Your Most Difficult Client

[Pages Personal Cleaning]

Who was your most difficult client?
I was sick one year for several days but didn't know what was wrong until they had to take me to the emergency room one day. It was pneumonia. But I was still going and cleaning everyday until the doctor told me if I didn't take some time off I would be in the hospital. So I decided to take a couple days off and started calling my customers to reshedule the cleanings. (This was back before I had any employees) I called one customer who I had been cleaning her and her husbands house and her stepsons condo. The condo was only a once a month cleaning so it really didn't matter what day I cleaned. I told her I had pneumonia and would have to reshedule her stepsons condo for the following week. That is when she said "No this is not acceptable, you need to get in there and clean" When I told her I was too sick and couldn't she fired me and said "Don't ever ask for a reference from me"
What is wrong with these people.
Patti

[maybaby]

I'd say my most dificult is a woman who stand over my shoulder the whole time I am there (this is my only partial clean i posted about her before) Now she dosent want me to come back till July fourth and he cleaning was sopose to be on tuesday. I think I should charge her more since there will be more work to do. If I loose her I won't really feeltoo bad, but I think i will if I tell her that. I dont know what Im going to do yet.

Casndi

[Pages Personal Cleaning]

Candi
Don't be afraid to charge what you are worth. A true cleaning professional is hard to come by.(Someone that does a good thorough job) Believe me I know. I get a lot of the Merry Maid customers because the clients tell me that there are so many problems with them. (they only half clean, they send a different person everytime, a lot of times the cleaner doesn't even show up, etc.)
Cleaning is hard physical work. And you are a business owner. Charge what you are worth.
Patti

[Crowz]

Candi,

We had a client like that once..... and only once. She not only stood over John's shoulder but actually told him how to mop the floor! She also insisted we use her vacuum, rags, and chemicals.... she mixed the 2 BIG NO"s in the toilet and walked away while I was in the shower cleaning the tile. The result was an asthma attack. Dow scrubbing bubbles do the same thing to me... dunno what's in there but it is nasty stuff. Anyway, we decided it wasn't worth the stress over a $75.00 bi-weekly and dropped her..... in a nice way of course ;D

Natalie

[2Sisterz Janitorial]

Someone told me,,,,or maybe I read it in here I can not remember, lol. This has been a long day. Anyway, either heard or read someone saying that they tell the folks the charge is $25.00 pmh if they are alone, $30.00 pmh if they are not alone, and $35.00 pmh if the home owner helps ;D Thought that was a good one, lol.

Linda

[checkmate]

A few years ago I was cleaning at a clients house, and while I was doing some light dusting.
She sat in a chair waching and just as I started on the next piece of furniture, she yelled out pick that vase up before you dust ! And I turned and I asked politly would you rather do this yourself ?
She did not say a word she got up and left the room. She is still a faithfull custermer to this day.
One of my faveriots. I found that you have to lay things out for your clients right in the beginning. Let them know that you are not afraid to let them go and that you demand respect. And that you will not be a doormat. But you will be a faithfull cleaner that always gos the extra mile for your custy. And use the free advertising at www.checkmatecleaning.com

[braidyrigby]

This paper profiles the types of clients who create irritating potholes and fissures on the road to business success and reveals the behavioral patterns that characterize their so-called "worst practices."

[ubest]

Repeat clients are the foundation of a healthy business. However, not all clients are alike. Here's how to deal with the tough customers.

[mikedillon]

In a business environment, it's inevitable that a certain percentage of customers will be unhappy with the service or products they have received. This can create difficult situations for employees.

[benedictbrent]

Providing good customer service is critical in the business world. Customers who feel mistreated are likely to take their money elsewhere. Though good-natured customers are easy to please, not all encounters with the public are pleasant.

[stevenedwin]

As any employee with experience in customer service knows, difficult customers are an inevitable part of doing business. Though the experience may prove trying, handling challenging customers well is a skill that all customer service representatives must master.

[David Bergman]

Whatever the situation, you have to be prepared to understand the client's mindset and apply the techniques to ensure that they continue to be loyal - even if they are demanding, self-seeking and simply difficult. That is the most challenging aspect of your cleaning business.