Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Re: Wheres Martin !
Martin has kept his head down over the last several months and has done some much appreciated work in the public forums, thereby freeing up the admin team to do some crackin work for us behind the sceenes.
For that reason alone I for one think he has served his time in purgatory
and I appologised to him at the meeting. I think we all have a better understanding of one another now so onward and upward me lads and that includes Martin. Welcome to the inner sanctum.Del
Re: Roy’s Corner
LMFAO good one Dave you will have poor old D.P. with his heart in his throat 😆 😆
Del
Re: Crossing Trade Borders
I also agree that DASA only needs one forum, where I will endevour to try and answer any questions I can and redirect any that I can’t, onto the official DASA site.
I have also tried to impress the fact that stale forums should be archived and stored in a libary section on the site in an effort to make the site more topically current and easier to negociate and explore for newer members.
It can seem more than a little daunting to new users who start to see the scale of the information currently held on the site.
It would also benifit the new more open relation we are developing with W.P.s and networks if our old battles are not still in everyones face. let’s face it we have won most of those battles. They now fully realise that this site has a very sharp set of teeth. We have to leave room for any new conflict’s that might arise.
JMHO
Del
Re: Kevin’s Boudoir
A snippet of conversation from room 105 premier lodge stafford friday 11th sept approx 1.45 a.m.
Just to set the sceene:-
15 assorted ever so slightly anhibiriated UKW members and work providers ( who’s identities will be witheld, in the time honoured Great British judicial tradition of protecting the gulity)
Who did not appreciate the interuption to thier convivial coversations and the flow of thier favoured tipple by such trivial matters as the national law’s on opening hours for licenced premises.
Decided to continue thier interlectual intercourse with an impromptu cheese and wine tasting evening in room 105 of the hotel adjoing The tavarn at which most of the stock had mysteriousley been consumed.The fact that a ratio of 10 BOTTLES of wine to one small pice of well matured cheese, adorning a discreetley placed mouse trap on the floor, in the corner of room 105, was completely dismissed as a matter of little consiquence.
I entered the room to be hit by the heady mixture of aroma’s from dubious vintages, sweaty socks, testosterone, B.O. and it was quite obvious that at least one of the gentlemen attending this swaray had been struck down by an extremely bad dose of flatulence. I thought it best to negociate my way across the room, towards the open widow whilst at the same time holding my breath and grabing a half consumed bottle of liberfraumilch in transit to more fully appreciate it’s delicate bouquet.
It was some time later that I became a little concerned for the official occupant of the room who might be liable to the remenstrations of the holetlier who’s hospitality we might have been accused of abusing given the disheveled state of room 105.
I remarked to KEN that that the odour within the room had become somewhat pungent to which he remarked ‘I DONT CARE ‘!
I pointed out the observation to him that some of the gentlemen using the bathroom had very poor aim whilst performing their ablusions. To which he shrugged his shoulders in a nochulent way and staring at the floor said ‘ I DONT CARE !’
I then said to him that perhaps the floor was not the place to store ones
empty bottles and soiled underwear. again he retorted with ‘I DONT CARE’ !I then suggested that some of the incapacitated well embibed bodies scattered around the floor should be escorted back to thier own rooms as it was now approaching 2.a.m. and that we had another meeting the following morning.
I could plainly see that he was somewhat exasperated and was quickly loosing patience with me, as he again remenstrated with me that he ‘ DID’NT CARE’ !
It was at this stage that I expressed with all incerduelity, raising my voice to him ‘Well, WHY DONT YOU CARE ?’
He looked me straight in the eye and said ‘ COS IT’S NOT MY BLOODY ROOM, IT’S KEVIN’S’
I swear to god this is true ! Regards Del
A survivor of room 105
Re: UK Whitegoods Meeting No.3
Well Ian,
What can I say, the Site has only been going just over a year now and last weekend was only the third national meeting of UKW, yet the profile of those in attendance could almost have read like a list from the Who’s Who directory of our industry. Especialy with regard to those in control of the UK Whitegoods Service, Repair, Insurance, Networks and Spares supply industries.
Don’t get disheartened in any way, just consider yourself very luky that you have enough sense to get yourself in on the ground floor. You have been able to see at first hand some of the ideas and aspirations for our industry from the admistrators/moderators/members of UKW.
