[KarlJones]

So I am more worried for them than I am of them.

Huh
Why?

Because I think the odds are staked against them.

Who worries you more?
A competitor who has low overheads and can undercut you or
A competitor that is having to fork out employment costs, large over heads and you can undercut him?

[Pat Purcell]

So I am more worried for them than I am of them.

Huh
Why?

Because I think the odds are staked against them.

Who worries you more?
A competitor who has low overheads and can undercut you or
A competitor that is having to fork out employment costs, large over heads and you can undercut him?

TBH Karl, the competitor that worries me the most is the one who is desperate for work and has a bunch of employees who have to be paid whether they are working or not, vans that need to be paid for whether they are working or not , insurances to pay etc
This guy obviously has his head screwed on or he wouldn't have 18 vans on the road and a sales force telemarketing , a sole trader has to maximise his return on nearly every job to be able to stay in business whereas a large company relies more on smaller profits from more jobs

[groundhog]

I have never seen any of their vans, but as well as canvassing my customers + slagging me off they are advertising in my local paper for window cleaners to work a 48 hour week for £16,000 a year! thats got to be close to the minimum wage.

[Paul Coleman]

i dont think they are the same people, these come from brighton and have around 18 vans on the road so i have been told.
there website is www.windowandwheelie.co.uk
i agree they have to make a living but there are loads of window cleaners where i am and i big company like that will make trying to get more customers more difficult.

Sorry for delay.  Just back from holiday.
The ones my customers told me about are from Brighton.
The funny thing is, some of the areas I cover don't yey have wheelie bins.

[ScrimShady]

thats the company shiner, they have seperate vans for the wheelie bins

[Wayne Thomas]

I have never seen any of their vans, but as well as canvassing my customers + slagging me off they are advertising in my local paper for window cleaners to work a 48 hour week for £16,000 a year! thats got to be close to the minimum wage.

£6.41 an hour

[groundhog]

Well worked out Wayne!! 

[Londoner]

Well I think they sound like they are stretched to the limit financially and out on a limb.

I can't imagine anything worse than trying to run that many vans. They must be employing Polish labour.

[Malcal]

If thats £307 a week garanteed + 4 weeks holiday + clothing + all kit provided etc etc, then he won't have any trouble getting labour. I know a WC in Newcastle whos just packed up to work as a pub cleaner in the morning and kitchen porter in the afternoon, both on NMW.
Our real competition will come from China as an RO/DI WFP for DIY cleaning at £10.
Regards Mal