Homebase

[Rappid]

Had a call from Homebase the DIY chain, they are looking to promote trades within the store and I would be only 1 of 12 trades and the only electrician.
Gonna cost £10 a week for 2 years and that includes the displays and leaflets promoting my business.
Do you think it's worth the punt?

 

[trev]

Homebase near us has a rack where Uncle Tom Cobley and all can shove business cards.

 

[Sparky Ninja]

We put our card in Tesco about 15 years ago with the other services, didn't get a single hit from them.

Obviously homebase will attract the DIY, the odd one who will feel out of their depth. It depends on if you can afford the hit and the risk of not getting £1040 worth of profitable business in this time-frame.

 

[Des 56]

A thousand pounds per individual for the 2 years 12 trades £12000 is a nice earner for the company
Multiply that by perhaps 1000 stores and they stand to rake in £12,000,000
That could be their motive

If you have advertising money available,try and decide whether people actually go to these places to do thngs themselves,then the percentage who may prefer a tradesman.then the percentage who already know someone,then the chances of getting the calls from whats left
There are no easy ways to promote yourself

 

[Strima]

For that price I would expect all my advertising to be around the electrical area including the lighting bays etc.

 

[RISElectrical]

To be honest people going to a DIY chain to buy electrical items are just that, DIY which means they will probably do it themselves. Those that want to use a tradesmen will usually ring them up for them to supply. You may get the odd light to put up when someone sees a nice fitting they want but that would need your leaflets to be placed accordingly in the store which probably wont happen.

£10 a month is a lot of money to pay out for what I think could be a low return.

Do they have a pay monthly scheme, even if its £15 a month you could try that without committing and see how it works out for you

 

[StuSpiers]

Don't think Homebase call local trades up.

Sure it's not a reincarnation of the blue light scam?

Sounds highly suspect to me.

 

[needasparks]

Would not think anyone would get a chance to see the board behind the tills, usually too many people trying to sell conservatories standing in front of them.
Most people leave the till and run to the car with a warm glow of getting the drill out again.......Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeeee....................!!!

 

[telectrix]

had the same sort of deal offered me by wicks. better to ad. in the local rag.

 

[Strima]

Or get frustrated by the overly helpful staff at the self service tills that just get in the way and complain they haven't got enough staff to man the tills...

 

[pjcomp]

Don't think Homebase call local trades up.

No, Homebase do call people up like this (or at least their advertising agency does). Sainsbury, Tesco, all the sheds and big stores do it - they all have these boards to charge tradesmen a small fortune to get not a lot. The boards are always at the exit, which means people get the chance to browse what's on show and pick up cards on their way out, but also when they've finished their shopping and want to get it all out to the car. If anyone here has tried this and earned their money back from it I'd love to know.

PJ

 

[Guitarist]

You would be better off giving the electrical "expert" at the local shed a grand to promote you whenever he sees someone buying a CU

Hope that's not illegal. If so, I take it all back....

 

[Guest55]

the cash is better spent on a good website design.

 

[Guitarist]

the cash is better spent on a good website design.

Or a holiday in Majorca. I don't think I have ever seen anyone reading the cards at any DIY place.

 

[Guest55]

Or a holiday in Majorca. I don't think I have ever seen anyone reading the cards at any DIY place.

your idea is waaaaaaaaaay better than mine lol.

 

[Hiddo]

I've had them on the phone to me. The company concerned is called service link or something like that.

I gave him a bit of stick and he dropped it to £8 a week. I still said no.

Just a complete money making racket.

 

[Sparkystu79]

Got talked into taking out a similar thing with tescos, £1200 for 2 years. Must be around 3 years ago and the cards are still on display, got my first call last week! I'm not even trading under the same name but still have the same phone number. Avoid like the plague!

 

[Plonker 3]

Had Homebase ring me up several months ago, said hello then went into a 5 minute chat about what he could offer me, which was advertising in there stores. Hung up on them eventually, only for them to ring me back and ask what happened then just start the speil from where he left off. Just put my phone down on the side leaving him talking to no body in the end.

 

[Rappid]

Thanks for the responses, I decided not to bother.
It's a DIY store so the majority of the people going in there intend on doing the work themselves.
If Homebase were to put my leaflet into every piece of electrical item they sold, I would definately sign up.

 

[Guitarist]

Thanks for the responses, I decided not to bother.
It's a DIY store so the majority of the people going in there intend on doing the work themselves.
If Homebase were to put my leaflet into every piece of electrical item they sold, I would definately sign up.

I think you've hit the nail on the head there. Having a few business cards in a stand by the exit is not really promoting or advertising imo.

 

[ACF Ltd]

Avoid these like the plague!!

They come in many guises - Balmoral Services - Service Link - Windsor Associates - Trinity Services - Link-a-Trade - Service Point - ADC.

They are all part of WRT Group - and they are all crooks! They claim to work for TESCO, Wickes, Homebase and Sainburys.

Sold me Homebase advertising saying they worked for Homebase and were looking to find trades to help keep customers from going to other big DIY stores and home improvement stores.

They do not work for Homebase or any other large store - they have a concession in stores which they sell advertising for - cards or leaflets.

All contracts are classed as non-cancellable - plus you dont get no cooling off period when it comes to advertising so be careful.

Avoid avoid avoid!!

 

[Bristol]

Storemedia / Windsor Associates / Wickes Link a Trade

Has anyone had any bad dealings with the above companies, they are all party of the same group.

