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Re: The Enemy!
I think I’ve made it more than clear where I stand in all this.
I am happy to see where they go with recruiting a replacement for C.H. and if it is the right person, then I will support him.
As things stand though, and considering they (DASA) are happy in their own sweet knowledge that they alone got us the MFI work and deserve ALL the credit, then I’m not happy to renew. I know who helped broker that deal, and as it happened it didn’t make any difference to me, except an increase in the rate of £1, and that was overdue anyway.
I will wait & see who they have heading the team and hope that some of the existing top brass are booted out. I say no more on that & will leave you to speculate who I may mean.
To back up my concerns etc. and to demonstrate my integrity on the subject, I will endeavor to attend the AGM in York.
Alex
Re: Citroen Relay
I ran Berlingos for 6 years and on the whole very good, except front tyres.
Moved to new Transit connects, on a 3 year deal including all servicing etc. Engineers love them.
Will let you know in the next 6 years. They may well outlive me!!!
Alex
Re: The Enemy!
What needs to be done is to remove the back stabbing, double standards and two faced approach as well as the bitching etc. that goes on in DASA. You can’t say it isn’t there, it bloody well is.
I am still pissed off regards this statement from Scoggs that I gained extra work through being a member. To date Ive heard bugger all from the DASA politboro.
They seem to sit there in their ivory towers whilst all crumbles around them. Yes we have to move forward now C.H. is gone, but we need to work together and the esteemed leaders need to recognise why it has gone tits up & not try and apportion blame or come up with stupid unqualified comments.
I’m still awaiting their answer regards what this work is that DASA found me. I asume there isn’t one? therefore the apology is becoming overdue.
Alex
Re: DASA!
Del wrote:Ken,
. So please lets not have persoal slagging matches in either UKW or DASA. You run the risk of being accused of acting in a similar manner to that which you are justifiably complaining about……….
If we are all to degenerate into personal attacks then it gives no credit to either organisation.Sorry Del, some wanker has already done the above. First blow from them and I will not sit here without a defence and a counter attack if an apology isn’t forthcoming in the next 48 hours.
I read the post from Old Tog where it is patently obvoius between the lines that some toss pot thinks I’m ungrateful for the MFI work.
I was already a bloody MFI agent long before Network DASA. I am owed one hell of a public apology for this.
Does anyone know if this was mentioned in open discussion at the DASA meeting? Please p.m. me if you have an answer.
The hairs on my neck are actually standing up as I write this. Sorry lads, but this is beyond a joke.
Alex
JP wrote:With regards to leadership Dasa has had approaches form 4 respected people within the industry to take over the helm and this info has to remain confidential at present
I may be putting this into the wrong forum, should really be in the DASA heading, but as there is no mention of a new leader in said section, I’m following the thread as already open in this one instead.
Anyway, I’m trying to say:-
Are we having an election? I think we should and extend the polling to ALL at ground level. That way then all applicants will become public, and there will be little risk of a clash of personalities.
With a lot of trade associations etc. The candidates put themselves up for election to the members as a whole. Whether it a trade union, or a pension funding scheme, that is the democratic way of doing things.
I’m a member of an old Electricity Board pension scheme, and every time there is time for a change of representatives, we are all given the chance to vote. The candidates all “put out their stall” and try to persuade us why he feels he is right for the job. In those cases I haven’t a clue who they are from Adam, therefore I throw a vote into the pot just for the hell of it. With DASA however, there is a good chance we will know nearly all of the prospective applicants.
If someone can put up a convincing enough promotion of themselves, and tell us their methology and their ideals for DASA and above all the membership, we may actually vote in the right person for the job.
Is this going to be the case here? I think it should be & therefore the electorate as a whole would be responsible for their actions. The only down side I can see is of course, some will see this as a career change and will no doubt have concerns about jeopardising their present positions.
Alex
Re: Hot News About Indesit
Just to keep this one live!
