[davids3511]

Dropped a few leaflets on one road the day before yesterday. Hadn't leafletted any other street in about 2 weeks. My mobile number is on the card but my wife happened to have it with her today.

She got a call about 1pm when on her way home from work, asking if she had anything to do with the window cleaning leaflet. She replied yes, it was her husbands. She was told the she had better make me back off or there would be big trouble. She asked if she was being threatned and the guy replied 'no, but your husband is'.

She arrived home and told me the story. She said there was two of them as they were talking to each other while speaking to her. I kinda saw red and as I knew exactly what street I had just kleafletted I went to see what exactly 'big trouble' was. Lo and behold, there are two window cleaners putting there ladders on a car on the street. I screeched to a stop and jumped out of the car. I asked if 'which of you t***s has been thretning my wife. The first thing the biggest sad was 'are ou the one who has been delivering leaflets', I said yes while asking him to repeat his threats to me. He sets off walking rather quickly down the street protesting his innocents with me in persuit shouting 'come on then where is your big trouble' and 'why aren't you threatning me'. He continued to run away.

He once stopped and took a stance as if he was going to hit me. I have in the past studied Jeet Kune Do and adopted a fighting stance in case he did actuallt try to hit me. He took one look and ran again. I gave up telling him was acoward for both hidinghis number and threatning a woman.

I know, I know it isn't very professional but I think the local guys need to know I am not going to be intimidated by these silly calls.

David

[Neil_A]

I think you done the best thing.. They sound like a copple of bullies!.. Theres enough work to put dinner on all of our tables why get the ump when you find another window cleaner cleans in the same area as u

[davids3511]

I think I understand why this has happened. I met two window cleaners about 2 weeks ago on another estate while I was putting my leaflets out. I shook their hands and explained I wasn't there to undercut or steal customers. The head guy was really good about it and said I could leaflet away and if I took one of his customers he must have been doing something wrong and that there was plenty for everyone.

Now, on reflection, the guy who was with him two weeks ago was with this different guy today. I bet they read the leaflet and discussed quite, polite and mannerly old me and decided I was a push over and a threat would see me running for cover.

[Kwackers]

I think I understand why this has happened. I met two window cleaners about 2 weeks ago on another estate while I was putting my leaflets out. I shook their hands and explained I wasn't there to undercut or steal customers. The head guy was really good about it and said I could leaflet away and if I took one of his customers he must have been doing something wrong and that there was plenty for everyone.

Now, on reflection, the guy who was with him two weeks ago was with this different guy today. I bet they read the leaflet and discussed quite, polite and mannerly old me and decided I was a push over and a threat would see me running for cover.

The right attitude, there should be tension, at the end of the day you are business rivals, but theres no such thing as owning customers in business.

[simon knight]

I think I understand why this has happened. I met two window cleaners about 2 weeks ago on another estate while I was putting my leaflets out. I shook their hands and explained I wasn't there to undercut or steal customers. The head guy was really good about it and said I could leaflet away and if I took one of his customers he must have been doing something wrong and that there was plenty for everyone.

Now, on reflection, the guy who was with him two weeks ago was with this different guy today. I bet they read the leaflet and discussed quite, polite and mannerly old me and decided I was a push over and a threat would see me running for cover.

The right attitude, there should be tension, at the end of the day you are business rivals, but theres no such thing as owning customers in business.

Quite right. Your customers are only your customers for as long as they choose to use you.

Never been threatened myself...here in SW London we work alongside and are civil as there's plenty of work for all of us.

Any new w/c on the block is welcomed but if he then started giving it the large would be told to f##k off in no uncertain terms.

[r4g1t]

what i can not understand is..... if there is plenty work for all of us, then why leaflet where other window cleaners are already working???, are you so desperate that you need other w/cs leftovers?. please dont forget that they have probably been trying very hard to build that round and then up pops you. i dont agree with the threas, but if they explained the situation would you have backed off?

[nat]

if there is plenty work for all of us, then why leaflet where other window cleaners are already working???, are you so desperate that you need other w/cs leftovers?. please dont forget that they have probably been trying very hard to build that round and then up pops you.

how would they be trying hard to build up thier customers? they may be complacent! they may be poor at thier job, people move in people move out, some people like you some people don't, i think what you've said thier is pure garbage! fair game for all in my opinion!

