[xxmattyxx]

Hi everyone, I think this is my first post on this forum, so bear with me please.

Anyway, Ive been a self-employed shiner for just over 8 years, I use the traditional method of cleaning, and have a well established round.

The main bulk of my work is about 25 minutes drive from where I live. Part of my round includes regularly cleaning some shops, inside and out. The one that concerns me is £7.00 a visit and takes 15+mins to do.

Anyway, today when I turned up to do the windows the guy running the shop, who doesn't own it, told me to forget doing the windows today, as they had a display of flowers outside for sale and he didnt want to move them. He was quite adamant that my presence ws most unwelcome so far as he was concerned.

  

My response was to say I hadn't got up and driven over to work to be told to f**k-off, to which he replied he hadnt told me to do that, but just that he didnt want the windows cleaned as it was too inconvenient today, despite it being the day due.

I also asked him if he'd appreciate it if he came to work and was told to just forget it and go home.

Anyway, I told him I'd have to bill him anyway, to which he said if I did that then not to bother coming back again.

I asked him why he couldnt have rang me as they have my number, he thought my number was in the office and not in the shop. I think at this stage he was beginning to realise he could have done that but was tyring to excuse himself.

So, it seems whatever I said he wsnt going to capitulate or back down. I 'd lost my rag by then and told him to f*uck-off, I was rather angry by then 

My point is, if someone wants a regular window-cleaner is it so wrong to also want your customers to be regular and reliable and not to be treated in such a dismissive and inconsiderate way?

Do others see my point or am I being too sensitive or should I just accept that some customers are from the funny farm and just not go back?

Opinions, advice and suggestions please.

Matt

Hope my explanation is clear enough, if not, read between the lines.

[ronaldo]

Matty, dont worry about it mate,just fu#k him off theres plenty of other people about who will appreciate a reliable window cleaner, get rid of the shi#te and look after the good ones 

[pylofm]

I am sure in retrospect you could have handled it a little differently (am sure you know that)...but hey every now and again, enough is enough...

Respect is a 2 way street...

Dave.

[Tosh]

Many would disagree with me, but good on yer for giving a toss-pot a hard time for messing you about.

A 'gentleman's contract', verbal or written is an agreement and if they don't have the decency to honour it; neither should you.  So gentlemanly behaviour isn't required.

The pity is, I bet you'll be replaced fairly easily; but at least he'll think twice before messing the next window cleaner about.

[Sir Squeaky]

As Ronaldo said really, just move on. This sort of thing happens.

I'd consider trying to get closer work though.
If it was around the corner on a street you were in anyway, would it have been a problem?

It's only only annoyed you so much because you've had to waste a journey.
To be fair, that's not the customer's problem.
He'll just get someone local now.

If one of my shops did it, so what? See you next week then.
No skin of my nose as I've got plenty to do.
If I'd travelled I'd be annoyed though.

[xxmattyxx]

It's only only annoyed you so much because you've had to waste a journey.

No, it annoyed me so much because he was inconsiderate,

I would

1) expect to either have to pay if I tried the same line

or

2) try to think how inconvenient it might if I was in his shoes.

I certainly wouldn't just dismiss him and expect him to take it iwthout a response

[Tosh]

Matty,

I know how you would've felt.  You've obviously got a little more self-respect for yourself than others who're quite happy to be 'dismissed' as if they were nothing more than 'serfs'.

You did the right thing.

[Sir Squeaky]

Ignore Pol Pot above.

Pure intolerant evil with a squeegee.

[a-r window cleanin]

I would have done exactly the same.

[EasyClean]

You could have handled it more professionally, but from time to time we all get the blues and forget to be as courteous as we should be, after all we're only human. In future when this happens, try to pause and think carefully before reacting. I personally would have let the crap from the customer go in one ear and out the other, then turned around and said that it was about time that the window cleaning price was going up by a £1.00 (so that in 7 visits you've broken even again with being messed around for today). He who laughs last, laughs longest.

[mike richardson]

you should have said nothing then just hot turned up the nxt time he would have had dirty windows for ages as he'd not have known if u wre returning or not, then he wud have been just as mad as you,

[EasyClean]

I had one the other day that I went to clean and when I got there I couldn't do the job because they had scaffold up and couldn't be bothered to tell me. It was due to go up a £1.00, but as they didn't have the decency to notify me I've decided I'll be putting it up by £2.50 the next time I clean it and if I lose it I'm not bothered. It just annoyed me, so for the inconvenience to me it will cost them extra because I'm not going to be messed around.

[xxmattyxx]

Cheers Guys, at least its nice to know others know how you feel and that although I may have reacted somewhat over the top  others may well have done the same.

Thankyou.

Matt

[craig jwc]

I've had similar from a couple of customers.

I just told them that for the people who mess me about they will be going on my new pricing with my new customers.
Told them that all my reliable regulars customers i will be holding the price for another year.

That made them change their minds.

Craig

[David Seaman]

Hi Folks. I was phoning my coastal customers this morning to put them off til tomorrow 'cause of the raging wind here in North Cornwall when one of them called me. She wanted me to give her a miss this clean because of the weather. Fair enough as I was not going to work today anyway. However, she then says it's because last time I cleaned them, 4 weeks ago, there was a storm 3 days later and it looked like I hadn't done them and could I leave them til next month. I told her that I have no control over the weather and leaving her windows for another month is fine by me if she was willing to pay double. She told me she thought that was a bit unfair. I told her that's the way it is and she either has them cleaned tomorrow with the rest of the round, pays double next month or gets a new window cleaner. I think I am going to drop her now as I am sure she will be a problem in the future. Bloody horrible job anyway with very slippery decking 3/4's of the way round the house. Yep, I deffo think she's dropped   
Ramble over!

[xxmattyxx]

I think I am going to drop her now as I am sure she will be a problem in the future. Ramble over!

You just know with some of 'em dont you !

[Tosh]

I personally would have let the crap from the customer go in one ear and out the other, then turned around and said that it was about time that the window cleaning price was going up by a £1.00 (so that in 7 visits you've broken even again with being messed around for today). He who laughs last, laughs longest.

I like this one the best.

Easy, you're obviously the 'thinking man's window cleaner'.

Good advice.

As Squeaks says, ignore me.

[pete albion]

Anyway, today when I turned up to do the windows the guy running the shop, who doesn't own it, told me to forget doing the windows today, as they had a display of flowers outside for sale and he didnt want to move them.

 i would have told him not to worry,  no need for him to move the flowers and offered to move the flowers myself, moving them as i'm talking to him , maybe its a bit more work but you'll still get your 7 quid and go home feeling a little less ped off

[pete albion]

Anyway, today when I turned up to do the windows the guy running the shop, who doesn't own it, told me to forget doing the windows today, as they had a display of flowers outside for sale and he didnt want to move them.

that bit was a quote just did it wrong

[Sir Squeaky]

That's what I would have tried to do Pete.