[lee_dewing]

Hi hows it going, dodging the april showers?

wanted to ask anyone some questions regarding omni trolley, i spoke to omnipole and they sent me a colour sheet showing trolley (red) has di canister on front, £500 for trolley only.

1) how long does water in trolley last i was told 40 mins?, how many 3 bed semi's could you do all-round before refill?
2) how many 25 ltr containers do you have with you?
3) do you refill at customers properties? do they mind?
4) what happens in winter time when outside taps are switched off?
5) I was told by staff at omnipole that it takes about 4 cleans to get good result?
what's your opinion to this?
6) how did your customers take to your new way of working? did you give them a sale's pitch of new system.
7) did you lose any custom when changed over?
 where do you get your resin?
9) did you find it easy enough to get to grips with using poles did you need training?
10) how much is complete system? do you have to use omnipoles?
Sorry to bombard you with questions but omni said my ford escort van is too small to have a water tank so trolley is only choice apart from ionic now have small trailer holds 200 ltrs 3hrs work time?.
Don't really want to be buying bigger vans or leaseing at  still trying to build up own round as i work with a windowcleaner at present.

did you know there's a mag professional window cleaner? not bad can pass it on.
cheers lee.

[Duke]

whew...where to start...

[pjulk]

I have had my trolley only two weeks so will tell you what i know so far but others will be able to tell you more.

1) how long does water in trolley last i was told 40 mins?, how many 3 bed semi's could you do all-round before refill?

At the moment i can do 2 sometimes 2 1/2 - 3 bed semi's top and bottom on one refill of the trolley but i am probably using more water than i need.

2) how many 25 ltr containers do you have with you?

I carry 10 with me i clean mostly 3 and 4 bed semi,s and detached house and it works out about a barrel a house for me.

3) do you refill at customers properties? do they mind

Can't refill at customers home as i did not get the trolley with D/I cannister. I have an R/O and di filters at home and make the water there.

4) what happens in winter time when outside taps are switched off?

You will have to take you own water

5) I was told by staff at omnipole that it takes about 4 cleans to get good result?
what's your opinion to this?

I am on my first trip round with my WFP system and most a comming good 1st clean, I am rinsing really well.
I did go round checking last week and noticed a few with marks on so just redone the glass and they then came up great. I did clean all of mine with GG4 and did the frames really well before the changeover though.

6) how did your customers take to your new way of working? did you give them a sale's pitch of new system.

Printed a letter explaining the new system and how it works and why i am changing over and so far so good everyone i have done is happy with the results.

9) did you find it easy enough to get to grips with using poles did you need training?

I did find it strange the first few days and how is the best way to get the certain windows but i have soon became used to it, but the rest of my body is still catching up and no i did not have any training i read a lot and then a lot more and practiced for a couple of days before i did my customers house's. But to be honest if i went straight out there and did some and made some mistakes i think most of my customers would have been ok, As i have had quite a few saying next month you will be a lot quicker and better you have just got to get used to it.

10) how much is complete system? do you have to use omnipoles?

Don't know as i only bought there trolley and one of there powerpole's the rest i got else where.
You can use other pole's with the trolley i have a small glass fibre one for downstairs bought else where and fit's straight on to the trolley.

Sorry to bombard you with questions but omni said my ford escort van is too small to have a water tank so trolley is only choice apart from ionic now have small trailer holds 200 ltrs 3hrs work time?.

You could build your own system for your van It will take a 250 ltr system
I also have a small escort van and think the trolley is ideal for it but think i will need something bigger very soon.
Hope this is of any help to you

Paul

[Duke]

good post...saved my keyboard anyway...lol

[roo]

LEE, I BEEN USING WFP FOR JUST OVER 3 MONTHS.IT IS THE OMNI TROLLEY AND R.O UNIT TO MAKE PURE WATER.MY ADVICE IS TO CLEAN T O P OF WINDOW SEAL,REMOVE BUILT UP DIRT.I LOST OVER  £130 OF WORK BECAUSE  SOME WINDOWS WERE DRYING BADLY.I WAS TOTALLY NEW TOO IT.STRUGLING AND THOUGHT I MADE THE WORST MISTAKE EVER.I CARRIED ON,GOT NEW WORK AND  AM NOW ON £30-£50 P.H AS OPPOSED TO £20 WITH LADDERS.I USE THE TROLLEY,A 185 LTR TANK AND 9 25 LTR POLYS.ALL MY CUSTOMERS ARE VERY HAPPY NOW AND SO AM I.BUT IT WAS BLOODY HARD WORK TO GET WHERE I AM!

