Topps Approved Fixer Scheme.

[merlecollins]

Hi all,

Anyone on or been on the Topps Approved list?

If so, whats the pros and cons - is there money to be made - is it more bother than it's worth?

Spoke to the manager of our nearest store today and am going in to see him tomorrow to get the gen on it. He says that they guarantee your work and that they take back left over tiles - does this mean that there is no scope to make anything on the materials?:yikes:

 

[david campbell]

the customer usually pays for the tiles and you can only take them back with the receipt but they charge x amount for ceramic,porcelain,stone etc,the prices are quite good but it all depends on how may tafs they have that determines how many jobs you will get,my local store uses 4 so you will get a few jobs every month but i've heard of stores having 12 and tilers only getting 1 job per month from it,make sure you get the customer to sign the sheet when your finished to say they are happy or you won't get paid

 

[merlecollins]

Who pays you Dave?? How long do you wait?

Also, what do Topps want off you to get approved?

 

[Dan]

Some other info here: http://www.tilersforums.com/tiling-forum/12483-topps-approved-fitters.html

 

[chris.tiling]

the customer pays Topps £20 and buys everything, so you make nothing from the mats etc. I am one of 5 TAFS in the local store and have had 6 jobs in a year - nothing since they instigated the £20 charge. I think it depends how good the store are at selling the service as to how many TAF jobs you get - I still pick up a fair bit of non TAF work from them, but there are about 20 different business cards on the counter - I think this is wrong as if they have a TAF scheme, they should only promote the TAF fixers, but...!!!

 

[DHTiling]

They charge the customer £20 to source a fixer...:yikes:...wot a CON......

The internet is full of FREE listings for tilers... Home - Find Tilers | Find Trusted Plumbers | Find Local Electricians | Find Rated Plasterers | Find Builder Reviews and more being one very good one and ranks me number 1 in google.....and num 2 spot..customers are looking more and more on the Net for a fixer....so get your listing optimised and get yourself known.

 

[Dan]

I think if it works, and it will do for a few, then it's okay. But as said above, really they should be promoting ALL their tilers on their accounts and trying to get them all a bit of work. Though knowing how it works I think it's easy for the staff to get used to their regulars, TAFS or not, and it'll be those guys that get most of the work.

 

[Dan]

the customer pays Topps £20 and buys everything, so you make nothing from the mats etc. I am one of 5 TAFS in the local store and have had 6 jobs in a year - nothing since they instigated the £20 charge. I think it depends how good the store are at selling the service as to how many TAF jobs you get - I still pick up a fair bit of non TAF work from them, but there are about 20 different business cards on the counter - I think this is wrong as if they have a TAF scheme, they should only promote the TAF fixers, but...!!!

Is that what the 20 quid is for?!?!?! To source a TAF?! That's shocking if it is and no wonder you've not got much work since they introduced it. So for £20 they'll walk to the computer and get your name?

 

[chris.tiling]

apparently they wanted a slice of the £50 ish currys and co charge for fitting a cooker / tv etc. I think it is a massive con as all they have to do is phone a TAF and arrange an appointment for us to go and price up. I dont see the business sense in it to be honest.

 

[DHTiling]

apparently they wanted a slice of the £50 ish currys and co charge for fitting a cooker / tv etc. I think it is a massive con as all they have to do is phone a TAF and arrange an appointment for us to go and price up. I dont see the business sense in it to be honest.

I certainly don't but obviously someone at Topps must have...

 

[Sean Kelly]

The charge is for the guarantee.
You quote for the job, but you only quote for labour.
The customer pays you direct.
Topps guarantees the work for 1 year.
You are also responsible for pickup/delivery of materials!!
You make £0 on mats because customer pays full wack for them!

 

[DHTiling]

But as a pro tiler, surely you should be guarenteeing your own work...??

 

[Sean Kelly]

But as a pro tiler, surely you should be guarenteeing your own work...??

Yes Dave, you are right. However, the customer gets the guarantee from a well known tile shop, that will hopefully not go bust or disappear overnight. It's peace of mind for the customer. Personally I offer the same guarantee and tell my TAF customers that if they have any problems then come back to me.....not Topps. The reason for this is that if I do muck up on the job and a tile comes lose then I do not want Topps knowing about it because I might get removed from the scheme. I get 80% of my work through Topps. Cheers Sean