[Dave Turley]

last month one of my custies recommended me to her friend.

3 bed semi plus conservatory with 2 velux, £25.

got job and did a cracking job (wfp). all windows were perfect and she was over the moon. (i had also fitted her in on her day off due to access)

I called her today to arrange this months clean only to be told "I wasn't very happy last month. the windows were fine but within a couple of days they were all dirty and smudged, so i'm going to get a traditional cleaner"

my blood almost boiled there and then. I said, well I have hundreds of customers, and i've never heard of that before.

I didn't bother arguing or swearing cos it's just not worth it, especially as I still do her friends house.

but if ever there was a case for a box of eggs.....

otherwise, business is brilliant and i'm getting tons of decent new jobs at good prices, so i'll just put it behind me.

grrrrr

 

[Londoner]

I put it down to clean window syndrome. When their windows are filthy it is important to them to get them cleaned.
Once you have been the problem largely goes away and they don't feel the same sense of urgency about getting you back. Then they start thinking about the money.

[Dave Turley]

i'd agree with that vince. hers weren't too bad at all, but in general you're spot on I think

[supernova77]

I've had a customer like this before...

Cleaned their windows twice - WFP tops, trad bottoms. Woman was happy with the job etc... Then one day (about a week after the second clean) she called me and the conversation went something like:

Her: "I would like to cancel the window cleaning".

Me: "Oh, ok... I'm sorry to hear that - Is there any specific reason?"

Her: "Yes, we are going to get a man with a ladder to do them".

Me: "Right, did WFP not do a good job then - You were always happy with the results?"

Her: "We were happy with the results... We just want a man with a ladder as it's more labour intensive!"

What a stupid excuse!!! To be honest I was happy to get rid once she had said that.

Andy

[stig]

i had 2x new call last month.... did a good job of them all windows left sparkling &sills wiped........  the one paid and the next sent a cheque 3 days later...
went there today only to be met with this upperty snobby attitude cow
  me - hello there
 cust- if there is not a vast improvement with my windows this time i dont want them doing again.
 me-  wot was the problem last time as you sent the cheque straight away with no letter of complaint.
custy- you left cob webs all over the frames
me - i charge for the glass and sills ,if you want thr frames doing theres a small charge.....
well forget it then,, i ve never know a window cleaner that doesnt do the frames
she said...
ive since found out that she has had 6 window cleaners in as many months...
never been spoke to like that in 23 yrs of w/ cleaning aint gonna let it happen now....i clean for some multi millionaires and r really nice to me ..so i dropped um both

[Ian_Giles]

2 replies removed because of the use of swearwords, swearwords are not tolerated on the forum, regardless of whether letters are substituted with other symbols.


Ian

[Dean Taberner]

Im sure that people like to see you struggling with a ladder. It makes it easier for them to part with their cash as they know that theres no way they could do it themselves. As soon as youve invested thousands into a WFP system and they see you cleaning from the ground they suddenly think that life is a breeze for you and dont like it

I am pleased to say that these people are in the minority though and its their loss not ours

[Dave Turley]

to be fair I LOVE dumping dodgy custies.

but if i'm getting dumped, I would at least like a reasonable reason/excuse

anyway it's behind me now, onwards and upwards 

[sageorgeta]

I allways clean the frames well on the first clean.It keeps the customers happy as most others dont do it and it makes it easier the rest of the time.

[sgibsoncleaning]

when customers cancel these days, ignore excuses and take it as "we are skint and cant afford your prices, we have got someone doing them cheaper"

[Wayne Thomas]

when customers cancel these days, ignore excuses and take it as "we are skint and cant afford your prices, we have got someone doing them cheaper"

Very true.

Also, trust your gut instinct when taking on new customers. I sometimes give a quote, which future custie excepts, but then I don't bother to turn up  to clean the windows as my gut feeling is telling me the custie is dodgy as hell, walk away. Been ripped off 3 times this year by custies and my gut feeling is getting sharper looking for the signs when quoting now. Credit crunch is sharpening my mind nowadays.

[Dave Turley]

I clean the top of the frames and the sill every time unless there are dodgy vents.

I also go for trusting my instincts, but this custie didn't set any alarm bells ringing

a dead give away i've found is if their gardens are scruffy, they will be unlikely to continue having their windows cleaned as they have no pride in their house

[windowwashers]

I clean the top of the frames and the sill every time unless there are dodgy vents.

I also go for trusting my instincts, but this custie didn't set any alarm bells ringing

a dead give away i've found is if their gardens are scruffy, they will be unlikely to continue having their windows cleaned as they have no pride in their house

I personally find it is the people that have every thing that cannot afford to pay for it stop.

I have a garden I have made a path through the weeds etc they are the same height or taller than me, they pay like clock work (maybe this like looking at weeds I dont know) some people have windows cleaned as it makes them feel good.

[CC Windows]

Some of my best paying customers have gardens that resemble the rainforest, others that are good payers insist on having their windows done every 2 weeks yet if you saw inside their house you would think they would be more interested in getting their house cleaned, cant work that one out haha.

Had a new customer that I dropped after the first clean, I knew she would be trouble when I canvassed the area but decided to give it a try as it was only a small bungalow and figured I'd be there and gone before she could get too annoying

Anyway it went something like this when I turned up

Me - Hi I Have come to clean you're windows
Cust - Well you can do the front and sides but I dont want you around the back as I have valuables on show

I let that comment ride

I then proceeded to clean the windows and sills, she watched my every move inspecting the windows as I went along!

Anyway once I had finished I knocked on the door.

Me - Hi you're windows are now done
Cust - did you do my bedroom window
Me - Yes madam I have done every window you asked me to do
Cust - Well I didnt see you
Me - Well I can assure you I did, if you would like to look I would be happy to show you
Cust - Did you do the window on the other side
Me - Yes madam
Cust - You have been too quick
Me - Well I am sorry you feel like this but I promise you that all you're windows and sills are cleaned to a very high standard
Cust - Well I'm not happy at how long you have been

At this point she handed over the money  (£4 I might add for front and side bungalow including sills) and continued to moan

At this point I snapped but still didn't get abusive and told her to find another window cleaner as I would not be coming back!

I dont know how these people get off on how they speak to you, I have a full uniform with company name and phone number on the back, vehicle is signwritten, all my equipment is the latest cleaning items!

Really wound me up, but not to worry, I got a £15 house across the road every fortnight and they are a lovely couple so that was a good reason to do it!

There sorry for the rant haha

[Londoner]

Some people just like to feel that little bit of power that they get when they complain. I used to work with a bloke called Roy who would always complain about everything.

It made him feel important, but if you were on the receiving end it would drive you mad. He had running battles with the council, the gas, the electric and when he bought a new car it was back and forwards for months with pathetic liitle problems.

 Its all in their minds.

[Dave Turley]

I never said that custies with scruffy gardens are not good custies.

I have noticed, however, that the custies who drop you after a few cleans tend to have scruffy gardens... there's a BIG difference.

this one's wasn't scruffy though.

[johnny_h]

my mate did a upvc clean last week he got knocked down £15.00 on the orice as soon as he arrived then the customer added more work on expecting it to be done for free when he refused as it wasnt in the price he came out with a magnifying glass to inspect the work !!