Topps approved fitters

[DARRELL]

I have become an approved fitter by topps tiles and I have had nothing but grief with it. Is there an other doud out there with same probs if so let me know.

[charlie1]

What kind of trouble are you getting mate?

[brian c]

DUDE...LOL

Dont use them mutch except for the odd cutting wheel etc.

[whitebeam]

Come on Darrel let us know whats happening

[JIMBOB187]

No trouble here fella, only thing to mention i ssome customers are shocked at the final price of materials etc, 48sqm of floating floor, imagine her face when Topps gave her a price for addy. The key is we build a quick relationship with the customer so if they go elsewhere for mats and tiles or say they don't want the approved system they stil use us to fit the job, just beware, DO NOT BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU, in other words don't poach the jobs from Topps the lads work on commision and you won't get many if anymore jobs, plus if yuour customer is confident in you they will use you whatever.

[DARRELL]

I had a customer blame me for the rong tiles becouse I picked them up for the customer and it was free delivery. An other wanted marble and dident want grout joints I did grout joints and it was rong he wanted it to look like one peace of marble.

[JIMBOB187]

On top of the TAF paperwork I alway sinclude a detailed plan of the job to cover everything like what you have just mentioned, customers eh who'd have em.

[charlie1]

Very true mate, always remember who puts work your way, they need a slice of the cake too.

[DARRELL]

The customer is trying to get the fitting side of thing for nothing well thats what I think. Topps well all they have said is there the ones on desplay and that how they are basicly they dont give a sh*t I havent been paid for the fitting but topps have been paid for tiles. good ant it.....

[whitebeam]

I had a customer blame me for the rong tiles becouse I picked them up for the customer and it was free delivery. An other wanted marble and dident want grout joints I did grout joints and it was rong he wanted it to look like one peace of marble.

Thats why I don't like working second hand, The customer is told this that and the other. You turn up and have'nt a clue whats going on and no information to work on, And they did'nt want grout joints

[CLAYS TILES]

a friend of mine has just been approved to do topps work,not sure how its going?
they've stoppeed handing out bus' cards now to promote their app' guys!
t0ss3rs!

[Fekin]

If you are well in with atleast one person in the store you'll still get your cards passed out without being a TAF, so just work on someone if you can

[Dan]

Topps used to have a fixing division and that didn't work either. They running it didn't know how to run that sort of thing.

I think it'll flop - for the members of it - and topps.

They've also registered Topps Trade Tilers (I know I know) as a trademark. I woner what they're doing with that!

[Grace'sDad]

As Fekin says - build a relationship with someone in the store.
(Get yourself a "champion" to use a sales phrase.)

It's also well worth having an open - straight to the point and friendly chat with the manager and staff about just how much info they are giving to the customer about your side of things - i.e. prices / grout joints / etc.

Early on I found that the staff were quoting all kinds of weird and wonderful prices - ranging from the dirt cheap to the ridiculous! I simply asked that they don't discuss price or fixing techniques AT ALL but leave it all to me.
I assured them that I would "sell" the service and educate the customer as to why they needed certain things and how I would do things. I think the staff were actually pleased to hear this - sometimes they must feel under pressure when customer fire questions they can't really answer.

Just ask them to leave this side to you - it worked for me!

(love that quote about the customer wanting monolithic look marble!)

Also - make sure you tighten up on your quotes to include specification like grout joint widths etc - get a signature before you begin.

[Dan]

I'm also pulling my shares out ASAP. I think there's something going on personally.

[whitebeam]

Topps Tiles have lost two-thirds of there value in the last 12 months. Source TSJ

[JIMBOB187]

One of the biggest issues is the staff quoting ball park fitting figures and also quoting to exactly the coverage on a bag of addy, does my head in when I look at a floor that resembles the Himalayas and I tell the customer that more addy will be needed. Oh no they say the lad in Topps said Blah, Blah. Customers, can't live with em, can't pay the bills without em!

[whitebeam]

The trouble is JIMBOB when the sales person has made his pitch as far as the customer is concerned it's "Written in stone"

[Grace'sDad]

And untrained / not fully trained sales people are lethal.
They get nervous - desperate to secure a sale and then the verbal poop just keeps on spilling out!

That's why it's critical to make sure you get them to stop before they begin.

(I also over-egg my adhesive and grout requirements - customers are thrilled when they can return stuff for a refund - not so happy to cough up extra)

[penno]

I just got sick of the "YOU ARE JOKING" comment whenever i told them the cost of rapid set flex. "and you need 5 bags" "WHAT?"

[IvegotsTILE]

It didn't work in my local store,no-one wanted the service.They asked me to be a taf but was too busy.They've now put all the tilers cards back on the counter.

[DARRELL]

The thing is right, the reason for the TAF is so they dont have to let us guys have it at trade prices becouse the customer buys every thing they pay top doller. This info come from a store manager. I also read the artical in Tsj thair just getting greedy in my eyes...

[CLAYS TILES]

The thing is right, the reason for the TAF is so they dont have to let us guys have it at trade prices becouse the customer buys every thing they pay top doller. This info come from a store manager. I also read the artical in Tsj thair just getting greedy in my eyes...

TOO TRUE M8

[Dave]

I had a customer blame me for the rong tiles becouse I picked them up for the customer and it was free delivery. An other wanted marble and dident want grout joints I did grout joints and it was rong he wanted it to look like one peace of marble.

You were not wrong......bs5385 states that you do use a joint in tile installations......tell the customer to check there facts before bollocking you.....Don't you just hate it when customers try to tell you your job..?...

[salmonfisher]

The thing is right, the reason for the TAF is so they dont have to let us guys have it at trade prices becouse the customer buys every thing they pay top doller. This info come from a store manager. I also read the artical in Tsj thair just getting greedy in my eyes...

if a customer is prepared to pay the full price for the adhesives etc they will pay a bit extra for the installation as well

[faithhealer]

It didn't work in my local store,no-one wanted the service.They asked me to be a taf but was too busy.They've now put all the tilers cards back on the counter.

They've got all the cards back at mine too!

[Fekin]

Do many of you TAF's out there have many customers that nearly choke and die on the spot when their told the price of all the materials since they are paying top whack ?

[whitebeam]

Their prices are a joke on retail, I get the impression that they don't want tradesmen in there there, Making to much with Mr domestic who don't know the true price on adhesive. As I,ve said before I,ve been there when their staff has tried to teach me how to tile. Is that why their worth 2 thirds less than a year ago

[IvegotsTILE]

Some of the prices are crazy:

Toppfix tubbed gear Trade £6 Retail £18

Toppfix rapid Flexi Trade £18 Retail £52

I almost chocked when I heard that one,they're meant to sell Bal everytime the customer asks for adhesive,they charge roughly the same for their own brand.Scandalous

I personally would be embarrased to tell the customer the final cost of their materials.I can only imagine their faces

[wetdec]

I was talking to a fixer yesterday who had asked local topps if he could leave cards, the reply was you dont buy off me I have to stay loyal to guys who buy of me. There were 6 tilers cards there 2 of them I know are crap.

Is this the selection process sounds like topps



tiler

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