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steve a

  • Posts: 466
Customers: you think you know them.
« on: February 09, 2008, 08:34:34 pm »
Cleaned their windows for 2 years.
Initially normal new type end terrace 2 tops 2 botts front, 1 top side and 2 tops 2 botts rear, charged £4.50. Job took 11mins. working trad.
Had conservatory built full width at rear, couldn't do rear botts any more as inside now, but did 2 tops with W F pole over conservatory and conny windows,(limited access to right and if you can picture it to left butting right up to 7 ft fence, this is silly I know but I would sit on top of fence and do the left side of conny, reaching down to reach the glass) but  I was happy with this and charging £7.50 since conny added 1.5 yrs ago. (should have been at least a tenner)

Always had problem getting paid as they dont carry cash and I will not accept check under £10, but we managed to get along ok, usually getting paid every other time as she or he would nip to bank.

Sometimes we would chat, she bought a dog (an adorable puppy 4 monts ago) and it would get out under the gate, so I sourced some wire mesh for to fix along base of gate, free of charge, which they fitted and were happy with. Then the dog poo started, I never complained, but was going to today.

Went to clean today they owed me 2 already had called on first of these, no money, called and called back on 2nd clean to be told wife had gone out and he had none, OK no probs get it next time.

Did the back, dog do everywhere, did side, went to front and knocked, didn't answer so climbed ladder to do tops, door opened then closed again, went back down ladder and knocked again, an age later young daughter came to door (12 ish, age that is) looked at me like i was dumb, 'It's the window cleaner' I said. 'My mums too busy to come to the door can you call back'  DUH, been cleaning house for best part of 20 mins already so I said 'wel tell your mum I've called four times now and I will not be cleaning them any more after today'
Well it didn't take her long to come out after that and she said she was moving the computer upstairs and I don't want you to clean them any more, I'll get you your money later' (treated me like one of her school kids, she is a teacher).

So I called back 1 hour later...........'I'm going for your money in a minute'  .OK I replied, I'll call back in an hour, is that OK'  'Yes'.

Called back 1 hour later and husband paid me. I said if you wish I will carry on as it will be hard to find another window cleaner, but I will need paying regularly, he just shrugged.

I have ALL the jobs on this new estate and I do a good job which includes doing ALL the bathroom windows and wiping All ledges (and not complaing about dog sh!t).

Doesn't it p!ss you off when you try your best and even go the extra mile and then they can't even be arsed to come to the door.

NWH

  • Posts: 16952
Re: Customers: you think you know them.
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2008, 08:38:12 pm »
Just drop em mate and move on,plenty more out there.

d s windowcleaning

  • Posts: 2782
Re: Customers: you think you know them.
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2008, 08:41:17 pm »
are you sure your not on a council estate  ;D
where theres muck theres money

Adam Boss

  • Posts: 251
Re: Customers: you think you know them.
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2008, 08:45:06 pm »
yea, get rid of them. They will be the ones to miss out . Other cleaners won't do them if you do the rest and if they do then have a word about payments and that should do the trick.

Adam
EST: 1988

Wayne Thomas

Re: Customers: you think you know them.
« Reply #4 on: February 09, 2008, 08:48:49 pm »
Don't go out of your way doing favours you don't get paid for. Do the job properly and leave a SAE with a note to include that you charge a late payment fee. If they don't pay within the set time, add the late payment fee, if they persist, you are better off dumping them. You're running a business to provide for you & your family, not a charity.

GMG

  • Posts: 73
Re: Customers: you think you know them.
« Reply #5 on: February 09, 2008, 08:53:16 pm »
Defo drop them you have gone one step further to help them than i would ,
have, in the long run you will have the last laugh been there bought the t shirt

steve a

  • Posts: 466
Re: Customers: you think you know them.
« Reply #6 on: February 09, 2008, 08:58:08 pm »
are you sure your not on a council estate  ;D

No its private but this adds up to approx £25 per hour and is easy work with minimal gates etc as the fences between them are only 2'6"-3ft high and can step right along the backs of twelve houses at a time, the fronts are all open plan, only the end terraces are fenced to 7 ft and when I put the prices up a pound or so this year it will be nearer £30/hr if i don't chat too much.
 If I drop a customer in the middle of a run it means i then have to negotiate around their garden through gates which may be padlocked and it breaks the easy run up. Just need to get them round to my way of thinking.

geefree

  • Posts: 6180
Re: Customers: you think you know them.
« Reply #7 on: February 09, 2008, 09:03:34 pm »
Why wont you take cheques less than a tenner,?

i take them all me, its all money to me.

steve a

  • Posts: 466
Re: Customers: you think you know them.
« Reply #8 on: February 09, 2008, 09:13:39 pm »
Why wont you take cheques less than a tenner,?

i take them all me, its all money to me.

Do you pay bank charges?: is it based per cheque?

Most dont like paying the bank any more than they have to, used to get charged 65p per cheque, then agreed deal with bank but kept the £10 min as was so used to it. Suppose it doesn't make much sense now.
I really cant be arsed with people that use cheques as a form of payment for small amounts as it takes up so much time, think of the supermarket, pint of milk, cheque for 40pence, does my head in. sorry rant over.

Wayne Thomas

Re: Customers: you think you know them.
« Reply #9 on: February 09, 2008, 09:37:48 pm »
Cheaper to leave a SAE or get them to pay online by notchex or paypal than it is to run around in a vehicle paying out for petrol/diesel and time spent trying to collect unpaid for.
I'd rather sit at home, check my paypal/emails and wait for the postman with my cheques than go out collecting.

geefree

  • Posts: 6180
Re: Customers: you think you know them.
« Reply #10 on: February 09, 2008, 09:39:56 pm »
lol its ok.... i dont have a business account, but all my customers post cheques now.....

i agree charges are ridiculous, thats why i use my current account.... i know i know.... but so far so good  ;)

jonah

Re: Customers: you think you know them.
« Reply #11 on: February 09, 2008, 09:43:42 pm »
gazza thought the currency in wakie was still chicken and goats !

Grafters Cleaning Services

  • Posts: 1287
Re: Customers: you think you know them.
« Reply #12 on: February 09, 2008, 10:51:46 pm »
bin em, don't let people treat you this way
they will walk all over you if you give into them,
go oyt and canvass another better job to replace it and you will a whole lot better, trust me, we've all been there.














JAY "GRAFTERS"
From Southampton
www.high-shine.co.uk

geefree

  • Posts: 6180
Re: Customers: you think you know them.
« Reply #13 on: February 09, 2008, 11:57:53 pm »
gazza thought the currency in wakie was still chicken and goats !

lol thats what we eat

macmac

Re: Customers: you think you know them.
« Reply #14 on: February 10, 2008, 12:06:44 am »
gazza thought the currency in wakie was still chicken and goats !

No it's coil & flat caps ;D

Tony

geefree

  • Posts: 6180
Re: Customers: you think you know them.
« Reply #15 on: February 10, 2008, 12:46:27 am »
gazza thought the currency in wakie was still chicken and goats !

No it's coil & flat caps ;D


ah thas raht tha knos.... setha   lol

Tony

Paul Coleman

Re: Customers: you think you know them.
« Reply #16 on: February 10, 2008, 07:09:23 am »
are you sure your not on a council estate  ;D

No its private but this adds up to approx £25 per hour and is easy work with minimal gates etc as the fences between them are only 2'6"-3ft high and can step right along the backs of twelve houses at a time, the fronts are all open plan, only the end terraces are fenced to 7 ft and when I put the prices up a pound or so this year it will be nearer £30/hr if i don't chat too much.
 If I drop a customer in the middle of a run it means i then have to negotiate around their garden through gates which may be padlocked and it breaks the easy run up. Just need to get them round to my way of thinking.

That's one reason why I don't mind non-compact work.  It's easier to get rid of an awkward one.

Londoner

Re: Customers: you think you know them.
« Reply #17 on: February 10, 2008, 07:24:56 am »
Customers can be strange, well I suppose people are strange generally. I had a woman who left me standing on the doorstep for ages while she chatted on the phone, I even heard her say "Oh don't worry, its only the window cleaner." Its not as though it was an important call either. Its just rudeness.

I packed her in not long after that but it wasn't just the phone call.