Topps survey

[faithhealer]

If you have an account at Topps you might have to answer a few survey questions, 'as they have a man for trade accounts' now!!!
Mine went something like this

Would you mind answering a few questions for our survey John

No probs, your adhesive is too expensive

hang on, i haven't started yet

Still expensive

Where else do you shop

CTD cheaper adhesive (no Tg)

Any problems with this store

adhesive is too expensive

what could this store do for you

Change to mapei and get cheaper adhesive

he wished he hadn't asked

 

[aph257]

don't know about you guys but the staff are useless at topps as well. stick to your independants.

i'd prob go the a "shed" than go to Topps.

 

[penno]

I stopped using topps a while ago but recently gone back to them. Store near me were not exacly clued up, did not have a clue about anything. However a few months back a new manager has come in, whole new store. Everytime i go in he is asking questions: What tools would you like in here? What brand adhesives and grouts would you like? What is it that would make you come here rather then anywhere else?
Now has in stock AND at a good price most Rubi tools. He is currently pushing for Mapei grouts to be stocked which he is confident they will be v v soon (other tilers asked for it, not a big fan myself). He doesn't come from any kind of tiling background but was a manager for many years at one of the major furniture stores. Hats off to the bloke though he has researched everything and actually does know his stuff, probably cannot lay a tile to save his life but does know what he is talking about. Also gets a thumbs up as last 2 months i have been working 7 day weeks they have been throwing that much work my way, booked up until early Feb
If you went into most Topp stores though you would think "jesus they havnt a clue" suppose you get some bad and some good. Agree on the prices though, way to high but ok when you are doing TAFs as its the customer buying.

 

[Dan]

I'm going to be out on my own here but i'm going to say it anyway, my local Topps is really good, all the staff are really helpful and know their stuff.Anything they don't know, they go out of their way to find out. I must be one of the fortunate ones to live near this store. I have been in others that aren't so good but Grantham has a rare gem! As for the adhesive prices, I went into my local TG (Lincoln) yesterday and they couldn't match the addy prices, don't know if it's because I hadn't used them before, but there you have it!!!

You get special prices at TG for being a TilersForums Arms member you know. Sign up for the account. The thread is in the arms. It's not just for adhesives either.

 

[Colour Republic]

Hats off to the bloke though he has researched everything and actually does know his stuff.

What's his username on here then?:smilewinkgrin:

 

[Dan]

What brand adhesives and grouts would you like? What is it that would make you come here rather then anywhere else?
Now has in stock AND at a good price most Rubi tools. He is currently pushing for Mapei grouts to be stocked which he is confident they will be v v soon (other tilers asked for it, not a big fan myself).

That'll be a sting in BAL's tail if it happens.

 

[Colour Republic]

I can't see why Mapei would want to get involved with Topps, I'm surprised BAL even are. It's my opinion that Topps pricing structure does more harm than good, BAL adhesives must be viewed as extremely expensive when Joe Public see the shelf price, then when they find out we can cut the cost in half they might just assume all our materials are like that.

What exactly is the point of pricing so high? Is it to rip of joe public? is it to build a large margin into in for tilers, I don't think I could look my customers in the face if they found out i'd billed them for twice what my trade price is.

Topps do so well because they have a huge marketing budget aimed at the homeowner so most of them would have heard of it, it's just a shame they don't spend some of that money training staff. I have 3 in the local area and everyone has some major flaw to it. OK no company in immune to bad staff but my personal experiance says it happens with Topps more than any of the other chains.

:behead:

 

[pete f]

how much is 20kg of rapid set adhesive in white from mapei the nearest mapei supplier to me is 15 miles away

 

[CJ CERAMICS]

how much is 20kg of rapid set adhesive in white from mapei the nearest mapei supplier to me is 15 miles away

not sure on the rapid white pete but at warrington ctd i get mapei keraflex maxi @£14.95.

give them a ring and ask for paddy the manager

 

[Martyn Leeds]

I'm with Brian J,
my opinion of Topps has changed a lot over the last few yrs. Prices have come down a lot & the staff seem to know what they're doing - i've only been to Leeds & Ponte branches tho.
As for BAL adh & grout prices, I've just received the trade monthly newsletter thing and its got some half decent trade prices - not that I use BAL tho, as I can't imagine winning many quotes if i used but BAL due to costs...

 

[Daz]

They're still a bunch of (oops public'ish forum).
Their share price has climbed from 18p to 58p in the last 2 years so they must be doing something good.

I still will only enter their stores if I'm desperate.

 

[faithhealer]

just got the latest topps flyer through, pushing new palace gear

 

[Andy Allen]

did a quote once and they sold the guy 2x 20kg bags of bal adhesive to tile a 4m2 bathroom floor.

 

[White Room]

just got the latest topps flyer through, pushing new palace gear

I got one as well John, might give it a try

 

[buttsy]

Ive just been and bought a bag of single part flexi white and a bag of wall grout(new products, cheaper prices) to finish bit of tiling in my own bathroom and just to give them a try. Do like bal grouts not over fussed on their addy, tubbed or bagged. Ive been using benfer wall adhesive for the last 6 months and it would take something good to drag me away from this product. Good pot life and bonding strength. Ive seen some underhand sales methods in topps. Selling customers way too many fila products which are totally uneccesary at shocking prices.When i tell my customers to take them back as they are not needed topps usually have a pop at me the next time i go in but its water off a ducks back as they know what i think . The best one ive found is when ive quoted for jobs and their own fitter has priced the job as well as me. A few customers when ive told them what quantity of tiles they require have been surprised as the topps fitter has told them they require between 3-6 sq. more. So theres either a scam with the store or the tiler is getting a free job out of every5 jobs? but this as been the case on about half a dozen jobs.As for topps mark up on addy i think most places do the same. But if i was a customer and knew what the markups were id never use topps again. But a worse e.g is my mate bought a suite from the B&Q for 859.57 and if hed borrowed my tradepoint card could have had the same suite for 348.13.

 

[penno]

A few customers when ive told them what quantity of tiles they require have been surprised as the topps fitter has told them they require between 3-6 sq. more

3-6 is extreme but if the tiles are over they can return them and get a full refund, tiler pricing 3-6 sqm over for fitting then thats a big thumbs down