Gone very quiet
Discussion
Zoon said:
Stihl used to have a very archaic system of only selling to the public face to face.
So it meant that you couldn't buy Stihl stuff online (not sure if that's changed.)
They wanted the customer to be shown how to use the machine rather than hand them a box.
That's interesting, thanks.So it meant that you couldn't buy Stihl stuff online (not sure if that's changed.)
They wanted the customer to be shown how to use the machine rather than hand them a box.
I bought my strimmer, hedge trimmer and blower all online late last year, from a place in Worcester if I remember correctly.
MisanoPayments said:
Zoon said:
Stihl used to have a very archaic system of only selling to the public face to face.
So it meant that you couldn't buy Stihl stuff online (not sure if that's changed.)
They wanted the customer to be shown how to use the machine rather than hand them a box.
That's interesting, thanks.So it meant that you couldn't buy Stihl stuff online (not sure if that's changed.)
They wanted the customer to be shown how to use the machine rather than hand them a box.
I bought my strimmer, hedge trimmer and blower all online late last year, from a place in Worcester if I remember correctly.
ecommerce isn't always in the public's interest just because it results in lower prices!
skwdenyer said:
MisanoPayments said:
Zoon said:
Stihl used to have a very archaic system of only selling to the public face to face.
So it meant that you couldn't buy Stihl stuff online (not sure if that's changed.)
They wanted the customer to be shown how to use the machine rather than hand them a box.
That's interesting, thanks.So it meant that you couldn't buy Stihl stuff online (not sure if that's changed.)
They wanted the customer to be shown how to use the machine rather than hand them a box.
I bought my strimmer, hedge trimmer and blower all online late last year, from a place in Worcester if I remember correctly.
ecommerce isn't always in the public's interest just because it results in lower prices!
This is good for our bricks and mortar, but not online. Somewhat ironic that we went more online because we were constantly being undercut before this 5% rule...
The thing with Sithl is that they will sell out of anywhere and appoint dealers right on top of each other, sell direct, etc etc
Still good product but Husqvarna often seems better for us now in terms of quality and margin potential.
The Auto Mowers are the best in the business and are most definitely not an online purchase as require the proper setup.
a311 said:
The latest round of TSB closures included my local branch. Problem is there are only two building societies left the next closest TSB is a 50 min round trip away.
Still need to make cash deposits but more so get cash for a float for the till. Going to have to look at what alternatives are available and ask around.
In the last 4 years We've had a Natwest, HSBC, and recently Halifax beaches close all nice old Georgian buildings. One became a weed farm, one a bar. Go back a decade and there's another 3 that have closed.
Our shop / house is a former bank from the Georgian era (1795). This closed as Bank of Scotland in 2016, across the road closed as TSB before 2008. We have to do a run into Fraserburgh to pay cash into one of the few remaining BoS branches planned to be left open.Still need to make cash deposits but more so get cash for a float for the till. Going to have to look at what alternatives are available and ask around.
In the last 4 years We've had a Natwest, HSBC, and recently Halifax beaches close all nice old Georgian buildings. One became a weed farm, one a bar. Go back a decade and there's another 3 that have closed.
a311 said:
The latest round of TSB closures included my local branch. Problem is there are only two building societies left the next closest TSB is a 50 min round trip away.
Still need to make cash deposits but more so get cash for a float for the till. Going to have to look at what alternatives are available and ask around.
In the last 4 years We've had a Natwest, HSBC, and recently Halifax beaches close all nice old Georgian buildings. One became a weed farm, one a bar. Go back a decade and there's another 3 that have closed.
I can't remember the last time I used cash, here or abroad, is your business based on a demographic that are wary of electronic transactions?, if not why don't you opt to just take card payments, lots are doing that now IME. I guess there are costs to that, but dealng with all the implications of cash every day must mean these costs make life much more bearable?Still need to make cash deposits but more so get cash for a float for the till. Going to have to look at what alternatives are available and ask around.
In the last 4 years We've had a Natwest, HSBC, and recently Halifax beaches close all nice old Georgian buildings. One became a weed farm, one a bar. Go back a decade and there's another 3 that have closed.
