not getting any work from topps tiles

[LM Ceramics]

im just wondering how do you get work from topps i have another account from the tile clearing warehouse which i barely use and i have my first job from them its not like im desperate for work but i feel a bit peed off not getting anything from topps since i have registered an account with them i have bought most of my materials from them and i have sent customers to but the tiles from there i dont think they are handing my cards i believe it should be give and take and i feel im gettin nothing from them

 

[hillhead]

I know the feeling there,
Last year i definetely steered over 20k to a tile shop and i didn't ask for work but in feb this year i did and reminded them of my actions last year and i finally pulled a job from them just last week,but they have me on a short list of 8 tilers now which i'm chuffed about because i know there are hundreds about !!!.
Good times around the corner for my little business,not that i'm complaining now or anything.

joe.
,
P.s you have to give and take,if they won't give then you don't but talk to them first,all big business' starts off small so you're precious to them

 

[brian c]

you need to keep going in and speaking to them if you dont know them as to build up a rapour and also there is no given rule which says they must give out your card m8 which might sound a bit harsh especially after the amount of business you have given to them.

 

[enduro]

I have a tile shop near me which i don't use but on Wednesday i needed two tubs of adhesive very quickly so i called in there, and they asked me why i don't use them for materials and i said you don't put any work my way, is that how it works they said, anyway i have had two jobs from them since Wednesday. Tell them that as it worked for me

 

[eyebeetiling]

I always try and pop into the tile shops that have accounts if I'm not busy and in the area, and get to know the sales staff. If they like you, they'll be more willing to pass your card out!

 

[theyomper]

Topps are trialing a process in various stores throughout the country. In my area it started last December and I am now a 'TAF' no not welsh but a Topps Approved Fitter. They aim to have a minimum of 3 tafs per store. I have always used Topps for my materials and have steered customers to them for tiles and wood floors. In doing that I have built up a very good rapport with the staff and I have no trouble in getting work via them. This week alone I have had 7 enquiries. Obviously you have to provide a service and I always aim to contact the potential customer the same day that I recieved the text from topps. I make an appointment and go and measure the job and advise the customer of the service that I offer to Topp's Customers. I then phone the details through to Topps and either e mail or post my estimate to the customer. It is very rare that I do not get the work and even if the customer gets the tiles from elsewhere I find that they will still come back to you as they have already met you and hopefully would have been impressed with the initial speed of contact. Talk to your local store and ask them to consider you as a TAF. nb I always show the customer my portfolio.
The yomper

 

[penno]

As above post says my local Topps are about to also do the approved fitter scheme, of which i have been asked to do. Only drawback is that you will make no cash from materials any longer but should bring in plenty of work.

get tons of work from Topps at the moment as it is. Really got to build up a rapport with the staff, not arse lick, a rapport/friendship.
I can easily go into Topps for a pack of spacers and end up coming out 2 hours later after 5 cups of coffee and 10 **** around the back. It is easy to go in each day spend a fortune and be out in 1 minute without speaking a word, never will get you work.
When a customer calls and i find the job has come via Topps then im in the next morning with bacon butties or a crate of booze.

Give a little, get a LOT.

 

[CLAYS TILES]

I always told customers to go to TOPPS as i've got an account up there & i can offer a discount! I asked the lads at TOPPS to hand out my card if anyone wants a tiler as it would help me start off my business to a great start & I'll reward them the same way by telling customers to go there!
I do get a few calls from their customers but not loads of calls! then i was talking to another tiler from the forum who lives near me & he told me to try another shop down the road, I called into them & their offering mat's at silly prices, some less than half the price of TOPPS!:hurray: It pays to shop around & again tell them you'll use them if they repay the favour with handing out your bus' cards!
:stupid:

 

[sWe]

It pays to shop around

Tell me about it. I ordered some plumbing supplies off the internet last week. The local construction material supermarkets, as well as the local specialist stores, all stock the items I needed, but they are really expensive. The plumbing specialist website I buy from, sells the exact same materials, at half the price, including VAT, and they deliver really fast.

Same goes for adhesives and such. Because I direct people to buy tiles at one of the local tile specialist shops, they give me about 30% off on their wares.

Essentially, I get top notch materials, for the price of cheap crap.

 

[wivers]

LM mate i had the same thing last week.

I had loads of work out of Topps were i live up to about 3 months ao then it started to drop off?

I tracked it down to the fact that a new woman tiler has been in there, giving them her cards and fluttering her bits at them.

So just coz the lads in there have felt a throbing in the never regends my work from them has dropped.

Well i went in there last week and was speaking to the new assistant manager.

He was asking if my cards were under the desk.

I said yes they shoud e as the lads claim they give them out and i'm the registerd insurance fitter for the store.

5 minutes f looking and bringing out other peoples cards and he still couldn't see mine!

So i called one of the lads over that claims to give them out on a regular basis.

He looked for 5 minutes and couldnt find them either.

I lost the plot, spat my dummy out and told them that i only use them coz they hand me cards out and that i could get my matts alot cheaper and deliverd elswhere but i don't!

The lad then found my cards and said "see i told u we hand them out".......

i said .....you just spent 10 minutes searching fr my cards and then they were under someone elses ffs!!! If a customer comes in and asks for a tilers card how do u hand them mine if u dont even know where the f*** they are!!!!!!

After another long rant, some adhesive throwing and alot of f and c words i left the shop in a haze of red and ginger mist!

I had 3 calls from customers who had got my card from Topps later that day!!!

So how come i have months of nothing then as soon as i kick up about it i get 3 all in one hit......?? something aint right there!!!