[dan hughes]

1. Strong sunshine is ruining my WFP finish. ugly streaks - despite loads of extra rinsing.

2. Poxy hozelock on hosereel keeps popping off - how annoying ! D.I to reel - 8mm

3. I bought a mark 1 eco flow and 100 psi flojet months ago - only to find out they're not compatible together, and now have to pay for an upgrade

4. Stupid Family polotics!
 I'm employed (trad) by my step-dad, and then do my own work on self employed basis WFP + Trad - after a full hard day with him, doing a few hours every evening and weekends.
He, and his father have a massive rounds, and are very successful having been window cleaners since forever.

But they don't want to share- even with me!

Last week he cut my wage by 35%  for no reason but to be awkward! (got it back now)

They're saying I'm going on their patch and nickin their work ! one job I did recently, (damn good job n'all) my dad found out and said "ya can't do there, I used to do it years ago, that's mine!"
I laughed at him.

Makes me feel like telling them where to go  ! - which is what I think they're trying for, so they can play the " he did the dirty on us" game!

Why can't they just see thing my way!!!!!!!!

Rant over. going to Spain next week, might stay there!

[MJH]

You could always undercut them(if its commercial) or alternativly go full-time self employed and tell them to bog off!! i would never be an employed window cleaner theres plenty of work to go around!

[groundhog]

Dan mate, get out there and do it on your own!! It's not good for your self esteem being in that kind of situation!!! As for the streaks, I doubt they have anything to do with the sun, more likely you are splashing the water about too much and the water is dripping down from above the frame. Get yourself some new fittings for your hose and reel, I know how annoying it can be when the hose keeps popping out from the reel, especially when your at the other side of the house!!!  

[windowwashers]

try cutting off an inch of the hose that pops off, and fit it again, this happens to me sometimes and seems to cure it, I found hoselock the worst for doing this

Ian

p.s breaking a leg, losing 20k then van enigne ceasing up all with three months Sucks also but keep your chin up and look on the bright side there are many worse off than you m8 
go alone then they have no control.

[NWH]

Are they both trad.

[mattywig]

Looks like somebody's got some daddy issues!!

[pjulk]

Dan

If i were you i would build my own round up and go it alone.
Maybe you don't want to upset your step dad but you will be a lot happier.

Tell him there no such thing as there patch

[sjm]

Dan

If i were you i would build my own round up and go it alone.
Maybe you don't want to upset your step dad but you will be a lot happier.

Tell him there no such thing as there patch

If they thought anything about you , they would have given you some decent work just to keep you sweet  . Agree with all the above posts , you are a contiencious worker , so build your own customer base .

[michael papworth]

Yep. Life sucks, but it beats the alternative.

[groundhog]

Yep. Life sucks, but it beats the alternative.

Wise words Wally!! how you doing mate? not seen you on here lately? 

[dan hughes]

Yep , both Trad - won't even consider WFP - "it doesn't work, leaves streaks, it's crap !" thats their opinion, today i nearly agreed with them!

Will take on board the sloping too much water around thing - in hindsight I bet that's what it is!

I've moved over from backpack, and because of ecoflow problem I've been using full 100psi power! Maybe too much !


I don't want to upset my stepdad, it would make life really awkward and hard for rest of family. He can be a right as%hole when he wants and has made his nasty intentions pretty clear as to what he would do if I "crossed" him

I feel I've already been too soft. I worked things so that both of us (him more than me) would be best off, but I feel he's thrown everything back in my face. And he's the one winning.

My biggest concern is that i couldn't get the customers, even though I know I'm the better person with the better results - people would still choose him coz he's an old hand, knows everything bout window cleaning - been doing it 20 years!

Experience in his case is not the be all and end all!

All my small success so far has come from doing complete opposite to what he does!

And no, I wouldn't undercut him! or anyone else - hmm, on purpose that is!!!

[sjm]

You need to break the ties Im afraid     You can get a cracking business going if you just follow the advice on here  .  If somone is wanting to keep you down , and talks about " crossing them " , then the best way you can answer them is to make a success of yourself , and maybe offer them some of your poorest work , when they are struggling !  I have been in a similar situation buddy  

[d s windowcleaning]

dan its time to get stuck into your own work you will make it happen good luck  jonah keep a big  on your face all the best mate 

[sjm]

dan its time to get stuck into your own work you will make it happen good luck  jonah keep a big  on your face all the best mate 

You too Dave 

[dan hughes]

 

What bugs me the most is that I know he will land on his feet whatever I do !
he has a tendancy to do this.

People round here see him as some local hero / legend - he IS very successfull because of the way he is.

But I see a different picture of him. If only he wasn't family!

[davids3511]

I don't want to be too in your face but he doesn't seem to see you as family. I would do all I could to help my son, there would never be talk of patches or crossing me.

Whether he is a legend or not, he can't possibly do every house. If you can, consider going out of town or to another local town to try and build up.

You can always come back at a later stage and take him on if you want to.

[chris@c.m.s]

Dan Its seems most of your post is that your faith in wfp is shattered, firstly by a few problems in starting up and then by the opinion of your step father of wfp. Ignore his dated opinions read as much as you can on here and ask away when you hit a problem.
I took advice from on here and changed over, there is no way I would change back to trad and I'm sure none  of my customers would want me to, when you are competent at wfp you will pull the customers in maybe that's what your step father is worried about :   

[Londoner]

This is nothing to do with window cleaning, its about power and domination. Its quite common in family situations espescially as the younger man gets older, stronger, more confident etc and the father figure feels challanged.
What makes it worse is that you work togeather as well and I suspect the old man is a bit of a bully and is trying to undermine your confidence.

What ever you do will be wrong in his eyes so you have to make a few difficult decisions but I think you have already made the first decision.

[Dean Aspects]

Its time for you to move on you are in an unhealthy situation and by the sound of your post you are starting to feel bitter which is not good for family relations
Working for or with family can be really good but they can also expect things of you that they wouldnt from an employee
Explain that you are unhappy and you are starting your own round and just go out and canvass the work will come
If you feel uncomfortable about working the same areas as him then go to different areas dont be the bad guy in the eyes of your family be upfront with them then theirs no comebacks

Dean

[Sanity]

Strike out on your own and become a success.  That is the most fullfilling was of getting even IMHO.  Seeing them still in the same place financially and socially while you exceed them monetarily, socially, and in peace of mind will be a great reward.

Best of luck to ya .