GardeningEcomm said:
Hi All
FYI ocean freight increasing rapidly once again
(Red Sea Crisis saw a bump at Christmas - now it seems tjose lovely shipping companies are laying off capacity to increase prices?)
1x Forty Foot High Cube Container China-Felixstowe
Today's price $5220 inclusive
Post Red Sea Crisis $3500
Pre-crisis, $1450
So that's a 360% cost increase since November 2023
Seems pretty outrageous, then again I feel remarkably zen about this compared to the $20,000 per container cost we were paying just recently.
(Sept 20 to April 22 freight crisis)
Now that was an existential threat!!!!!!
Yep, had a crazy price in for the latest container.FYI ocean freight increasing rapidly once again
(Red Sea Crisis saw a bump at Christmas - now it seems tjose lovely shipping companies are laying off capacity to increase prices?)
1x Forty Foot High Cube Container China-Felixstowe
Today's price $5220 inclusive
Post Red Sea Crisis $3500
Pre-crisis, $1450
So that's a 360% cost increase since November 2023
Seems pretty outrageous, then again I feel remarkably zen about this compared to the $20,000 per container cost we were paying just recently.
(Sept 20 to April 22 freight crisis)
Now that was an existential threat!!!!!!
Meanwhile, the bank governor on the radio saying he expects inflation to keep going down, blah blah blah. Do they have any idea whats goes on in the real world?
ninepoint2 said:
a311 said:
The latest round of TSB closures included my local branch. Problem is there are only two building societies left the next closest TSB is a 50 min round trip away.
Still need to make cash deposits but more so get cash for a float for the till. Going to have to look at what alternatives are available and ask around.
In the last 4 years We've had a Natwest, HSBC, and recently Halifax beaches close all nice old Georgian buildings. One became a weed farm, one a bar. Go back a decade and there's another 3 that have closed.
I can't remember the last time I used cash, here or abroad, is your business based on a demographic that are wary of electronic transactions?, if not why don't you opt to just take card payments, lots are doing that now IME. I guess there are costs to that, but dealng with all the implications of cash every day must mean these costs make life much more bearable?Still need to make cash deposits but more so get cash for a float for the till. Going to have to look at what alternatives are available and ask around.
In the last 4 years We've had a Natwest, HSBC, and recently Halifax beaches close all nice old Georgian buildings. One became a weed farm, one a bar. Go back a decade and there's another 3 that have closed.
More seriously, increasing numbers of businesses around me are now saying cash *only* and no cards. My son had this in a curry house in town last night; I've had it with a local takeway. The latter is pretty open (too open?) with me that it is about simply not declaring the takings for VAT, etc. When I was in London last week, there were endless takeaways saying precisely the same.
Some genuinely don't want to pay the card fees (especially those who buy from the cash-and-carry - they've no need to bank the cash); but still more are doing what has always been said about cash businesses.
Frankly, the sooner we mandate all businesses take cards the better. It really is a big drag on the tax take.
skwdenyer said:
The big cash takers that I know of are expensive coat / puffa jacket / outdoors stores. The cynic in me says the drug dealers need *somewhere* to spend their money
More seriously, increasing numbers of businesses around me are now saying cash *only* and no cards. My son had this in a curry house in town last night; I've had it with a local takeway. The latter is pretty open (too open?) with me that it is about simply not declaring the takings for VAT, etc. When I was in London last week, there were endless takeaways saying precisely the same.
Some genuinely don't want to pay the card fees (especially those who buy from the cash-and-carry - they've no need to bank the cash); but still more are doing what has always been said about cash businesses.
Frankly, the sooner we mandate all businesses take cards the better. It really is a big drag on the tax take.
We should also allow for businesses to pass on the card charges. More seriously, increasing numbers of businesses around me are now saying cash *only* and no cards. My son had this in a curry house in town last night; I've had it with a local takeway. The latter is pretty open (too open?) with me that it is about simply not declaring the takings for VAT, etc. When I was in London last week, there were endless takeaways saying precisely the same.
Some genuinely don't want to pay the card fees (especially those who buy from the cash-and-carry - they've no need to bank the cash); but still more are doing what has always been said about cash businesses.