[matt]

have you thought of self D I Y build

and spend the money you save on a holiday 

[Old_Master]

Homeowners have you thought about cleaning your own windows?
Use the money you save on a holiday

[matt]

Homeowners have you thought about cleaning your own windows?
Use the money you save on a holiday

is this why WFP makers are selling residential kits left right and center, they have made the money out of us and are now targeting home owners

[Old_Master]

Matt are  Omnipole guilty of the above?

If you would like to give me a list of people who are thinking of taking you on as a window cleaner, I am happy to suggest they clean their own windows.

Its one thing suggesting people build their own systems through your website,its completly different to activly aproach a prospective customer who is asking about a specific product.
As it happens we could easily beat your sugested prices with the same quality products you are sugesting.
A sack barrow a 25 litre jerry can and a pump together with a cheap RO and pole  all for £350.00

[matt]

Matt are  Omnipole guilty of the above?

If you would like to give me a list of people who are thinking of taking you on as a window cleaner, I am happy to suggest they clean their own windows.

Its one thing suggesting people build their own systems through your website,its completly different to activly aproach a prospective customer who is asking about a specific product.
As it happens we could easily beat your sugested prices with the same quality products you are sugesting.
A sack barrow a 25 litre jerry can and a pump together with a cheap RO and pole  all for £350.00

first off, i dont think onipole are guilty of the selling "residentail kits" to home owners

Secondly, i dont really gain anything from the site, thus it was not really a aproach, it was more like a little bit of advice

Thirdly, the option of you selling the same kit for £350.00, i will gladly tell any1 who asks about that , at last the price for a "family man residential Window cleaner, who doesnt have much cash to spare" has come down, you should feel proud in helping out the few who cannot afford the onimpole full kit, though fair play to you, you did bring the WFP to the "family man residential Window cleaner" when you did the backpack, now you can do the trolley system at a cheaper price, well done Glyn.

for the record though, if you dont want me to post info on threads that mention your gear, then i will, i have nothing to gain, just trying to help other, a bit of a "good deed"

[matt]

If you would like to give me a list of people who are thinking of taking you on as a window cleaner, I am happy to suggest they clean their own windows.

i can see your point, and as i have said above, i will not add to posts that ask about your systems

infact i will go 1 further, out of all the other makers, you seem to take the time and help others out, so fair play to you, your more than a salesman, afterall your system is the benchmark in my humble opinion

Now can i have a pole to "test" for you 

[Simon Carter]

I have been instramental in leading four window cleaners to trolleys, two Omnipole, two Cleantech. Nothing wrong with either product, before I upset any one over sensitive out there. It's just the trolley concept itself that is a misnomer as far as I am concerned in that all four spend their lives pretty much in the vehicles. What's the point ?. Every one of these four operatives has some way or other fixed it so that they effectively have a van mounted kit. Before you say, four whimps, too weedy to lift the thing in & out, not true. One in particular, if he isn't window cleaning, is in the gym & is built like the preverbial brick s..t  house.
Other than that. all's I would say on cost is that I spent far too much & could have achieved something just as good for my needs much more economically if I had been a little more knowledgable. If we as window cleaners are her to help eachother ( that is the idea isn't it?)  then saving money is as good as making it. It's a two stage process. First determine what is best for your needs, then research how best to put this together. If you are working out of a smallish car to start with & your work is mostly residential, a small RO at home, a small mobile unit genuinely liftable in & out of the vehicle, maybe  a back pack, & a bunch of cans for starters. Get an 18 ft. pole, no bigger. 18 ft. is all you will need for the vast majority of your work. All of this is relatively cheap & will not represent a mistake. If you want to go bigger later on you will do so from a position of personal knowledge & experience without having spent money needlessly.

