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Exterior Gutter Clean Sofitts And Fascias £5

Poles Apart

Well-known member
Messages
1,666
Location
Birmingham
Was cleaning a customers windows last week when young Asian guy next door came out and asked me for a quote for window cleaning. I suggested he only had a one off as with "company policy" so did him a favour and said I'd do it for £20 as we were here he accepted and paid up front. As he was checking up on us while we were doing the job he asked how much it would be to clean the cladding on the front wall, did him another favour and said £5 for a quick scrub. After he watched the missus do the front he came round the back to pester me and said you haven't done the guttering and fascias and sofitts on the front.

 
I've had similar experiences. One Asian chap asked for a quote for his windows. I was the last windy to clean them about 10 years before so you can imagine what they were like. I quoted £35 for windows and frames to start with due to the mess they were in. He then expected me to do the FSGs as well. When I said that's extra he asked how much. That was a massive job as they were white PVC but were quite literally black with filth and the gutters were fitted to the outsides of the fascia board. I quoted £100 which was probably too cheap. He nearly fell over. I asked how much he thought it would be and he said, 'an extra£10'

He seemed to have no concept of what a job is worth. He decided he didn't want his windows done. I was glad to walk away from that one.

 
I'd of handed him the pole and said you have a go on your gutters/fascias for 10 mins and see how far you get.

 
truth is some people don't see window cleaners as bussiness but see us as low level people which kinda annoys me but a lot of people who you know for years aprichate the work, and are happy to pay £100 for the gutters and fasas to be cleaned

 
Asians (without being racist) are always tight or expect something for nothing. I only have 3 regular customers who are Indian and they are fantastic and never give me hassle with payment or for extra work, but most I've come across think I am "too expensive" etc.

I work for myself and am very happy so it's £40 an hour or I won't do it. I don't care what their perceived level of pay is for a window cleaner, I'm not a scrubber or a thicko doing it for beer money.

 
I do some 3 storyed 5 bed houses on a new estate for a fiver each just to miff off other window cleaners in my area lololol we pull up in a 65 plate van do the windows hand wipe all the sills and doors make a real good show as I know it upsets two other window cleaners lol

 
Asians are rife were I am had a job the other day to quote a connie roof in and out and all windows and doors in and out told her 400 she said she was quoted 60 pound told her to ring him back then and if I could have his number to do mine thay love trying there luck got a call back 2days later and did the job and her 4 bed house for 450 didn't want to ask what happend to the 60 pound man guess he ne'er got back to her also got 4 of her neighbours on a monthly so slapped a few leaflets down her road when finished gunna bash them tomorrow

 
they will always try to ADD other work on and think you will do it for nothing. i now give them a price and explain to them that is all i will do, anything else comes extra

 
I give them a full written quote for all works and prices and do nothing else that way thay no what there getting and I no at end of it that there is no I thought u was doing that also Easyer that way for both party's

 
I do some 3 storyed 5 bed houses on a new estate for a fiver each just to miff off other window cleaners in my area lololol we pull up in a 65 plate van do the windows hand wipe all the sills and doors make a real good show as I know it upsets two other window cleaners lol
HA HA do'nt matter what you pull up in the only one getting mugged off is you for charging a fiver bet there laughing at you if the truth be known i know i would be

 
I do some 3 storyed 5 bed houses on a new estate for a fiver each just to miff off other window cleaners in my area lololol we pull up in a 65 plate van do the windows hand wipe all the sills and doors make a real good show as I know it upsets two other window cleaners lol
And then **** the prices in that area for everyone

Great stuff

 
Was cleaning a customers windows last week when young Asian guy next door came out and asked me for a quote for window cleaning. I suggested he only had a one off as with "company policy" so did him a favour and said I'd do it for £20 as we were here he accepted and paid up front. As he was checking up on us while we were doing the job he asked how much it would be to clean the cladding on the front wall, did him another favour and said £5 for a quick scrub. After he watched the missus do the front he came round the back to pester me and said you haven't done the guttering and fascias and sofitts on the front.
Hello Davyboy .

I won't work for them in any shape or form .FULL STOP.

Cheers mate .

Glenn .

 
HA HA do'nt matter what you pull up in the only one getting mugged off is you for charging a fiver bet there laughing at you if the truth be known i know i would be
there not laffing at me I don't leave the office much these days

 
And then **** the prices in that area for everyoneGreat stuff

yup and I love it as well funny as when my sister tell me what the other window cleaners say when they knock at her door canversing for work

 
yup and I love it as well funny as when my sister tell me what the other window cleaners say when they knock at her door canversing for work
So you think it is funny ruining business for other people who have bills to pay and families to support

Best i don't say anymore or i will be banned from the forum

I work in a town with quite a few windies 2 of which are on this forum and there is plenty of work to go around

I don't have to resort to nastiness to try and ruin others business

 
Not great practice or business sense especially looking at the industry as a whole were only now starting to be taken seriously and slowly moving away from people seeing us as cheap beer money splash and dash. It ruins it for everyone. Anyway let's not turn this into a argument.

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Dozens of windys in Notts. Round here we all get along.

Bacon butties at the caf, the old 'you call that window cleaning' hollered out the window of the van as you pass them on the job.

The 'ring ring - ring ring' -- 'I fried my pump you got a spare?'

The big commercials where it's easier to sub in a friendly or two instead of outlaying on staff and more equipment etc.

I know a window cleaner for literally every street in Nottingham so I never have to say 'sorry luv, not my area' instead I say 'No problem, not me personally but Steve will get that sorted for you' and hand over another customer.

I dish out at least 8 or 9 leads a week to other windys I know.

You want to be a nasty pr!ck round here to one of us you need to watch out cause it's more likely 20 of us.

The sooner the BS image of window cleaner turf wars is done with the better for the industry as a whole.

 
I remember when I was cleaning. On one street there was 3 of us right next door to each other it was pretty funny that we all had one house next to each other and all arrived at the same time. Had a good chat and would often hand of work to each other. Have a catch up in town while cleaning shop fronts etc. I really don't get the nastiness in this game what's the point there is plenty of work about all doing the same job trying to earn a living and look after families.

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