[jeff1]

I was watching a programme tonight called Rouge Traders and at the very end of the programme Matt Albright the presenter said so what ever you do dont respond to cold callers and Leaflets put through your door!

Now I don't need to leaflet drop myself as I have ample customers, but there are loads of members who need to leaflet drop to gain more customers. so I took it on myself to complain strongly to the BBC on your behalf.

I had to register on there web site this was a pain in the a**e and when I was able to finally post my complaint I had a message saying '' The BBC receives thousands of messages per day (probably mean complaints) and you will need to wait until a moderator checks your message before it can be posted, but I guess that means you might see it on the boared next year.

Sorry guy's did all I could but if you want to post your own complaint to boost it here's the link

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbpointsofview

[Moderator David@stives]

Jeff

I agree with Rogue traders.

Dave

[Clear Vision]

Well done jeff! I totally agree with you.

I don't leaflet drop or "cold call" but there are many window cleaners out ther that need to.

P.s. see the mask the presenter had on? I thought It was very well done. That chap must have got some fright when the camera crew burst In

[jeff1]

Hi Dave
Then are you saying that all the advice given to guys on this forum to leaflet drop is ill founded and should not be done?
I have seen loads of advice to go out and post hundreds of leaflets to get your self more customers.

Your views interest me and wonder why you agree with rouge traders?

[Clear Vision]

Come on then dave! Explain yourself!!!!!

[jeff1]

Well done jeff! I totally agree with you.

I don't leaflet drop or "cold call" but there are many window cleaners out ther that need to.

P.s. see the mask the presenter had on? I thought It was very well done. That chap must have got some fright when the camera crew burst In

I do like the programme thats why I watch it.
I was just a little annoyed for the guy's who need to leaflet drop and then call back after the leaflet drop.
That programme goes out to thousands of viewers and a lot take notice, this could have an affect on the guy's who post leaflets.  If they believe soap opera's are real then they will believe anything they see on the TV.

[Moderator David@stives]

Jeff

Its just my opinion

If i want a service i look in the yellow pages or the local paper, I would never buy a service from anyone who knocks on my door.

I am not saying i have never door knocked or put leaflets , i have done both twice and wont be doing it again.

If doorknocking was banned it would give us all a level playing field, how many plumbers , electricians go doorknocking.

Maybe leaflets are not so bad, my post was aimed more at doorknocking.

I often see people knocking on my street mainly utility companies and i get sick and tired of seeing my elderly neighbors struggling to get to the door  for a service they dont need.

If doorknocking was the way to build a round what are you all going to do when you come to sell up ?

I am entitled to my opinion the same as everyone else and just because you dont agree it doesnt mean i am bad, I have given countless advice to hundreds of window cleaners on this forum and i have never reccommended doorknocking to a single one of them.

Do you agree with every bit advice given on this forum ?

We all differ from time to time,

Dave

[windows_chepstow]

I often see people knocking on my street mainly utility companies and i get sick and tired of seeing my elderly neighbors struggling to get to the door  for a service they dont need.

Dave

Dave,

Ive got some jobs to do this morning, but plan to go doorknocking on an area that I know has lost their window cleaner; he's had an op on his leg, and I doubt he'll be back(he fell of his ladders apparantly, but believe me, it couldn't have happened to a 'nicer guy').

Your post is good for my morale!

In situations like this, where you're positive the area doesn't have a window cleaner, you just can't beat knocking on doors.

A few months ago I targetted another one of this lads streets and gained about eight top customers, all pretty much next door to each other and picked up another three or four through cleaning them.

Oh, don't feel too sorry about this lad, he and his father threatened Wor Lass and I a couple of years ago for working on 'his' patch.

I love taking work off him.

[brett walker]

No more ladders for him then, sounds like a great guy

I love taking work from these type of people

Tosh, he might come back and get you with a wfp is he supposed to be some kind of hard guy then, all talk
just take his work we dont need guys like that in this profession

I never door knock but simply just leave a small professional business card through the door and then if they want to get in touch they will.  I find most people will watch you work a few times and then come out and ask

regards

Brett

[groundhog]

I have lost count the number of times I have knocked on a door, and the householder has said that they keep meaning to phone a window cleaner but never get round to it. You cannot compare window cleaning with plumbing, as a window cleaner is a nice to have service, but normally when you need a plumber it is essential

[rosskesava]

I've done door knocking in the past to great effect.

If someone doesn't want callers then all they have to do is put a note on their gate or door?

As for leaflets, I had one through my door tonight from a local shop with all their latest offers on this and that. I gave it a quick look and threw it in the bin as I do have that choice.

