Brad Naylor said:
Word is that Winzer Wurth are about to open 40 Screwfix style trade counters around the country following a couple of successful trial stores.
I use their products a lot and they're excellent - if the trade counters are run with German efficiency they could be worth a try.
I agree Brad, but German efficiency with British attitude to service? Forget it mate, how many times have you been at a trade counter watching one snot-nosed trainee struggling for the right code to punch into a computer, while two or more fully trained colleagues prat about in the background sorting out telephone orders, or just attempting to look busy? (sometimes they don't even "attempt")
I see this sort of thing day after day, but if you dare suggest to any of them that whilst they are getting paid to be there you aren't - you tend to get the "who the feck d'ya think you are" look, as if they're doing you the favour by letting you stand there waiting!
Let's face it, queueing has become a British institution - you even have to queue on a telephone now. Fast food? My a**e. Drive Thru? Queue Thru more like. The classic - "I'll be with you in a minute mate."
Unfortunately dragging someone over a counter by their ear is considered to be anti-social nowadays, as is expecting fast efficient service apparently.
I have used Screwfix in a jam many times in the past - need a part to complete a job (plumbing/electrics etc.) but off your patch and don't want to waste time trying to find a local supplier - I've placed a telephone order - got on with other elements of the fit - and opened the door the next day to a bloke I've never seen before bearing exactly what I need. Sorted. To be fair, that sort of thing works in my line because I tend to be on the same job for an average of 4-5 days, and being a quite fluid process there's pretty much always something else to be getting on with.
Turn up anywhere in person though, and it seems that you're just interfering in an otherwise perfectly smooth business operation - who needs customers?
German efficiency and an American approach to service though? "Wunderbar, have a nice day."
Now that's worth dreaming about......
(Rant mode off)