[Sir Squeaky]

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?

[NWH]

My word Squeaky you have a round full of T0553rs mate.

[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?

just add 50% to the bill they soon stop that and if they dont then thats fair enough, i would never clean a window 2 monthly at the same price as a monthly (4 weekly)

[NWH]

Good bit of advise that Squeaky,get tougher with em mate,sounds like there taking you for a ride mate.

[Wayne Thomas]

increase your price for a less regular wash and explain that it may/will take longer to clean

[Kwackers]

I have probably the least work going on here, i've just started, had one say from the get go they wanted every 8 weeks, told them it's every 4 weeks or + 50%.

I clean them every 4 weeks still

[Moderator David@stives]

Squeeky
#
I think you have just got one of them unlucky rounds, I never get any eom in the winter, maybe i get requests from about 2 customers a year who are genuinely struggling to pay.

Dave

[Sir Squeaky]

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.

[Wayne Thomas]

Squeeky:

All the hassle and grief you get from your long standing customers from when you were cleaning their windows traditional, WHY don't you look further afield for new customers who'll happily except the WFP method.

When I first started using WFP in 2000 I had nothing but grief from the old 'fuddy duddies' so I replaced them all with fresh new work and didn't look back on it with any regrets. Perhaps it's time you did the same??

Just trying to help you

[matt]

i had 1 today

she asked " can you miss me this time BUT can you come back in 2 weeks "

i said, " it'll be 6 weeks "

she said " oh, well i need them done in 2 weeks "

now i was up till 2.30 with the baby last night, so im not in a mood for pain customers

i reply " i'll see you in 6 weeks "

she says " they will be really dirty then "

i reply, its either now or in 6 weeks "

her " Ummmmmmmmmm "

me " I will see you in 6 weeks then "

[Village Gleam]

I recognise this as a trend. I was surpised by the thread dave put up that found otherwise.
I think it was a post by Dia that explained in the early days men did 2wkly in the cart walking distance around their home. With coal fires and belching factories things got dirtier. There have been so many advances including upvc....

[NWH]

You should be constantly looking to improve your round,replacing rubbish with cream.Have you got into a rutt and settled for the same old customers year in year out,you talk about your area being full of WCS so maybe you need to look further a field to improve your round,i travel at least 20 miles for desent work.

[Feen]

Squeeky, Getting a hint of the same. Just the odd "they're ok this month, can you skip this clean", "I've just had them painted, can you...." etc. Not many. I tend to take your view that their business is still worth while. It's all very well people saying " dump 'em and get some new business", but that doesn't suit all people or all situations. I like what I've got, I get a few new customers now and then, but I don't really want to ditch some and go looking for lots more business. But, I do wish people would realise we have bills too and can't jump in and out of work to suit them.

[windowwashers]

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.

Squeaky I run my business not my customers I am fair and upfront with my charges, I do not clean a house every 4 weeks then charge the same for an 8 week clean if they want to changed, as it takes more time as there we be more dirty there also they are taking up half a space of a regular customer which I do not have a problem in finding (they are told this at the time also) I do value each and every customer that we clean for but I run a business and have things in place so it runs like a business,. If any of my customers said they will leave it then I would say that is your choice but you know my terms and charges. I do the same to all my customers and have been doing so for years, I also have a large round that gets more work daily, It seems I must be doing something ok or my company would not have lasted all these years still with most of the customers that started when I did and the hundreds of new clients we now have.

one more point if they did say can you miss it this time I would agree for a one off but regualar no way.

[Kwackers]

If it was pre arranged it would be different, i know that if i go to my dentist and say can i come back in 6 months after an appointment has been booked he will still send me a bill, i've waste a slot in his day where he could've made money, so it's understandable

[Feen]

NWH, I find your reply interesting. You sound quite an aggressive sort of person. And I mean that in a good way. You are trying to improve your round and your business by being quite ruthless. I have no complaints there, but there is another side. Lots of old people, for example, still want their windows cleaned and are probably not flush with cash. I enjoy cleaning their windows more than most. I wouldn't want to make it my core business, but I wouldn't want to lose them either. Quality of life comes into it.

[NWH]

All his is good advice but i feel that the customers that you have just don`t live in the real world,i get the impression that your very freindly with your customers,perhaps to freindly.You might find that another area has a completly different attitude towards you and your business,don`t forget you`ve just got a new van which more than likley makes them think that you don`t need the work or the money,they probobly think you have work coming out of your ears with making that investment.

[windowwashers]

If it was pre arranged it would be different, i know that if i go to my dentist and say can i come back in 6 months after an appointment has been booked he will still send me a bill, i've waste a slot in his day where he could've made money, so it's understandable

that is spot on, we run a business and some people tend to forget that or let there customers dictate to them, I have once on my first day window cleaning, since then it has never happened again.

[NWH]

I to have and clean pensioners window`s on a every 2 month basis but this is work that i have had from the start and not just from my start my dad`s also,i do them out of there loyalty to me and my dad over the years.I have my core business that i do over a 6-8 weekly basis domestic and commercial and when this work is completed these loyal customers then get cleaned very cheaply in some cases free cleans inside,there`s more to life than money granted,but you have to get your prioritys right.

[Feen]

NWH, Sounds like you and me are singing from the same hymn sheet