[matt]

i find this thread a little dangerous

now i know rog wont do it, but if he was a little more niave ( and took everything said here as the way it is ) , he would tell the customers " its my way or the highway " and in the space of a few weeks have hardly any work, this isnt what he wanted

I allways belive  " the customer is allways right"

I used to work with a guy who used to say " They need us more than we need them ", since we parted company, his round is getting smaller all the time

dont forget, loads of of other window cleaners around to pick up your work, keep your customers happy

[Davew]

I'm getting the same and some customers i don't mind extending their cleans, It all depends who they are and how they treat me. Some make my hair stand on end with "not today thank you" 

[windowwashers]

i find this thread a little dangerous

now i know rog wont do it, but if he was a little more niave ( and took everything said here as the way it is ) , he would tell the customers " its my way or the highway " and in the space of a few weeks have hardly any work, this isnt what he wanted

I allways belive  " the customer is allways right"

I used to work with a guy who used to say " They need us more than we need them ", since we parted company, his round is getting smaller all the time

dont forget, loads of of other window cleaners around to pick up your work, keep your customers happy

I would never say they need me more than i need them as that is plain stupid, a customer in there eyes are always right, I agree to a certain extent that that is true in my eyes as well, but never will a customer dictate to me how to run my business, they may think they know how to run it but they clearly do not or they would be doing it themselves. Rog aint silly maybe a bit to nice to his customers I dont know. you have to be flexable for some people that ask for a 2 monthly clean as a one-off yes and I do this, if they want to change to a 2 monthly clean they are chared more it really is that simple if they ask why i explain about the price increase some will grumble 1 or 2 may cancel most will understand, this happens maybe 15 times a year but only with new customers, and each time they are told the same thing, 4 weekly this price 8 weekly this price, if it is because they are painting one month then no extra charge is made.

That is a fair way to run a business IMO, I know we all run our business' in a different way, this works for me, others maybe not, I am good with people and talking face to face being freindly comes natural to me,

[Wayne Thomas]

I agree with everything window washers has just mentioned above.

I think Squeaky is very loyal to his customers and perhaps too friendly with them which the customers use to their advantage by asking for less frequent cleans whilst expecting it for the same price. Rog (Squeaky) isn't in a position to demand a higher price for less frequent cleans and can't afford to lose them by arguing over price structures. The best thing he can do is look for more work outside of his local territory whilst still keeping the work he has at present. Then in time after gaining too many customers he will be in a position where he can feel more confident arguing about a price increase when the customers demand a less frequent wash

[Paul Coleman]

You can't go putting prices up because of it. :

If they ask for 8 weekly when you take it on, yes.
But not when they've been paying the same for a while.

I tried to charge more for this situation a while back, and was told "I'm not paying more, you can leave it then".

So no, that's a silly idea.
With that attitude you'll lose all your customers.

I'd rather have the £10 every other month than not at all.
I wasn't asking what to do, there's nothing you can do.
It's up to the punter.

I just asked if anyone else had this problem in winter.

I have been asked very occasionally.  The last person who asked I just said no.  I still clean for them.  However, it's easier to say no when you have a reasonable workload and I wasn't too bothered if I lost the job or not.  I probably don't get asked about this too much as I work a 6 weekly round anyway.  Any requests for a less frequent service would mean 12 weekly and I would only consider that usually for a £50+ job.

[supernova77]

This is exactly why all my customers are every 8 weeks!

I know that each time I turn up to clean their windows they will want them done because they are just starting to get dirty!

Andy

[supernova77]

You can't go putting prices up because of it. Roll Eyes

If they ask for 8 weekly when you take it on, yes.
But not when they've been paying the same for a while.

I tried to charge more for this situation a while back, and was told "I'm not paying more, you can leave it then".

So no, that's a silly idea.
With that attitude you'll lose all your customers.

I'd rather have the £10 every other month than not at all.
I wasn't asking what to do, there's nothing you can do.
It's up to the punter.

I just asked if anyone else had this problem in winter.

Squeaky,

Do you think you will still be window cleaning in 2 years time?

You seem to constantly moan about your current round... Customers moaning about WFP, other cancelling, some wanting every 8 weeks until the spring etc...

Yet - You never seem to take the initiative to go and find more customers... You moan that there are too many window cleaners in your area so that you can't find any new ones... People have suggested that you travel a little for new work - But you won't do it... Why?

You say you are a born salesman... Are you sure? You seem to be too negative to be a salesman!

I don't mean to be nasty, but I can't see you being around in 2 years time unless you change your attitude and become more positive.

Andy

[Sir Squeaky]

I don't mean to be nasty, but I can't see you being around in 2 years time unless you change your attitude and become more positive.

Andy

Haven't got a choice.
I've got the van to pay for.

Anyway, why you having a pop at me again?
I just asked if it was happening to others. (3rd time I've explained that :)

[windowwashers]

I don't mean to be nasty, but I can't see you being around in 2 years time unless you change your attitude and become more positive.

Andy

Haven't got a choice.
I've got the van to pay for.

Anyway, why you having a pop at me again?
I just asked if it was happening to others. (3rd time I've explained that :)

Andy that was a little harsh m8.
Squeaks if you do read what he has put, it is not that nasty it is cold yes but sometimes reading things like that should help you move on and make more it was of topic a bit but then what topic always stays online here, andy would be trying to help you as hes that sort of guy.

[Pj]

I had two customers today ask if I could make it every other month until the spring.

Annoying or what?
I'm short of work as it is.

