Module/Timer repairers not playing fair?

[Martin]

It has recently come to light that certain electronics companies that repair and recondition modules and timers for us are not exactly playing fair with the trade when it comes to direct sales to the general public. 🙁

In fact the public at large can indeed get the same service at the same price as we are charged. Therefore a ‘trade price’ structure really does not exist. To such an extent it seems, that sooner or later we in the trade will be accused by the public as charging rip-off retail prices for the supply of these in the field. 😯

The only solution to resolve this in my opinion, is for them to charge much higher prices to the public for their services and indeed to show those prices on their respective websites. Traders could enjoy a pre-arranged discount that would otherwise not need be shown on their site. 💡

Until this situation improves in our favour I would earnestly suggest that trade members not longer advise members of the public about these companies services.

Let us all play fair 🙂

[kwatt]

Re: Module/Timer repairers not playing fair?

Funnily enough Martin…

I was having a very similar conversation very recently with another major spares distributor and about retail pricing. The company in question, like another one or two I have also spoken to of late, all feel that a structured marketplace is very much in everyone’s interest. No, we’re not talking about price-fixing or anything sinister at all, what we’re talking about here is ordered distribution, trade and retail pricing so that everyone gets a fair shake. I do not see that as unreasonable.

I do see that selling to the public at trade prices as being wholly unreasonable as well as potentially dangerous,not least for the reasons that you point out.

I’ve worked damned hard with you guys to try to let the public see that we’re not ripping them off and I’ll continue to do so, but things like that possibly just totally undermine what good work we’ve done.

I don’t know who you’re talking about, nor do I really care as it would not change my opinion on this.

I, like others, also feel that WE the industry at large should act responsibly when selling spares and by that I mean that we shouldn’t be selling spares that put the customer in harm’s way. So, gas spares are a no-no, as are microwave spares where there is a danger to life and limb.

It would appear that it’s a case of the rotten apple/s…

K.

[Del]

Re: Module/Timer repairers not playing fair?

Perhaps we are now free to negociate a reduction on what these firms obviousley regard as retail prices.

Perhaps it just been an oversight on their part that they have been overcharging the trade for their products 🙄

It seems very strange that we can very easily distinguish between trade and public access on this site.

We should ask all these firms to state their pricing policy between trade and public and vote accordingly with our stock orders. 😉

Del

[Phidom]

Re: Module/Timer repairers not playing fair?

When I subcontract repairs in this way I add about £5 to cover my postage charges but I don’t attempt to make a profit out of these timers/modules. As far as I’m concerned the customer is simply paying me for the work I do and the subcontract firm for the work they do.

[Bryan]

Re: Module/Timer repairers not playing fair?

Just in case anyone doesn`t know , this is the thread that is being referred to http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/modules.p … 0&postdays

I think Del makes a very good point when he says we should be in a position to negotiate a discount on what seem to be retail prices if they are available to the general public.

Bryan

[Tony_EMW]

Re: Module/Timer repairers not playing fair?

I think you guys are getting very excited over absolutely nothing. Here at EMW we possibly sell 1 item a week to so called retail. Often these ‘retail’ customers are keen DIY people who would not use an engineer for any sort of repairs around the house. The numbers are tiny. If we were to thoroughly vet all new customers it would take days (It takes a few days to get access to trade areas on this site) and we find that genuine trade customers don’t have the time to wait for parts while we ‘vet’ them. Most people want their engineer to repair their washer mighty quick these days or they march out and buy a new one. We do refuse to take back blown parts from ‘one-off’ customers and charge them a double handling charge when parts are returned perfect. What about you engineers out there who blow a board and we replace it INCLUDING FIRST CLASS POST for a measly £4+vat ? Our wages bill has doubled, our local rates trebled, postage costs doubled but our prices remain at the same level as they were 10 years ago. Most of my day is spent talking to TRADE customers advising them about technical issues on machines like the Indesit W103. If I think it’s not a timer or module fault, I say so – I have never been in this business for a quick buck. I replied to a thread yesterday advising someone to send 2 parts in for testing at a cost of £6+vat INCLUDING return first class post and I notice that my reply was removed – possibly you thought that I was going to make a massive profit out of the £6 after I have paid staff to test the unit and paid for the return postage. If UK Whitegoods treats people like us here at EMW like this, I would prefer to have no part in it. Maybe there are people out there who have used us at EMW for the last 18 years and can put the record straight. I wonder if the person who removed my reply will have the guts to leave this one in place.
Tony
EMW

[Dave_Conway]

Re: Module/Timer repairers not playing fair?

