Warm Hands

I just watched Mr Squeegee's video. Pretty good stuff on staying warm in the winter.

I wanted to show you what gloves (mitts actually) I use to stay warm in the winter. These mitts are much warmer than the typical mitts window cleaners use, they are cheap too. In Canada I can get these mitts for just $17 + TAX at LeBaron at Dundas and Hurontario in Mississauga.

99% of the time your hands will be warm. So invest in some nice Ice Fishing Mitts, these are what I use.

I would recommend using mitts. I know it's personal preference but mitts keep your fingers together, thus giving your hands more heat.

Try it out, if it doesn't work for you - I doubt it, it's just $20 out of your pocket.

But I have used these mitts for 7 winters. Cold Canadian Winters, and I have been very happy.

Another thing, I never feel a cold aluminum pole through the mitts. Never!

Check it out

http://www.harryfalk.com/Body.cfm?CatID=5&ManuID=31&ProdID=89

The High Cost of a Low Price

I just got off the phone with my phone company feeling anxious, frazzled and like I wasted half an hour of my life.

You see, in November I was threatened to be cut off by my phone company, which was actually a cable, cell phone and media company: Rogers Cable. Now that's not because I wasn't paying, but they wanted me to switch to their way of offering telephone service, through the cable line. But that's not the point of the story, so I'm not going to go into that whole interesting story.

After getting scary letters that they would cut my service, and send men to break my legs...just kidding. After receiving those letters, I realized that I would need to find a new phone service or find myself out of a land line.

So in haste, I went with a cheap company that actually uses POTS (Plain old telephone service through the copper phone line). They offered great prices, 5 features including call display name and number, call forwarding, call answer, three way calling. For just $34.95 + TAX. In addition this price doesn't include any sneaky access fees that the others charge for such silly things like 911, Touch tone calling, system access fees, etc.

I wouldn't have to worry, like I would if I switch to cable, that the cable box that converts cable to telephone, would in a power failure run out, and I would have no phone service in an emergency, when cell service would not work (I didn't work in the great blackout). No, plain old copper wire telephone service would work come ice or blackout.

When I wanted to sign up for this service with YAK, I had to wait nearly an hour to reach a live operator, and I had to listen to the same commercial 100 times, that's almost as bad, as the torture the Americans administer to suspected terrorists! After waiting an eternity I got through and signed up.

I was told I would have to wait 5 to 7 business days to be connected. those few days past, and weeks too, when I wondered what the heck is going on?

I called again, and had to wait another hour, and endure the Chinese telephone torture. After finally getting through, I asked what the problem was, they were not sure, but assured me I would get phone service soon. More weeks past, with no phone service, and I just assumed I would never be hooked up.

Until as the new year came in I realized I was connected. I was happy. And knowing I would get many services at fire sale prices.

Shock came in a few days ago when I got my first bill, after just three weeks. 65! I called them, and fortunately got through right away. I guess they are serous about answering the phone when they know they may get their money faster.

Turns out that their prices went up this new year, although the receptionist was strangely unaware of it, what do they not know how much their prices are?

So although I signed up for 34.95 as soon as I was actually connected, I was billed at 38.95. Seems like a bait and switch too me. I was sold a bill of goods, and then they switched it on me. Because Yak made me wait, I fell under their new price.

I was furious, but of course, knowing how one gets what they want on the phone, I kept my voice, determined but calm and fairly low.

They seem to not know that their price was raised even though I been checking their website twice a week every week for months. And the other packages they offer are substantially different. I know what price I was quoted and I have it written down.

They claimed because they're system is computerized they can't give me the price I was quoted and signed up for. That they would have to credit me every month and they were only willing to give me one month and a half credit.

I of course, since they pulled a bait and switch wanted the price I was quoted and signed up for. The lady said she has to research what the price was at Nov 12 on Monday then call Tech Support to enter it manually if that price was 34.95, then call me back.

Otherwise, what did I get for cheaper phone service. Bad Tech Support, and unknowledgable staff, wasted time on the phone, anger, frustration, and feeling I'd been cheated and swindled. A sneaky price increase too.

What a high price to pay for a few bucks.

Dress for Sucess!

