Customer complaint over a month later

I clean tracks with wet wipes, brushes and a Pro team backpack vacuum. I add $3 per track to the bid (raised from $2, raised from $1), and only offer one standard.
Most of the tracks I deal with require environmental impact statements. We also have lots of volcanic ash here, it is more clingy and fine than clay. This post prompts me to take clients on a final walk through to ensure they are satisfied.

3 Likes

Sheesh, all I usually have is a bunch of sand/dirt that can easily be up with a vac.

3 Likes

Here in the subtropics, tracks get mud, mildew and bug nests :fearful:

Few items

  1. when ā€œcleaningā€ tracks, if the window is crank out do you wipe the back of the window which opened?

  2. Do you focus solely on the bottom?

  3. 15% of our complaints this year were tracks. One was months later, it was the outside sill which was rotted. Lady just wanted to talk.

We use a track brush, dyson vacuum and rages.

2 Likes

So… Like this?

7 Likes

Rage. Rage against the dirt in the track.

I pretty much reserve my rage for construction cleans.

2 Likes

@Erica @apkwindows

Hey there! Sorry to hear about your situation. I would call her and do everything I could to remedy the situation. That is so frustrating. After you clean the tracks, never do work for her again.

I am surprised some people are so concerned about how clean the tracks are. Some people are too picky! I just wipe the tracks with a wet rag and clean it as best I can. When I go on an estimate, I tell them I will wipe where the window shuts if I can open them. They don’t care how clean the tracks are. The window is shut. Who cares! They just want the glass looking really good. I have never offered to do a detailed cleaning of the tracks.

Again sorry to hear what you are going through. Sorry to rant, I just got upset when I saw your post. I think just a basic wipe of the tracks is fine. I try to keep things as simple as possible.

Please let us know how everything works out.

4 Likes

We called and left a message, texted her too. Haven’t heard back, so she’s either over it or she’s too busy.

It’s funny she’s saying something 5 weeks later. Another customer today told us she cleaned her own tracks one month ago and now they’re dirty again. Guess what? She lives by a lake, much like the missy we’re talking about does too. Hmm, you think they got dirty so soon because we live in america’s swamp aka florida? My guess is she spoke with her neighbors who didn’t like our quote being $100 more than the previous company they’d used and maybe she began to question the value of our work, to which she alludes in her text to us.

3 Likes

For many years I caved to all clients ā€œissuesā€. Bout 2 years ago started giving some attitude. Really not worth it but one thing I try to keep in mind with odd complaints or people who always complain.

We are often trying to keep online reviews positive, but the person who constantly complains and moans…their neighborhood probably knows they are the complaining type.

1 Like

That is crazy! At least you tried to make her happy. Not your fault she is not calling or texting you back.
I would just move on.

1 Like

5 weeks is absolutely out of the question. The following week? Perhaps.

1 Like

Raging will not help clean tracks

3 Likes

In my company, we ask the customer to check that the job is done to their satisfaction and sign a form at the end saying that they are satisfied. Doing so, prevents any misunderstanding and any problems like this. We still have people call a month later saying that a window is dirty but we refer them to their copy of the form and that they were satisfied of the work.

It puts the responsibility on them and discharges us of any problems.

1 Like

I have customers inspect the completed work and then sign and date a statement on the work order that they have inspected and are happy with the work. I do that both to discourage callbacks and also in case they come back later claiming damage.

2 Likes

I hate that style of window for that very reason. Maybe i tadkethe it too far but i clean that while window frame, the track and inner frame, the crank arm, and usually brush the gear. So time-consuming.

I’m thinking of offering three tiers of service in the future, if anything so there’s a ridiculously high-priced upper tier that fully utilizes my OCD. That way i can breathe easy about cutting back on my extreme thoroughness when they order the lower tiers.

2 Likes

That sounds anal but I bet it works!

That has worked well for me. I tell clients it’s just like the car wash: Select the package with your preferred options/price point and away we go!

2 Likes