[Ian Lancaster]

Before I retired I was a member of our local 'Top Dog' group.  Very relaxed and informal. No registration fee but £7 each time (I think) with a bacon sarnie and hot drinks included.

Got a couple of jobs out of it.  Went more for the laugh than anything else - some of them were so far up their own a***s they could see out of their mouths

Lot of good sorts as well - just hardworking types trying to do the best they could.

Well worth it - not for new jobs but helped get my name 'out there' - more people who know who you are the better.

[Mike #1]

I went a few years back but not foe me the people who were attending were outside my area and after 2 meetings one guy who was with a energy provider tryed to get me signed up to his company.

As a sales person going to peoples houses , As soon as said not intrested he started saying how I would not get any refferals until I joined and payed the £500 fee

So never bothered anymore they were not my kind of people. Mike

[robertphil]

an ex army guy tried to get me to join, i liked how he offered conselling to blokes with ptsd  but i wasnt impressed with the cheap leather look folder full of cards  he told me id get one of these and i reckon he was on commision for new members

[formb]

i reckon he was on commision for new members

Not exactly. The way BNI works is the more people who attend every week the more likely that you are to receive a referral for work. Window cleaners are ideal members for BNI as they tend to have a customer base which is larger than most. How many times have you been asked 'do you know a good plumber/sparkie/builder' if you have your wee BNI wallet thingmy on you, you have their business cards ready to pass on to your customer.

It is quite a good idea I think, it is just unfortunate that it tends to be attended by sharks who see it as a room full of mugs that they can rip off. As with everything this is a minority spoiling it for everyone else. 

[Paul Clapham]

I used to attend a BNI group a number of years ago did not like it at all .

 I have no problems doing "sales" , but I do have a problem referring and recommending professionals / trades people who I have not done any business with myself or via my company.     

[George P]

how did you get on ronnie?, worth going

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

how did you get on ronnie?, worth going

yeah he got 2000 house gutters to quote

[George P]

how did you get on ronnie?, worth going

yeah he got 2000 house gutters to quote

take it your not a fan then

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

Wasn't being scarky he as 2000
House gutters to price

[George P]

hes done well then for a 1st visit, did think you were taking the p155 though

[ronnie paton]

Meet up with him Monday so ill know better then

[Moderator David@stives]

Ronnie has got to quote for the sponsors of Man U, absolutely true

[ronnie paton]

Thanks Dave

[Moderator David@stives]

Ronnie is now an official cleaner for Man U sponsors

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

But he don't clean old Trafford
Does he 

[Moderator David@stives]

Not yet

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

not ever dave lol

[landy2]

When you say sponsors who do you mean there are loads of there sponsors

[ronnie paton]

come on gav thats no way to get some valentine chocolates

[Gav Camm lammy 283]

come on gav thats no way to get some valentine chocolates

lol