As for never buying from someone who calls at the door? It depends on what service they are offering. Some bloke called around last month and offered to tidy up my front garden for £10. He done the job, I paid him. He said he'd call back in October and if he does, and he does the job, I'll pay him another tenner. He cleared the obvious weeds and gave it all a good sweep and general clean up. I think he's onto a winner.

I wouldn't have a new front path or my roof done by someone who called on me though but a window cleaner in the scheme of things is low risk.

Having said that, I used to sometimes wonder when door knocking that how does the person know, who agrees to have their windows cleaned, that I'm not a burglar in disguise?

[Pj]

"a burglar in disguise"

were you wearing your dress then?

[neil100]

Have to say I disagree with Dave.

I have been out tonight canvassing for an hour.

First lady I called on said I have a w/c. No problem I replied I am looking for Potential customers who dont have a w/cleaner. She then tried to get a price off me, I kindly refused saying I would be more expensive then her w/c and she was better sticking with him.

I then went to the other end of the street and picked up 6 new customers within 7 doors of each other. Why? Because their w/c had just packed in and they where desprate to find somebody else.

I find most people are very pleasent when I canvass, If they have  a w/c I wish them all the best and thank them. If someone says they dont want one I dont waste my time trying to change their mind. I am just after finding potential customers. They will only ever get me knocking on there door once in my lifetime.

I biult my original round in 1980 by knocking on doors and I am now expanding useing the same method. I have never had a bad experince or any person rant and rave about me pestering them. I think its just about peoples perceptions of cold calling.

Nel.

[rosskesava]

 

It was not a dress. It was a Sarong as worn by men in Hawaii.

And my missus made me wear it.

How I regret that picture on the 'other non related cleaning topics' part of the forum.

 

[CLEANCARE LIMITED]

I support the BBC in this one.

In this day and age people don't want every tom, dick and harry cold calling at their door and most ARE rogue traders!

As seen in that programme the elderly, infirm and vulnerable are always at risk.

Ban cold calling by legislation sooner rather than later.

[neil100]

You have to understand the diffrence between someone calling on a door and trying to sell something and calling and offering a service.

They are completley diffrent.

How many of those 6 customers I canvassed tonight would get out the yellow pages in the next year and find themselves a w/c?

Answer  0.

They now have a quality w/c who will now provide them with a quality service. We are all winners. Why ban it?

Nel.

[williamx]

Dave

On over 90% of my customers houses they have signs saying they don't buy at the door, yet they are quite happy to give me money ever month.

The majority of potential customers out there can't find a window cleaner, if we ban leaflet drops and canvassing then they have no hope.

You could say look in the yellow pages but a lot of these companies either can't or won't clean their homes.

Also on "Rogue Traders" the majority of rogue traders, are companies that advertise in yellow pages, so if this the case should Mathew Allbright and the BBC recommend that you don't use yellow pages.

Instead of banning ways for lawfull companies to generate business, you should come down hard on the crooks who operate out there.

[Moderator David@stives]

Neil

I am just going of the experiences i ahave seen with my elederly neighbors, I am sick to death of constantly watching them get hassled especially off utility companies , traveler types , market research people, its just not on , a lot of my neighbors are infirm and takes them a while to get to the door and a lot of them feel uneasy especially early evening.

William

Am i not entitled to my opinion, if you banned cold calling then we would have a level playing field and then we are back onto the yellow pages or reccommenndations, All my business comes by that way, you may have seen some of my posts showing some of my work, not one job was picked up doorknocking.

It was not just Rogue traders who harp on about doorknocking , nearly every council offers advice to the elederly regarding it, now doesnt that tell you something.

You can call me an humbug or whatever but i hate it when my door iis knocked, If i wanted window cleaning / religion/ a change of electricity supplier/ take part in a survey, I would look for it myself.

Dave

[chris@c.m.s]

When I was door knocking I didnt see a note in the window next to the door it was the typical, no canvasers free papers ect, I apologised and explainded I didnt see it before pushing the bell, she replied didnt mean guys like you how much for the fronts, I think given  the fact that I have never had someone get stroppy at the door, most people dont mind someone providing a low cost service knocking on the door,  this year my parents who are getting on a little have had 2 guys knock on there door one offering fresh fish and one offering a new drive with left over tarmac from  the A27, the fish guy was told call next time, but they arranged for the drive to be done untill I had words with them   There is good and bad in doorknocking perhaps doorknocking should be licenced.            

[Moderator David@stives]

Chris

You are right it is the bad element which sways my opinion.

Dave