[CATMAN]

Need a new 1500psi gauge for my T/M.

Hydramaster, price £60 & VAT & DEL

Hydraulic Shop Ebay £7 delivered. Exactly the same

Temp Sender Unit £50 ++

Delivered from the states (imperial temp) £12

So, I won't be ringing anytime soon to pay my £100.

Yes we all come on praising their service, but not for the first time I notice them loading up the spares,

[derek west]

i could of easily answered your question a month ago, "great service with oodles of free knowledge to help you not only diagnose the problem but talk you through fitting the part step by step"  worth every extra penny.

i'm struggling now though.

[clive ware]

To be honest, they`re all the same. They seem to think that because we run truckmounts, we must be earning a fortune and consequently charge us a fortune for parts. 

[Kinver_Clean]

I have sou4rced some parts recently that amaze me on pricing.
A button thermostat from the manufacturer £16 - elsewhere £3 75 -- for 3 plus £2 postage.
A relay £22 -  £1.25 Maplin
A remote thermostat £47  - £8.50 local washing machine repairer.

[colin thomas]

i understand all the arguments for what seems like high prices but don't forget the e-bay guys might be working out of a garage or a small unit with little overheads. truck-mount suppliers have a limited market, they can't sell to all and sundry, just a relative few of us, just imagine if they all go bust and you have to get everything from the states, including tech help, ouch! 
profit isn't a dirty word, WE all need to make one or we are back to the day job,

colin

[Andy Foster]

i understand all the arguments for what seems like high prices but don't forget the e-bay guys might be working out of a garage or a small unit with little overheads. truck-mount suppliers have a limited market, they can't sell to all and sundry, just a relative few of us, just imagine if they all go bust and you have to get everything from the states, including tech help, ouch! 
profit isn't a dirty word, WE all need to make one or we are back to the day job,

colin

Profit is one thing but 10x the price is taking the p**s.

[jasonl]

There  is no need to buy  parts from TM distributors  , they are  available elsewhere far cheaper,  the very few bespoke items can be quickly and far more cheaply imported.

[colin thomas]

jason, i'm not arguing that you can buy cheaper i'm merely saying that often these items are among the few things that hm and others can make a profit on, there are plenty of places to buy cheaper but i like to support those that i think give a good service just as l like to think that my customers pay me more than a £10 a room merchant,

colin

[derek west]

totally agree colin but.....

say to all your customers, "due to the amount of custies ringing and asking for stain removal advise and then going to aldi for the spotter bottles to do it, i am now charging £10 a year to cover this"

like ive said before, i don't mind paying the extra with HM, it "was" totally worth it.

[Simon Gerrard]

This is a tricky one. Anyone who has had a problem with their TM and it is out of action will be very happy that a supplier has someone at the end of the phone that can talk you through the problem and diagnose it for you and have the part you need and will have it with you the next day. The alternative to that is order the part from the states or elsewhere but you won't have it the next day and so with your TM out of action the imported part, which me be cheaper will actually cost you a lot more with the added downtime.
 
Simon

[davep]

So it's blackmail then 

[Simon Gerrard]

I wouldn't call it blackmail, but you get what you pay for, I suppose. 

[Andy Foster]

Service station mentality.

They've got you right where they want you so can charge whatever they want.

[Andy Foster]

I wouldn't call it blackmail, but you get what you pay for, I suppose. 

At ten times the price if I got what I paid for I'd have ten, not one!!!

[Len Gribble]

The bank I once work for got a million knocked of there rates bill due to unusable space having said that spares sitting on the shelf and not selling that often cost money so we pay for the privilege for out of stock and loaded what I can say! And as for problems be it TM or Porty last port of call (sorry Simon to be nautical) will be a friend wont it 

Catman my psi gauge went a few years ago Prochem took the big P so went to Ashcroft (name on dial) 20quid cheaper happy looks like I was ripped off by them (noted it’s in my watch list)

Oh if any ones with the AA aka national tyres give a better discount I saved 30quid a tyre against the locals (and I support local’s yeh right even ebay took the big P) 

[Glynn]

Whilst I agree that "certain " parts appear grossly overpriced we have to remember that the likes of HM and Prochem etc have limited volumes of sales for replacement truckmount parts, they have to have stocked  parts departments and staff to man them. This all costs. It's not like Maplin who are selling everyday components to everyday people. And as a consequence the prices " have" to be higher otherwise it would be unviable for them to stock them for resale because it is a very limited market.

On the other hand for example Hydramaster USA ( the actual factory ) will stock thousands of parts of all varieties and will sell in turn to Hydramaster distributors worldwide for them to resell at a profit, and why not ?.

Yet... us carpet cleaners complain if we have to drop our prices in order to meet our sales goals and we complain even more when the cheap leaflet brigade shows it's ugly face with £20 room offers, yet in a mirror image of this we expect to pay peanuts for service items and parts. WTF ?.

If we are to expect parts at ebay prices then surely we must be prepared to charge the very same peanut prices for OUR services ?.

[Andy Foster]

For the record, I have no problems with HM and no doubt that their customer service is second to none.  I have heard nothing but praise for this side of their business.

I think we all understand that HM are not in business for the fun of it and they have to make a profit, I think we all also understand that their market is limited, but to vastly inflate your prices simply because you can is not only immoral but bad business.

If your ONLY customers think you are too expensive then they will inevitably look around for a cheaper alternative.
It will take a lot for them to come back to you once they have found that alternative, so why not reduce your prices to an acceptable level and keep your customers close and loyal.  No-one minds spending a little bit more for good service, but how much more???

I think this thread shows that there is a growing disquiet regarding their overpriced products and it is a fool who doesn't listen to his customers complaints.  Of course it is up to them but if it was me, I would take heed of the rumblings.  Even if they decide to stick with what they have, they should at least listen.

[derek west]

can i just put the record straight on my stance, i have no problems with HM's prices, its the information fee i object too.

[Carpet Dawg]

I was on the phone to Matt today twice totaling about 30 minutes trying to work out why one of my vacs had no power and it didn't cost me anything

Turned out to be a loose connection behind the switch from that vac! Saved that diagnostic to the memory bank!

Also, John at Restormate dont charge for advice

Edit: oops ment Matt from CleanSmart.

[Simon Gerrard]

I think part of HM's problem is that they have to buy the parts from HM in the states, ship them over here and then have them sit on a shelf until someone wants them, there is a cost in all of that yet we get the convenience of having that part readily available and shipped to us the next day. I also think HM have made a mistake with this support charge and I am sure they will come to realise that in due course. The thing is whether or not their prices are expensive, we all still need them to be in existence because they are a great resource to us all and if we buy parts etc elsewhere they may not be here for us in the future. So I think we all need to be careful what we wish for.
That doesn't mean I like paying inflated prices, but I have had more than a few indicences where I have been extremely grateful that they have had the part I need to get my TM going again. If I had to order the parts from the US the cost in lost business would be enormous.


Simon