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lee_dewing

  • Posts: 3120
wfp in the rain
« on: November 23, 2007, 11:09:01 am »
hi been wfp 15 months want to get out more in the rain.
how do you go about convince the customer.
what do you do if they say not today.
grin and bare it see u next time?

can't sack everyone?
want to work as much as i can.
thanks lee
Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.     - Aristotle

Re: wfp in the rain
« Reply #1 on: November 23, 2007, 11:19:44 am »
hi been wfp 15 months want to get out more in the rain.
how do you go about convince the customer.
what do you do if they say not today.
grin and bare it see u next time?

can't sack everyone?
want to work as much as i can.
thanks lee
Offer a guarentee I do, many will not like it but if you offer this at least you can work even if you have to go back to the odd house every little helps  ;)

Peter Fogwill

  • Posts: 1415
Re: wfp in the rain
« Reply #2 on: November 23, 2007, 12:20:48 pm »
hi been wfp 15 months want to get out more in the rain.
how do you go about convince the customer.
what do you do if they say not today.
grin and bare it see u next time?

can't sack everyone?
want to work as much as i can.
thanks lee

Don't give them a choice.  I took over a round years ago that the previous window cleaner done in any weather, and no one batted an eyelid when the window were done in the rain.  The customer only thinks they shouldn't be done in the rain because you don't do it, and make excuses for being late because of the rain.

Most of the time people are out at work and don't even know if it was raining or not, when you cleaned the windows.  On the very few occasions that I was told not too clean them because of the rain, I would simply miss them out until the next clean was due.  Ideal at this time of year when you can tell them you may not be back before Christmas.

Peter

d s windowcleaning

  • Posts: 2782
Re: wfp in the rain
« Reply #3 on: November 23, 2007, 12:41:04 pm »
ive never had a problem the hard bit was covincing custom that wfp would work once i did this i made a point of saying i could now clean in the rain . the custom just leave me to get on with what im doing .
where theres muck theres money

Ian Lancaster

  • Posts: 2811
Re: wfp in the rain
« Reply #4 on: November 23, 2007, 02:42:54 pm »
Every new customer gets a proper printed quotation.  Attached to this is my "rain guarantee"  which says that I work in most weathers and this is one of my conditions of accepting the job.  The guarantee says that if there's a problem with doing them in the rain, ring me within 48hrs and I'll come back and do them again.

If it's raining when I call to clean, I put another copy of the guarantee through the door before I start to remind them of my terms - by the time they've read it, they remember and don't bother to try to stop me.

PS:  Nobody's ever called me back :)

Cheers,

Ian

johnny_h

  • Posts: 689
Re: wfp in the rain
« Reply #5 on: November 23, 2007, 06:54:02 pm »
ian how is your rain gaurantee worded?
AUDI VIDE TACE

Paul Coleman

Re: wfp in the rain
« Reply #6 on: November 23, 2007, 08:00:58 pm »
hi been wfp 15 months want to get out more in the rain.
how do you go about convince the customer.
what do you do if they say not today.
grin and bare it see u next time?

can't sack everyone?
want to work as much as i can.
thanks lee

This may sound a bit cowardly but do the ones where they are likely to be out and the ones you aren't too bothered about losing.
I just tell my customers that I work in anything up to moderate rain.  No-one has really moaned (not much anyway).  Makes me wish I'd done it sooner.

Re: wfp in the rain
« Reply #7 on: November 23, 2007, 08:39:45 pm »
ian how is your rain gaurantee worded?
Quite simple, if you have a problem within 24 hours let me know and I will come back and clean again free, not happened yet, did the same with trad but did not say rain guarentee if asked I just explaimed (that wording come from a customer of mine, I adapted it to what suited my business and is working just fine.

Jon-scwindows

  • Posts: 645
Re: wfp in the rain
« Reply #8 on: November 23, 2007, 10:57:11 pm »
good idea Ian.

I have worked in the rain and i got slightly wet, i do not mind, and i have found many customers are out anyhow, and if wfp then the windows are going to get wet anyway, and the rain has a lower tds than tap water as it got in the sky through evaporation anyhow, so its not exactly going to ruin your precious cleaning work. I have not had any complaints - they probably think rather him than me, and most customers dont sit there watching you as you work so its not a problem to me.