Had a request today from a leading insurer to carry out a call on an Indesit W-Dryer which is insured. Normally we never go back to any makes we have ceased; but as I took the iniative to terminate with Merloni, and not a case of them sidelining us, plus we are dead, we took the call. We have negotiated a rate including the parts, and it transpires the customer is one of our old ones from our days as agents.
Out of intrigue we asked the customer care department of this particular insurer as they were passing the call, “What is the Merloni service delay?” The response, get this, 3rd August. Note: today is 20 July, that makes it 2 weeks + 1 day.
What I fail to understand, why is it we and most of my colleagues I talk to in this area totally dead? If we are quiet, it should make sense for the whole trade to be in the same position. What is it going to be like for them when the school holidays kick in and staff are off? Or even worse leading up to Christmas.
Shudder to think.
Alex
Re: Advisory Council
Would I be right in surmising one role would be to step in when a debate gets either overheated, or too personal.
Seeing my name doesn’t present a problem, (I hope) & I’m sure I can run with it, but of course will need more detail beforehand. I’m flattered in a small way.
Is is a shame I’m out the country for the Stafford meeting.
Re: Cricket, lovely cricket.
kwatt wrote:
Plus golf is just …..:sleep:
Oh sorry, I nodded off. 😉
K.
Was waiting for that one.
Must agree, so boring to watch, can bear the highlights though, along with a glass of Malt, late at night soon puts my lights out I can tell you.
Playing the bloody silly game is totally different though. You see these Pri-madonnas on the telly like Tiger Woods and all their shots although skilfully executed are boring. In reality for us amateurs the ball flys all over the place one day, and goes more or less where you want it another day.
Golf is the hardest discipline I have ever taken on, I thought it was going to be a doddle, and I only took it up to keep my next door neighbour company. Everything I’ve ever turned my hand to I’ve picked up instantly without a 2nd thought. I expected the same with that silly pursuit, and had a big shock when it came to the crunch. To me it has been a challenge, torture, gods punishment and on the odd occasion rewarding and a triumph. If it worked all, or even most of the time, I would have moved on as I would reach saturation point.
I have given the game up many times, decided there should be a contest for Britains worst golfer as I feel at times would be in the top 5. This week (or today at least) I’m going to stick with the game. Last week I was ready to put my gear on e-bay.
The positive side is walking up to 5 miles, seeing the dawn rise in the Summer all on my own in the middle of the countryside with a 5am start on a Sunday, (yes I have done that) and got home at 8.30 just as the missus is getting up. Or an evening on the course just before twilight. I’ve gone to work before now after 9 holes of golf, wide awake and ready for the challenges of the day. The staff meander in 5 mins before start time, looking worse for wear and moaning about the weather, last nights footy or their overindulgence.
In essence, it is whatever works for you and gives you a sense or feeling of wellbeing; whether it is a sport, leisure pastime or even eating out. If you enjoy it and doesn’t compromise your health & family, go for it.
Here endeth the lesson for today.
Alex
Re: DASA!
I think I will make my posting a couple of pages up stay where it is for now. I may put it on the DASA heading at a later date, but I think I may have done enough damage as it were.
Couple of things of interest.
I spoke to a repair agent yesterday, he has 74 staff on his books & still a family business. Not all staff were service related but nevertheless you can imagine his DASA subscription.
March 2003 he wrote to Chris in much about the same vein as my letter, (Is it all worth it) and he never had a reply. He was questioning VFM and asked them to justify their existance even, he made it plain he was prepared to renew the following year, but needed some reassurances etc.
Typically, bugger all happened and he hasn’t renewed.
Secondly I had an e-mail from an ex high ranking member of DASA who was in on the inception of the whole thing. He is fully aware of the state of affairs and I think he feels the death knell is looming. See Quote, I haven’t included the whole text as this was his personal feeling and some things are best left unsaid.
A trade organisation needs two things to make it successful,
1. A person at the head with a good understanding of the industry and with some drive and energy to keep up with all the requirements and needs expected by the members in the association.
