The gloves are off!

[MrBump]

I have witnessed a new low today. While I was outside a customers house setting up, with my hose reel and poles all outside, (because its in a cul-de-sac and spread out this was the only house I could of been at), some numpty knocks the door offering his window cleaning services. The bloody cheek! Now I know for certain I won't lose my customer, but seriously?! I have no issues at all with another windie leafleting/canvassing the same area/road, but not a house I am actually at! Clearly he is one to undercut, so if I ever come up against him I will be telling them he is on the register or something. What a plank!

 

[TolishAPurd]

This trade is sadly full of desperate knobheads willing to try anything. I had someone canvass one of my customers, and he was even looking at the windows and taking a sharp intake of breath like a mechanic does, and said he could do a much better job. Luckily this customer has been with me a long time, and his windows are spottless as I have put a lot of time in on them. He sent him on his way.

 

[albootyerbaws]

Some people have no morals. Had this happen to me when i was sitting outside a customers house in the van. he walks past the van with clipboard in hand knocks on door & asks if she needs a window cleaner.she pointed at the van & said thats my window cleaner./emoticons/smile.png)

 

[Posh]

Be fair. Sometimes & I mean only sometimes they don't know what house your cleaning at. I don't always park outside the house I'm cleaning.

 

[Ant]

As long as it's not blatant that they're trying to steal your customers, you can't stop them trying to drum up business! i do a good enough job to know my customers would be loyal and I don't think many who are happy with you would risk changing to another windie even if cheaper, chances are they won't do as good a job.

With the exception of yours Mr bump as it seems pretty obvious where you were working so he was either oblivious or indeed a plank!

 

[MrBump]

Good to hear when customers are loyal tolishapurd, especially when pride is taken on their windows by the cleaner so its justified, as was the case.

Haha Albootyerbaws, did he say anything when he walked back past you after that?

Posh no in this instance at all, I was on a dead end road, homes all spread out, I was practically on the driveway, no chance I was at another house. He even asked if I lived there to which I said no, but I didn't look at him properly as I was busy doing something so I didn't know who he was, what he should of asked was if I clean this house. I didn't clock who he was until he left and walked off and then I remembered he'd canvassed my house a few weeks back so I knew he was a window cleaner. What a douchebag, lucky for him I am a pacifist, but I'll certainly be doing him no favours if anyone ever mentions him.

 

[MrBump]

Ant I have no problems at all with him canvassing around me while I work, or indeed if he happened to canvass mine while I wasn't there, but while I'm outside setting up? Come on! lol Canvassed for an hour after that job and got 3 new customers though so managed to keep a smile on my face /emoticons/smile.png

 

[Ant]

Canvassed for an hour after that job and got 3 new customers though so managed to keep a smile on my face /emoticons/smile.png

Nicely done :thumbsup:

Be funny if they turned out to be planks customers /emoticons/biggrin.png

 

[MrBump]

Haha, hope so /emoticons/biggrin.png

 

[Jake]

What a div, why would anyone do that!

You'd have thought they'd been way too embarrassed to even think of knocking on the house you clean! Let alone the lack of respect!

Maybe he thought you were a plumber

 

[MrBump]

I know Jake its beggars belief isn't it! Do gardiners do plumbing equipment too? /emoticons/biggrin.png I might have to get some police-type tape and start sealing off the entrances while I'm cleaning from now on incase he follows me around

 

[Jimroot]

That takes some brass or some lack of something in The head. Practically mugging you (attempted)

I avoid houses near by if I see another cleaner, despite feeling no animosity, I think there's a natural caution to canvassing too close.

Can't believe you got three in an hour bump! Good going

 

[MrBump]

If I'm honest jimroot I think it was the second option, something lacking.

Did 2 hours canvassing the other day with no customers so it all averages out to 1 customer per hour for me (or 1 every 75 posted leaflets), 3 in an hour, well actually it was more like half an hour lol, was a stroke of luck /emoticons/wink.png

 

[Trev81]

Thats rather low of him to do that, if I am out dropping leaflets and saw another window cleaner in a street I'd miss it out, make a note of which one he was doing and go back another time and leave that one out.

 

[Jimroot]

I'm at about one for 6 hours combined flyering/canvassing, something bad like that.

If the guy is lacking something human, he could be actually good for business as he'll just make you look even better to deal with and worth paying more for :thumbsup:

 

[Jimroot]

What gets me, the amount of home owners who feel defensive on current cleaners behalves, I dont get it, they wouldn't act like that about any other trade or service. 'Theres already a cleaner on this street he does everyone, you're wasting your time!'

If they have a cleaner which they usual claim, I nearly always say, ok thank you, good day, rather than any poaching. Even if I get a bit of Intel I still don't push myself, just tell what I offer

 

[MrBump]

As long as they are being defensive over me too I don't mind lol. I actually to find it quite helpful if they tell me if there's another cleaner on the road, more useful if they point to the actual houses tho so I can save time and just skip those out, if they just say 'this road' I leaflet it anyway but just lower my expectations lol.

 

[Jimroot]

But strange as it may seem, I've picked up most work on these 'done' streets with 'everyone being done, give up mate' on houses that I was boarder line going to knock as they don't look very dirty!

It's as if there's a golden point, all the neighbours are being done but they were missed out somehow, not canvassed, recently moved in, want a different clean or regularity. And dirty ones just don't want to pay anyway, just the ones with a sheen of dust. The dirty ones usually say 'we'll think about it' they know they need it but their wallet don't open far enough

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

No one owns the street, no one has exclusive right to an area.

Most of us in this area all know each other on the street and also understand that no one 'owns' that street.

When I am knocking if I hear, 'Someone already does this road' I just say thanks, keep my card in case they stop and I move onto the next house.

I hit every door regardless of how clean they are as you will not believe how many I have gotten that have window cleaners already and tell me they are 'unreliable, not very good, a bit strange' etc etc.

However if I saw another windie on a street I was canvassing I would not knock a house 3-4 doors either side as a courtesy.

I have also avoided knocking doors where I know for sure 'friendly windies' already clean

However if a windie wants to get mouthy about 'owning' an area I will knock and leaflet every house I see him on.

 

[Jimroot]

I just need to get better at 'the sell' I think. I get a lot of 'maybes' 'I'll ring' I don't convert.

 

[adamangler]

Just banged out about 300 leaflets today, half expecting a windy to ring complaining as theres a few ive seen about in the area.

I wouldnt have leafletted under their noses though but i suppose its not illegal so no point worrying about it.