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I made this forum live tonight along with the UKW Subscriber user group that has access to that forum.
This is a subject that has long pained me and I’ve been avoiding like the plague, as any of the people bugging me about it will tell you!
UK Whitegoods is a free trade resource and it will remain that way so long as I have anything to do with it and a breath in my body and it will remain, like its supporters independent. There’s good and bad in that, but I think more good than bad on balance. And, as with any other subject this is open to debate and question, any of the major protagonists involved will be more than happy to answer any questions you have in public or private as we have nothing to hide about what UKW is. Most of you that know me personally will know why I’ve been avoiding this subject for so long, but the time has come to approach it with an open mind and see where it goes for the good of all.
The idea of funding has been mooted for a long, long time. Even before the website came into being last year it was often discussed on the mailing list or on the phone that UKW would need funding to do anything of any note. So, with that in mind I set about trying to work out how to provide funding but giving something back for the money, i.e. UKW does not get a free ride. So I have dreamt up some novel and rather radical ways of funding it all.
There is a base provision of sevice which is what is there now, there is really no return for that other than access to the subscriber forum and the chance to see what’s going on first and vote on the direction of UKW before it gets into the general trade forums. I know it’s not a great deal, but we’re not asking a great deal for the access either and, I’d rather be 100{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} honest and up front in telling you that, I’m none too good at ripping people off and I’m not about to start now. Maybe that’s why I drive a Renault and not a Merc, ah well, never mind. 😕
Anyway, I digress a bit, I’m going to explain how this works or should work if I get it all going the way I want it…
For each service there will be a charge, the plan is that we do things as a group and therefore get deals that we would otherwise have no hope of getting. This is possible across a range of things that relate directly to our businesses and hopefully reduce our operating costs as a group, even if they do not it should give funding to some degree to UKW to provide more services. Each service will be a layer and you will have the option to opt in or out at any time dependent on the deal of course with the supplier, but that’s normal for anything in the ways that I have in mind. 😉
The concept is that you don’t pay for something you don’t want or need and simply choose the things that benefit you or the business.
There are deals being worked on, more than that I can’t tell you about due to the commercial sensitivity of some of them, but some of these could be doing you a favour as well as UKW, that’s the goal.
My philosophy is simple on things like this, you get nothing for nothing and I’m not going to make rash promises, if there isn’t enough interest or we (UKW) cock it up it will be of no use and die on the vine. It’s up to you guys to decide whether the notion is right or wrong.
A few people have asked if I make anything out of this, well no I’m not right now and I don’t expect to anytime soon either. The only thing is that IF it gets to a stage where I need to donate more time to UKW than I do now (i.e. it takes over from the day job) I would have to employ someone to at least cover the mundane tasks in my business and I would have to cover that cost.
So there you go, that’s the score with no B.S. and sets out the stall as clear as I can make it right now to everyone. There are a lot of advanced plans in the works with lots more to come if I can secure the deals and some of them will come totally out the blue but more on it as things mature.
Watch this space.
K.
Re: The UKW Subscriber Forum
Few silly questions if I may? I’ve been out of the loop a bit the last week or two, and am still catching up. I’m in full agreement with this and ready to put my hand in pocket.
Is this open to anyone who cares to subscribe?
You mention levels of access and suscriptions to match, will it be made clear what is available at each level?
Is there a criteria or vetting procedure?
Does one have to be recommended by a fellow member?
How much and how are we invited to subscribe?
Sounds like membership to a golf club.
I’m really asking this on behalf of other interested parties as well, as I don’t want this to appear to be an exclusive club. I know the figures as discussed recently won’t break the bank.
Alex
Re: The UKW Subscriber Forum
Alex wrote:Few silly questions if I may? I’ve been out of the loop a bit the last week or two, and am still catching up. I’m in full agreement with this and ready to put my hand in pocket.
Questions are more than welcome, in fact I encourage and applaud it.
Alex wrote:Is this open to anyone who cares to subscribe?
No, independent repair companies only at this point in time as discussed at the recent UKW meeting as this was what was agreed upon by the majority.
That may change, but it would be decided on by members at a meeting or an online vote.
Alex wrote:You mention levels of access and suscriptions to match, will it be made clear what is available at each level?
Yes, quite clear. It is not the intent to scale levels of access for more dosh, that would be a bit underhand IMO. The intent is to provide member services which can be opted in or out of as you see fit and suits you, hence the control on what you pay for and gain from it is entirely dependent on what you want.
So there is the basic subscription then you just tack on what you want really after that. Some of the offers may well go out to the general trade forum but perhaps at a slightly greater cost, that has all to be decided and it will be at some point in the future as the need arises.
My take on it is that if UKW wants to charge for something or offer a service then members would have to stump up, yes. But by the same token UKW has to offer something for that investment.
Alex wrote:Is there a criteria or vetting procedure?
Not at present no and there really was not much interest in a code of practice either, but I would like more feedback on that.
Alex wrote:Does one have to be recommended by a fellow member?
No.
Alex wrote:How much and how are we invited to subscribe?
The initial figures for the basic subscription are on the downloadable form, these were agreed at the UKW meeting and kept very low as well as easy to do so anyone could afford it. From memory it’s a £10 payment then £5 a month after that, so hardly a king’s ransom.
The method used is a standing order, so the subscriber controls the payments and not UKW so if you wish to cease at any time you can with a simple call to your bank.
Alex wrote:Sounds like membership to a golf club.
I wouldn’t know, but you should Alex! 😉
Alex wrote:I’m really asking this on behalf of other interested parties as well, as I don’t want this to appear to be an exclusive club. I know the figures as discussed recently won’t break the bank.
No, this is not some sort of exclusive club and we’re not all retreating to a foxhole to scheme stuff either, this is as open as I can possibly make it and as low cost as I can as well to you or your business, that was the aim.
