what I needed to do to at least achieve a good standard of work even though I was doing a job that is the achilles heel of WFP (oxidized frames) and I was also prepared to go around ensuring the job was done right even if it meant squeegeeing off all the downstairs windows.
If you give your customer this level of attention your reputation will travel before you, it will allow you to show a prospective customer that your WFP system really can do the job to as good a standard as the best of trad window cleaners.
It also means you will be able to charge more than others who don't care as much, people will pay for quality if they think they are getting value for money.
Ian