diy’ers

[Alex]

Re: diy’ers

Cool it lads, This one is getting a bit heavy I fancy.

I wonder how many people in Weston Super Mare actually have utilised the services of UKW. Moreover, are we likely to affect anyone’s business in a serious manner?

Yes if they Google a search relating to a query, they will pull up UKW for certain. The reason they are doing it by that method is because they cannot be bothered will Yellow Pages etc. The net will find unbiased answers on almost anything. The punter has chosen that method as he does want to look for a quick and cheap fix. In the past he would have wandered into a side street repairers and bought the bit.

The type of person that calls us out usually are the good old faithful customer, that you know will not present you with any serious problems, and even recommend you.

Weston is a good case to consider. We used to operate in the town for years as Zanussi agents. Then E/Lux decided to pass it to a direct centre in Bristol. After 9 years and a change of regime in Bristol, we got it back last year. The chargeable work was NIL if not less, but after 15 months and very little effort on our part, we are up to 15{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} chargeable in our BS postcodes. Not a lot by our standards, but it proves that despite the past, we are winning repeat business.

Going back to the train of thought regards losing out to the net, I’m afraid the old adage applies, “If you can’t beat em, join em” I have the link to my web site with UKW and with Yell.com. Those 2 provide me with most of my e-mail internet enquiries. Plus I look at postings and see the requests on the forums for parts. Invariably I may well have one of the bits, but I leave it to Dave and UKW to deal with it as I feel it is a two way thing.

There isn’t a lot we can do to stop Joe Public from shopping around; it isn’t only our trade, just look at all commodities you can buy on the net. For example I haven’t been to a record store in years. I might browse if I’m in Wollies or Smiths whilst other members of the family are making up their minds, but I still buy off Amazon.

Another one, and this is terrible really, I will pop into a Holiday travel agent and pick up a brochure, sit down and talk over a few options, then go home and find the Hotel/Location I fancy and book on line direct. Sort the flights by Easy Jet or whatever, book a car or transfers, go in my time from the airport of my choosing, all for a lot less money.

Such is life.

Alex

[Martin]

Re: diy’ers

Jeremy,

Far play to you mate for your comments on the subject and the many respondents have answered you well I think. In the light of that response, perhaps you are not necessarily convinced, and I can assure you that you are not alone in that belief if the results (so far) of a poll I posted are to be understood.

Bryan referred you earlier to that thread and the vote is split almost 50/50 on the subject.

Now I brought the subject up then because I too thought too much information was likely given out on the one hand and would lead to certain safety/liability issues on the other. Since last August I have taken on board many of the views and opinions of trade members and concluded that the balance is EXACTLY right and that the aims and intentions of UKW and its members are likewise steering us all in the right direction.

Finally let me assure you that we moderate every single post and stand in judgement over them as to whether or not any postee’s have overstepped the mark. If they have, it is dealt with immediately and for the most part usually reaches a happy conclusion or an even compromise. Now if you have any issues or concerns on any such posts in the future, then do please PM any Moderator to help you out. 🙂

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