Hopefully in time it will gain the members rather than cost them with some of the deals we secure but I did say I was not going to make any rash promises there. I am offering no guarantees with it bar one, everyone involved with UKW will do their level best for the members as they have done thus far and I don’t think it’s my place to ask anymore than that.
K.
Re: The UKW Subscriber Forum
kwatt wrote:
No, this is not some sort of exclusive club and we’re not all retreating to a foxhole to scheme stuff either, this is as open as I can possibly make it and as low cost as I can as well to you or your business, that was the aim.
Hopefully in time it will gain the members rather than cost them with some of the deals we secure but I did say I was not going to make any rash promises there. I am offering no guarantees with it bar one, everyone involved with UKW will do their level best for the members as they have done thus far and I don’t think it’s my place to ask anymore than that.
K.
Very eloquently put.
I knew no reassurance was needed on my part, but I was concerned that some would read into it a secret agenda was to be made available within a restricted area.
I would assume the light hearted items would be left as they are in the public domain; and the subscriber forum be able to get on with the more important topics & issuses that afect us all one way or another. I see this as a progression to a more recognisable and accepted part of this medium.
I’m off to put my details into the system as a member.
Alex
Re: The UKW Subscriber Forum
Alex wrote:Very eloquently put.
Thank you.
Alex wrote:I knew no reassurance was needed on my part, but I was concerned that some would read into it a secret agenda was to be made available within a restricted area.
Point taken, I hope that’s now clear.
Alex wrote:I would assume the light hearted items would be left as they are in the public domain; and the subscriber forum be able to get on with the more important topics & issuses that afect us all one way or another. I see this as a progression to a more recognisable and accepted part of this medium.
The site as a whole will continue as it has been since its inception, there is no sweeping changes that will happen other than that any offers will go to subscribers first and any decisions or whatever will be posted there first as well.
Other then that it’s up to the members to decide what they want.
Alex wrote:I’m off to put my details into the system as a member.
You’ll need a reference number. 😉
K.
Edited to fix my bad typing a bit and to add a link to the form in PDF format only…
Re: The UKW Subscriber Forum
Ken,
Does the £5.00 per month have any VAT element at this stage??
Martin
No, no VAT at this stage as UKW is not VAT registered since it would have to hit the VAT threshhold first.
K.
What do you mean by organisations? If you mean an independent repairer then it’s one company name, one sub, no more.
K.
Re: The UKW Subscriber Forum
kwatt wrote:For each service there will be a charge, the plan is that we do things as a group and therefore get deals that we would otherwise have no hope of getting. This is possible across a range of things that relate directly to our businesses and hopefully reduce our operating costs as a group, even if they do not it should give funding to some degree to UKW to provide more services. Each service will be a layer and you will have the option to opt in or out at any time dependent on the deal of course with the supplier, but that’s normal for anything in the ways that I have in mind. 😉
The concept is that you don’t pay for something you don’t want or need and simply choose the things that benefit you or the business.K.
Ken,
I hope I am not putting you on the spot here or even stepping out of line, but I wonder if you could clarify the idea of funding a little more specifically. I am slightly confused here? Is this an extension to what was already agreed to at the last UKW Meeting regarding funding?
Then (and I quote from the minutes of that meeting) it was “A seperate “Paid Members” forum would be set up for use by UKW members that requested assistance and/or use of the funds. The funds could also be utilised to fund meetings etc and we would remain flexible in their use for different projects”.
What other than that do you envisage here?
Martin
There’s a lot we can do by simply using the buying power in many different ways, the legal protection idea was one, credit referencing of companies was another, the list is endless of little things that can be done. I didn’t detail all that discussion fully from the meeting, next time I’ll be more thorough my apologies if it wasn’t clear. 😕
The idea being Martin that thebits you want, you pay for, the bits you don’t you don’t pay for. Just the way it works in real life when you walk into a shop instead of trying to apply a “one size fits all” type thing which, given the nature of our industry and huge differences in businesses and structures I don’t think that type of subscription would work.
Other than that, yes there are a few things I’m working on that may well be of interest, but see the bit where I mentioned “commercial sensitivity” that you missed off the quote, well… need I say more? 😀
K.
Re: The UKW Subscriber Forum
You’ll need a reference number. 😉
K.
Well I was caught out on that one, for the life of me I could not find the field or box on the pdf file to put in that number. Left it blank.
Never mind, when the money hits the appropriate account, I will be in there.
Hope you are all enjoying payroll year end, ought to be a law against it.
Happy Easter.
Alex
I meant to post to this that, if anyone needs a reference number please don’t hesitate to ask for one by PM, email or even that phone thing. 😉
K.
(Not a good day to call me as it’s getting surgically removed at 5pm from my right ear :?)
Re: The UKW Subscriber Forum
I was asked about being able to pay for UKW subs annually as well as by using the SO Mandate so that can be done. Offering a discount on £60 for a year seems a bit of a nonsense as it’s not exactly a King’s Ransom we’re asking! 😆
Anyway, it can now be done and, using NOCHEX we can accept payment by credit or debit cards, there is a small surcharge on that of £1.70 though. That’s easily done by either myself or Dave if anyone wants to pay that way, it’s painless and easy as well as secure.
Cheques are fine as well, no problem there, just send to the UKW address on the contact details page.
An invoice can be sent if required but bear in mind that UKW is not yet VAT registered as we’re nowhere near the threshhold yet so there’s no VAT element to it. Invoices will be sent electronically via email.
Please remember that if you are paying using the mandate form that you NEED A REFERENCE NUMBER so we know who’s actually paying! By any other method, cheque or credit/debit card, we will automatically issue the reference number.
Any questions, feel free to ask.
K.
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