Topps tiles.

[webby]

Ran out of grout the other day so ended up at Topps tiles which was only 4 minutes down the road.Never normally use them but unfortunately it was a case of "as needs must" because my supplier was a good 1 hour round trip away.I pay £8.70 for 10 kilos of Bal white wide joint at my supplier.Topps wanted over £20 for the same thing.|Can someone explain to me how they justify that.To be honest I did get the guy down to £15 but that was still nearly twice as much.Before anyone says it is my fault for not getting enough in the first place,I realise that.Oh by the way they charge more for 3.5 kilos of the same product (£9 something) than I pay for 10.

[grumpygrouter]

Originally Posted by webby

Ran out of grout the other day so ended up at Topps tiles which was only 4 minutes down the road.Never normally use them but unfortunately it was a case of "as needs must" because my supplier was a good 1 hour round trip away.I pay £8.70 for 10 kilos of Bal white wide joint at my supplier.Topps wanted over £20 for the same thing.|Can someone explain to me how they justify that.To be honest I did get the guy down to £15 but that was still nearly twice as much.Before anyone says it is my fault for not getting enough in the first place,I realise that.Oh by the way they charge more for 3.5 kilos of the same product (£9 something) than I pay for 10.

Thats because Topps is a retailer aimed pretty much at the domestic market. They can charge those prices becasue the general public will buy it at that price because they don't know any better. You can get it at that price because you give your supplier repeat business and they would want to keep you coming back.

Topps do have trade prices if you open a trade account with them. Maybe still not as cheap as your supplier but still much better than retail.

Grumpy

[alberttrotter1]

Webby,

The one and only experience i have had with Topps, was when i got my 1st small job and inquired about opening a trade account and found that the amount of stuff they wanted, it would have been easier to get into the White house using only a drivers licence with the name of Osama on it, whilst wearing a fake beard and a white robe.

[Dan]

Although Topps prices can be high, in a way they have designed it to be that way so you the tiler can make a few quid too. With topps being the biggest tile retail outlet in the UK you can be sure their prices are not of the cheapest. But that simply means if you have a relationship setup with topps and both help each other out, you'll only profit more so than perhaps you would getting your gear from a cheaper source.

If you have an account at topps and they send you custom too, and the customer see's £50 for X and you get it for £25, you've not only just made £25 you've made a customer too. (assuming your customer is ok with topps RRP prices and has had a quote on the back of the topps brochure as per topps standard practise - which is then taken to the trade for him to get a quote on and find otu what profit he's just made, and whether he'll be giving any to the customer to seal a deal)

Whereas you may be able to gt it for £13 from somewhere else but you'll only be getting that.

It is fair to say if you buy from topps but don't get your card given out, and you have another local, cheaper place to buy your gear then you're a silly man. But the guys who buy from topps all the time will tell you why, and its usually because they get lots of business from topps, so they send it lots of business back.

Although they're massive, you tend to find each store is pretty self sufficient and can take on their own sort of unspoken rules and practises so if you don't have luck at one, always try another.

Another reason topps gets used by the trade is convenience. As you said mate, your suppliers was a mile away whereas the topps store in that case was closer. And they know that. And they're getting more stores open all the time, so they'll know they'll be even more convenient in the future too, so they'll not be dropping their prices anytime soon.

I bloody hate big corp dominance generally but used to be an assistant manager on two different occasions for topps, in Shrewsburry and Derby... and worked in their Stafford, Newcastle (under lyme) and Stoke stores so I have a bit of an understanding behind their system.
----

Originally Posted by alberttrotter1

Webby,

The one and only experience i have had with Topps, was when i got my 1st small job and inquired about opening a trade account and found that the amount of stuff they wanted, it would have been easier to get into the White house using only a drivers licence with the name of Osama on it, whilst wearing a fake beard and a white robe.

They don't dish them out to anyone, so get some of the stuff they wanted and try at another store if you still want an account mate. They should give you one with the standard requirements most suppliers want before giving you a trade account.

