My days are numbered...

[Colin Appleby]

Hello, everyone!


Let's be upfront about this: I work for the marketing communications agency used by BAL.

That being the case, it probably won't be long before I'm thrown out ... again.

I am, however, an optimist. I am willing to believe that, although this is sponsored by competitors to BAL, it might be an impartial, unbiased forum - although more than a couple of professional tilers have said to me that anyone responding here to attacks on BAL is fairly swiftly banned.

Let's see how long I last...

 

[Dan]

Hi Colin,

Welcome aboard the forum.

You're fine to have an account here providing you don't push the BAL brand.

BAL asked for their accounts to be removed (both Gaz and Danny) else they'd still be here too no doubt.

We don't 'attack' bal and we're not just about adhesives here, it's a small part of our forum. We're not that fussed which adhesives are used providing they're a decent brand, any decent brand. However we do need funding to run the forum and appreciate Mapei's support, so we help them with advertising their training days etc.

You'll see more posts on here from BAL reps than all other adhesive brands put together if you dig around.

I trust that you understand the forum is impartial.

All the best

Dan

 

[Deleted member 9966]

:welcome: Colin

we hope you find the forum friendly and informative. we all look forward to your input

GRR

 

[DHTiling]

Hello Colin and welcome.. I think you are misinformed about BAL members getting banned, we still have their pm's asking to have their accounts removed.

We are not an Anti BAL forum and many adhesives etc are discussed on this board and as Dan said above as long as no sales posts are put on the forum then you are free to chat tile.

The only ones complaining that i can see are the ones who no longer use tilers forums .

We look after our sponsors , hence why other retailers are not allowed to external link etc.. to their shops/sites.. but impartial we are and if you look around the various sub forums etc then that is apparent IMO.. and members chat freely.

 

[aph257]

my only gripe about BAL is its pricing of their products.

 

[Ian]

Welcome along

 

[Gall.B]

Hi Colin welcome. Im a Bal fan myself

 

[user123]

Hi, Colin

I think many on here would really appreciate your input! If you do marketing communications, I assume you are interested in feedback and customers opinions, and I think you may find that the issue of the cost of Bal products crops up over and over again. I am not a tiler, I am a Mosaic artist, albeit with a NETT qualification and a love for quality tiling, and as I live away from the major tilling supply stores I have limited options here.
One of them is Topps Tiles, who do stock some of your products, and my experience there has been so bad, which reflects poorly on Bal Products and on Topps Tiles. I found myself confronted with frankly outrageous prices for even simple standby necessities like latex additive compared with again the limited stock of Mapei and Ultra products at another local tile merchant - plus such poor service at Topps Tiles that the combination of both just made the prospect of buying Bal products very unappetising.

I cannot believe that any company in the present climate would want customers having bad experiences, that they would want to be involved with retail outlets who are notoriously unpopular with professional tilers, nor that they would want the very tradespeople who could be their main customers finding comparable products cheaper elsewhere.

This is not a slight on you personally, at all, Colin, but as you are here as a representative of Bal I feel it is only fair that the impression of any forum member prejudice against Bal is given proper explanation. This is a wonderful forum with many tilers who take take pride in their work as much as in costeffective service to their customers, a perfect forum for you, I am sure, to gain added information what the industry is really looking out for.

 

[Spud]

welcome aboard Colin, I dont have strong feelings one way or another about the BAL brand other than it is very expensive for what I have found to be an average product

 

[Gall.B]

Havent experienced topps, im fortunate enough to live near a ctd and cosmo ceramics who stock everything bal at reasonable prices with the rep not to far away either. ctd have always got at least 3 bal products on special

 

[tommyzooom]

Welcome aboard Colin,
I spent a couple of days at Bal HQ years ago, and was treated like a king, I wouldn't use anything else if I could but the difference in price has just got too much, anyone local to me has stopped stocking it anyway.

 

[nybor62]

welcome aboard colin

i also like bal products , but with your prices its just not cost effective

 

[Ceramico tiling]

Very true what Mossaic girl says.The main issue for me with BAL is having to pass the cost on to the client,when I can reccomend Mappei as being good quality and cheaper.

 

[Perry]

Welcome Colin i use PCI adhesives and tell all that they the best thing since sliced bread and say so all the time but thats only my opinion but i wouldn't try to advertise them here and have never had one cross word from the forum since i have joined unlike the pink forum which i was not allowed to talk about any pci products only allowed to talk about Bal products which is why i never returned regards Pete

 

[johnryan]

:welcome: