What would you do?

[brian]

This happened to me a few days ago.

I knocked 20% off woodens and watched customers jaw drop to ground when I said £945.
"I've got a price half that she said". £450.
Then came my dilema, what do I do. If I walk away I have nothing. I did not feel comfortable telling the customer that Hillarys woodens are better, as those of us who know, are aware that they are the same as cheaper others, that would be deceiving them. "Well Hillarys is the largest blind manufacturer you get good service" is not worth £495 extra and an ear bashing from fsm for heavy discounting,
Let competitor get sale or loose sale or get £175, you decide.
Or is there another way? Vote in the poll in the thread "leaving" "what would you do?"

[thelloydgang]

brian said:

This happened to me a few days ago.

I knocked 20% off woodens and watched customers jaw drop to ground when I said £945.
"I've got a price half that she said".
Then came my dilema, what do I do. If I walk away I have nothing. I did not feel comfortable telling the customer that Hillarys woodens are better, as those of us who know, are aware that they are the same as cheaper others, that would be deceiving them. "Well Hillarys is the largest blind manufacturer you get good service" is not worth £495 and an ear bashing from fsm for heavy discounting,
Let competitor get sale or loose sale or get £175, you decide.
Or is there another way? Vote in the poll in the thread "leaving" "what would you do?"

I for one am not happy about this poll being allowed.........it's obviously encouraging dual trading. I think another poll should be created to have this one banned!!

K ;D

[benny]

thelloydgang said:

brian said:

This happened to me a few days ago.

I knocked 20% off woodens and watched customers jaw drop to ground when I said £945.
"I've got a price half that she said".
Then came my dilema, what do I do. If I walk away I have nothing. I did not feel comfortable telling the customer that Hillarys woodens are better, as those of us who know, are aware that they are the same as cheaper others, that would be deceiving them. "Well Hillarys is the largest blind manufacturer you get good service" is not worth £495 and an ear bashing from fsm for heavy discounting,
Let competitor get sale or loose sale or get £175, you decide.
Or is there another way? Vote in the poll in the thread "leaving" "what would you do?"

I for one am not happy about this poll being allowed.........it's obviously encouraging dual trading. I think another poll should be created to have this one banned!!

K ;D

hold your horses gell whos site is this its everyones asi remember bein told drop the properganda

[magicmonkey]

if hillarys are selling at around 1000 ( is this with the 20% off ? ) then you know you can buy them for about £150 -£200 , so take the order and the money price matching the other firm but supplying your own.

[blue van man]

Reading back through all the "mines better than yours" postings throws up some interesting comments.
It appears Hillarys sells poor quality blinds at high prices, with poor after service provided by drones.
It also seems it's easy selling for Hillarys because anyone can sell for a brand leader.

So here's a thought for all you independents and dual traders

Are you working to the right business model?

Instead of offering better quality at lower prices, which is such good value it sells itself, offer lower quality, higher prices, no back up, and employ drones to do the donkey work.

Who knows, in 30 years time you'll be brand leader and be able to sell your company for £225 million.


Remember - people like Alan Sugar, Richard Branson and Tony Hillary never got anywhere by being conventional - you've got to think outside the box

[brian]

des said:

Reading back through all the "mines better than yours" postings throws up some interesting comments.
It appears Hillarys sells poor quality blinds at high prices, with poor after service provided by drones.
It also seems it's easy selling for Hillarys because anyone can sell for a brand leader.

So here's a thought for all you independents and dual traders

Are you working to the right business model?

Instead of offering better quality at lower prices, which is such good value it sells itself, offer lower quality, higher prices, no back up, and employ drones to do the donkey work.

Who knows, in 30 years time you'll be brand leader and be able to sell your company for £225 million.


Remember - people like Alan Sugar, Richard Branson and Tony Hillary never got anywhere by being conventional - you've got to think outside the box

You wave successful entrepreneur names around like your potentially one of their team, it could be that you are the drone!
We've never said "mine's better than yours" no matter how many times you like to repeat it, perhaps by you thinking that that statement is derogatory to "us" you some how make yourself feel better. Sorry to disapoint you.
Hillarys sell average blinds at well above average prices. "We" more than anyone can speak from experience, having dealt with many others. For instance, I can offer my customers at least 3 grades of woodens 1) cheap chinese (There the ones hillarys try to pass off as quality. 2) Real bespoke blinds (such as "timberlux" this is what John Lewis sell and Hillarys try to price with. 3) Real solid wood ( when it says its Oak it is.)
You are wrong, not "everyone can sell for a brand leader" particulaly someone who has had a real look at alternatives and seen what else is on offer, do not believe all the propaganda you are feed from the Hillarys machine. Having a brand name helps sell, but it should also come with a responsibility to give product value, unfortunatly Hillarys are investing in the brand now and not the product, or those that sell it for them.
As for the service, as a good advisor, I'm sure you give good, many do not. I won't even mention when you try to dor something! How is it I can sit here with a cataloge of blind components that cover thousands of parts, and Hillarys can't even send the right brackets out on a dor.
And so to your last point again, I believe we are thinking outside the box, it is you who is not, you have the lid most firmly held down.
These are not boasts, we have discovered something great and are helping others who want it. If you do not then good luck to you, but why try to keep making this into a battle.
If Hillarys is working for you ok, It did not for me, and Heaven knows I tried they just don't listen, you are there tool.
Don't talk of "business models" when you don't have one, I have my own business, do you?

[blue van man]

Oh dear Brian, you've gone all defensive
Don't you recognize a little "tongue in cheek" humour when it's in front of you?
All of the comments I put in that posting have been taken from other postings, probably some of yours but not exclusively, and none of mine. What they highlight is the very different views different people have of Hillarys. To some, they are devils spawn, to others they are a decent company to work with. I was just gently pointing out to Hillarys detractors, that whether they like it or not, Hillarys are a successful business which has recently been sold for a substantial sum.

But as you've got defensive and taken it as a personal attack, yes I can and do think lateraly. It was my job for over 20 years in the UK division of an American Fortune 500 company. I joined up with Hillarys for a totally different way of life, and probably with different objectives than yourself.
No I don't see myself in such exalted circles as Sugar or Branson, but if you read their biographies you'll find neither of them took a conventional route. (You'll also discover the true meaning and derivation of the word bollocks as well)
No I'm not self employed. I have a Ltd Co. that is VAT registered.
Yes Hillarys do work for me

Like anything in life, what works for one person doesn't for another, but please don't suffer a sense of humour failure

[brian]

Calling it "tongue in cheek", I quess is your way of actually not addressing any of the sorry home truths or issues raised. You must be so proud of yourself being a company director and all. The truth is anyone who has £65 to spare can form a ltd company and as you sell blinds for Hillarys you effectively have nothing without them.
Hillarys are a sucessful company I agree, but they get alot of things wrong and do nothing about them, and they could be much more successful. Yes they have been "sold" that being the key word SOLD, or got rid of. From what you are saying about your past, I think I know where you are coming from, and I can understand at that point in life having no ambition, but to have a little security under someones wing. Surely their attitude pisses you off sometimes, how do you deal with the frustration of there inexplicable failurs and incomprehendable ineptitude (like my spelling) Surely it must beat you down and try your patience, I have just found another way that is all good, and I can't go back to dronedom.

[westlancs]

brian said:

Calling it "tongue in cheek", I quess is your way of actually not addressing any of the sorry home truths or issues raised. You must be so proud of yourself being a company director and all. The truth is anyone who has £65 to spare can form a ltd company and as you sell blinds for Hillarys you effectively have nothing without them.
Hillarys are a sucessful company I agree, but they get alot of things wrong and do nothing about them, and they could be much more successful. Yes they have been "sold" that being the key word SOLD, or got rid of. From what you are saying about your past, I think I know where you are coming from, and I can understand at that point in life having no ambition, but to have a little security under someones wing. Surely their attitude pisses you off sometimes, how do you deal with the frustration of there inexplicable failurs and incomprehendable ineptitude (like my spelling) Surely it must beat you down and try your patience, I have just found another way that is all good, and I can't go back to dronedom.

'like my spelling?'

there..............in that place

their................belonging to them

failurs.............failures

[blue van man]

Come on Brian, lighten up - blinds really aren't that serious. Christ they're (not there or their westlancs) just blinds.

You've got a successful business and money in the bank. If you can't see the irony in my proposed business plan, the only thing you're lacking is a sense of humour.

And who said I was a company director? I didn't and am not. Too serious conventional thinking again?

[brian]

Your right, Sorry.

[A N Other Guest]

I see nothing has changed here in the year I've been away!

Same old pregnant doging!!!!

I see a particular female member returns to the other site & embarrasses herself with idiotic comments!

I'm glad I set up my own blinds business ... more money in the bank than I could ever have hoped staying with thingyHeadaries!

Those of you that want to stay with them, then fine ... just don't knock those that know the true potential of what is out there WITHOUT the help of Loseries!

Quality products & professional back up from suppliers is taken as read! None of this DOR'ing that occurs week in - week out with this shower!

I don't need to generate the volume of leads that seems to drive many of you forward. I can make considerable money on fewer orders. I have time for myself & my family & have had many a day off & yet still getting calls for business.

One regular customer orders blinds from me by supplying their own sizes whilst asking me to choose the nearest cream, silver or whatever for them. I even get my suppliers to deliver the blinds direct.
One recent order from them was for 11 venetian blinds for £1200. Profit £790!!!! All done over the phone. Delivered within 10 days. Paid in full. All done over the phone whilst out fishing!

So, please don't knock us for getting out there & trying something different.
Don't be swept up with the Silliards brain washing that you can't survive without their help!

You blo0dy well can!

[benny]

A said:

I see nothing has changed here in the year I've been away!

Same old pregnant doging!!!!

I see a particular female member returns to the other site & embarrasses herself with idiotic comments!

I'm glad I set up my own blinds business ... more money in the bank than I could ever have hoped staying with thingyHeadaries!

Those of you that want to stay with them, then fine ... just don't knock those that know the true potential of what is out there WITHOUT the help of Loseries!

Quality products & professional back up from suppliers is taken as read! None of this DOR'ing that occurs week in - week out with this shower!

I don't need to generate the volume of leads that seems to drive many of you forward. I can make considerable money on fewer orders. I have time for myself & my family & have had many a day off & yet still getting calls for business.

One regular customer orders blinds from me by supplying their own sizes whilst asking me to choose the nearest cream, silver or whatever for them. I even get my suppliers to deliver the blinds direct.
One recent order from them was for 11 venetian blinds for £1200. Profit £790!!!! All done over the phone. Delivered within 10 days. Paid in full. All done over the phone whilst out fishing!

So, please don't knock us for getting out there & trying something different.
Don't be swept up with the Silliards brain washing that you can't survive without their help!

You blo0dy well can!

hear hear but who are you fella

[Blender]

I have really had a belly full of Pillburys blinds.
Booked 3 orders in for tomorrow and what do I find all 3 have things missing
One wooden on one order louveres only on the next and a rail on the third. Thats 3 customers that wont be paying and me on the phone another hour or so wasting my time talking to someone that doesnt care and cant do any thing even if they did. 2 of them wanted them in a rush as well so thats more strife from the punters.
I dont know how those of you that do loads of work cope with this situation day after day. You have to be brain dead or very thick skinned. I only do part time and the white straight jacket awaits me.

[denkent]

The only issue is - are you prepared to fit for the £65 odd you would get for doing so? If so do it. I often have to discount like this to get anywhere near competitors and not just for wood ven and no FSM has ever said anything. If they do I suggest you give them the measurements and ask them to ring other companies for a quote