**** customers whom have no respect. Advice please.

[Smurf]

On higher priced work I try not to shut the door completely be it residential or commercial as if they just want one-off or irregular cleans thereafter I just class that as an extra revenue stream.

Like I mentioned before they can phone me instead and I will see when I can fit them in when it suites me rather than the other way around.

That also goes for the other services I offer too as I don't bother to chase work now.

 

[luc]

Scottie I know its not easy just don't take it to heart I'm in the same boat I don't know how many I've dropped but have always picked up the same I have dropped plus the ones to replace are better customers.

I've been thinking of doing by-monthly cleans but charging double new customers may not feel so pressured as doing monthly.

Plus I've stopped sending texts unless its bad access not many to be fare, couple of old dears like to know the night before I think so they can get the money ready.

 

[Tuffers]

Hate texting, but you have to for some. Like, I texted one last night as she likes a text to remind her to leave the money out. Guess what, she forgot to leave the friggin money , oh and she texted back one time over the winter to leave them this month. Don't know why I bother sometimes.

 

[Smurf]

It's all part of the job as they employ us not the other way around @Tuffers. They too lead busy lives and the last thing on their mind is to worry about if they have clean windows or not. /emoticons/biggrin.png

 

[Tuffers]

It's all part of the job as they employ us not the other way around @Tuffers. They too lead busy lives and the last thing on their mind is to worry about if they have clean windows or not. /emoticons/biggrin.png

Yeah, but we choose when not to work for them anymore more often than not /emoticons/smile.png

 

[luc]

Scottie try to phone them next time rather than text you can put them on the spot more and they will be less likely to cancel.

 

[kev]

I say this to my Mrs all the time; they should bring out a programme called 'Cowboy Customers'. Theres plenty of them about. I've never been stiffed for money, but for new customers/one offs its always best to say cash or cheque only. I know cheques can bounce, but its unlikely compared to the odd chancer that want to try the 'I forgot' routine.

Yeah i agree mate i only do first time customers if they have cash

 

[Duncs]

i never text anyone day before dont give anyone chance to fluke me off

see these doylums with there horrible attitude it,s great bonus if you can let it go over your head

remember you only have to deal with them for short period of time then your off

when you have plenty work they are first to go, red carded then you never have to deal with them again

 

[Duncs]

Yeah i agree mate i only do first time customers if they have cash

yeh your right if they hav,int got coin on your first visit your ******* against the wind

 

[bazzer]

there is messers out there but thank god most custys do pay and are friendly the messers are in the minority and get found out then dumped good riddance

 

[Simesy]

I started to lose my patience about these sort of things over the last six months after years of letting things slide. I hate people who mess you around. I dropped 2 this week. One was a new clean about 4 months ago. Told me to leave it for the second time so they're gone. I don't have many every 2 month cleans but it's like doing a first clean every time. I filled their spot next day. You got to keep weeding out the worst of your work and replace it with good consistent customers.

 

[adamangler]

yep, so frustrating especially when youre starting out, i have almost as many ex custies ans current ones, ones who never want to be in for payment, forget to leave it out etc.

the ones i hate most are when you turn up, get the gear out and they turn you away, told one to **** off last week, oh we dont want them doing anymore he said, i said you have my ******* number why not let me know beforehand?, like you say windys are treated as scivvys, oh i wont bother paying him this month or well skip it this month, seems like an endless job to chase people, text people or otherwise bend to their needs, cant wait to build a full round of good custies

 

[Jimroot]

Reading this thread reminded me my second regular window customer was shocked when I said as they wanted it one off it would be £40, after explaining I could also do it for quarterly £25, or monthly £15. They opted for quartly then dropped off.

If they're on a payment plan, say phone calls, they accept if they use more, pay less. It's business. Regular money is predictable money, it's worth more relative to one offs in a long term plan, Our professional business, but not in a short term (perceived) plan, like beer money or transient migrant worker.

 

[adamangler]

Jim thats a good point, i also do car valeting where i tend to get a phone call then do the job get paid then more than likely not see that custie again, at least not any time soon. i would rather get 1 or 2 windy custies a week rather than 1 or 2 valeting jobs a week, sounds daft but a windy custie has the potential to be with you years and earn you far more, one offs are great but i would trade you a £100 conny clean for a 5 year regular paying loyal no problem custie any day of the week

 

[alex1987]

People are all the same everywhere. The best thing to do is to just keep recruiting as much work as you can, till you have it coming out your ears.

When I first started out every customer I lost hurt, especially the ones that only had it once. I was too frightened to charge the extra money for a first time clean and risk not getting the custom, and then when they say we will call you if we want it again, it stings.

Just make sure you price the first clean accordingly, and that way if they only want it once, you don't feel as bad.

The more customers you get, the less you care about losing a customer, and it becomes easier and really satisfying to drop the :turd: ones from your round. It makes you think you have more work than you actually do by leaving :turd: customers on the book, and in some cases can cost you money chasing customers, when you factor in fuel and time wasted. Put em on the scrap heap and replace 1 bad one with 2 good ones!

 

[Dave B]

Just binned another one

She needs to be in to let me through the house so i can pole the back windows(terraced townhouse)

Twice since last week she has made an excuse why she won't be in

Woke up this morning to see her 3rd message

She has had to go to work so won't be in can i do it next week

100 daveyboy bonus points if you can guess my answer

 

[Tuffers]

Ef off you ugly cnut?

 

[Dave B]

No tuffers

That would be boarcitys response

 

[Jimroot]

First clean price davey?

 

[Dave B]

Not worth the grief Jimroot

She's a gonner

 

[Jimroot]

I was dreaming about a mythical potential customer shouting at me down the phone for dropping a flyer through their door when my wife came and woke me up this morning :-(

I've got a negative psyche