opinions..shafted or not?

[Sean Kelly]

Joiner forgot to tell customer then didn't own up to the omission.

I use call recorder on my phone. A bit naughty but i record all my calls on mobile (android). Saves me writing down addresses and dates etc. Caller does not know they are being recorded. if there was a dispute I'm sure it would not hold up in court but it could have frightened the joiner in owning up to his mistake.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

I can remember when we just wrote everything on the back of a cigs packet and my word was my bond, mind you that was just last week so I've still got what it takes!
My wife used to say would I still love her if she gets dementia - I said how will I notice the change! True.

 

[Lee@emctiles]

I don't supply tiles anymore either, not because of this scenario, just because there's no profit in it like there used to be, customers seem to be able to walk into tile shops off the street and get 'trade' prices, gone are the day where we could make a few quid before we even got out of bed on a Monday morning.

Not all tile shops do this, we do our up most to make sure that Trade is Trade and retail dont get their prices.

 

[Flintstone]

Think I pay 15 for a bag of grey setaflex, I have a good relationship with my local supplier and can pay cash and get the vat knocked off anything so make some extra money like that some times. As for supplying tiles, often at least 20% off for trade price, then another 20% off if I pay cash so can be a good little earner.
With this job, it's a hard one, just take it as a learning curve and proceed with caution onto the bathroom.

 

[Andy Allen]

Not all tile shops do this, we do our up most to make sure that Trade is Trade and retail dont get their prices.

The way it should be !!
If a tile shop wanted to give retail customers trade prices then I wouldn't send my customers in there ....simples.

 

[Flintstone]

I think what happens some times is basically if it's gonna seal a deal then they sometimes offer a discount as it makes little difference to the tile shop, potentially loosing a few hundred pounds they may as well offer the discount.

 

[Flintstone]

If I supply the tiles it's full price or maybe a bit off. If I point them in the direction of the tile shop, I've arranged for them to have 10% off and me to have the rest back in cash

 

[Stef]

So your getting it for less than a tenner a bag Stef?

Yeah just under, I get 25kg bags so it works out about £9.50ish a bag.

 

[Stef]

If I supply the tiles it's full price or maybe a bit off. If I point them in the direction of the tile shop, I've arranged for them to have 10% off and me to have the rest back in cash

CTD do it the right way, give the customer a voucher & they get 20% off & you get 15% back as well.

 

[Time's Ran Out]

CTD do it the right way, give the customer a voucher & they get 20% off & you get 15% back as well.

Now I've dealt with CTD since the lads delivered my tiles from the back of a Ford Transit and before when they worked in a warehouse for a Leeds based firm!
The lads sold out to St Gobain a number of years ago and my loyalty has been tested on a couple of occasions before and after .
This voucher scheme is one of them !
Their sales staff are telling retail that their trade Tilers can give them 20% discount before we even get involved.
It's up to me to give a discount not the retail outlet.
So I let the customer have all my discount and just charge for fixing. The few pounds they save ( which can be hundreds) I get on more work through that happy customer. And turnover stays down, and no chasing materials money, and they have to carry them up the stairs to the room .

 

[Andy Allen]

I never had a customer yet carry there tiles upstairs ready for me...most back the car to the garage off load them and there they stay !!..

 

[Spare Tool]

Yeah just under, I get 25kg bags so it works out about £9.50ish a bag.

I've never seen 25kg bags of anything bar Webber leveler round our way.. That's a great price

 

[Spare Tool]

So this is where we're up to now, literally just finished tiling it..
Bit of crazy paving to tile over ..I've really lost patience with this now incase you can't tell

 

[Bathfix Bob]

Sometimes in business you just have to eat a manure sandwich...just eat it down, learn and move on.

Its worse in summer, everyone is out playing while your stuck indoors re doing work.

 

[Stef]

I've never seen 25kg bags of anything bar Webber leveler round our way.. That's a great price