Today I met with a mid size janitorial company based in the Greater Toronto area. I had spoke about subcontracting window cleaning jobs from him, since many of his customers need window cleaning done.

His client list included a who's-who of Toronto, an impressive client list which they showed me when I met with them.

Originally I was going to meet the marketing director in a coffee shop, at the last minute he decided to invite me to his office. Where I would also meet the CEO. This was turning into more of a job interview, and a situation where I want to make the best possible impression.

So I decided to dress well for it. I didn't want to overdress, and look out of place, wearing a complete suit. Instead I wore suit pants, and nice dress shirt top button unbuttoned, and nice polished, good quality dress shoes and socks.

It turns out I made more of an impression then a would have hoped for.

He was impressed because he found some window cleaners in the past have not taken care of their personal appearance when servicing his clients, appearing with dirty rags coming out of their pockets, cutoff jeans and unkempt appearance.

As he told me himself, the way I dressed, showed that I cared about my appearance, that I would dress with appropriate attire, or the people I send would dress appropriately when doing jobs.

He appreciated that because he is concerned with image, and he wants to project a good image with dress, and other matters.

The way I dressed today, practically got me a subcontracting agreement before I opened my mouth.

As you probably know, the way you dress speaks volumes, and dressing appropriately on occasions when you meet important contacts is very important.

Don't feel you need to overdress, but dress appropriately for the occasion, and you may find your business will flourish as you build important relationships with other companies.

Stop leaving so many voicemail messages

Stop Leaving So Many Voicemail Messages

One thing I have learned in the last few months is this. Stop leaving so many voicemail messages.

We hope by leaving them that a prospective customer will call us back when they get a chance, but they rarely do. There are some that have a personality that they return all calls and all messages. But so many, for one reason or another don't. This also applies to email messages too.

Sometimes you might leave one message initially to get the ball rolling. Perhaps you are calling the wrong person and they forward the message to the appropriate party.

But when trying to land a job, don't keep leaving messages. It is far more effective to keep calling, when you get the person on the phone (this requires some patience) they will usually feel like they need to make a decision, and often will make it on the phone. Or they might tell you to call back in a week (call back!). It might takes repeated efforts but some of your efforts will pay off. So be persistant. However, leaving messages will not lead to the same success.

Some other people are worse, and you need to see them in person. Be concious though to do this at a time that you are in the area, and are not needlessly wasting time or gas.

Thanks for reading my blog!

Are you in the Toronto area and want a quote for window cleaning. Call the reliable Toronto window cleaner at 647-409-8144. Or visit my website http://mmwindowcleaners.com

Never Assume!

Never Assume

Often as window cleaners we are filled with much self-doubt.

We give proposals to prospective window cleaners thru email, or fax, and we wait and wait. We might have initially have thought we would get the job, but as time passes. We might wonder, was my price too low? Did another window cleaner get it? Were they not that interested to begin with? The most common thing we might think, is my prices are too high, I need to lower them, they would never go for my prices, they probably have someone who charges them much less.

Often these suppositions are false. Our price was not thought of as too high. Often the problem is this.

Our prospective customer was just too busy to call us, or he was to busy even to look at our quote. Or he had some family emergency to handle. Or he is short staffed and put us on the back burner. Or he's checking with head office to get autority to hire a window cleaner. Or he is still looking to see what is budget is for the year. Or he is waiting on his partner to give approval and she is sick.

It could be a variety of things, but usually it boils down to this they were too busy to call us, or too look into our quote.

So don't beat yourself up, keep a positive attitude. Don't make assumptions tell you hear it from the horses mouth.

I'm writing this because this is what happened to me, I emailed a proposal for window cleaning, and after initially speaking to the customer, I didn't hear back. I thought my prices is too high. But no the customer was waiting on a few people to see if they could go ahead with our window cleaner. Another customer who I emailed, also after several reminder emails had not even looked at the quote because he was busy.

So stop assuming, and stop beating yourself up. Don't change your pricing scheme until you know that it is turning away too many customers.

How do you solve this problem? My next post will shed some light.

Thanks for reading my blog! Are you in the Toronto area and want your windows cleaned? Call the Toronto window cleaner at 647-409-8144