I have noticed in certain sales areas that budget stretchers are selling,but for what reason is this?.Are we seeing a surge in D.I.Y installations?!,hence less work to us of late,or am i being cynical.And when i mean stretchers i dont mean the people carriers..........
I've mentioned this before, when most of us of a certain age started out in this trade the only place you could get fitting tools was through someone who had an account with a trade supplier - in my experience. Nowadays you can get them virtually anywhere especially on the interweb. And I dont say that as a dig anyone who sells tools. With that in mind its highly possible that some DIYers are having a go themselves. Everyone is trying to save themselves a pound or two these days so I dont suppose we can really blame them. Ray
i think the reason for this is the same as what happened in the 70's (last big recession), ppl are trying to make money, so they are either doing fitting as an extra income or they may have been made redundant so this is their new "career", so expect an upsurge in "new" fitters. the ones that can't centre patterns on hall stairs and landings, dont know how to work out block plans, dont know how to balance patterns. By the way i have tried one of these new cheap kickers, the ones with the sharks teeth and pins, broke it in 1 day (bought it as a backup kicker) .
You can pick up tools for our trade at B&Q in fact a few years ago fitters were telling me that it was cheaper to go to B&Q to get gripper than to come to our trade counter, and it was Stickatac & Interfloor and Floorwise that were supplieing them cheaper than the trade. They see big turnover as big proffit. It will get worst since Allied went there are fitters in our area willing to fit at a £1 per m!!!!
I started this by expecting the answers given by other forum members.Having said that i went to a "WOLFF" tools roadshow this morning at a large flooring distributor with the view that the tools are "over engineered.The salespeople agreed but then pulled out a MITRE SHEAR tool.This tool isnt unlike other mitre shears that sell for approx 20 quid say!,but this has a straight blade easy change option.This is why i ordered one along with a few other fitters.But the price tag is around fifty quid all in.I have four or five gripper shears that are begging for new blades so to purchase this one that will "see me out" for an ott price tag that will work for me 24/7.Unless anyone can make one that has easy access blades then i will recommend a expensive Wolff tools one anyday.Otherwise it was a free couple of beers with a couple of german hotdogs and a tee-shirt thrown in.
With regard to Allied Steve, they owe me £1300, doubt they will be hear the other side of xmas, not only that the manager is forcing fitters to supply the gripper free, just one of many reasons i got out, oh and there not very busy too.
