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Post by engineerone on Sept 24, 2008 17:17:15 GMT
heard today that axminster are going to set up a branch in high wycombe before the end of the year. rumour is they looked at buying isaac lords, but decided against it, so they are opening i am told on an industrial estate there, a trade counter, whatever that is  given the number of dealers with the slough, high wycombe, hounslow area, you do kind of wonder what they are thinking that they can offer more than many of the locals, who also buy off them  in addition, there are a number of screwfix, and toolstations locally . paul  |
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Post by sainty on Sept 24, 2008 19:48:06 GMT
Given the choice of the companies that you mentioned Paul, I would go to Axminster everytime. The Local screwfix trade counter is the worst example of a retail outlet that you could ever wish to experience. The last 4 times i've been in there I've had to walk out because they haven't had what I wanted (you'd think I'd learn!). I have to say that the only time that I have visited the Axminster shop the customer service was excellent so if my experiences are relevant they will probably do alright.
rgds
Stu
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Post by wizer on Sept 24, 2008 20:35:24 GMT
I'd say the opposite. It's been great since Screwfix and Toolstation popped up on a local trading estate. Now I never have to go near a B&Q again! Both branches have been good on service an availability.
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Post by engineerone on Sept 24, 2008 21:18:54 GMT
i'm just intrigued, since it took them more than 30 years to get a second branch, ie kent, and now they are going to compete directly with people who buy trade products like jet etc from them. since there are now no hard wood woodyards in high wycombe, it seems a strange place to set up now. i agree that in principal, axminster are good at some customer service, and screwfix tend to have under trained and underskilled staff. not sure about toolstation. i assume they think that some of their customers are going to go bust, and so need to have better access to the london market, although as with many areas, apart from the work in east london on the olympic site, less and less large works are going on in west london, not least since heathrow 5 is now finished. paul |
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Post by jake on Sept 24, 2008 21:54:25 GMT
apart from the work in east london on the olympic site, less and less large works are going on in west london You engineers and your wacky geography. |
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Post by engineerone on Sept 24, 2008 22:46:06 GMT
well those in other parts seem to think they are connected  what i should have said of course was in london itself paul |
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Post by bloonose on Sept 25, 2008 8:23:12 GMT
Hardwood supplier
Barnes Branch & Co
Brook St
High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
HP11 2EQ
Tel: 01494 525761
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Post by engineerone on Sept 25, 2008 8:59:05 GMT
they have shut down paul |
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Post by engineerone on Sept 25, 2008 20:45:28 GMT
gawd higgs your approach scares me to death you want and need to establish your own image, and getting cast offs is not the way to do it, to my mind anyway. directly competing with your customers is very bad business, since you reduce the overall market for the product. as a recent piece of information suggests, life is becoming more axminster orientated, since not only do they now own brimarc, and thus the veritas franchise, but apparantly have convinced tom lie neilson to deal with them only so tilger for instance may no longer be able to supply ln planes, which will mean prices going up. not good for the customers. many of you have moaned about the way in which festo sell, but what will this move in the world of hand planes do for our choices? paul |
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Telos
Full Member
Posts: 123
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Post by Telos on Sept 26, 2008 10:24:10 GMT
many of you have moaned about the way in which festo sell, but what will this move in the world of hand planes do for our choices? Hopefully convince more people that Clifton are just as good, if not better. The rampant LN propaganda machine seems to work wonders on the impressionable... I can remember when buying British used to mean something...  |
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Post by mrgrimsdale on Sept 26, 2008 11:39:55 GMT
snip directly competing with (for? ed) your customers is very bad business, since you reduce the overall market for the product. snip Dunno. The attraction of markets (real ones with stalls etc) is that frinstance 3 veg stalls, along side every other variety of stall, will attract more than 3 times the trade. cheers Jacob |
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Post by engineerone on Sept 26, 2008 11:57:37 GMT