Not something I've had trouble with in the past.
It's down to what I said, that less people want it as frequently as 4 weeks, and are looking for an excuse.

Anyone else finding this happening?

Back to original point:  Yes it is happening a little more and will do.  Let it happen is what I say.

It's only window cleaning, we need them more than they need us, especially your average 3 bed semi type.
Life does actually go on for people even if they don't have a window cleaner every 4 weeks.

A case in point:  I did a couple of houses yesterday, I had to double check when I'd last been, they just looked clean already.  Weather has been mild last couple of weeks so windows just didn't really need it, but I cleaned clean windows.  I'm not going to say, "oh they don't need doing this time!  I'll leave them another month", however if the client says can you leave them every other month in winter, sure!  Word spreads about you being an amenable chap and you get recommended to others.

Look after your reputation Squeaky, not on here with half these nutters, with your livelihood I mean.  These guys won't pay your bills!  (Although some give good advice)

[windowwashers]

I had two customers today ask if I could make it every other month until the spring.

Annoying or what?
I'm short of work as it is.

Not something I've had trouble with in the past.
It's down to what I said, that less people want it as frequently as 4 weeks, and are looking for an excuse.

Anyone else finding this happening?

Look after your reputation Squeaky, not on here with half these nutters, with your livelihood I mean.  These guys won't pay your bills!  (Although some give good advice)

who are the nutters you are refering to?

[Helen]

Squeaky, in answer to your question "yes it does happen to others" Probably most of us if we were to be totally honest. How you handle it is how you run your own business!. In past winters we have had people ask us to do this and we just add a % and agree the month we start "monthly" again at the original price. We do not get a lot ask, thankfully as then we would have to review how we would handle this. Lets be honest with only a few asking you are looking at November clean, December miss, January clean, February miss, March back to normal, only 2 misses as to some wanting to kick there customers in to touch completely. We believe that the customer is always right, but sometimes we guide them to their decision Flexibilty guys and gals, that is the answer without being taken for a ride.....it works both ways and you never can tell when you just may need a customer to be flexible with you.

[Helen]

Also, this is your opportunity to point out how dirty the window get, when left this long! It's amazing then that the custies don't ask for the same thing the year after!

[supernova77]

Haven't got a choice.
I've got the van to pay for.

Anyway, why you having a pop at me again?
I just asked if it was happening to others. (3rd time I've explained that Roll Eyes)

I'm sorry Squeaky I didn't mean to offend... I was just offering some constructive criticism.

Andy

[Pj]

I had two customers today ask if I could make it every other month until the spring.

Annoying or what?
I'm short of work as it is.

Not something I've had trouble with in the past.
It's down to what I said, that less people want it as frequently as 4 weeks, and are looking for an excuse.

Anyone else finding this happening?

Look after your reputation Squeaky, not on here with half these nutters, with your livelihood I mean.  These guys won't pay your bills!  (Although some give good advice)

who are the nutters you are refering to?

eh?

Do you want names?

And why?  Who are you?

I think a number on here would frequently refer to themselves as nutters.

Sorry, Squeaky, distracted off-topic for a moment.

[rugby]

when i was cleaning monthly i used to get messed about by a few customers, leave it this month ect,but this last couple of years i changed over to 5 weekly cleans and this extra week seems to have made a difference,dont seem to get messed about half as much.

[Neil271052]

I can understand squeaky's problem with customers trying to miss a month here and there. They sometimes do it to me and I always accomodate them.

Although some on here say they won't let customers run their business, the customers are their business.

No customers-no business and unlike some folk on here most WC's haven't got an unending supply of people begging to become our customers.  :

If we are all being honest,  lets face it the every month clean is a bit of a scam isn't it? ..... and we can't blame some customers for tumbling it.

I have been to customers today who were cleaned a month ago and the windows looked perfect.

I personally think that every two months is plenty to keep windows clean in the modern smoke free environment we live nowadays and I think a lot of customers probably agree with me.

It's unfortunate but that's life.

I haven't cleaned my back windows for three months  and they just look like they need it now. 

[xxmattyxx]

Word spreads about you being an amenable chap and you get recommended to others.

I know a window-cleaner whos attitude to this would be that customers would hear thats he's easily riden rough-shod over; and take unfair advantage of this.

Not necessarily my opinion, I see it from both angles, for me depends on who the custy is, whats the job worth, how amenable the custy is (do I actually like them), do I enjoy that particualr house; will they wear a 30% increase in the price for bi-monthly.

Matt

[drakestar!]

it happens a couple of times a year to me so i explain that my prices are different & put it up by about 35%, never had a prob

[Sir Squeaky]

I can understand squeaky's problem with customers trying to miss a month here and there. They sometimes do it to me and I always accomodate them.

Although some on here say they won't let customers run their business, the customers are their business.

No customers-no business and unlike some folk on here most WC's haven't got an unending supply of people begging to become our customers.  :

If we are all being honest,  lets face it the every month clean is a bit of a scam isn't it? ..... and we can't blame some customers for tumbling it.

I have been to customers today who were cleaned a month ago and the windows looked perfect.

I personally think that every two months is plenty to keep windows clean in the modern smoke free environment we live nowadays and I think a lot of customers probably agree with me.

It's unfortunate but that's life.

I haven't cleaned my back windows for three months  and they just look like they need it now. 

Absolutely spot on Neil.

Post of the week, if not the year.

You'd all do well to read this, this is the most honest and truthful post I've seen, and I've been here years.

No jumped-up crap here.
If anyone disagrees with it, they're full of brown stuff.
End of.