Re: wfp in the rain
« Reply #9 on: November 23, 2007, 11:39:26 pm »
hi been wfp 15 months want to get out more in the rain.
how do you go about convince the customer.
what do you do if they say not today.
grin and bare it see u next time?

can't sack everyone?
want to work as much as i can.
thanks lee

This may sound a bit cowardly but do the ones where they are likely to be out and the ones you aren't too bothered about losing.
I just tell my customers that I work in anything up to moderate rain.  No-one has really moaned (not much anyway).  Makes me wish I'd done it sooner.
Shiner, I dont want to lose any customers at all, 95% of mine or good the rest are what I started with years ago, and if they canceled I would be a little gutted as I am quite attached to them in a funny sort of way.
we have to be sales men, cutomers services, a freind sometimes and the rest you know.
But at the end of the day we work to earn money, many people wil say dont clean in the rain blah blah blah but simple fact is it does work, and if they are not happy one call and you do them again free no real problem if you work out the loses you make sitting on your bum hoping rain will stop.
Forgive me if you think i am being big headed, but I am right m8

M & C Window Cleaning

  • Posts: 1581
Re: wfp in the rain
« Reply #10 on: November 23, 2007, 11:41:27 pm »
Must admit I've never used a written rain guarantee but I have given a verbal one. I just tell them that if they don't dry clean when the rain stops then I won't accept payment. Your positive attitude goes a long way to convincing them. However, I don't force the issue.
I've even done this when I've taken on new custies with WFP and they've been alarmed at having their windows left wet. So far when I've gone back they've all been impressed.

Re: wfp in the rain
« Reply #11 on: November 23, 2007, 11:57:56 pm »
Must admit I've never used a written rain guarantee but I have given a verbal one. I just tell them that if they don't dry clean when the rain stops then I won't accept payment. Your positive attitude goes a long way to convincing them. However, I don't force the issue.
I've even done this when I've taken on new custies with WFP and they've been alarmed at having their windows left wet. So far when I've gone back they've all been impressed.
never push a customer to have it done just say you will be back either the next day or next moth depending on how far you got. It is not worth losing a customer for (then is it) time will tell on that. I dont give written guarantee uless they ask for t&c's 99% is talking to them, and if you cant talk 95% of them around you need to brush up on sales skills IMO.

To many lazy window cleaners out there with a rain excuse (thats what it is) going to get resonse from that i guess OPPS  ;)

Paul Coleman

Re: wfp in the rain
« Reply #12 on: November 24, 2007, 07:48:45 am »
hi been wfp 15 months want to get out more in the rain.
how do you go about convince the customer.
what do you do if they say not today.
grin and bare it see u next time?

can't sack everyone?
want to work as much as i can.
thanks lee

This may sound a bit cowardly but do the ones where they are likely to be out and the ones you aren't too bothered about losing.
I just tell my customers that I work in anything up to moderate rain.  No-one has really moaned (not much anyway).  Makes me wish I'd done it sooner.
Shiner, I dont want to lose any customers at all, 95% of mine or good the rest are what I started with years ago, and if they canceled I would be a little gutted as I am quite attached to them in a funny sort of way.
we have to be sales men, cutomers services, a freind sometimes and the rest you know.
But at the end of the day we work to earn money, many people wil say dont clean in the rain blah blah blah but simple fact is it does work, and if they are not happy one call and you do them again free no real problem if you work out the loses you make sitting on your bum hoping rain will stop.
Forgive me if you think i am being big headed, but I am right m8

I have grown more confident about working in rain since I actually started doing it more.  A time came when I had to assert myself a bit better with the customers because my financial situation dictated that I needed to.  It's funny how money concerns have nudged me into doing things the way I should have been doing them in the first place.  Also, the more businesslike you come across, the more acceptingf people seem to be about working in rain.
It seems that if you live and work with a more positive attitude, you attract more positive people in your life - including customers.

D.Salkeld_Ltd

  • Posts: 951
Re: wfp in the rain
« Reply #13 on: November 24, 2007, 08:06:12 am »
Quote
To many lazy window cleaners out there with a rain excuse (thats what it is) going to get resonse from that i guess OPPS  Wink

If we (including ME) are really honest about working in the rain then that's what it is, an excuse not to go out ::) ::)
Monday morning was a fine example for me.  Woke up to the pouring rain on the perspex roof below our bedroom window ::) :(  That was it, couldn't be bothered, stayed in ALL day and did some "office work".  Tuesday was about the same, but ,up and out 7:30 rain gear on ALL day ??? ??? Not a single moan, only extra cuppas in sympathy :o

In fact, with WFP, it's much easier to wash the windows in the rain ;)

David

Not Perfect - But Honest

Neil271052

  • Posts: 212
Re: wfp in the rain
« Reply #14 on: November 24, 2007, 08:59:48 am »
I'd never go out working in the rain, maybe a very light drizzle but no more than that.

I don't have to so I don't see why I should work in what for me are unpleasant conditions.

Wet lawns, flower beds and trees, no thanks.  ;)

Rather put it off to a dry day, much more pleasant
Cheers,
Neil

lee_dewing

  • Posts: 3120
Re: wfp in the rain
« Reply #15 on: November 27, 2007, 09:43:23 am »
thanks all.
sensible answers.
you can't make the customer have it done if they don't want to.

But i can't help but get annoyed I am trying to earn a living, and for me, working in most weathers would be the difference from an average living to a good living.

I'm devoloping a tougher skin :) and not letting people p me off.

I am also trying to be more professional and not get to friendly with customers i.e be polite but not be chatting no more cups of tea i'l take my own flask. ;)
keep things more business like.

thanks all
lee
Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.     - Aristotle