[pylofm]

Hi all...(spits dummy out), does anyone else just get really 'miffed' of going back to a 2nd clean and then the householder trying to change the goalposts i:e price, dates, 4wk/8wk/254weekly....

Obviously I am very much a new kid on the block at this window cleaning lark but I really do not like the people trying to take me for a mug...it just keeps happening....

What do you do about it....?

Dummy back in....

Cheers
Dave....

[Fast 1 *]

Know what you mean.It seems they are up for a window cleaner when their windows are filthy,and they accept the four weekly agreement.I think people forget how bad their windows were at the beginning

[geefree]

i agree,

i had two fortnighty customers who were only too pleased to accept that i would call fortnightly so they never get as filthy again,... done them  twice....they now say its too dear, and moving to monthly now.

but at least i still have them on board...

not nice tho, they do seem to forget.

[AuRavelling79]

In my experience on domestic, twice a month is very rare - monthly, six-weekly or eight-weekly being the usual regular slots.

To get over the one hit wonders though, always, always, always charge them extra for the first clean whether they say they are going to be regular or not. If they are filthy then charge double for the first clean. If the customer is genuine they won't mind.

When you're scratching for work it's difficult to say "no" sometimes, but it pays dividends in the long run.

Then if they cancel after the next clean at least you haven't been ripped off!

[LSB]

Unfortunately this sort of thing is more annoying and possibly more likely when you start out ! you can be more forcefull or even indifferent when you have enough work not to worry about the few p-takers ! also it does take time to ' train ' up some customers !

[P @ F]

This is the start of it now , all the tight gits going 2 monthly for the winter , i usually deal with it by not doing the windows properly , no rinse , wait for them to complain , you then tell them how it is , you then get dropped or you drop them , loss of money but they will get replaced.

 Rich   

[Extremeclean]

To get over the one hit wonders though, always, always, always charge them extra for the first clean whether they say they are going to be regular or not. If they are filthy then charge double for the first clean. If the customer is genuine they won't mind.

When you're scratching for work it's difficult to say "no" sometimes, but it pays dividends in the long run.

Then if they cancel after the next clean at least you haven't been ripped off!

I COULDN'T AGREE MORE MALC!

If they moan about extra for first clean to get it up to scratch then they are NOT going to be regular customers.  Yes we are in a service industry where the customer comes first but NEVER let them mess you about. If they do walk away.

I know it's difficult when you are trying to build your business and money is short but a firm, professional attitude from the start will pay off in the end.

Keep at it Dave.  It's all part of the learning process and it does get to you but try to treat it a growing pains and dont take it personally.  

Rich.

[Spruce]

Hi
I have recently noticed that a good percentage of new customers suddenly want a 'long term' window cleaner because they are just about to put their house up for sale and want clean windows.

I agree with Malc about pricing your initial clean, but add a little choice for your customer to make.

Start of by giving them an initial clean price of say £10.00 then a maintenance clean every four weeks of £7.50 or every 8 weeks at £10.00
(what ever your prices are). Let them make the choice. If they try to move the goal posts later you already have the bases covered.

Spruce

[Paul Coleman]

In my experience on domestic, twice a month is very rare - monthly, six-weekly or eight-weekly being the usual regular slots.

To get over the one hit wonders though, always, always, always charge them extra for the first clean whether they say they are going to be regular or not. If they are filthy then charge double for the first clean. If the customer is genuine they won't mind.

When you're scratching for work it's difficult to say "no" sometimes, but it pays dividends in the long run.

Then if they cancel after the next clean at least you haven't been ripped off!

I usually charge 50% extra for the first clean (WFP) as I go around twice.  The extra 50% doesn't fully compensate me for the extra time taken but if it seems a good regular job I don't mind.  Occasionally I won't charge extra on a job I really want but I do emphasise not to judge my work until after the third clean (to err on the side of caution).  If someone states that they want a one-off, I charge double as I know I will not be getting any future benefits from working harder on that first clean.

[steveaqua]

does charging double really work? never done it myself as i thought the benefits always come later after the initial clean.

[KJG]

Happens to all of us. Give these punters the service they deserve - rag 'em or flash 'em if you're wfp

[Pat Purcell]

We generally charge by the hour for the first clean and then keep the price for subsequent cleans but our frequency is a lot less over here in the US

[Londoner]

I don't worry about it  It doesn't really matter to me how often they want their windows cleaned. I just set them up on George and the system takes care of it from there.

What I am finding is that with WFP the windows stay cleaner longer. I did a house Thursday, its an OAP who is on 8 weeks and the windows really weren't that bad.

With a George system its no problem but before I had one it was a pain in the neck trying to remember who has what.

[rugby]

i have cleaned 6 houses this year that all had realy filthy windows only to go back for the second clean to see a for sale sign outside,i never used to charge extra for first time clean but im not getting caught out again, 50%  extra for first clean from now on.

bad payers grrrrrrrrr  i have 3 customers that were renting their house and they have now ped off with no forwarding address oweing me for 4 cleans each.i have been cleaning for them for almost 3 years.i must have at least 6 customers that owe for 3 or 4 cleans and im close to the brick through the window stage.

its finaly sunk in never trust a customer,none of them,ever. from now on if they owe for a clean they dont get cleaned again untill they have paid.

[pylofm]

I think that you have a point Rugby...I too believe that if they do not pay when they should, why should further credit be extended.

I give my customers 14 days to pay via bank transfer/internet banking, so far have only had 1 that was late by 14 days....this late payment did not sit well with me as I saw it as a micky take we called her 3 times each time it was 'the bank is playing up'....in future this lady will have to pay 3 months in advance as she has proved herself not able to run her affairs in a timely fashion. Of course it was put another way with her as not to sound to 'jackboot' but all the same...this is now her way or she gets another window cleaner.

I do not want to become a hard nosed w/c (no offence to anyone) but at the same time, each euro is a euro that I have worked/earned and as such I take offence when people believe that they can 'play' around....I am not rich and right now as I am a new starter each euro is very important to me and mine.

Do I trust them.....NO...of course not...on the 15th day after a clean if the money is not in my account the g/f will be on the phone...afterall it is they who have broken our terms & conditions which they agreed to.

Dave.

[Paul Coleman]

does charging double really work? never done it myself as i thought the benefits always come later after the initial clean.

I only charge double if they actually state that they only want a one off.  Quite simply, I don't want one off jobs (unless very large) so I don't care if they say yes or no to my quote.