2. A membership that is prepared to support the association and it’s aims and to ensure it remains fully funded.
It seems to me that DASA had lost it’s way on both counts, and maybe that was nobody’s fault. Things in these types of associations can go a bit stale, but it’s important to find the right balance so that the person leading is fully motivated, and that the membership gets pay back from being part of the association.
There is need of innovation from a good trade association; bearing in mind that the unique individual “one brand only” service company/manufacturer has almost gone. It’s all multi-brand now so consumer identity and choice is all different now.
Also in the past few years there’s been a complete change of mind set by some of the insurers on how to get their work carried out. Even they’re not looking for branded service to make their repairs and they’ve been quite happy to pass over their service liabilities to a number of “managing agents”.
I maybe wrong but I feel that these recent years would have been a “real opportunity” for DASA to be leading from the front on behalf it’s members and in fact possibly expanding it’s aims to establish itself as a major player in the “managing agents” market. Whilst it means making a considerable investment to make it work. The long-term benefits are there to be had; and at least any profit stays within the association and the industry, so it can promote itself to the wider consumer base for the long-term benefit/dividend of the members.
At this point I maybe “teaching grandmother to suck eggs” so forgive me, but DASA members need to re-examine what they want from their association, a questionnaire survey with a few prompts is always a good place to start as you usually do get some constructive feed back.
When you’ve got this it may give a new direction for the association, or it may find that it’s members are just happy to be supported on communication and legislative issues only.If I have any advice to offer the council of DASA it should establish what the members want before you appointing a new leader, as any new head of DASA needs to know what the aims for the future are.
There is clearly a need for such a trade organisation, but regretfully there is no quick fix.
Alex
Re: DASA!
100{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} agreed a dynamic leader is required.
The sort of person would be someone who was affiliated to the trade who is prepared to “trade down” and maybe have an easier life.
Above all, someone who carries a lot of respect & is known in the trade. The only solution would be to attract someone who perhaps is at the moment unaware of a “vacancy” or maybe seeing such an opening would make that person consider applying.
What I’m getting at is, has anybody from DASA even considered advertising this post? If not, why not? I bet there is at least one person most of us could think of. Someone perhaps who knows a some of us, the industry, the manufacturers and maybe the trade as a whole. One such person who is at present in employ, or maybe taken early retirement and would like to redirect his or her skills for the benefit of the trade.
Seeing the advert in the Sunday Times for a service director of Merloni made me think, someone was doing that job before and they cannot leave the post unfulfilled, so why hasn’t DASA been pro-active in this?
What has happened to other ex high management people we once used to deal with? and have subsequently dropped off the scene. Some of them were o.k. Whether Ex Hoover, Candy, Merloni, Zanussi, Insurer/Work Provider, the list is endless.
Perhaps we should give some of our old contacts the nod.
Most of us know of at least one person that is seemingly unhappy in their present senior post, or maybe chose to get out of the rat race.
Should I post this on the DASA thread??
Only an idea.
Alex
Re: Hotpoint Advertise Franchises!
Something I picked up today.
Apparently there was an ad in last weeks Sunday Times for a national service director of Merloni. (It didn’t make the Sunday Sport for some reason).
In my time the leader at Merloni House was Neil Taplin who has since moved on.
Can anyone enlighten?
Alex
Re: Slimline dishwasher cutlery basket
Failing that, if our shop facility cannot help, post up the dimensions and we will find one. Good chance the Zanussi Slimline will fit.
Alex
Re: Zanussi DE6965 wont fill
From the serial number it looks like the machine is less than 2 years old.
There is a chance the IWMS is needed and there is an upgraded inlet valve system as well which compliments the repair.
Not a cheap job though and time consuming, bearing in mind the relative newness of the D/W may be an Idea to speak to the manufacturers and see if they will meet you part way towards the repair cost. 08705-727-727 Option 3.
Your local service centre incidentally is A1 Technical of Reform Rd. Maidenhead 01628-783711
Alex
