Window cleaning etiquette

PositivelyPerturbed

I hired a window cleaner yesterday - an old man who I saw cleaning windows on my street. He only charges £3.50 to clean the windows and doors including frames and sills. I think this is far too cheap and I'm wondering if there is some window cleaning etiquette that I don't know about? For instance, is tipping expected, or do you pay what you think the job is worth?

Doozergirl

Wow. If that's his price, that's his price but I would tip really quite heavily if I felt something was worth more. There's cheap and then there's being taken advantage of. I used to tip Uber drivers rather heavily but prices have risen quite a bit.

need_an_answer

Maybe its a case of if he prices his work slightly lower then more will take him up as their window cleaner.

If perhaps he were to charge more he may get less work so maybe its just the point he wishes to pitch his services at.

Presumably he may even want to trade on word of mouth,its better for him to be cleaning 5 sets of windows on a street for £3.50 than 2 for £5.

Nothing wrong with spreading the word amongst your neighbours or indeed tipping if you think he is doing a good job

TheCyclingProgrammer

I!!!8217;d wait until you see how good a job he!!!8217;s done for £3.50 before you start considering tips!

Doozergirl

need_an_answer wrote: »

Maybe its a case of if he prices his work slightly lower then more will take him up as their window cleaner.

If perhaps he were to charge more he may get less work so maybe its just the point he wishes to pitch his services at.

Presumably he may even want to trade on word of mouth,its better for him to be cleaning 5 sets of windows on a street for £3.50 than 2 for £5.

Nothing wrong with spreading the word amongst your neighbours or indeed tipping if you think he is doing a good job

I pay £15! He could come and do mine once.

Who pays £3.50? He could do five sets at £5 easily.

getmore4less

That's very cheap and suggest he may not have factored in all his costs especially his liability insurance.

Is it just the front or does he do the back as well for that?

If he has all the tools so not factoring in replacements or costs of transport then 3 houses at £3.50, 20 mins a house is over £10 an hour which is more than a lot of unskilled jobs.

EssexExile

If he's good I'd give him a fiver. I've found window cleaners tend to disappear after a while, he may not disappear if you do that!

Jackmydad

I'd give the bloke a tip,
Here's my tip
"Make sure you get right into the corners when cleaning windows"

Seriously if he does a decent job I'd give him a decent tip.

pollypenny

My window cleaner charges £9, so I give him £10 and tell him to keep the change.

Lorian

1st floor windows too?

how long does it take him for his money....?

bertiewhite

£3.50 is expensive - I do mine for free.