I'll probably stand corrected by Gaz but they should just want, proof of trading address, proof of trading, proof of having an account already somewhere or something of that nature... So take a covering letter from your bank if it's in your business name, take your certificate of incorporation if you're ltd, take a couple of home bills or something, perhaps a bill from another supplier with your business name on it.

They simply want to know you're not a clever customer with a shoe stall (who is a trader in theory) that has accounts somewhere and is just trying to get their bathroom done cheaper.

Gaz at his store does ask for proof of good workmanship too... this is only a good thing as if tilers with accounts at topps got the rep of always being good, then they would attract more customers, and that would bring more work for the guys with account there.

I do think though that they should scrap the favouritism of tilers in stores and simply have a list of all tilers on their books/system in that stores particular area or something. Perhaps a leaflet re-done bi-monthly or something. But making sure all tilers work looks good somehow before giving out accounts.
----

I do think though that they should scrap the favouritism of tilers in stores and simply have a list of all tilers on their books/system in that stores particular area or something. Perhaps a leaflet re-done bi-monthly or something. But making sure all tilers work looks good somehow before giving out accounts.

Perhaps one for the suggestion box Gaz?

[webby]

Dan ~~~ I understand what you are saying but there is no way that Topps can come anywhere near the trade prices I pay.And the 2 companies I use regularly have been putting work my way ever since I opened accounts with them.One for about ten years and one for about 12 years.I would also point out that I have never charged my customers retail prices on any materials including tiles.I only ever put approximately 10 per cent on so my customers benefit in that way.As I have said on this forum before,I have been tiling for nearly thirty years and have just about always had 2 months work in advance.Topps tiles obviously aren't going to go bust because I do not open an account with them but they have no chance of me doing so.I am surprised that you say so many tilers use Topps because most of the guys in my area are not that keen on them especially with suspect tile sizes.Still if some of you guys are happy with them thats fine. It is only my oppinion.

[Fekin]

So far I have had no problems with Topps, some of the staff can look a bit scary though

The good thing about Topps in my view is where ever you have a job and if you run out of any material, you never have to travel very far to get to a store, and with a trade card will always pay a decent price for top quality materials, unlike popping into somewhere like B&Q.

At that price mate you'd have been cheaper getting a flight up to us lol,....

[Fekin]

Originally Posted by reaper72

At that price mate you'd have been cheaper getting a flight up to us lol,....

And where would that be, glasgow ?

If so, then that comes back to my point dosen't it, if I could get materials cheaper from you then thats all well and good, but factor in delivery down to me, if your based in Glasgow and not national, then if I don't get enough for a job Im stuck again ain't I ?

The good point with Topps is that their everywhere at a decent price for people that buy the amounts that I do.

Yes I'd love to be able to buy bulk, getting everything I need rock bottom prices, but I have no storage so thats out of the question too.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by webby

Dan ~~~ I understand what you are saying but there is no way that Topps can come anywhere near the trade prices I pay.And the 2 companies I use regularly have been putting work my way ever since I opened accounts with them.One for about ten years and one for about 12 years.I would also point out that I have never charged my customers retail prices on any materials including tiles.I only ever put approximately 10 per cent on so my customers benefit in that way.As I have said on this forum before,I have been tiling for nearly thirty years and have just about always had 2 months work in advance.Topps tiles obviously aren't going to go bust because I do not open an account with them but they have no chance of me doing so.I am surprised that you say so many tilers use Topps because most of the guys in my area are not that keen on them especially with suspect tile sizes.Still if some of you guys are happy with them thats fine. It is only my oppinion.

That's exactly my point. Those places wont be the biggest in the UK and wont attract the same levels of business so if you can get in with them and make it work you're laughing. But the problem is that you can be sure there's a topps near you and that's why they'll always sell.

Well done to anybody who manages to get work from the place they have found to be the cheapest AND can give you the most profit too. But there's a lack of them about, that's all I'm saying.

