SMEG ?

Re: SMEG ?

Hiya Bryan,

I do and have done work for Smeg for a few years and I like them, but then I always got on with the Italian mentality and don’t panic when I see a diagram in Italian. 😉

Servevast have improved vastly in the past year or so, spares are faster and more accurate and the backup has gotten a lot better. Some of the customers can be a real pain though, they’ve paid for a better class of product and expect the service to match, which at the rates is not really at the races IMO.

Charge work off the back of it is okay though and there is some insurance work as well.

Most of the spares are reasonably priced with a sensible mark up on them but there are the odd ones that the prices begger belief. 😉

K.

Re: SMEG ?

Dave_Conway wrote:Yeah I’d go along with that.

We started to do work on behalf of Servevast earlier this year and so far no problems at all.

Contact levels are good, tech info easy to obtain, rates OK, product easy enough to work on, mainly range and built in cooking and dishwashers.

Just remember that an invoice is not enough to get paid though, you’ll need to send a monthly statement, an email to their accounts dept listing the job numbers is enough in general.

Dave.

We have Sevevast on suspension due to late payments and they are unwilling to discuss Service Fees.

I can see no reason why an Agent needs to send statements. As soon as an invoice is rendered it should be paid, there is no leagal requirement to send statements. That is a Judge’s “Statement Of Fact” delivered to one of our “former customers, who tried to defend a Summons for non payment of an invoice.

We have done work for more Manufacturers and Call handlers than I care to remember and not one of them, other than SERVEVAST, requested statements.

It would be interesting to know if if that requirement is written in the Contract.

Wcda.

Re: SMEG ?

wcda wrote:[
We have Sevevast on suspension due to late payments and they are unwilling to discuss Service Fees……………………….

It would be interesting to know if if that requirement is written in the Contract.

Wcda.

With regard to service fees, what does everyone else get from them? I charge £36 for electric & £48 for gas products. I have never negotiated figures with them, I just set the rate to what I think fit, send a letter to Dean and carry on submitting invoices.

I agree it is a pain to send Kim a statement, but if that is what it takes to get paid, then I am happy to fax one.

I do suggest you keep a strict eye on what you owe them when they send a statement re. purchase invoices, and keep the account fully reconciled. They are still listing invoices I paid in April, and the cheque has been cleared. I write the details on every statement I send back with payment, but these are still listed as outstanding.

Contract? I’ve never signed one for them.

Alex

Re: SMEG ?

Lawrence wrote:

Alex wrote:

With regard to service fees, what does everyone else get from them? I charge £36 for electric & £48 for gas products. Alex

Thats interesting I think a phone call is in order on Monday,Also Alex does your Gas fee cover just gas or dual fuel?
Lawrence

The gas fee includes dual fuel, even if we fit an electric element to an A2. We still need to send a gas tech. the risk levels & skill requisits remains the same.

I have never phoned them regards rates, I write to Dean Griffiths every year or so and tell him what my charges will be to them as from such & such date, closing with, “If you wish to discuss this, please feel free to contact me on …. etc.”

I try & be realistic and I’m sure if they thought I was being silly, they would either pass me by or consider arbitration.

Alex