i think though jacob, that is the problem, one goes to a market, if you are lucky enough to have one locally, one goes knowing that there will be some competition there. sadly with fixed asset shops, this tends to be less true. kitchens are a specific and one might say unique situation, but when two shops are selling the exact same gear, and one of them is able to discount further because they own the brand, then obviously in the long term the more expensive shop is likely to go out of business. locally i have one of those cartridge world places and it is run by a decent young asian guy who i have found quite honest and fair, but over the road is a newsagent running a different franchise in house. the newsagent will undercut the other guy by a penny to get the business, but he does not offer a printer repair business etc, so you might make a small benefit, but when you want to know what is wrong with your printer, where will you go?? same with tool shops, so few offer repair facilities, and it may well get fewer in west london now. paul |
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Post by tusses on Sept 26, 2008 12:32:06 GMT
but Paul - that just the way it is. we all have to be competitive in some way or go bust. I agree, its not the way it used to be, or the way I'd like it to be. But being it is the way it is, we all have to accept it and conduct our business accordingly. if you are in business - by the time you have finished moaning about the competition you are out of business. You need to see them coming from a long way off, in fact , if you are keeping up and are good at business, you will have been expecting them for a long time, and be well ready to compete when they arrive ! cheaper or better or faster - thats all that counts  |
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Post by mrgrimsdale on Sept 26, 2008 12:43:07 GMT
snip cheaper or better or faster - thats all that counts Or "much better, much more expensive and slow". Too much competition the other way! cheers Jacob |
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Post by engineerone on Sept 26, 2008 12:54:18 GMT
i agree with jacob  the major lesson from the last 11 year in particular is that faster, quicker and cheaper is not necessarily the way to go. greed is not necessarily good, quality at a fair price is still the best way to go. seeing off your competition is not to my mind actually the way to go, you must provide added value, and then maybe the pair of you can increase the overall market. thing is there will always be people who want the cheapest and the quickest, but sometimes they will gain knowledge and inprove their aims, and the cheapo guy cannot then get that market. it is an old fashioned statement that it is better and easier to take 1 p of 50,000 people than 50,000 of one but somewhere in the middle is a ground where you get a decent income, but are not working like a machine, and you are able to have some FUN with your life. ;D paul paul |
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Post by tusses on Sept 26, 2008 14:06:44 GMT
thats why I put 'or' between them if its the same quality - then people will go for the cheaper if its the same quality and the same price - then people will go for the quicker if its better - then you sell it as such, if its better and the price and speed is the same - people will go for better if its 'noticably' batter - then people will pay more and wait longer to get it. on a sliding scale with how much better it is. the guy with the ink cartridges - if there is a market for printer repairs, he will survive - if there isn't, then he shouldn't be selling it ! sure its a romantic idea to offer a wide range of services - but that doesn't work so much in todays climate. The hardware stores of old, for instance ... |
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Post by Dave S on Sept 26, 2008 21:18:08 GMT
It's no good buying stuff from the likes of Axminster because they are cheaper or have a wider range and then moaning that there aren't any local toolshops any more , or that the likes of Axminster have a monopoly and can do as they wish with prices. The current lack of choice is a direct result of people purchasing on the basis of price all the time, IMO. It still goes on - one only has to look over there to see that.
Worse than that, even, are those who go to the local shop for friendly help and advice, then purchase from the big chain because it is cheaper.
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Post by engineerone on Sept 26, 2008 21:34:00 GMT
could not agree more dave paul |
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Post by dom on Sept 30, 2008 7:57:41 GMT
My Mantra " Always buy the best you can afford"
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Post by modernist on Sept 30, 2008 8:54:28 GMT
People buy from Axminster because they offer a wide choice and it is easy. Some things are good value others aren't. Buyers usually follow the path of least resistance. Nevertheless they have been instumental in introducing people to better gear of the sort which used to be the preserve of the UK industry. That must be good although it is not the whole story. Whatever the reasons there are more independent woodworkers, cabinet makers, furniture makers, especially at the top end of the market, than ever before and more opportunities for learners to gain access to specialist knowledge through the trade press, suppliers and forums such as this. I think that is generally a good thing Brian |
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in addition, there are a number of screwfix, and toolstations locally .
the major lesson from the last 11 year in particular is that faster, quicker and cheaper is not necessarily the way to go.
