Supply or not to supply?

[JIMBOB187]

Merry Christmas everybody:8:

Can I have your input on the whole suply and fit process. Would I open trade accounts and take samples of tiles to a prospective customers house, when quoting a job that the customer has already chosen the tiles for do I try to source them cheaper and make a small margin myself, most people I know follow the herds to BQ so if I'm right I could supply similar from my trade supplier saving the customer money and creating a small margin myself. Let me know if I am stupid.
Also after my Business Angel post and my ridiculous start up expenditure idea I have already secured three jobs in January through word of mouth and convinced the wife to lend me the family car as my company car they won't let me keep when I finniash next week, strange that isn't it. Thanks for all the help.

 

[GazTech]

Never try to change the customers mind if they have chosen tiles already,but you can recommend that your customers shop at lets say Topps for instance lol...you will get good discounts almost anywhere...except B&Q.....Gaz

 

[JIMBOB187]

If I am asked to provide a full design service aswell do Topps have an unpriced catalogue available.

 

[plumbersmate]

try and steer clear of B & Q, it's cheap stuff, and in my experience sizes and shades don't conform - i'm considering charging more to fit cheap tiles because of the time it takes aligning them, especially when the thickness differs!

 

[Matthew77]

try and steer clear of B & Q, it's cheap stuff, and in my experience sizes and shades don't conform - i'm considering charging more to fit cheap tiles because of the time it takes aligning them, especially when the thickness differs!

Agrred i just tiled a customers kitchen in B&Q tiles & they were awful. one problem i had was every tile was seperated in the pack by a few mm of chalky substance (I guess to stop them scratching in transit) well after they have been in transit and the back of car ect the chalky stuff rubs off and all your tiles are covered in fine dust. not ideal for pressing onto your addy so each one needs a clean with water.
Tiles wern't good quality either.

 

[versatilene]

Most of don't supply tiles as it can lift us into the V.A.T. margin, which is a pain. Seek advice before you do.

 

[GazTech]

If I am asked to provide a full design service aswell do Topps have an unpriced catalogue available.

Topps have a brochure free available on-line or in store , they have retail prices in them not trade Jim.....Gaz

 

[Fekin]

If a customer has not yet choosen a tile, and you have a trade account somewhere like Topps, then inform the customer "if you would want to have a look in said store and you like anything, I can then get them for you using my trade account, meaning you would get them cheaper.

Then when you know what they want, they see a price like £1 per tile, and you can get it for say .70p, say you can get them for the customer for say.. .85p, saving customer .15p and making you .15p.

Then to save the tile having to go down as supply and fitted, get the money off the customer and go buy'em yourself, so really all your doing is picking them up really for the customer, and not billing them on top, keeping your turnover down, helping to keep away from the VAT barrier.





But Gaz might ask where's his fu*#*!*# 15p 😛

 

[CJ]

Do you really want to go down that route.

Imagine letting the customer chose there Tile..............ok, you may make a few £££.

BUT..........then you have to pick them up and deliver them.........not much fun when there job is 50m of porcelain.........up 3 flights of stairs to there flat?

Been there/done that...........never again

 

[GazTech]

Do you really want to go down that route.

Imagine letting the customer chose there Tile..............ok, you may make a few £££.

BUT..........then you have to pick them up and deliver them.........not much fun when there job is 50m of porcelain.........up 3 flights of stairs to there flat?

Been there/done that...........never again

Oh dear...whatever happened to the customer service you once had pride in...is it because your'e getting on a bit in years cj ?

 

[Fekin]

I wouldn't pick up a large porcelain job, unless I was making a good packet on them.
All in all I see picking their tiles up a good customer service.

 

[CJ]

Oh dear...whatever happened to the customer service you once had pride in...is it because your'e getting on a bit in years cj ?

I supplied tiles for a job earlier in the year...........told them to go to Topps and pick there tile and then I would pick them up and deliver, ready to do the job.

So they only picked a marble that was on special offer, so I got bog all discount on..........still had to pick them up and deliver..............(remove tools from van 1st) then hump around to there garage at the back.

