[Sir Squeaky]

mine are mainly 5 weekly, never had a not today but i don't work in rain. to be honest, if someone came to do my windows in the rain i'd tell him where to go too!

tony

So would I!

Conning greedy gits!

[Pat Purcell]

Because most of our domestic customers here in the US are once or twice a year, we don't get many" not todays", but on the odd occasion that we do, I generally just hand them a business card and tell them that if they need a window cleaner next year givr us a call, usually theres a splutter and an "oh no I still want them done just not today because its raining,
 I tell them that the next available date is about 4 months from now but we do get the odd cancellation due to weather so we could squeeze her in as long as she was flexible about when and what kind of day it was .Most of them have it done that day,The odd one doesn't think it through and ends up having it done on a day much worse that the original date

[The Seven Bays Window Cleaning Company]

yes definately need doing monthly, if i ever run late the phone starts ringing with customers asking when will i be coming to clean the windows.

you have different problems from different times of year, insect marks, snails, spiders webs, bird muck,rain , wind, traffic grime, it all needs cleaning.

Dave

And SEA SALT......

Had a hell of a job rinsing the bugger off, after last weekends winds down here.

[windowwashers]

mine are mainly 5 weekly, never had a not today but i don't work in rain. to be honest, if someone came to do my windows in the rain i'd tell him where to go too!

tony

So would I!

Conning greedy gits!

you just dont like getting wet guys be honest 

[lee_dewing]

great response guys
thanks very much for your views
seems like i'm on the same wave lenght as every body here.
3 strikes and your out is pretty much how i try to do it.
My round is monthly but to be honest it's about 5 weeks.

was thinking of changing to 6 weeks.
should i start informing people when i get a bit more work or just let it roll,
and inform the customer if i'm asked? to be honest most of my customers expect me when they see me.

thanks shiner for your posts, are you as fast on the keyboard as you are with a squeegee , good point about dumping customers on a business decision and not an emotionally one (i've been guilty of that).
that's one good thing about walking away without saying anything i suppose gives you a chance to decide that, without steaming into an argument.

thanks alot all
cheers Lee

[Helen]

[quote author=mattywig
 Far better to adopt the gypsy mentality and train people into realising that you just turn up when you want.  It is the single greatest thing about this business that you can just turn up and get on with your job whenever, if people cant accept that then they aren't a customer you can work with so get rid!!!

Hmmmm. the most frequent comment we get from new customers is "we are fed up with our old wc as he just turns up when he wants, we can never get hold of him on the phone and will only take cash and what we want is a regular reliable service"

Now if you just turn up when you feel like it, isn't that really giving out signs to the customer that it's ok for them to say no not today

As has been said, we probably all get the odd not today thanks and if it really is for a good reason, then so beit, although annoying that they have not let you know before, it happens. Just keep it in mind the next time you are due to that area and if you get a negative response then bin em

[pingu]

I have set up with the intention of setting myself apart from others...i.e

Each customer gets a date for their next clean (they are responsible for me having access as agreed), they can pay me via internet banking (I do not collect at nights/weekends), I am contactable via mobile and house number and I make a real point that I am not a cash in hand merchant but a bona fide company..

We run an 8 weekly service for most customers and a few very large houses have a 12 weekly....but in the main 8 weekly is good enough so that the customer notices the windows are dirty and can see the difference when they have been cleaned but  still not too long to be a real PITA to clean.

But I have been guilty of a few knee-jerk sackings but have vowed not to sack anyone until I have had a good nights sleep to think about my possible re/actions.

As for sackings...all now depends on the monetry v PITA factor.

Dave.

[simbo]

4 weekly gives no job satisfaction for me or the customers, people like to be able to tell you have been and so do i. People will pay you more for less frequent so its all  good 4 weekly pah.
ps i only clean my own about every couple of months and thay are never really dirty.
simbo

[Davew]

I think if you have a full round then a "not today" is no big deal. When you are scratching for work then it makes a big difference to your day and dents your meagre earnings and knocks you back a bit. If you are stacked with work it could just mean finishing twenty minutes early that day.
 I still don't have enough work yet for it not to bother me.

[johnny_h]

i have a road where one customer would mess me about always try to pay £1 under i alway had to remind her of the price last xmas her nusband came out gave me a handful of money and said happy xmas you guessed it when checked it was £1 short come feb she shouts to me in the street "you have forgotten me again!!" i shouted back "you have underpaid me and messed me about you have been dropped " she has not had her windows cleaned for a year now and the rest of the road know i wont be messed about

[L.J.Thorpe]

[quote author=mattywig
 Far better to adopt the gypsy mentality and train people into realising that you just turn up when you want.  It is the single greatest thing about this business that you can just turn up and get on with your job whenever, if people cant accept that then they aren't a customer you can work with so get rid!!!

Hmmmm. the most frequent comment we get from new customers is "we are fed up with our old wc as he just turns up when he wants, we can never get hold of him on the phone and will only take cash and what we want is a regular reliable service"

Now if you just turn up when you feel like it, isn't that really giving out signs to the customer that it's ok for them to say no not today

As has been said, we probably all get the odd not today thanks and if it really is for a good reason, then so beit, although annoying that they have not let you know before, it happens. Just keep it in mind the next time you are due to that area and if you get a negative response then bin em

the point i was trying to make is that i dont ring my customers to tell them i am coming  i get round in 5 to 6 weeks take chqs and am reliable i just turn up to do windows whether they are in or gate is locked or whatever round is done on my terms 99% of time dont waste evenings ringing for access or asking if they want a clean this time my custs know they are either on the round or they are off it . if they want to drop a clean here and there for holidays decorating whatever then ok as long as they let me know also they all have phone contact landline mobile and car better that way then no excuses for not contacting me