Mixed batches.... opinion please

[Dan]

You're right, lol. I did ask for that. But you can't honestly tell me you've never come across a job where the tiles supplied are mixed. What, never?????? Lucky man. We're not talking about it being the wrong tile, a factory variation from one batch to the next. Like wallpaper from any DIY store. Yes it can happen and yes we TRY our best to avoid it. Sorry, but how many suppliers are there? How many have the same statement in their T&C's? (if i'm honest I can't think of a single one that doesn't.... and trust me, I've done my research on this... part of the job... which is starting to suck even more now 🙂) ***note to self, learn to keep gob shut***

We're not the only supplier that does it and if you can run a business better or have the room to store so many end of batches to sell as joblots, or are happy to just through that amount of value of tiles in a skip, then feel free to come and give us and every other tile supplier in the country a lesson in how it should be done. And I'd love to see you drive a lorry with 2 ton of loose tiles in the back after we've checked them (Sorry but you asked for that one back. No hard feelings 🙂) .

I can't help the job i'm in and want the company to gain a better rep which is why "opinions" matter.

So if I was to argue the toss, you wouldn't check what you're fitting and it will be the fault of the supplier once the customer complains that they have two slightly different colours on the wall. Which is why we ask, are you happy with them? crack on then. Not happy? ok madam, we'll sort the problem for you before they get stuck.

As for you comments about lighting during fitting and the look once its done, (YES!!! I new they would come in handy) BS5385 states they should be fitted in the same light as the future lighting situation would be. "Exact quote available on request". So you should be stepping back, taking a look, switching light on and off.

So got 3_falls answer, he thinks its a cop-out. Anyone else wanna annihilate me on this one?

Thy wouldn't end up in a skip. It's stock management.

Keep the batches in batches in storage. Simple as that. Small orders are easily fulfilled. Large orders make sure it's one batch.

You'll be replacing a lot of tiles for nothing if you carry on and that's a bigger cost surely?

 

[Tile Shop]

Storage space is a real issue though. And keeping on batch to the side is all very well, but then you get through the 2nd batch, then the 3rd. Before you know it we have 7 batches of the same tile. so what about the next 20 ranges? So you can see why we have issues. If the warehouse pick the order and notice the batch issue and we don't have enough stock of 1 to fulfil the order, we also contact the customer and give the option of delivering on a sale or return basis.

Our warehouse manager is pretty clued up and had looked at reserving stock for small orders. But with the bulk stocking of tiles from a land far far away, space goes pretty quick. Where possible we do sell joblots via the website and showrooms.

If stock is low, we also physically check stock before taking an order, and also look at whether they're tiling multiple rooms.... same tile, 2 batches, or the sale or return if for a single room.

You can also look at the possibility for wall tiles as an example, the lighting from one wall to the next. As long as they are not on the same wall (lighting dependant) will make it even less noticable if at all. but that relies on the tiles being checked by whoever is fixing to make that decision, as to whether the quantities work out.

Don't worry, not ducking from the fact that its all my fault in the first place, lol 🙂

 

[Andy Allen]

If a supplier sells different batches of tiles......as in the batch numbers on the box's are different then there selling a product that isn't fit for purpose .....so why do it..?

As 3-fall said I couldn't care less if you got loads of end of line tiles left over its up to them to allow for that in there costings.

Imo if a customer supplies there own tiles then it's down to them to check batches or that the tiles are are fit for perpose especially as a lot of the tiles from the sheds don't even have a batch number to relate to........at the end of the day there employing our services to fix there tiles they bought.........having said that I would always check to box's before fitting ...where possible ... and flag up any issues but where there's nothing to relate to then Imo it's there problem not the tilers.

If a tiler supplies the tiles then any issues are down to them to sort out......and that's why I put a mark up on materials I supply to allow for this.

 

[Dave]

I've dealt with CTD for over 20yrs and CTD Darlington since they opened ( approx 17 yrs ) and they have never supplied me with a mixed batch num of tiles , how they handle left over tiles in small mtrge from batches I don't know but as a fixer I cannot knock the service when it comes to getting matching batch numbers from them.

I also use tiles from BCT and just finished a bathroom and yes I was supplied 5 Mtrs from another batch 6 months date difference from the majority but luckily enough we had more tiles for new displays for the showroom and they matched , other wise I'd have had to wait around 3 days for replacements .

So just as well I check batch numbers eh 🙂 ...

 

[Tile Shop]

Just to clarify, this is not deliberate. We don't intentionally send different batches. 1 tile, 20 pallets ordered and stocked.... most of the time, the factory give us the same batch. so stock turn-around isn't a problem. the next pallet WILL be the same. This is why if a new pallet is started, it will be refered by QC for investigation and rectified before despatch. if it can't be rectified, we give the option to the customer to accept what we have, or wait for new stock.

But OCCASIONALLY, a customer accepts it, fixes them without checking, boom we have a problem.

 

[Dan]

I can't see it being a USP for a shop to say "all your tiles will be from the same batch" on their website or in store. You don't sell the most tiles. There are quite a few firms who sell a lot lot more, and I know for sure a couple of them ensure their tiles are all from the same batch. B&Q who sell the most tiles out of all UK suppliers, I dare say close to the total of all the rest put together, even have signs next to the tiles saying to check batches.

Are you saying your firm isn't a better tile supplier than B&Q? Who don't specialise in anything?!

I'm pleased you made this thread for sure as its opened my eyes but I'm a bit shocked that you can sell so many tiles and have issues with batches. Or complain about costs and say it's not your problem.

 

[Dave]

B&Q are the worst for mixing batches on the stock pallet on display, when the pallet etc gets low in stock , they top it up with what ever they have , no care for mixing batches lol lol....

So if the customer buying doesn't check then it's a lottery what you get , I've had several batch numbers before.... Nightmare 🙂

 

[Tile Shop]

OMG!!! Like I said earlier... Calculators at the ready everyone... bit of maths coming you way. Gonna teach you how to do percentages. Maybe 1 or 2 issues a month.... 2000 orders (just looked and that is through our telephone channel alone..... Do you want our other departments figures?)

THE OVERALL COMPANY has couple a month. Wow, this is a 99.9% success rate at its absolute worst??? Are all you guys really that close to perfect??? I Guarentee, that is phenominal compared to some companies, considering we pick up the pieces when other can't fulfil an order for batching reasons.

This was only to highlight one issue we get in this industry. Complaints is what I deal with, investigate and resolve daily and I wanted experiences and opinions from the other side....And know I'm kinda getting the idea that this is being turned into something it wasn't ever meant to be....

Not you dave, you popped your message up while I was typing.

 

[On one]

Surely B&Q can't be as bad as Homebase!
I recently had goodness knows how many different batch numbers in 10 boxes of tiles and 3 different manufacturing years!

 

[Andy Allen]

If you new what we have to go through due to mixed batches them you would understand why it's such a touchy subject.........imagine you have a full diary for the next 2 months you turn up to Tile a bathroom and the customer got mixed batches.......that's a wasted day for us and who going to pay for that?........then you have to try and bump jobs back to try and fit them in again....bloody nightmare all cause someone can't read numbers on a box..