LEAVE EM

[Taxlossloz]

You lucky devil, bramhopes not a bad area eh..
up in shadwell tomorrow car valeting

Nice one - I used to clean Wyke Ridge Golf centre few years ago

 

[Danfire]

Picked up two recently that I thought would be great but have both turned sour. First one a nice, detached cottage with leaded (some old original, mostly new, struck on stuff). For some unexplained reason I failed to charge the usual double rate for the first clean and they were green and black with muck, took me at least two hours for my £25. I called up a couple of nights ago and left a message that I would be cleaning next afternoon. When I turned up and rung the doorbell I get asked "hello, who are you then"? I introduced myself, telling her I was her window cleaner to which she replies "but you've already cleaned them". I told her I come every six weeks (pretty sure I would have explained that when she first called) "oh, I'm not sure I want them cleaned every six weeks". We have agreed a twelve week cycle and the second clean only took about twenty minutes so might not be a total loss.

The second place is a nice detached house overlooking the lake, not massive but still £45 worth. Got called by a lady lives miles away that wanted her dads house cleaned, I nearly passed her on as I don't clean in that road but it's only five minutes from my house so I agreed. Spent six hours on the first clean (lots of residual ivy scum and a large green conservatory roof) not a problem as it was priced accordingly. When I left I told the son that lives with his elderly father that I had given his sister some frequency and pricing options and asked what he would prefer. He says "will see how it goes and get in touch when they look dirty again" I was too exhausted to tell him what a bastard stunt he had just pulled. I will call the sister and try to recover the situation. I vow I will never be caught out again by someone wanting a one off clean again (unless they're prepared to pay big money).

 

[Posh]

That would of really cheesed me off.

 

[David K]

Me too

 

[Poles Apart]

you have to have respect for yourself & the business you have worked hard to build."you text the night before"!!!.how long does it take to answer a text?i certainly would not turn up to clean there windows if I had no reply.you would be making a fool of yourself.sometimes you have to take the hint,they don't want you & move on.

This is very correct, you can't pitch up and work if they are not willing to communicate you shouldn't be working for them as they have no respect for you so they need replacing, anyone that just 'pitches up' must be desperate for work.

 

[Markyboy 50]

I pitch up to almost all of mine. It's a verbal contract. I will turn up 4/8 weekly or whatever. About 6 I text so I can get access to the back. It's not an opportunity for them to say leave it

 

[Poles Apart]

we don't have any tx aheads any more ive dumped them , all ours are just pull up and clean , if we need to get over gates we use little gaints 5 runners . just a quick flick out and lift over the top , up and over we go . no going though garges and that bollocks ill leave them for the guys that need the work rock up clean and on to the next one

The guys that 'need the work' are the ones that 'rock up' surely?

 

[Jon Grainger]

I write on my invoice the date for the next clean, phrased 'on or around date/month'. This means everyone knows when I am next coming, I don't text or call ahead unless it's one where they leave the gate for me, or the money out if they don't do BAX or own a cheque book. If anyone does complain, which they haven't, I can point to the last invoice and say they didn't complain. Works for me

 

[Markyboy 50]

I turn up when I'm supposed to. No need for me to phone or text them.

 

[Dave B]

The guys that 'need the work' are the ones that 'rock up' surely?

I have a mix of ones i contact and ones i just do

I'm certainly not desperate for work

When i take on a new customer they are asked would they like me to text the night before to sort money etc or do they want me to just do them

 

[Markyboy 50]

I hate letting them know I'm coming. You're committed then. I might fancy a day in bed with the little lady when I wake the next day. Let em wait a day if u ain't advised them that you're coming

 

[Greener]

I always text mine the night beforehand, and finish with the line if its not convenient please don't hesitate to let me know? I don't expect the customer to make contact letting me know its ok ( saves them the hassle ). One of the few objections I personally picked up on and took notice of in the early days when I started canvassing was the a lot of customers don't like the WC just turning up unannounced and have received a lot of positive feedback regarding the fact I let them know beforehand. As with any trade/service I believe good communication is key to running a professional and successful businesses. Work for me anyway and I can honesty say i can count on one had the amount of customers that have postponed the clean after letting them them know that I'm coming.

 

[TolishAPurd]

I don't mind the texting, but I would never give them the impression that cancelling is an option.

 

[Greener]

I don't mind the texting, but I would never give them the impression that cancelling is an option.

It's funny you should say that as I'm considering dropping the " don't hesitate to let me know if not convenient " line, much like I dropped the " weather permitting " line when I was a bit twitchy about cleaning in the rain.

 

[Markyboy 50]

It isn't an option really. If they say leave it then I won't even consider going back unless they make contact with me.

 

[Greener]

It isn't an option really. If they say leave it then I won't even consider going back unless they make contact with me.

Agreed, if people say leave it then that's the end of that NO more cleans. The few I have had reply negatively have only wanted to postpone the clean for the next time or another date in the near future.

 

[Markyboy 50]

Yep greener. And they're the ones u don't need. Bugger em. I will fill their space with a regular customer. If they wanna be cleaned on request say so at the start and I will sort out a special price for them!!

 

[TolishAPurd]

It's funny you should say that as I'm considering dropping the " don't hesitate to let me know if not convenient " line, much like I dropped the " weather permitting " line when I was a bit twitchy about cleaning in the rain.

Definitely drop it mate, especially if taking a hard line on them afterwards. You could end up losing a good customer that could have otherwise been ok had you not made them feel it was there option. Control the situation, you are in charge of when you turn up, the text it just to TELL them /emoticons/wink.png/emoticons/smile.png

 

[Posh]

I turn up when I'm supposed to. No need for me to phone or text them.

But you've already told them when your coming so you can't take a day off coz then you'd get behind.

And what if you get 5 or 6 days rain in between your 6-8 weeks & you can't work then your not going to be there when you said so what happens then do you just turn up when you can. Just trying to work out what everybody else does.

 

[Taxlossloz]

I always text mine the night beforehand, and finish with the line if its not convenient please don't hesitate to let me know? I don't expect the customer to make contact letting me know its ok ( saves them the hassle ). One of the few objections I personally picked up on and took notice of in the early days when I started canvassing was the a lot of customers don't like the WC just turning up unannounced and have received a lot of positive feedback regarding the fact I let them know beforehand. As with any trade/service I believe good communication is key to running a professional and successful businesses. Work for me anyway and I can honesty say i can count on one had the amount of customers that have postponed the clean after letting them them know that I'm coming.

Agree with @Green Pro Clean Ltd its professional to say your coming - people appreciate it

Especially older or single females

Yes very rare people reply with 'leave them' - it's usually 'great or thanks '

I say again if your worried about people cancelling that tells you somethings wrong with your business

If they do Cancel I ask why - you find out the messers quickly and dump - I dumped only one this year for cancelling for stupid reasons

 

[Posh]

Very rarely do I get a leave em after texting

Had the odd ones but with genuine reasons.