[ScrimShady]

ive just been outside talking to the wc who cleans near my house!its all good karma man!!!
mrs scrim

[williamx]

All because a window cleaner works in one street does not mean that it belongs to him or anybody else.

Recently I have gained over 20 customers from one cleaner who use to treat his customers like dirt, I was recommended and now I have his business.

His reaction was to target the single elderly ladies on the round and covered their windows with dirt.

Now I know why they wanted a new cleaner.

[Russell Macdonald]

if there is plenty work for all of us, then why leaflet where other window cleaners are already working???, are you so desperate that you need other w/cs leftovers?. please dont forget that they have probably been trying very hard to build that round and then up pops you.

how would they be trying hard to build up thier customers? they may be complacent! they may be poor at thier job, people move in people move out, some people like you some people don't, i think what you've said thier is pure garbage! fair game for all in my opinion!

I agree with Nat. I'm not bothered if my work gets canversed or a leaflet put through & nore should anyone. You don't own your customer or "your patch". If you are honest, reliable, regular & do a top job most customers will stay with you.

A large majority of my customers have been on my round 10 years plus.

If a customer is not happy with their wc & i can see they are doing a bad job i will take them on only if they tell the other wc first. Most of the time i charge more so under cutting is never an issue.

I never make threats to other wc's first but i've had 1 or 2 over the years but i'm always willing
to play.

Macc

[davids3511]

@EVERCLEAN

What on earth are you talking about? You are obviously of the opinion that no startups should be allowed. If that was the case then the government should create licenses to operate for all areas and sell them off to the highest bidder, guaranteeing no competition. In other words, you want a monopoly. Why are some cleaners so insecure that they need a monopoly?
 
Can you explain where I can go that will not already have a window cleaner and how I should know this? Is there a map that shows windowcleanerless areas? If you had to wait for new builds, it would take years to build a decent round.

As for 'but if they explained the situation would you have backed off', would I hell as like but I wouldn't have set out to steal their customers, nor would I have undercut them.

David

[davids3511]

Just to clarify that last post, I still won't specifically target their customers nor will I undercut them.

By the way, he has been on to my wife again, whinging that I am a bit mad and that it isn't on chasing him down the street. She said to speak to me direct so I am expecting a phone call at 6pm!

Will update you all later if you are interested.

[mark dew]

what i can not understand is..... if there is plenty work for all of us, then why leaflet where other window cleaners are already working???, are you so desperate that you need other w/cs leftovers?. please dont forget that they have probably been trying very hard to build that round and then up pops you. i dont agree with the threas, but if they explained the situation would you have backed off?

This is a joke right??

[Russell Macdonald]

Just to clarify that last post, I still won't specifically target their customers nor will I undercut them.

By the way, he has been on to my wife again, whinging that I am a bit mad and that it isn't on chasing him down the street. She said to speak to me direct so I am expecting a phone call at 6pm!

Will update you all later if you are interested.

Let him know nore is making threats to your wife towards you on the phone. He was the one acting all tough etc so if he dont want to get chased he should keep it shut..

[simon knight]

Yes very interested! Get old bill involved if he threatens again. Him and his mate sound total tossers who need taking down a peg or 2...who do they think they are?...the f##king Kray twins or something?

Your response to Everclean is spot on.

[nat]

post his number on here and let us give him some advice in how to operate wc fairly!

i'm sure he'd get the message after 50 phone calls!

[mark dew]

Like all bullies he withheld his number. :

[davids3511]

He's 7 minutes late!!. I bet he is going to try and come over all hard to try and regain some ground after he ran away today. Easy when on the phone, wasn't quite so clever when faced with me.

He is denying he made the phone call but when I got out of the car I said 'which one of you t***s rang my wife and threatned her'. The very first words he said were 'are you the guy who has being delivering leaflets'. If he didn't make the call how did he know who I was? I could have been an irate customer, I could have mistaken his identity, I could just have been a general nutter so how did he know?

[Russell Macdonald]

Next time you see them, if your with someone get them to
go over & get a card, make out they will be in contact with
them soon. 

[Stevie G]

mac,  i doubt a thick bully boy like that would have the brains to carry a card
if he does it prob reads "you can contact me on.......withheld number"