supplying tiles??

[brummie tiler]

hi people just a few questions to get an opinion on something. I have been tiling for a good while now and am thinking of trying to grow my business a little by actually supplying tiles as well as adhesive and other bits and bobs. Obviously i would advertise this to the max, thinking of something along the lines of 'mobile tile shop'( just an idea dont slate me!). The general jist is,I would pop along in my van with a large selection of samples for the customer to choose from, sit down with them and discuss ideas and really sell yourself and the product thus making a nice profit from the materials and the fitting- providing you get the job of course. What i really wanted to know is are many of you guys already pushing this?and also if anybody knows a good place to get trade priced materials fromin the west midlands,either in bulk or not?

 

[Varley]

I supply the tiles on quite a lot of my jobs, make a fair bit of money on that alone aswell, still the give the customer some of my discount though, and I always supply the materials for a job!

 

[DHTiling]

Anythings worth a go... i will supply and fix or fix only what ever's easiest for the customer.......dave...

 

[penno]

I supply the tiles on quite a lot of my jobs, make a fair bit of money on that alone aswell, still the give the customer some of my discount though, and I always supply the materials for a job!

What if the customer has already bought the materials Varley?
Had a bloke the other day who had bought crap from Wickes, told him it isn't any good but he insisted saying he is not paying anymore. I just used it in the end, didn't want to turn the cash away.

 

[grumpygrouter]

What if the customer has already bought the materials Varley?
Had a bloke the other day who had bought crap from Wickes, told him it isn't any good but he insisted saying he is not paying anymore. I just used it in the end, didn't want to turn the cash away.

Hi Penno, if the materials swere suppliedfor you and you weren't happy with them, just let the customer know - in writing - that you can not warrant the work as it will not be to your specification.

Grumpy

 

[Varley]

What if the customer has already bought the materials Varley?
Had a bloke the other day who had bought crap from Wickes, told him it isn't any good but he insisted saying he is not paying anymore. I just used it in the end, didn't want to turn the cash away.

If the customer has supplied the materials and I don't think they are of a good enough quality I walk away, simple as that, 9 times out of ten they agree to change them though, but you will lose the occasional job. But your reputation will stay in tact.

 

[penno]

If the customer has supplied the materials and I don't think they are of a good enough quality I walk away, simple as that, 9 times out of ten they agree to change them though, but you will lose the occasional job. But your reputation will stay in tact.

Yeah true enough, can't afford to turn the work away myself atm, really not much on at the mo.

 

[enduro]

One of my local tile suppliers give me some very smart leaflets to give customers, i fill them in with customers name etc and they take them to the tile shop they quote shop price, I pay and collect tiles and get a really good discount, works a treat.

 

[Varley]

One of my local tile suppliers give me some very smart leaflets to give customers, i fill them in with customers name etc and they take them to the tile shop they quote shop price, I pay and collect tiles and get a really good discount, works a treat.

Thats exactly what i'm talking about mate, good stuff!

 

[GazTech]

Remember Guys....as a retailer we at Topps won't always accept the customers story..that such and such a body is doing the job.We ask the trader to phone us and instruct us wether or not the people they are sending in, get retail or trade prices.....never forget,you have the right to make a profit to supply...if you want to share the profit ,then that is your choice.As I have posted before we are dedicated to not opening up accounts to every Tom Dick or Harriet

 

[IvegotsTILE]

I tell all my customers to go to Topps and I'll get them 10% off tiles and materials which most are happy with,I tell them to go down and get the price but not to mention that I'll be getting the discount for them as Topps wouldn't be happy with me.They think there getting a deal then.
I did once have a customer though that went down and came back and said the guy at Topps said the more he orders the more discount I'd give him.I was well pissed off with them for that,went straight down there and asked them about it and they said he kept wanting to know how much discount I was getting and that I said it was alright to know.The guys at Topps said they NEVER tell anyone how much discount you get the cheeky ******* was just trying it on so I made sure I got 2 bags of Bal porcelbond and 2 bags of Bal wide joint grout out of that job for trying it on with me the tw*t.Shouldn't take the ****,that'll teach him.

I have found that I can earn a few hundred just for getting the mats which goes straight in my pocket for basically picking up the materials:wink_smile:

 

[DHTiling]

Customers will always try it on simon...i do exactly wot you do send them in to look at tiles then get a price..i then get a price and compare...works all the time......dave..

 

[CJ]

I hate supplying tiles.

Only been asked a few times..........then I had to empty my van of tools...........hump the bloody things about to load up.........deliver them.......and hump again.

No more

 

[tltiling]

i got 10% off everything at topps. how can i get abigger discount with them?
i can pass on the saving to the customer. and may nick a few jobs, i cant deliver because
i just started a 6 month ban.

 

[IvegotsTILE]

Send more business their way,thats how you get more discount at Topps.