I would like to thank all those who came to the meetings for thier valuable contributions towards making this the most inclusive, constructive and informative meeting so far.
It would be hard to see how UKW will be able to top this most recent meeting. But knowing Ken Watt as I do I have every reason to belive that if you thought this meeting was an ‘eye opener’ 😉 then the next one in Feb 95(2005 opps!) will be a ‘Jaw dropper’ 😯 !
Stick around Ian co’s you aint seen nothin’ yet ! 😆
Best regards as ever Del
edited by kevin
Re: Happy Birthday Ken 😀
😀 Best wishes and many happy returns me old son
Happy Birthday Ken 😀
p.s. you better bring a load of cream cakes on friday LOL
Re: Hotpoint Advertise Franchises!
Remember lads you will make no money on this for at least 6 months as all your profits will be tied up in buying their spares for thier jobs.
Getting a credit note from them for wrong or damaged spares sent, is mission impossible. It took me nearly twelve months to get paid for the stock returned to them, when I, along with all the other independants got dumped two years ago.
Forget the three months notice. When they decide to pull the pin on you the work dissappears within a fortnight, the three months is just for you to complete and tidy up any existing jobs and paperwork.
Gas lads, remember that you will have to give them copies of your engineers corgi cards, what a wonderfull data base they will have then, they will think that christmas has come early.
Rock bottom rates, No mark up on spares, No chargeable work, and a technical department that is about as much use as a chocolate fireguard.
Unless they can resolve the above issues, all you will be is a busy fool.
Make dam sure you get the right deal before you jump, and be careful
your not just used to clear thier backlog before being dumped.Apart from the above points they’re a great firm to work for. LOL
Regards as ever Del
Re: Annual Inspections
kheath wrote:
Lets not blow this up too much, until it actually becomes nationwide on all policies etc.
I’m sure the three representatives from Connect who are attending our meeting will be glad to put your minds at rest.Kevin
When this does become nationwide. Questions then, will be a little accademic dont you think.
Del
Re: Annual Inspections
Ken
Does this mean an annual full M.O.T. for all domestic Gas installations, as per the Landlords saftey certificate ?
If so, the general public will be right pissed off with another stealth tax.Does it also mean you wont be able to get your annual house insurance, without producing such a certificate as with a car to keep it valid ?
It would be a feather in the cap of UKW if we were to beat the national newspapers in informing the general public of the ramifications of this new edict, dont you think?
Just a thought
Del
Re: NESN in a Spin Mode
Is’nt it a shame that when ex- NESN members are initially re-approached by NESN staff members to help them fill holes in their ravaged Network and when said members are magnaimous enough to help out and offer to accept an olive branch from the new management team.
That the spin doctors within NESN then go to work and said members are then slighted by the inference that they have gone back cap in hand.
I really dont think this is the way to heal wounds or win any hearts,
do you ?Just a thought
Del
Re: Patten or Genuine Spare Parts ????
Brian,
It is a shame that Alex has’nt come in on this topic yet (he is probably on another one of his holiday’s ) because he was an ex-merloni service agent like me.
When we and many other INDEPENDANTS were approached to take the merloni service work on, we were told that a fair proportion of the work we could expect, would be chargable work.
I personally was told I could reasonably expect between 5{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} to 10{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} to be chargeable work by both Niel Taplin and Dave Tunicliffe.I can assure you that the actual figure was less than 2{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} averaged over 3 years, in spite of advertising in the local papers and a good sized add in yellow pages.
That was because the customers perception of the value of their appliances was so low that many customers would not even go the cost of an average call out to see if the appliance was worth fixing. And I’m talking about an independants call out charge! not the £90 charge for changing a set of carbon brushes that Hotpoint get away with. Let’s face it Hotpoint and Merloni are the same thing nowI mean no offence as you are obviousley trying to push Hotpoint genuine spares.
