http://waterfedpole.net/one-window-cleaning-business-no-shame-in-rolling-up-my-sleeves/ All about water fed poles and ladderless window cleaning technology. Sat, 24 Jul 2010 03:29:09 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 http://waterfedpole.net/one-window-cleaning-business-no-shame-in-rolling-up-my-sleeves/comment-page-1/#comment-53 salvatore marino Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:35:30 +0000 http://waterfedpole.net/one-window-cleaning-business-no-shame-in-rolling-up-my-sleeves/#comment-53 Ryan, I completely agree with some of what you said, but from a business standpoint, I must respectfully and strongly disagree with the part about a small business staying small so as to keep quality high. This is incorrect Ryan. The reason why I say this is because, yes, some service companies in our industry do not know how to keep quality control in check and they send out horrible employees to do the work, but that does not mean that it has to stay small to keep quality high. Lets take for example, DirecTV. They are a service industry. They make big money. They have MANY employees. Yet, they have a great reputation, and the serviceman who comes to the houses seem to know what they are doing right? They dont damage the home (roof) and they stand behind all their work. So why is it possible for a large company to do it like them and not us? All companies had to start somewhere right? The problem with these bucket bob window cleaning companies that send out untrained, sloppy x-cons to their customers' homes is that they failed to devolop a system that would keep the quality control in check. The example you gave of one of your customers who did not like the job that was done...if the owner followed up and asked how the job was, if she was happy- he would have found out that she was not, and if it was a good company, he would have given her the money back or re-do it with a different guy, and give her her next one for free with another service like pressure washing and even a dinner for 2 at a nice resturaunt. Meanwhile, the guy gets a write up and/or fired. The system I am talking about is an employee handbook, and a position contract. Both of these documents would outline the specific responsibilities of each person and who they report to, with a company meeting every week accompanied by a mandatory safety and additional training meeting. A service company's first duty is customer service. Then comes the high quality work, as you know...because I know you are good at what you do, I have heard it thru people myself about you. If a small business stays small, how will that person make enough money to be able to pay for health insurance, children, a house, and save for retirement? A one man show is only going to make just around 100k a year. How long can you last filling all the positions in your company before you have no energy for the things that are important in life? Can you keep going working 10 to 15 hours a day...every single day untill you are old? What if you get hurt? Then what? Do you see what I am saying Ryan? There is a solution to every problem my friend...you should thank that company for being so sloppy, you will keep getting his customers. Meanwhile, stay healthy my friend. Got windows to clean... Ryan,
I completely agree with some of what you said, but from a business standpoint, I must respectfully and strongly disagree with the part about a small business staying small so as to keep quality high.
This is incorrect Ryan. The reason why I say this is because, yes, some service companies in our industry do not know how to keep quality control in check and they send out horrible employees to do the work, but that does not mean that it has to stay small to keep quality high. Lets take for example, DirecTV. They are a service industry. They make big money. They have MANY employees. Yet, they have a great reputation, and the serviceman who comes to the houses seem to know what they are doing right? They dont damage the home (roof) and they stand behind all their work. So why is it possible for a large company to do it like them and not us? All companies had to start somewhere right? The problem with these bucket bob window cleaning companies that send out untrained, sloppy x-cons to their customers’ homes is that they failed to devolop a system that would keep the quality control in check.
The example you gave of one of your customers who did not like the job that was done…if the owner followed up and asked how the job was, if she was happy- he would have found out that she was not, and if it was a good company, he would have given her the money back or re-do it with a different guy, and give her her next one for free with another service like pressure washing and even a dinner for 2 at a nice resturaunt. Meanwhile, the guy gets a write up and/or fired.
The system I am talking about is an employee handbook, and a position contract. Both of these documents would outline the specific responsibilities of each person and who they report to, with a company meeting every week accompanied by a mandatory safety and additional training meeting.
A service company’s first duty is customer service. Then comes the high quality work, as you know…because I know you are good at what you do, I have heard it thru people myself about you.
If a small business stays small, how will that person make enough money to be able to pay for health insurance, children, a house, and save for retirement? A one man show is only going to make just around 100k a year. How long can you last filling all the positions in your company before you have no energy for the things that are important in life? Can you keep going working 10 to 15 hours a day…every single day untill you are old?
What if you get hurt? Then what? Do you see what I am saying Ryan? There is a solution to every problem my friend…you should thank that company for being so sloppy, you will keep getting his customers. Meanwhile, stay healthy my friend. Got windows to clean…

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