Advertising in homebase

[calpol91]

Hi guys. Im having flyers put up in homebase by a company who does a full board of this nature.

They've give me a massive discount so i gave the go ahead.

They print my flyers and such so i figured even if i got nothing from homebase direct, i could pinch the flyers and they'd come and fill them (the guy even said to do that if i fancied it ha)

Homebase are supposed to say this is the guy we send out when a customer asks them.

Anyone tried owt like this? I went to see the board beforehand and there were some big companies (not sparks) doing it so i figured why not.

Ill report my experiences in a month or 2 if any one is interested!

 

[JulianC]

Waste of time and money I'm afraid. How many people going to a DIY shop are looking for a tradesman do you think?

 

[calpol91]

Yeahh but it depends how u look at it, u can buy kitchens and bathrooms from these places but how many would fit them as a diy job? I got my kitchen from them and had a local lad fit it, if id of been recommended on by home base id of at least got a quote from him

 

[papycompany]

i would agree with what JulianC says, i mean whoever goes in there to buy a socket, switch etc is already got a sparky waiting for him at home or coming next day...these flyers are a complete waste of money and time. better to hand them by yourself if possible or a friend to certain areas instead of paying a company to display some papers with your name and number in there...just my opinion

 

[DNS1]

To be fair, no one who's got ANY idea about even basic DIY tasks would be in Homebase in the first place!

 

[Octopus]

Oh dear, lets hope its not got anything to do with Link-a-trade or its associated companies!

 

[calpol91]

Who are link a trade?

 

[calpol91]

Ha just found your post about them. Its not them but similar. I might cancel it to be honest going off this.

Or i might try it for a couple of months.

Im gonna pop into homebase tomorrow and ring one of the current advertisers see what he/she says first

 

[vxwestie]

Can I ask how much it cost out of curiousity?

 

[calpol91]

They were wanting something like 512+ vat initially, then he lowered it to 412+ vat then i got it for 350 including.

A think av changed me mind all in, seemed like a good idea when he wa chatting at me.

 

[Rick b]

I tried it a few years ago and got nowt. Expensive for naff all work.

 

[Des 56]

Homebase were doing a "be the only tradesman on our board who we recomend in your area con" a while back.they were charging £12 a month for the priveledge

We estimated,on this forum that a dozen or so unique tradesmen at £12 a month each---£144
Multiply by a 1000 stores and then 12 months for the year,we are talking big bucks,that is why Homebase are into all these type of scams themselves,mega money.Its also a waste of time for the reasons already given by others

 

[Rick b]

What des56 said is the scam I got scammed with. Scamming scammy scammers.

 

[Octopus]

I was lucky when I signed up and they made a mistake by taking money off my card before the agreed date on the agreement. This allowed me to argue THEY had broken the contract and 2 months later got my deposit back. They were VERY slippery, and very rude. Write letters and make notes as to who you speak to.

They thought by ignoring my emails and letters they could keep my money BUT by doing so actually helped my case.


Keep it polite and in writing, post and email letters.

 

[calpol91]

I haven't given them any money yet ha, legally a contract isn't in force until a "consideration" is made i.e money paid OR work done so nothing is in force yet

 

[Octopus]

I haven't given them any money yet ha, legally a contract isn't in force until a "consideration" is made i.e money paid OR work done so nothing is in force yet

This might be your lucky day. Did you give them a credit card number or bank details?

 

[calpol91]

Yeah but ive cancelled the card ha, seems abit extreme but i dont use that card unless absolutely needed and money is good atm so i wont need it anytime soon!

 

[Rappid]

Have a look at his thread. http://www.electriciansforums.net/electrical-forum-general-electrical-forum/62272-homebase.html

 

[ifindoubtdont]

If you've got a few minutes to spare on a weekend, go into any of the sheds with a pocket full of business cards and hang around in the relevant aisles. By people watching and eves-dropping on conversations you can soon tell the ones who are dangerous with screwdriver. A quick friendly chat, pop a card in their grateful little mitts and wait for the phone call. It's worked for me a few times and it's usually simple stuff, takes longer to get the tools out.

 

[oldtimer]

I agree with the people are not looking for an electrician in a DIY store but I benefit from this as they get home take the light(s) out of the box then think na and I end up getting a phone but they only look for me after they have been to the store