I have been swindled out of money by them and a little by my naivety.

I had a call from a salesmen saying he was from Wickes. (Lie, he works for Storemedia)
He told me that Wickes were looking to get local builders working with local stores for local customers. He said that Wickes fit kitchen, but at the moment do not do any building work and that rather than have members of staff maybe giving out the mates numbers, they decided to work with local builders.

They offer a card slot and card placed in it at the front of stores as well as putting you on a list for building works. He said that staff would recommend up to 3 builders in each store and that we would work very close with Wickes designers. He said that we would be able to show on our website that we work with Wickes, by showing their logo.

At this point your all thinking that I should have seen that it was a con, but he had loads of Wickes documentation and imagery.


I signed up to the deal, deposit £560 and contract total of £2250 for 2 years.
I went to the local store the next day to say hello to the designers, they told me that it was all lies and that Storemedia have nothing to do with them. Except they pay to have their card dispenser at the front of the store.

I’m sure lots of there are lots of you thinking what a fool, which to be honest I was.


If you have been approached by them please stay well away. Also if they contacted you saying they worked for Wickes and you fancy jotting that down for my court case, that would be much appreciated.


Please do leave helpful comments

 

[telectrix]

that last post says it all. avoid like the plague.

 

[Stocksie]

Did it years ago mate, total waste of money !

 

[Octopus]

Stupidly I signed with Link a trade (after getting a far cheaper deal) and then had 2nd thoughts - their agreement was pretty water tight BUT they slipped up and took unauthorised payments from my card which a lawyer mate of mine said gave me the out.

4 weeks later and numerous emails and a couple of letters they have finally said they will refund my money - that as Monday and its yet to happen.

They claim they are good at communication and marketing - don't be fooled - communication is terrible.

As others have said don't get involved.

 

[danf1966]

the only people who use homebase are diy,rs, you will be inundated with how do i do that calls.........£0

 

[GLENNSPARK]

A thousand pounds per individual for the 2 years 12 trades £12000 is a nice earner for the company
Multiply that by perhaps 1000 stores and they stand to rake in £12,000,000
That could be their motive

If you have advertising money available,try and decide whether people actually go to these places to do thngs themselves,then the percentage who may prefer a tradesman.then the percentage who already know someone,then the chances of getting the calls from whats left
There are no easy ways to promote yourself

another way to do it....is go down there on a sunday.....just the time that couples etc like to wander round such places dreaming (or planning) their new home makeover.....
when you see em looking at kitchen stuff.....or electrical accessories.....offer them your card....
if homebase and the like think they can pass off stunts like this as `helping the local tradesman`....then you just do it back....use em to get your customers....

 

[GLENNSPARK]

the only people who use homebase are diy,rs, you will be inundated with how do i do that calls.........£0

ore they can just come in here...lol...

 

[not clever]

Keep hold of your money dont chuck it away.
My brothers mate is a manager at the local HB..........................he said ;

1. This set up is nothing to do with HB
2. Isnt worth what the company are charging for a handful of business cards.
3. The store staff move the card holder to some obscure place behind the tills because 9 times out of 10 the rep leaves it in the way of the customers exit.
4. It's a DIY store why the **** would customers call a tradesman.
5. If they do realize they need help, they are then at home so will use google or if over 30 use yellow pages to find a sparks, going back to HB to get a card from a hidden stand is the last thing they will think of.

His advice stay away & tell the bloke to do one.
Can you tell I've had the same call a few times now.

 

[not clever]

ore they can just come in here...lol...

No that's the Electrical Trainee who have had the call from said Home Base customer.

 

[GLENNSPARK]

No that's the Electrical Trainee who have had the call from said Home Base customer.

oh aye...ther`l be enough of that goin on n all...lol..

 

[sima24]

Would be suprised if even diyers would look in homebase for materials. I was stuck last week needing 1 more fcu, homebase round the corner from this house price was £11.99 for a basic white fcu, needless to say i left the job till the next day

 

[ACF Ltd]

Re: Storemedia / Windsor Associates / Wickes Link a Trade

Hi

I must admit I signed up as well - never normally taken in but anyway I was. Until I couldn't get no sleep that night because I knew I had F***** up.

I cancelled my cheque for the deposit next day which they said I couldn't and the contract couldn't be cancelled.

I wrote cancelling stating my reasons of being mis-sold the product etc.

I had a couple of phone calls off them but not too much hassle as they know they are con artists.

My advice would be to cancel your cheque deposit if not too late - other than that I would defiantly cancel your standing order and let them threaten you.

Write to them sensibly explaining that it was mis sold to you and that they don't have a contract with Wickes and they mis-represented who they were working for - i was told similar lies about Homebase. Same again - store manager knows nothing about it. I did this just so that if any further action is taken then I look like I'm a sane business owner and not just someone who is complaining because the advertising hasn't worked for them.

I wouldn't worry about a court case, there is no way in the world that these want to go to court as their malpractice would be torn apart by a judge and what they are doing would be brought into the open.

I have had correspondence with others in the same position who have stopped paying their installments and after a bit of threatening and phone calls they don't take it any further.

I just wish the likes of Tesco, Homebase, and Wickes would stop selling space in their stores to these fraudsters.

Drop me a line if you think I could help any further - would be happy to.

Paul

 

[Rappid]

Thanks for your responses, could we get the mods to put this up as a sticky and add the word 'Scam' to the thread header?
Might save someone a few hundred quid of their hard earned cash and a lot of stress.