Frankly, the sooner we mandate all businesses take cards the better. It really is a big drag on the tax take.
We sell insurance so have to pay the card percentage on the whole premium and in some instances only received 10% commission.
So the card fee is a hefty percentage of the margin. We are trying to get people to pay by sending a bank transfer link but take up rate is low.
skwdenyer said:
The big cash takers that I know of are expensive coat / puffa jacket / outdoors stores. The cynic in me says the drug dealers need *somewhere* to spend their money
More seriously, increasing numbers of businesses around me are now saying cash *only* and no cards. My son had this in a curry house in town last night; I've had it with a local takeway. The latter is pretty open (too open?) with me that it is about simply not declaring the takings for VAT, etc. When I was in London last week, there were endless takeaways saying precisely the same.
Some genuinely don't want to pay the card fees (especially those who buy from the cash-and-carry - they've no need to bank the cash); but still more are doing what has always been said about cash businesses.
Frankly, the sooner we mandate all businesses take cards the better. It really is a big drag on the tax take.
I don't take card payments, but I'm happy to take bank transfer, cheque, or cash.More seriously, increasing numbers of businesses around me are now saying cash *only* and no cards. My son had this in a curry house in town last night; I've had it with a local takeway. The latter is pretty open (too open?) with me that it is about simply not declaring the takings for VAT, etc. When I was in London last week, there were endless takeaways saying precisely the same.
Some genuinely don't want to pay the card fees (especially those who buy from the cash-and-carry - they've no need to bank the cash); but still more are doing what has always been said about cash businesses.
Frankly, the sooner we mandate all businesses take cards the better. It really is a big drag on the tax take.
I've looked into getting a card machine, but the costs don't make sense when I'm only taking 2 or 3 payments a week on average.
Having to pay to buy a card machine, then pay a percentage in commission puts me off.
I'd rather let the customer do the bank transfer when they get home after collecting their clock.
TownIdiot said:
We should also allow for businesses to pass on the card charges.
We sell insurance so have to pay the card percentage on the whole premium and in some instances only received 10% commission.
So the card fee is a hefty percentage of the margin. We are trying to get people to pay by sending a bank transfer link but take up rate is low.
But if you did that, the commission would drop still further We sell insurance so have to pay the card percentage on the whole premium and in some instances only received 10% commission.
So the card fee is a hefty percentage of the margin. We are trying to get people to pay by sending a bank transfer link but take up rate is low.
The insurance companies are only going to pay you just enough to keep you hungry to sell more policies The card rules are the same for everyone, and fair for everyone. Card fees are a tiny fraction of what they once were. Your competition are also paying them. Moving people off cash is an important social good IMHO.
skwdenyer said:
But if you did that, the commission would drop still further The insurance companies are only going to pay you just enough to keep you hungry to sell more policies
The card rules are the same for everyone, and fair for everyone. Card fees are a tiny fraction of what they once were. Your competition are also paying them. Moving people off cash is an important social good IMHO.
If we used round numbers as an illustration The insurance companies are only going to pay you just enough to keep you hungry to sell more policies The card rules are the same for everyone, and fair for everyone. Card fees are a tiny fraction of what they once were. Your competition are also paying them. Moving people off cash is an important social good IMHO.
Gross 100
Margin 10
Card fee 1
10% of the margin in card fees alone
If we could say
It's 11 by card but click this link and it's a tenner the client is no worse off, we are 10% better off and no cash has been utilised.
TownIdiot said:
skwdenyer said:
But if you did that, the commission would drop still further The insurance companies are only going to pay you just enough to keep you hungry to sell more policies
The card rules are the same for everyone, and fair for everyone. Card fees are a tiny fraction of what they once were. Your competition are also paying them. Moving people off cash is an important social good IMHO.
If we used round numbers as an illustration The insurance companies are only going to pay you just enough to keep you hungry to sell more policies The card rules are the same for everyone, and fair for everyone. Card fees are a tiny fraction of what they once were. Your competition are also paying them. Moving people off cash is an important social good IMHO.