Ok I, made a couple of bob........but not enuff to make it worthwhile as I got no discount:mad2:

And yes Gaz.......the years are catching us both and I don't really want to lump boxes of the things from here to there. :8:

 

[Perry]

i still supply stone & tiles, adhesive to tilers builders etc but its takes years of hard work and difficult to get the contacts and there can be big risks tread careful need to get well established before you go that way regards Pete

 

[White Room]

I just advise customers to a tile shop where I buy my materials and just say tell them Mark sent you then the shop pass work my way and a bottle of scotch every time at xmas. Buying tiles, to much hassle

 

[Fekin]

Some of you may find buying the tiles for the customer too much hassle, but it's a money earner, and a good service.

It all depends on if you want to doit or not.

 

[CJ]

Not

 

[White Room]

You have got to have a good selection for the customer, your buying of suppliers so do's that limit your profit, If you get a discount thru a shop I can't see the profit being a lot. A mate of mine bought £6000 of german anti graffiti tiles he asked for a dicount the wharehouse said you have,nt bought enough and they were'nt joking.:huh2:

 

[davy_G]

I measure area and advise on the pros and cons of their chosen tile samples while quoting for a job.
I do not supply tiles for two reasons
1) As mentioned a few big jobs and you could be close to having to be registered for VAT - leading to you being 17.5% more expensive than the rest of us and
2) If you get a non payer ( it happens) you are only out time/labour and can put it down to experience. If you supply tiles as well then it would really hurt.

I let customers have my full trade discount, with agreement of my tile supplier, the client takes my card in and gets 40% off. The client is chuffed and recommends me, im not botherered as it costs me nothing, the supplier is happy as its 40% off a 100% plus mark up and it good business.

 

[Fekin]

That's why I would never actually supply, only pick up using customers money.

 

[davy_G]

That is good service Feckin! At least you can be sure the tiles are all there and you get the adhesive/grout you want.
Im afraid my car would gring to a halt with 30 odd m of porcelain floor tiles along with adhesive and all my tools!

 

[Fekin]

It isn't something I would always do, just certain jons.

 

[Holohana]

i advise customer where to get tiles from and let me know what they have been quoted retail. I then go along and get my discounted price. I tell customer new price and get cash off the them, passing on some of my discount, then i pay for tiles!! Tile shop deliver for me along with my materials, happy days. Now that is money for nowt. Saved customer a few bob and tile shop happy they sold tiles and addy and ill do the same next week. generally ill make £2-300 a time. Oh yes customer gets a cracking job done to boot of course!!

 

[Saltire69]

Same as Fekin but i also get them to get addy & grout in the price as thats where u can make money.

 

[grumpygrouter]

i advise customer where to get tiles from and let me know what they have been quoted retail. I then go along and get my discounted price. I tell customer new price and get cash off the them, passing on some of my discount, then i pay for tiles!! Tile shop deliver for me along with my materials, happy days. Now that is money for nowt. Saved customer a few bob and tile shop happy they sold tiles and addy and ill do the same next week. generally ill make £2-300 a time. Oh yes customer gets a cracking job done to boot of course!!

Who does the tile supplier make the invoice out to, you or your customer? If it is you then this is increasing your turnover pushing you ever closer to the VAT threshold, something prior posters are reluctant to do as it could have a huge effect on winning work ....and cashlow.

Grumpy

 

[GazTech]

If cash is payed for the materials..then VAT threshold can be avoided....you are just paying with the customers cash and giving them your discounts.....Gaz

 

[Perry]

Gaz should one let the inland revenue know about the extra ?

 

[Holohana]

Who does the tile supplier make the invoice out to, you or your customer? If it is you then this is increasing your turnover pushing you ever closer to the VAT threshold, something prior posters are reluctant to do as it could have a huge effect on winning work ....and cashlow.

Grumpy

Cash from customer to me and me to supplier against a generic trade account. For all anyone knows thats how much the tiles cost and i have done it to ensure i get the job of laying em and not made anything!!!

 

[GazTech]

Gaz should one let the inland revenue know about the extra ?

Of course...any profit made in cash however small should be declared to HMRC....they have spies everywhere...I married one lol