Tony,

Thanks for taking the time to explain your position on the subject.

Martin’s initial post was intended to get a reaction and it certainly did 😉

Please bear in mind, until you posted the above we have/had no idea how many sales EMW make to the public either directly or indirectly via links to your site in the public forums by the contributors of UKW (including yourself).

The fact that EMW is a good company to deal with and are always very helpful was not at any time put in to question, merely the fact that the spares sold were the same price irrespective of whether they may be trade or public purchases which, if it was in any quantity could seriously undermine an engineers estimate and therefore his credibilty in the customer’s mind.

Please also bear in mind that UKW is a free resource to all in the trade and we have no problem with any of the trade spares suppliers etc freely posting links in the trade forums to their own sites along with the weblinks section, we can all work together to make our businesses better and more efficient by helping each other out 🙂

A reply to your post being deleted will be forthcoming in the morning.

Dave.

[admin]

Re: Module/Timer repairers not playing fair?

I deleted your post Tony, your pricing policy undercuts our Trade position and I don’t agree with that. However I deleted your post for the following reason.

You are using our free resource to directly advertise your service for free to trade and customers alike. You are directly advertising your business ahead of the guys who might be in with a shout at a repair job, that is an unfair advantage. I have spoken to my fellow directors about this and the jury is still out on the subject. As Del has said we can vote with our feet and I do not use your services now.

Kevin

[Martin]

Re: Module/Timer repairers not playing fair?

Tony_EMW wrote:I think you guys are getting very excited over absolutely nothing

I’m sure you are right there Tony and I for one see no reason for anyone to be upset over this issue. The unification of the trade in open discussion has always been the lifeblood of UKW to the advantage of all who participate. This splendid free resource is for all to gain from provided we all cooperate in a fair and open marketplace to everyones advantage.

Kevins post is very blunt but very much to the point but unlike Kevin I have every wish to use your excellent services now and in the future. But do please consider an alternative pricing structure if you wish to offer your services to the public at large to appease all of us ‘in the trade’ and you may well get a lot more work put your way as a result 😉

[Penguin45]

Re: Module/Timer repairers not playing fair?

Oh, for God’s sake. One punter makes a gleeful comment in the Public forums and we have all this. Tony has stated that his retail sales are minimal and are of little interest to his business. Leave it at that and let’s get on with fixing things.

Chris.

[kwatt]

Re: Module/Timer repairers not playing fair?

I take the point Chris and tend to agree with you entirely in that EMW are actually not really a problem here, in fact EMW generally come in for a lot of praise on these pages so I think that perhaps this debate is more based on the principal than the actual circumstance.

By that I mean that with declining trade sales and customers that some manufacturers and regular trade suppliers, namely Wash Vac and Electrolux for now, are specifically targetting to increase retail sales. I think that, based on the volumes involved, that the issue with Tony here is at best, very minor.

By the same token, I can understand Kevin’s reaction even if I don’t fully agree with it in that Tony, as EMW, offers a service to someone in a public forum and proceeds to sell at a trade price, thereby possibly making us, or one of us at least, look bad in future. It’s a fair point I guess but it could have been better handled and I’d accept that. I would also say that, had EMW had a retail price structure in place, that it would not have happened anyway. But, like with most things in life, hindsight is a wonderful thing and all we can do is learn by it.

So I’d say that whilst some of the points may well be valid and worth considering, that the fact of the matter is that it’s not really an issue with EMW persay, but with trade suppliers selling to retail in general.

Just my take on things as I see them.

K.

[electrofix]

Re: Module/Timer repairers not playing fair?

i agree with kwatts sentiments its the trade suppliers in general that are the problem. they grab every sale no matter how small when all they have to do is recommend a local supplier of their products. had a local supplier who was advertising in local papers which i thought was a bit off and not so long ago was looking at setting up his warehouse less than quarter of a mile from my shop which upset me slightly. am glad to say this never happened and he now operates from his home after going into liquidation to get out of vat and the lease but george hulme still deals with him and would not let me deal direct

have dealt with emw for a while had a few problems but mostly with a candy module and selector that went pear shaped sorted it now but it went back 5 times to sort it. i must point out i do not blame tony i think it was just very bad luck and intermittant faults can be a pain

Dave

[Author]

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