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It’s kind of a window cleaners code that you don’t step on each other’s toes.
I'd think it's rare too. I've heard of it happening locally, but I've never had an issue with it personally. The guy with the reputation hasn't been seen for a couple of years. The rest of us all smile and acknowledge each other here. We're all just trying to make a good living. Some of us stop and have a quick catch up on the rare occasion we are on the same street at the same time, and we pass work to each other if enquiries are just out of our round area.You can't steal customers. If the customer is reasonably happy with the service and the price then you can flyer or canvass them all you like, it won't make any difference.
The only reason a customer would want to switch to you is if they were unhappy with their current cleaner for some reason.
Why does the old window cleaner think it's his right to clean that particular houses windows? Doesn't the customer get a say? It's like any service, if your unhappy, you switch.
Trying to hold onto customers who want to leave by threatening competition and saying that you are the only window cleaner allowed on that street is ridiculous.
To be honest though, I think this will be the exception rather than the norm. It's not likely something you'll have to deal with much or at all in most areas.
What a load of b@llocks !!I’m from your area and that’s the way SOME cleaners and not just the dole bums still operate around here. I know it’s not right but I can kinda sympathise as they have paid good money for their work and they see it as stealing their customers. Look at it this way, if you was to try and take someone’s job in any other industry you would probs get the same response. Again I’m not condoning this sort of behaviour but that’s just the way it is. It’s kind of a window cleaners code that you don’t step on each other’s toes. At the end of the day though business is business and there are no laws to say you can’t advertise your business in any way so just crack on but I’ve always found it better to be on good terms with other windies in my area rather than enemies.
In all honesty, I know how it can impact on you been threatened and beyond, without wanting to go into specific's and it's not connected to window cleaning it can affect you more than some realise. from the outside looking I would guess this guy has been on go for quite some years possibly trad and sees all and any newbies as threat to his business which equals fear of someone coming along onto his patch and doing a better job and him losing customers to someone better.Phoned me giving it loads and to be fair after calming the situation we spoke about everything and both have offered advice not to blanket leaflet areas as this is poaching, knocking on doors is more acceptable.. Is that the case?
Your choice of phrase “threat to his business” is spot on there. People generally have two outcomes when they feel threatened, fight or flight. The majority will usually take the latter option and try to be the bigger man(or woman) and do the right thing in our modern society but then there will always be the ones that go the other way and that’s what we are dealing with here. It’s imprinted into our genes that comes from a dog eat dog society. Times are changing though and people can say it’s a load of “tosh” or “boll@cks” but it’s a real issue that’s not going to go away any time soon.In all honesty, I know how it can impact on you been threatened and beyond, without wanting to go into specific's and it's not connected to window cleaning it can affect you more than some realise. from the outside looking I would guess this guy has been on go for quite some years possibly trad and sees all and any newbies as threat to his business which equals fear of someone coming along onto his patch and doing a better job and him losing customers to someone better.
About 20 years ago one of these neanderthal types threatened a lad I know, because apparently he was stepping on his toes, he went to clean a flat which one of his long term clients recently moved into, but this guy had cleaned the lot for years so wasn't happy at all, in over 19 years I have been going this bully boy never liked anyone new and any attempt I made to speak to him as in a quick hello he would look straight through me, now this guy to this day still does half a job and has openly admitted to me he fiddles
So of course 7 years ago he wanted to go wfp and approached me for advice ? I had no issue with him so told him the crack and we have spoke on and off every once in a while, do I take his customers yes I do, does he lie about me and say I charge to much and he has took loads of my customers yes he does ? he charges £10 for a 4 bed detached with a conservatory and does half a job and doesn't clean the window above the conservatory and I have seen jobs were the upper sills are green, he calls me cheeky for charging the prices I do but has no idea of the real difference in the service I offer.
My advice to you is there is no patch, and his proposal sounds reasonable as you can take more of his customers and his inbred neanderthal types work also, if he approaches you be at the ready to record the conversation on your phone, he is simply trying to scare you off in the hope in 6 months you will be done and over, don't let him be a decision maker in your life, he isn't worth it and he isn't one who's paying your bills
About 20 years ago one of these neanderthal types
Your choice of phrase “threat to his business” is spot on there.
Your choice of phrase “threat to his business” is spot on there. People generally have two outcomes when they feel threatened, fight or flight. The majority will usually take the latter option and try to be the bigger man(or woman) and do the right thing in our modern society but then there will always be the ones that go the other way and that’s what we are dealing with here. It’s imprinted into our genes that comes from a dog eat dog society. Times are changing though and people can say it’s a load of “tosh” or “boll@cks” but it’s a real issue that’s not going to go away any time soon.
Maybe not but that’s still how they see it. And maybe if you put as much effort into building your round as you do in to your essays on here you may just start getting somewhere?LOL!
Good job i didn't have some drink in my mouth or that would've been all over the desk now!
That's tosh. I'm still in early round building days and I'll tell you it's bloody hard to gain clients from another windy. I get so many "we already have a window cleaner but thanks anyway" type responses that it's quite depressing. I didn't bother with any canvassing in August and haven't done any yet this month either. Most won't even bother to ask me what i charge to try and skimp on their current windy costs.
Your argument that there is a threat to the other guys business is not a strong one.
That’s exactly what I have done. I’ve never been an aggressive type, more flight than fight in me. I started by buying a well established and some would say underpriced round. I then monopolised areas gaining loads of work by doing a top notch job at below par prices. Even though prices were under par I still achieve very good hourly rates as the work is ultra compact with virtually no travelling whatsoever. Now that my round is full for me and my helper I can concentrate on rising the prices slowly over time so that I have the best of both. I’ll also add that I have never knocked a door or dropped a leaflet to gain work and it has all come from wall ups and referrals that has evolved from the work that I bought when I first started. Some will say that’s lucky but I say it’s come from starting with a solid business plan, knowing your industry within your specific area and sticking to it.Yeh, you can fight for sure. If you don’t your business will grow slowly. But fight by being a better businessman. Put the competition out of business using legitimate methods.
I'd think it's rare too. I've heard of it happening locally, but I've never had an issue with it personally. The guy with the reputation hasn't been seen for a couple of years. The rest of us all smile and acknowledge each other here. We're all just trying to make a good living. Some of us stop and have a quick catch up on the rare occasion we are on the same street at the same time, and we pass work to each other if enquiries are just out of our round area.
I wouldn't be letting someone aggressive intimidate me out of making a living. Can't understand how anyone would.
Crack on mate, for heavens sake! Jeez! Being intimidated by people claiming they own a territory. Get on with your business and your life.
Maybe not but that’s still how they see it. And maybe if you put as much effort into building your round as you do in to your essays on here you may just start getting somewhere?
FairPlay but I never try to actively take work off other people. I know business is business but that’s just me. There’s plenty of work out there for everyone if you look hard enough. All my customers have come to me and I find they are the best ones as they actually want a window cleaner and haven’t been baffled with some marketing spiel only to find that after a couple of cleans they not really that bothered and end up messing you about.Dude we're saturated round here! Like i said, it's hard to gain clients from other windys - really hard.
It's not for the lack of trying.. although as previously mentioned i don't do this full time as i have a missus and kid to work around and she's the breadwinner so takes priority (at the moment lol).