[matt]

Simon, i have helped a few start in WFP aswell, all have been DIY built, even built a Car mount system, Tank seat belted onto the back seat (then added 2 anchor points in the boot and used Tie down straps, i dont know how safe this was, the guy wanted it that way, i just helped him achieve what he wanted)

see i have the space for a tank BUT prefere the Trolley system, i find it great just wheel it around and away we go, i find the idea of a van mount bad, moving the van every few houses, trailing hoses through dog mess etc

each to there own though, what works for you mightnot for some1 else

[Old_Master]

 

[Ian_Giles]

Paul Griffin did an excellent set of replies to your questions, pretty much spot on.
All of the manufacturers do decent trolley systems, Aquatech, Cleantech, Ionics, Omnipole, they all do what they say on the tin.
All will have their advocates.

A van like an Escort van is ideal for a trolley system, but you will be restricted by the amount of water you can carry with you if you go for a R/O type system.
DI can work out more expensive, particularly so if you are in a hard water area, you will go through resin like there is no tomorrow!!

There are many different solutions to arriving at the system you want.
If you have a tow bar and trailer you can use that to carry extra water or your trolley in, you don't necessarily need to buy an expensive (relative) custom built trailer.
You should see the Omnipole trailer, top piece of kit but a big hole in your pocket. The Ionics one is good too, smaller though and likely to run out of water (depending on the work you do)
Aquatech do a first rate, no frills trailer, ditto cleantech.
But you have to dip fairly deeply into your pocket for even the cheapest setup.
You also of course have the back pack option, starting to take off now, with a couple of manufactures doing them.

You certainly CAN make up your own system, check out Matt's postings on DIY systems, first rate guide

But if you do buy a custom built system, if things go wrong, or you need advice, they are there at the end of the phone for you.

Through the Ionics site, you can find links to training courses in WFP, not expensive and you will learn how to use it correctly. Shortens the learning curve, and believe me, its steeper and longer than you might think!

Simon Carter also makes some very good points.
Many trolley users (myself included) end out adapting their equipment into mini-van mount systems, this allows you to mix and match, you chose the quickest option depending on the account you are working on, for me that means 95% of the time I am using it as a van mount (I work out of the back of a hatchback) I think if I had a van (even an Escort van!) I might use the trolley a little more, it would be much quicker to take in and out of a van as against a car.

I think that'll do from me

Regards,

Ian

[lee_dewing]

thanks everyone for all your input, still carrying on with ladders at present but obviously researching all i can (wfp) for future, didn't realise the amount of water needed this is a problem for me as i live in a 10yr property which has a water meter, anyone out there same position, could use parents water supply as they are not on meter.

pros and cons (wfp) i suppose makes running the busisness more involved and expensive, but higher earning potential so i've heard, and in future if wfp becomes the norm it would weed out all the cowboys who give this profession a bad name.
thanks again Lee

[matt]

I m on a meter, and as yet havent seen a increase

i only use 100 - 150 L a day though

[lee_dewing]

hi Matt, unfortunately i will have to go for a di system as i live in a small place and have no garden, i have a garage in a block but no electric or water, just worried about running costs of resin as i live in essex (hard water area), wondered if adding gg4 to water would help save on resin as softens water or if this is a fools economy, everyone keeps saying how expensive di would be to run any idea of price i.e how much you would use a day. could i build my own di system seen diy wfp site, thought i'd ask r u the guy someone mentioned on this post that's into diy systems do you reccomend any makes of trolley, how do you get away with 150-200ltrs a day do u wfp tops only?
cheers lee.

[matt]

the DI cylinder is a big tube full of DI resin, if you are making your own you would have to buy the cylinder etc, so it wouldnt work out cost effective, the cylinder is refillable, so you would only need a sack of resin, BUT if you are in a hard water area, it WILL BE expensive

the answer, get a MErlin RO from ADWATS (andrew is on here) they work VERY FAST, so you could have it under your kitchen sink and fill your containers each night

i only do TOPS on houses, a few reasons, people like the downstairs done by hand, i could carry more water, BUT i dont need it

[replacement]

Lee,
      I see your in Essex, I am in Essex as well if you like to come out for a day with me then your more than welcome and i can answer any questions you have.

Justin