Anyone Dealing With Topps Tiles??

[swindonbathroom]

Hi

Just had a bizarre experience at Topps Tiles Swindon. Just to state that I am not a Topps Tiles Tiler ( now that's a mouthful ).

I often send clients into Topps Tiles and this was the case with Mavis - incidentially in her 70's. I usually give clients the required amount of tiles they need and point them in Topps direction. Our client then deals direct with Topps Tiles and I have no financial gain from this.

Anyway Mavis buys her tiles for her bathroom , floor & walls , but mistakenly buys adhesives /grout etc. Her daughter sees the mistake and it seems fairly simple for Mavis just to get a refund. At this point the stock hasn't left Topps Tiles.

Apparently there is some issues in store that I don't just use their materials and give the money to Mavis. Easy you might think. I objected to paying the £600 charged poor Mavis for these goods. Yes £600 !! Not taking them up on their kind offer I actually went and bought all the miscellaneous adhesives etc for under £300 !!

Now I'm a person non grata as i've "done" Topps Tiles out of a £600 sale !! I thought I'd introduced a client and they'd made a tile sale. Not in Topps Tiles eyes. I'm an out and out villian lol !

I know the last company outlook was poor but acting like this is making Bankers look downright reasonable !

Anyone else had trouble with Topps Tiles ??

 

[Dan]

Just found an interesting Facebook Group: I Hate Topps Tiles | Facebook

You made that Billy?

 

[mikethetile]

simple question then.....which is the better product to use BAL or mapei? if price was not the issue? As i have only used BAL my self and that the reports that I get is only from my traders...If Topps stocked mapei would that be better?

As for price match....yes thats the company line but as a business person if its a like for like why not beat the price? the only products I will not match with are the likes on unibond...

I do believe that if you take a look on topps trade website you may be a little surprised as the the price of some lines....

there only thing topps ask of it traders is that you are registered with them so that the trade prices are only given to try trade customers not Joe public

Billy

I am trade registered with topps and have been for years, but it doesnt stop me having problems when I drop into a different branch, as they expect me to re register and use that branch regular before I have access to the back room


in answer to your bal question

I recieved my first formal tile training at their hq in stoke on trent, I went four times in total to do all their courses foc. I was put up in a hotel for two nights each time and one time was treated to go kart racing. giveen a choice I would only ever use bal as I trusted the product and still do. the only issue I have with bal is the price, but it is a first class product but unfortunatly its not the best available

I used mapei once and never went back to bal, I suggest you use mapei before comparing it to bal, you will be pleasantly surprised, its also a nicer product to use, I wont use anything else now

its also avaailable from B&Q and screwfix which is handy even though the prices are higher from these outlets {no trade discount}its still cheaper than bal from topps

trade discount, im opposed to one off customers getting trade , they should be charged full retail . but topps need to learn to distinguish between a tradesman and a retail customer, other outlets manage it

im pleased topps are now looking at the trade buyer again but you have a lot of damage to undo

and yes you would be better off selling mapei and dropping bal but thats down to the buyers not the branch managers

 

[Nardini]

I am on here

Billy, a word of advice here.

Defending your employer is all very well and good, but the complaint is all about customer service. The only thing you can do is to suggest to your bosses that they might like to do a bit of serious training at branch level to get things right, or your firm will lose even more potential business. Action, not words. Sort out the customer services so that things improve as you aren't going to convince anyone here that your firm is really good in the face of personal experiences to the contrary. Eh?

 

[swindonbathroom]

Billy ,

Hello I'm Keith and started this thread. I run a bathroom business.

The issue I had was I was sending in my clients to Topps Tiles to buy their tiles. Topps Tiles charged my clients their standard cost and the clients paid for their own tiles direct to Topps. I had no gain from this whatsoever and from my point of view was giving Topps Tiles extra business on a plate , free gratis and for nothing as well !!

I supply everything else for my clients.

One client mistakenly bought all the adhesives as well. No great problem one would have thought. Goods not left the store , bought in error - a straight refund.

Topps made it hard for poor old Mavis to get her refund. (Mavis 70+). I found out later the value of adhesives , trim etc was over £600. No wonder they were reluctant to refund. These items I paid less than £300 for at my supplier !!

Apparently accordingly to Topps Tiles I lost them a £600 sale and for this reason I'm not welcome to any discounts etc in store. They have forgotten the £1,000 s of business I have put their way. They even suggested I should make MY CLIENTS buy their tiles and the ancillaries from Topps Tiles at full cost.

The Swindon store has very poor management. I've been sending in clients for ages. I know them in store. Never did anyone try and offer any discounts to secure the add on business.

I did nothing wrong apart from boost tile sales. Topps got humpy as I refused to pay their charges on adhesives etc. Their attitude was very short sighted. I also hear that Topps Tiles are trying to discredit me in Swindon now too. This because of the internet interest I have generated.

Swindon is awash with tile shops. I send my clients elsewhere and now I even get a thank-you from my new preferred supplier.

 

[Perry]

Keith thats my point its great making loads of money quick which is what i think Topps have been doing but over time people can see through the big shinny front and can see the nuts and bolts then where do they go. most shops are happy with getting SRP for there goods but not topps IMO

 

[swindonbathroom]

I have heard another saying of all fur coat and no knickers lol.

 

[doug boardley]

tbh, I don't think topps will win back trade customers, they've shot themselves in the foot. TG on the other hand, just have to carry on doing what they're doing (and open a depot in Kendal, Nathan!!) to ensure continuity of trade and retail customers. In short, Topps are doing TG's work for them!

 

[user123]

I want a Tile Giant in Scarborough... they would make a fortune, I'm sure, everyone is desperate there..

 

[DHTiling]

I want a Tile Giant in Scarborough... they would make a fortune, I'm sure, everyone is desperate there..

Really?.. :lol:

 

[GAZCOM]

topps are tosh, well over priced, I stick to local retailers