Post by rb blinds on Sept 18, 2008 7:11:40 GMT
Its staggering to see the lengths Sillarys go to, in making pure greedy, cost saving decisions, which do nothing to enhance the advisors' lot, or the customers value for money, seem like the greatest thing since the invention of the "uniwand" for Venetian blinds! (Ohh sorry thats something else Sillarys have yet to invent!) Do not believe this propaganda, what do they take us for? The focus is not on customer satisfaction/value for money. Nor is it on advisor well being, its purely about milking the cash cow!
Hillarys latest update...............without the SPIN!!!
"generating over £7 million of commission for advisor's each year"
Generating around £50 million of profit for us!
"So, any changes or improvements to these are considered with the greatest care."
We've CHANGED the headrail....."
Notice no mention of "improvements"
"We've changed the headrail following feedback from Advisor's"
1) I do not remember ever being asked my opinion on the old headrail.
2) Reverse psychology...its like it was our idea to have this, all along. See a pattern here! Those who have been around a while, will have seen this spin before!
"Plus it also offers a number of benefits"
1) Said like "the benefits" are secondary to listening to advisor feedback. Supposed to make us feel part of the decision.
2) The main benefits are for Hillarys, and will not be mentioned here!
"Reinforces our position as market leader by doing something our competitors can't - offer a superior product at a fair price as standard"
Utter bollo
1) The long term "Market leader position" is never reinforced when you go from a custom bespoke product/reputation to a mass produced Chinese import. At least have the guts to tell us what it really is.
2) Our competitors offer a number of different tracks, all bespoke and largely better than our one!
3) "superior product" how on earth can a mass produced Chinese import be considered superior! My goodness! they actually believe their own hype! It may well be superior to Hillarys last track, which was cheap and nasty (UK blinds use a similar on their budget range) but certainly not to what else is available.
4) "superior product at a fair price" An outright lie, anyone who has looked into these things will know, that the product is far from superior and that the price is anything but fair! Members of the jury, as pointed out elsewhere on this forum, I draw your attention to our cheap Chinese "cut down" wooden Venetians masquerading as quality "timberlux" Utter deception!
5) "As standard" We don't have anything else, so how can it be anything but?
"The new headrail has a higher perceived value and offers great value for money against our competition"
1) The key word here is ...."PERCEIVED value".... by their own admitting there is no real value here!
2) "value for money against our competition" Quite clearly absolutely zero research into what the competition is offering has been done. (Unless that competition is B&Q!)
"Through the use of better packaging, we've reduce(d) the likelihood of damage during delivery"
The Chinese have to pack the rails so well for there trip across the sea, that we don't need to open the packet! We will just forward it straight on to you!
This sounds like a considerable investment in packaging technology, which I'm sure will be passed on to other departments!!!! NOT!
"Provision of a more efficient and consistent service to Advisors"
Hillarys, please explain, I can't see how this has any bearing.
Unless........
It means, that because Sillarys factory staff don't have to touch the product, its less likely to go wrong! Yes that must be it.
"Introduction of wheeled carriers for smoother operation"
The above statement is free of spin!
However, can I just say how pleased I am to see Hillarys at the forefront of product innovation. They are definitely market leaders, and by no means followers. They are always the first to bring in these improvements/new products, and always long before everyone else!
The above statement is all spin!
"Ability to alter the control and cord lengths on site to suit the customer"
1) Since we are not taking the track out of its packet when it arrives from china, the advisor's can have the pleasure of adjusting the cords to fit the measurements. It will take extra time and trouble but ultimately it is for the customers benefit, Hillarys don't make anymore profit from this procedure at all, and therefore can not pay the advisor's more for the work involved!
Again utter bull!
2) "suit the customer" My customers have never asked for this service!
"Improved packaging"
My thoughts...........
1) If it means that the plonkers who always wrapped the headrails in such a way that you had black vertical scratches on the face of the track, are not involved, then that is an improvement.
2) Individually packed means two things, one , as stated above these are not made to measure, and come straight off the slow boat from china. Two, more "recyclable" (nice touch, "I'm green, I'm green!) rubbish for us to dispose of.
3)"looks more professional to customers" I can't remember the last time my customers made a comment on the packaging.
This update by Hillarys is all spin, and it shows the contempt they have for us. They are either totally delusional or totally ruthless and take us for idiots!!
I for one am not conned!
VERY FUNNY AND VERY USEFUL.