A service tech is pushed by his customers to βshow his workβ with before-and-after photos of pools on his route. Is that a fair request, or are these customers asking too much? Industry pros share their takes:
The Question
Steve Crowley
Crowley Pool Service | Canton, Mass.
βDoes anyone else take before-and-after pictures at every cleaning? I have been forced to do this on top of leaving a report at every pool. Iβm just trying to determine if I have some tough customers or the cleaning side of the business is like this everywhere. Any advice or input?β
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Answers:
Craig Perkins
lightsystems.us | Loxahatchee, Fla.
βI would email the report and CC myself each week; itβs a good way to keep a record of what time you were there. Or, if you want to make it easier, you could try iON software. Itβll also attach a weekly bill with the picture, which is a nice opportunity to get paid sooner.β
Jason Gibson
ClearWater Pool & Spa Supplies | Pearcy, Ark.
βI have Zubie on my work trucks, $99 a year. If I get a call saying we werenβt there I snapshot the techβs route, showing how long they were at his house and what time.
"If we took pictures of every pool, I canβt imagine what weβd do with all of them. Weβd never be able to tell whose pool was whose by the end of the day, let alone by the end of a week.β
Jen Lydon
Clover Pool Care | Pensacola, Fla.
βHere in the South, you do have hard clients. I couldnβt imagine sending a pic to every person. Time to drop those people and replace them with clients that trust you.β
Erik Taylor
Chlorine King Pool Service | Seminole, Fla.
βI email a full report after each visit along with a time-stamped photo. Completely eliminates the βdid you come todayβ and βdid you clean my poolβ questions.β