If you want to suceed you have to go much better on price than the larger wholesalers not just match them. Remember they have to carry all the brands not just one. You also need to be able to deliver your goods by 10 a.m. next day and never mind selling manuals if you want to really shift your spares you should make the info more freely available to the trade and go down the Electrolux route and create a DVD with all the modles and technical information on, not just manuals for individual models with exploded part views only.
paper manuals are yesterday’s technology, and who the hell can carry a libary in the back of thier vans to cover the range.So there you go Brian, if you wanted a serious answer to your question then these are a few starting points. If you are not able to deliver on any of the afore mentioned then you will always have an up hill struggle to shift any spares to the trade.
Regards as ever Del
Re: Patten or Genuine Spare Parts ????
Brian, you will find that nearly 90{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} of theb guy’s on this site will follow the route of both Ken and Martin.
Personally, when ever possible I give customers the choice between pattern and genuine where available, as mostly it is the difference between completing the repair or writting off the appliance.
Just like Ken a great deal of my work is for the manufacturer so there is no option other than to fit genuine. I do feel that a lot of manufacturers dont seem to realise that when a customer has to throw away an appliance that is only two or three years old due to the cost of a spare.
Then they will avoid that particular brand like the plauge not only for the replacement of that particular appliance but any other appliance they wish to buy in future.
I know that some of the bigger players have multi brands and hope that the customer will pick one of the others in the group, but this is very short sighted as word soon gets round about who makes what.
Regards as ever Del
Re: Beware Of Trojan Horses
Just so you know where this woman is coming from and what type of buisness philosophy she subscribes to quotes and admires.
Del
Read on :-
Philosopher of the Month
August 2002 – Niccolo Machiavelli
Peter Cave
Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) was primarily a diplomat and spin-doctor, committed to enhancing the power of his native city republic, Florence. When the Medici family ousted the republicans, Machiavelli was treated with suspicion and eventually accused of plotting against the Medici.
In 1513, Machiavelli was tortured, and retired to a farm – an internal exile. There he wrote Il Principe (The Prince) – a gift for the powerful Medici. Machiavelli hoped that his exposition on how rulers should secure power would re-ignite his political career, even if in support of the princely dictators. The Prince failed in that, but brought him posthumous fame – fame as the political philosopher best known for (seemingly) being prepared to justify any means for political preservation. He later wrote the Discourses, justifying republicanism, and The Art of War, arguing for a citizen militia rather than mercenaries.
It was The Prince, though, which gave rise to the term ‘machiavellian’, for there Machiavelli advocates the use of cunning, machinations and ruthlessness – all apparently in the service of political success. It is this which is much admired these days (often off the record) by spin-doctoring politicians, salesmen, even academics ready to wield the knife for advancement. Yet is this ‘Mac the knife’ stance all there is to The Prince’s philosophy? Is it merely a handbook on how princes – and, by extension, other leaders – can gain and maintain power? Certainly, it differs radically from previous works which would recommend justice, honesty and compassion – man, as a reasoner – as the best means of securing glory. In contrast, Machiavelli admires the cruelty of Cesare Borgia, advocates treachery, and argues that in the real world leaders need to be half beasts, possessing the fox’s guile and the lion’s brutality. Machiavelli’s manly prowess – ‘virtù’ – is so different from the virtues found in Plato, Aristotle and, indeed, Christianity.
Re: Beware Of Trojan Horses
Is she writting this for nesn or jackanory, I have attended every DASA meeting for the last two years and I for one have heard no mention of any strong links betwwen dasa and nesn unless dasa officers are withholding information from council.
The gist of the story so far is that they came onboard as associate members until they got what they wanted i.e. names for their network and then pissed off.This ms madden now chooses to engage in a little name dropping exercise to try and reclaim some sadly lacking credibilty for nesn.
Is’nt it interesting to see that a nesn minion’s time is charged at £400 a day where as we as heads of our own buisnesses are expected to attend nesn’s propaganda meetings at our own expense for a plate of cruddy sandwiches.
You can also see the writting on the wall as regards kick back’s to nesn for spares aquisition from nedis/seme and you can bet your life that your mark up’s will begin to disappear.
When this woman came on board nesn was left alone as regards this website, to see if things would change, and if she would try to make amends for some of the injustices that were metered out to certain member’s.
Ken even offered the olive branch to have a chat and see if we could move things on. It would appear that the olive branch has been shoved up our arses.
So it seems that nothing has been learnt and ms madden is every bit as devious as her predesessor.
I say unleash Rudolf !
Del
