Youngster, you just got schooled. College costs tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars, yet you walked away from your lesson with enough to eat on for several days, and you were busy learning. Sounds like a win-win to me!.
6 Likes
This input is all I had hoped for. Am going to see the guy today for the second account he wants to give me. Will address all I did…then decide if I really want him for a customer. DSWCNORTX - Thx. for pics. Guess I’ll buy these. Pinched that penny earlier. Okay…back to school.
I agree with everyone else. You learned a lesson, We all made and still can make these mistakes. But as long as you learned a lot from it, you in for the better. You received 1-2 account out of it. and honestly, did you really lose out? If you worked for him he would have paid minimum wage anyway, and you would get return money that will forever be simple from here on out.
Get those scrapers, you want both a 4" and 6". Use steel wool #0000 for most jobs try not to use scraper unless necessary and always inform/get permission from client.
Storefront can be profitable depending on your area. I make a lot of money on my storefronts and plan on adding more. Perhaps it is because I like to get paid at $50-$100 an hour, so for now as of now Im happy with this. Beats $13 or less per hour like most. most my residential Im making $$50-$125 an hour, not sure if that is a lot or a little to everyone else, but it is still a lot more then I normally make at my part time job.
Time on glass is better than time on your ass. You learned. Doesn’t usually take that much to get tint glue off. I wet it with a worn out scrubber (WET) and scrape it off with the scrapers pictured above.
2 Likes
I’ve tried using ammonia (dumbest idea in the world, try breathing after application).
I’ve tried heat guns (another bad idea. one of my guys broke a pane of glass that way on a victorias secret once…and fyi her secret is lots of makeup and perfume…smoke and mirrors man smoke and mirrors).
There really isn’t a better way than a nice sharp unger blade on that tint.
One tip tho, use a small pole. It’s a little easier to use with one especially on higher windows.
2 Likes
Hello. You folks are the best. I did approach the client again today to appeal for more money. That was a no. He was not offended…but wouldn’t give me another penny. Oh by the way, it was just the ancient baked on glue. I did try steel wool, but the junk was too gummy. As per instruction (from this fine site) I did just push one way with a fresh blade. Did about half and changed blade. The result is pretty amazing. Client and customers are impressed. That being said, I may decide that I can find better clients. Will know after tomorrow when I look at his second business he wants me to do. He did say his thirteen year old son could clean the windows. Maybe I’ll let him…now that the real work is done. Know when to walk away.
2 Likes
… which is usually AFTER you find the new ones. Fill your schedule, and as you need to eliminate, cut the cheapskates and PITAs first.
2 Likes
Thanks Mr. Sparkle. I figured that was coming.
There may be a future lesson in this job too…
Now that you have it cleaned PROPERLY, he will likely end up dumping you for someone cheaper, or the 13 year old son.
May not happen, but I’d bet he will. He sounds like the type that doesn’t value your services, but instead loves cheap.
1 Like
You just can’t go wrong with unger. Squeegees, scrapers and everything. Ninja is one of the highest rated and universally loved for a reason. whay snap on is to a mechanic is what these tools are to a window cleaner.
1 Like
Thought about and looked at those genuine glass scrapers. Have used the wallpaper scrapers for years; got them to work the beloved multi-panes after the painter. Just always changed blades and used wet; unlike our beloved painters who love to scrape dry paint on a dry pane. (Duh) Almost 70 bucks for 2 plastic scrapers and holsters delivered to my house; yikes! Oh and I didn’t buy blades yet, another 50 bucks. Whaa a deal. I love this business.
Don’t forget to shop around for best prices on equipment. I buy top dollar equipment for low price! I have 4 special sites i go to. I can’t mention them here out of respect for WCRA. Although I wish we still had PRIVATE MESSAGES!
If he told you that his thirteen year old son can clean the Windows, he’s a joke. He has no respect for quality window cleaning. I would weed him out asap with better paying and more appreciative clients. I’ve heard it all, from the homeless man does it cheaper, the the last guy did it cheaper bs, and every time I hear it, it pisses me off. People seem to forget that you are running a Business just like they are, and with that comes expenses, overhead, ect. So a word of advice going on my friend, you NEVER want to do business with the cheapskates, because after all they don’t really need you, because his thirteen year old bucket Bob son can clean his windows. I know you’re starting out, and gotta get slapped in the face a couple times before you get more better paying clients, The majority of us have, and I gotta say the last slap in the face I had left a mark for the rest of my life and I’ll always remember it, sometimes I gotta slap myself. Lol
Be super careful with those wall scrapers. Even tho it says they can be used on glass, they WILL still scratch the glass quicker than an Unger blade will.
Here’s why:
Those blades on the wall scraper are thicker than the scraper blades we use. The edge on those wall scraper blades may SEEM sharp, but under a 4X magnifying glass you will start to see how messed up their cutting edge is.
Reason why we change blades so often on our scrapers is because the edge angle is so sharp I would be guessing what the degree on it is but the sharper the blade the quicker it dulls depending on the steel the blade is.
I happen to like Unger’s blades, the high carbon steel, because for me I believe it holds its edge longer than stainless. Problem is; it rusts fast too. So once I use it, its pretty much done. I’ve tried light oil after use and setting outside the holder and it still rusted. They are still the best in my humble opinion.
Just like a knife. Different angles for the cutting edge for different applications (outdoors type knives at 40 to 45 degrees and kitchen knifes at 30 or 35)
If you used the wall scraper in the sunlight mid day, I bet you’d find some scratch’s in that glass even when doing it correctly.
Just sayin’. Cuz I’ve done it.
1 Like
This right here!
Read it again.
Didn’t sink in? READ IT AGAIN.
1 Like
The great input continues. Unger 4" and 6" are in the mail. Shopped around (sorry WCR), and got some Baxter books to boot. I’m seeing this as a great practice session. Probably the worst encounter I’ve ever had on windows. And they were already scratched big time, this is an older strip mall. I pointed out the scratches: huge ones on the outside, which were already there. He didn’t care. Meanwhile construction guys are there building shelves at barber stations and making dust everywhere. Bet he’s paying them 20 bucks to build 6 barber stations. Place was and will be bathed with saw dust. It’s a CCU in progress. But since he’s the great cleaning expert, the thirteen year old son can get the paint and silicone off the floor and clean the new ceramic tile too…this train’s moving on.
3 Likes