[GazTech]

Safety in numbers.....Gaz

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-2][COLOR=#ff9900]08:12 (BST)[/COLOR]

[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-2]
Topps Tiles is Britain's biggest supporter of youth football. Topps stores currently sponsor around 300 teams nationwide and our yellow kit is arguably the most famous in the grass roots game.

Like most of our customers, we love our football. It's a major part of our community relations programme and a great way for Topps Tiles stores to get to know local mums and dads.

Good luck to all “yellows” including Tapton JFC who are now sponsored by Topps Tiles Chesterfield.

[COLOR=#ff9900] Thursday 9 August 2007, 12.11:12 (BST)[/COLOR]

[/SIZE][/FONT] [IMG]http://www.toppstiles.co.uk/3/news/newspix/WEBSITEAUG8.JPG[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.toppstiles.co.uk/3/news/newspix/WEBSITEAUG9.JPG[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.toppstiles.co.uk/3/news/newspix/websiteTopps_32.jpg[/IMG]

[Fekin]

Looks like the new Chelsea kit, lol

[GazTech]

[URL="http://www.toppstiles.co.uk/3/news/news.html"]<news page 1[/URL]
[IMG]http://www.toppstiles.co.uk/3/news/newspix/WEBSITEAUG5.JPG[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.toppstiles.co.uk/3/news/newspix/WEBSITEAUG6.JPG[/IMG] [IMG]http://www.toppstiles.co.uk/3/news/newspix/WEBSITEAUG7.JPG[/IMG] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][COLOR=#ffff00][B][SIZE=2]
‘KNOCK-OUT’ CHARITY GOLF DAY[/SIZE][/B]
[/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][COLOR=#ffff00][B][SIZE=2] TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE[/SIZE][/B]
[/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][COLOR=#000099][B][SIZE=2] SOCCER STARS[/SIZE][/B]
[/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-2][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-2]
Topps Tiles hosted its fifth annual golf tournament and gala auction dinner recently, raising an incredible £60,000 for Asthma UK.

Famous faces from the world of sport attended including Sir Henry Cooper; Martin O’Neill, manager of Aston Villa FC; Gary Wolstenholme, Walker Cup golfer, and Chris Cowdrey, ex-England cricket captain.

The gala auction dinner saw big money raised for the charity including £6,000 for a pair of boxing gloves donated and signed by Sir Henry Cooper. Topps chief executive Nick Ounstead (shown right) presented the gloves to their new owner, Levent Namli from Turkey.

[COLOR=#ff9900] Thursday 9 August 2007, 12.05:12 (BST)

[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-2]
Topps first met the Odush Football Academy from Russia through its UK youth football sponsorship programme. Since then the lads have gone from strength to strength, finishing top three in the Croatia Youth Cup; France International Tournament; Poland Eastern Cup; Ukrainian Championship and Cup; Slovenia Inter Cup; Bulgaria Black Sea Cup and Latvia Baltic Cup.

Their manager, Oleksandr Saliy, said: “thank you Topps Tiles for everything you have done for us. All the boys love your kit, and, by wearing it, we show football clubs around Europe how Topps supports young players. The children from the Ukraine are proud to be sponsored by Topps Tiles”.

[COLOR=#ff9900] Thursday 9 August 2007, 12.08:12 (BST)[/COLOR]

[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-2]
Topps Tiles is Britain's biggest supporter of youth football. Topps stores currently sponsor around 300 teams nationwide and our yellow kit is arguably the most famous in the grass roots game.

Like most of our customers, we love our football. It's a major part of our community relations programme and a great way for Topps Tiles stores to get to know local mums and dads.

Good luck to all “yellows” including Tapton JFC who are now sponsored by Topps Tiles Chesterfield.

[COLOR=#ff9900] Thursday 9 August 2007, 12.11:12 (BST)[/COLOR]
[/SIZE][/FONT]