How do you fire clients?

[Majestic66]

@JfromtheD

It’s the questioning or seeking the inch when I’ve already given the mile, that I loose it.

Exactly well said " seeking the inch when I’ve giving the mile." I like that.
So now your going to raise the price. what do you think they will seek for then, but hey I’m making more money. " No Thanks ".
I don’t need more money I need peace :).

Sent from my iPhone using Window Cleaning Resource

[Louie_the_Window_Guy]

@Steve

I have the same “nice guy” issue.

I almost always raise the price though by telling them that after analyzing my business over the past year we found several jobs that were not profitable for us and yours was one of them. In order to do the job again I would need to charge you double what you paid last year in order to assume the risk, make a reasonable profit, drive that far, do that kind of work, etc… I tell them that I hate to lose any customer but I just cant keep working at a loss. No one has ever been mad about it and no one has ever accepted a doubling of the price either so I guess it works.

Secondly, I have told certain customers that I accept or reject jobs on an individual basis and your particular job is outside the scope of the kind of work I want to do. In other words just because my van says window cleaning doesn’t mean any window, any time, any place. I just told a lady this week that because her Pella windows give me so many problems that I’m no longer going to be doing them. I’m not stopping doing all Pella removable pane windows, just yours. That’s life. When I remodeled my kitchen last year I had my plumber tell me that moving a drain on a two story house was a pain and he didn’t want to do it. No further explanation - He just said “I don’t want the job.”

Well said.

[MENTION=167]Steve[/MENTION] you have a spine and a professional approach. Problem solved.

To be a business owner and have a problem saying NO. What a conundrum. It sucks. I have been there. Especially when you are starting out or in some weird transitional phase after one of life’s many many curve balls.

The one thing to remember in business. “Business is Business.”

[JfromtheD]

@Majestic66

Exactly well said " seeking the inch when I’ve giving the mile." I like that.
So now your going to raise the price. what do you think they will seek for then, but hey I’m making more money. " No Thanks ".
I don’t need more money I need peace :).

Sent from my iPhone using Window Cleaning Resource

I’ve been lucky in the sense that anytime I’ve had to ‘tune up’ a cust…
They have laid pretty low.

I’ll chalk it up to ‘they wanted what they wanted’
and take some partial blame for not going there/straightening shit out sooner.

[JfromtheD]

You are asking the WRONG GUY!

I’ve been at this way too long, I changed my model years ago.
Two words: “Eggs” and “Basket.”

There are plenty of ‘Up & Comers’ here, who want to ‘specialize in [I]high end[/I] this or that.’

• good luck to ya.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a hypocrite, I’ll work for anyone…
But I know and have ran far away from that one single person, who has total control of, weeks of my time.

[JfromtheD]

@Skipper

I need serious professional help… Next time I go to walk over these jobs, as I’ve done multiple times, I will get pics and post them to the forum. One of these hotels has 110 rooms, in/out, with my favorite heavy desk and sleak 50in flat screen tv in front of every single window. PLUS, the smaller window of the two in each room(70lbs) needs to be removed to pull the screen in so I can hit the exterior with a WFP. All the while I’m hopping around the outside of the building, like a chicken with it’s head cut off, trying to keep up with my newbie guys inside. Shit…

Hampton Inn?!?

[JfromtheD]

@Skipper

I just can’t see myself firing a person that is holding 15k in windows just because I don’t have the team to handle it.

Sorry, I’m a little behind in your response time…

I had a totally different response, until I read this.

Are you saying you can’t handle the job?

[JfromtheD]

@Skipper

I wouldn’t say you’re the WRONG GUY. I take your advise. You’ve been in it longer and I respect you.

Thank you, I just meant that I’m really far removed from where I was.
Like asking an alcoholic if they want to go ‘have a drink.’

It’s more an introspective joke… sorry.

[walkthruglass]

I really haven’t had any customers that bother me so much I get rid of them. This may be because I’m new, but I already know which ones I won’t be doing next year.

I’ve been thinking about this, and my approach will vary based on scenario. I’ve never had any personality conflicts, but when people want services for free, I tell them what the up charge will be. I’ll dust a mezzanine vase for free, but will charge for mirrors, chandeliers, shower glass etc. I’ve said “when you order a meal at a restaurant, do you expect the appetizer and drinks to be on the house?” That was an extreme scenario though.

Actually, the super sarcastic male clients annoy me. I put up with them, unless they undermine my occupation. I just don’t give them a reaction, because that’s what they’re seeking.

Sent from my iPhone using Window Cleaning Resource

[JfromtheD]

[MENTION=40992]Skipper[/MENTION]
If you don’t think you can handle the job, why are you worried about it?!?

I’m guessing it’s because you are focused on/overwhelmed by the total $ amount.

Say it’s $15k…
So find yourself 15 cust at a grand each, give them proper service, one that you can handle…
And you are all set.

Plus, you won’t be waiting around for ‘Mrs $15k Princess’ (controller of your destiny)
to actually approve/turn in the invoice.

Because trust me, she ain’t no prize when you are waiting on a fifteen thousand dollar check. :rolleyes: