How Many Of You, Use Topps Tiles?

[StevieBoy]

As per title really, I would be interested to know who uses Topps for their materials, why and which products in particular if you do.

Personally, I don't go anywhere else as where I am based suppliers of adhesive etc are very limited.
I use their slow set addy a lot, always use BAL grouts and very rarely of at all have any issues.

 

[AliGage]

So, did you get it?

Trying to talk the other half out of them now! I'm sure I can find something similar or better for half the money

 

[Andy Allen]

@Andy Allen The reason I don't do it is firstly I would have to go VAT registered, its bad enough having to pay income tax let alone having to collect this extra tax for free on behalf of the government. It would also put my labour cost up , which would mean losing work or reducing my rate by the amount I have just made on selling these tiles, to keep the jobs.
Secondly, alot of the time the customers have already chosen there tiles and got a very good discount from the shop.
Thirdly, supplying stone is to risky, poor quality, not the shade the customer wanted....

You've lost me....why would you have to put your labour cost up?

 

[dave l and l]

i use them sometimes, staff are good at my local store.
i also get a decent enough discount with them. the slow set white is ok, and is about a pound more than weber white, also there chrome flat edge trim is about 7 or 8 pound.
another reason i go there is the time it saves me if i need to go there in morning. its either sit for an hour and a half to get to c t d or 20 mins to tops

 

[J Sid]

You've lost me....why would you have to put your labour cost up?

If I become vat registered would I not have to add 20% to my bill, including on the labour? Or is labour exempt from vat?
Or have I got it all wrong?
If I did add 20% to my price , say £100, the customer would have to give me £120. So I would have to lower my price to £83 so the customer would still only pay me £100

 

[Ian]

You've lost me....why would you have to put your labour cost up?

If the vat was added to it, 20%more expensive.

 

[J Sid]

Are many VAT registered on here who do mainly domestic work?

 

[Andy Allen]

If I become vat registered would I not have to add 20% to my bill, including on the labour? Or is labour exempt from vat?
Or have I got it all wrong?
If I did add 20% to my price , say £100, the customer would have to give me £120. So I would have to lower my price to £83 so the customer would still only pay me £100

See where your coming from if your vat registered. ....depends how much you supply.... for anyone not vat registered then there's money to be made..

 

[J Sid]

See where your coming from if your vat registered. ....depends how much you supply.... for anyone not vat registered then there's money to be made..

Just supplying adhesive, grout, self leveling and labour cost takes me close to the limit.

 

[Andy Allen]

Just supplying adhesive, grout, self leveling and labour cost takes me close to the limit.

You need to slow down a bit. ..lol

 

[J Sid]

You need to slow down a bit. ..lol

Yes, bar the odd holiday it's been 7 days a week for the last 8 years or so.
Plan to slow down next year, sell the house, bin the wife and get a yacht again and enjoy life......

 

[Andy Allen]

I used to work 25 hours a day !!!!





















(Worked my lunch hour)...😀

 

[StevieBoy]

Why do you need to go back and fourth to the shop?
Just send them in to choose a tile.
Think a few of you are missing a trick here.
You can easily make over £100 on the average size bathroom before you even get your tools out.

For me, I'd rather lose £100 than be messing about collecting / delivering tiles etc, as I can usually make about that supplying the primer, adhesive, grout and Silicon - which are all lighter to carry.
Plus if you ever get a customer that doesn't pay straightaway, your only down on your labour costs which isn't so bad - I'm not a bank after all.
That's the way I have always run my business.

 

[StevieBoy]

But anyhow, back on topic - for me Topps is the only supplier near to me that have everything I need (usually)
There are a couple of merchants, but they only sell Evostik products and they are awful to use.
I agree with most that they are expensive, not on all things but trims and some of the grouts can be pricey - and yes most don't know what there talking about, but as I am nowhere near a CTD branch, I'm a bit stuck really.

 

[gamma38]

As above, i'm in the middle of nowhere as far as suppliers go. My local Topps are really good guys, however I have to agree regarding the discount structure. It is the most idiotic thing, use us a bit and you will only get a bit, use us a lot and you may get more..... should just be trade or not. You can always push and get a deal no matter where you get your products though. My nearest CTD is towards Cambridge. Bedford is a craphole for any suppliers, it does my head in. That said CTD have bought out Tile Depot and they have a branch in MK, so there is a glimmer of hope.

 

[John Benton]

I always try and supply tiles where possible, Just bought a pallet load for a job and made £300 before I even stepped in the customers house, also saved him £300 as well buying by the pallet. If I got close to the VAT threshold I would just not supply the tiles, but get the supplier to pass on my discount directly to the customer and they are more than happy to do that.

Only used tiles from Topps when I have tried to match up some 20 year old ceramics for a shower cubicle and they had some close enough to do the job, colour and size were virtually spot on, but would never want to step over their threshold really.

 

[John Benton]

But anyhow, back on topic - for me Topps is the only supplier near to me that have everything I need (usually)
There are a couple of merchants, but they only sell Evostik products and they are awful to use.
I agree with most that they are expensive, not on all things but trims and some of the grouts can be pricey - and yes most don't know what there talking about, but as I am nowhere near a CTD branch, I'm a bit stuck really.

Isn't there a Jackson Shipley near you StevieBoy. I thought they supplied addy and grout.

 

[Andy Allen]

I always try and supply tiles where possible, Just bought a pallet load for a job and made £300 before I even stepped in the customers house, also saved him £300 as well buying by the pallet. If I got close to the VAT threshold I would just not supply the tiles, but get the supplier to pass on my discount directly to the customer and they are more than happy to do that.

Only used tiles from Topps when I have tried to match up some 20 year old ceramics for a shower cubicle and they had some close enough to do the job, colour and size were virtually spot on, but would never want to step over their threshold really.

Spot on John. .....customer gets a bit of discount. ...There happy......I make a bit so I'm more than happy.....get a deposit off them so your not even risking your own money......and on big orders the suppliers I use will even deliver to site......No hassle at all imo...🙂

 

[StevieBoy]

Isn't there a Jackson Shipley near you StevieBoy. I thought they supplied addy and grout.

Yes there is, but they only do Evostik, and there's no way I'd ever use that.

 

[John Benton]

I make sure tiles are fully paid for before I order them, that way I cannot get stung.

 

[StevieBoy]

As above, i'm in the middle of nowhere as far as suppliers go. My local Topps are really good guys, however I have to agree regarding the discount structure. It is the most idiotic thing, use us a bit and you will only get a bit, use us a lot and you may get more..... should just be trade or not. You can always push and get a deal no matter where you get your products though. My nearest CTD is towards Cambridge. Bedford is a craphole for any suppliers, it does my head in. That said CTD have bought out Tile Depot and they have a branch in MK, so there is a glimmer of hope.

That's the problem I have - other than Topps there just isn't anyone closer.

There's a Tile Trend, a Presley's and a Tile Giant - but all too far away really.

Maybe I'll move lol

 

[StevieBoy]

But interesting reading regarding how many on here would use them and how many wouldn't.
Thanks for the input.

 

[p4ulo]

I use Topps, I have been lucky I guess, staff know there stuff and they are a nice bunch.
Plenty of "proper tilers" seem to come out of the woodwork for their Trade-Nights though eh? Amazing what a free tub of Green Star and some crappy samples can do!!
I really like their trade rapid set flexible adhesive, lovely product to mix and spread...
Yeah, trims are expensive, that's what Ebay is for I guess?!

 

[MTiler]

Im lucky, I dont have to use Topps so dont unless Im really really desperate. My nearest one has closed down.

 

[J Sid]

A good example of why I don't use them happened today.
Customer was wants some metro tiles and was told 40p a tile but can have a 15% discount, don't think I even get the discount.
When to CTD and got the for 24p a tile.
Why do Topps give discount to the public? Wasn't even a big order, 2 boxes

 

[StevieBoy]

A good example of why I don't use them happened today.
Customer was wants some metro tiles and was told 40p a tile but can have a 15% discount, don't think I even get the discount.
When to CTD and got the for 24p a tile.
Why do Topps give discount to the public? Wasn't even a big order, 2
boxes

Fair point

 

[lmkitchens]

My local tile shop will give me a sales rebate if i send a customer in on my behalf. I wouldn't even have to step foot in the shop, only make 2 phone calls and they would be delivered to site and I get credited 10% of the sale.

Customer still gets more discount that walking in off the street, I make a bit for getting them the discount and we are all happy (Y)

 

[bcd-87]

I'm based in Reading Berkshire we have 4 Topps tile, as all of the above said there fecking useless!!! avoid them at all cost I use Tile flair

There very good

 

[Ceramic Art Ste]

I do. Get my Rubi levelling clips Rubi long legs. Bal green star and grip from them. Everything else I get on account from my old boss at quali tile.

 

[DanFuzz]

As the owner of a local independent tile shop, I am able to offer lower retail prices with higher discounts, for better products. I buy tiles direct from Spain and Italy, as well as using UK wholesalers. The margins put on by Topps are high, and their price promise is only based on the exact same tile - so they ask factories to tweak tiles slightly to get round that, or demand UK rights to the tile. I used to sell a tile via a UK wholesaler for £39.95sqm and it was £65sqm in Topps. Then all of a sudden, my wholesaler wasn't allowed to import it anymore.

I've heard many horror stories about Topps over the years - but the public will always have this blind faith in a large company, and it baffles me. I was recommended to a couple by their builder once, they never came to see me despite being open 7 days a week, and they would have drove past me to get to Topps!

I'm surprised CTD are getting such a big vote, the tile distribution side is useless! Maybe they put more effort into servicing the trade guys?

 

[Qwerty]

I use Topps, I have been lucky I guess, staff know there stuff and they are a nice bunch.

Nearly all of the staff at the Topps you use have defected to the local Tile Giant opposite over the past few months mate. Come on over! 😀

 

[bl tiling]

As per title really, I would be interested to know who uses Topps for their materials, why and which products in particular if you do.

Personally, I don't go anywhere else as where I am based suppliers of adhesive etc are very limited.
I use their slow set addy a lot, always use BAL grouts and very rarely of at all have any issues.