Gross 100
Margin 10
Card fee 1
10% of the margin in card fees alone
If we could say
It's 11 by card but click this link and it's a tenner the client is no worse off, we are 10% better off and no cash has been utilised.
skwdenyer said:
I do get that, and sympathise. My point was that if you were able to do that, commission would come down to 9%
It wouldn't as they don't know how we are paid.In this sector margin has been eroded for years, with the entry point for specially negotiated deals with insurers getting higher and higher. Insurer service increasingly concentrated on a small number of very large national/international firms making it very difficult for new entrants to grow in a way that was possible not so long ago.
Probably off the topic of the thread so I apologise for that.
TownIdiot said:
Are there any agencies that work on a results basis?
I.e. they get paid a share of sales rather than a monthly budget?
No. And there'll never be one as they are full of sI.e. they get paid a share of sales rather than a monthly budget?
t!You'd think it would be win win, but no, they are so good at their job they get paid even if you get f
k all in return (normally blaming their lack of results on Google's latest BS update).FACT, Google is pay to play now, ramped up in the last year or so. Look at their stock price & earnings, that isn't from serving up "free" organic listings.
clockworks said:
I don't take card payments, but I'm happy to take bank transfer, cheque, or cash.
I've looked into getting a card machine, but the costs don't make sense when I'm only taking 2 or 3 payments a week on average.
Having to pay to buy a card machine, then pay a percentage in commission puts me off.
I'd rather let the customer do the bank transfer when they get home after collecting their clock.
I am the same except that any retail sales pay by transfer before collecting, it doesn’t cause any issues.I've looked into getting a card machine, but the costs don't make sense when I'm only taking 2 or 3 payments a week on average.
Having to pay to buy a card machine, then pay a percentage in commission puts me off.
I'd rather let the customer do the bank transfer when they get home after collecting their clock.
Regular trade customers can do transfer afterwards or a few pay by cheque with is fine as you can pay them in on the bank app. Very few pay by cash nowadays.
It’s been a while since I last posted on here, mainly because I probably have little of value to add.
I’ve still to see the post Christmas lull. I think I can safely say by now that it isn’t going to happen.
Volume across all four of my customer demographics remains strong, very strong. I’m still seeing an increase every month compared to the same period over the last couple of years, although as always, fuel and insurance costs continue to sting.
I believe I posted my numbers for Jan - Feb earlier on in this thread,(?), so I’ll now concentrate on March and April.
March
Change 2023 vs 2022 + 18.30%
Change 2024 vs 2023 + 16.51%
April
Change 2023 vs 2022 + 9.49%
Change 2024 vs 2023 + 26.85%
April was very busy. How much of this was driven by mega-sales from various retailers I’m afraid I don’t know? Perhaps Skydenier can offer further insight into such matters from his side of the fence?
Hope you chaps are all keeping well and wishing you all a prosperous spring / summer
I’ve still to see the post Christmas lull. I think I can safely say by now that it isn’t going to happen.
Volume across all four of my customer demographics remains strong, very strong. I’m still seeing an increase every month compared to the same period over the last couple of years, although as always, fuel and insurance costs continue to sting.
I believe I posted my numbers for Jan - Feb earlier on in this thread,(?), so I’ll now concentrate on March and April.
March
Change 2023 vs 2022 + 18.30%
Change 2024 vs 2023 + 16.51%
April
Change 2023 vs 2022 + 9.49%
Change 2024 vs 2023 + 26.85%
April was very busy. How much of this was driven by mega-sales from various retailers I’m afraid I don’t know? Perhaps Skydenier can offer further insight into such matters from his side of the fence?
Hope you chaps are all keeping well and wishing you all a prosperous spring / summer
SuperCarrera said:
TownIdiot said:
Are there any agencies that work on a results basis?
I.e. they get paid a share of sales rather than a monthly budget?
Not amongst the people I know. Likely because most have enough work on being paid their day rate so don't have to work in this way. It's also not that attractive to an SEO as it takes a while to see results if you are in a competitive sector, so could be weeks or months before they get any kind of a return. And all that work then has made your business a lot stronger, not theirs, if you part ways.I.e. they get paid a share of sales rather than a monthly budget?
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