Best Supplier 2004

[rdocwra]

Hi Guys,
This is probably more leaning towards the UK enginners so sorry to all those of you abroard.

Over the last 12 months a lot of changes both to and bottom end have been happening at the major suppliers, has this made any difference at the trade counters or not. It would be nice to hear of any good points you can highlight about them.

I have posted a poll on the major one's. I am talking about Parts availability, Knowledge of staff, Helpfullness/friendlyness. basically the whole back up package.

Who gives you the best service as an engineer.

Regards

Raymond

[eggs]

it has to be SWM for the air conditioning.
my manchester branch always have eveything i need in stock.
the counter staff, driver, girls and brian the technical man are always on hand to help your business.
11/10
no matter what size of business you run, you are treated like royalty.

ps their coffee machine is broke though !!!

for the refrigeration it has to be RCL (thermofrost cryo,manchester)

[Blueboy]

I think if your and A/C man based around Manchester SWM are pretty good.

I don't do to much A/C these days and I find NRS in both Liverpool and Preston excellent for service i.e. friendly staff Parts i.e. good selection and excellent product knowledge of staff and stocking levels they would be by Number 1 choice.

I find HRP a very poor alternative in Warrington. The staff are rubbish and uninterested and never seem to have what I want or don't know what it is I have asked for " What is the product code mate" as I say rubbish

[eggs]

i know what you mean about HRP.
one day i went in for a new 1/2 inch rothenberger guide.
they had one on the shelf, but wouldn't give it to me because it had the wrong part number written on it in felt tip marker.and said it would mess up their stock computer
i asked them to give it to me, and then when they got in a new one, write on the wrong part number again, then "hey presto" the computer is not messed up.
they said no.

i said goodbye

never to return.

[Karl Hofmann]

I really like dealing with Hawco for my LG stuff, their sales staff are pretty good at advising when I'm a little unsure, and the stuff arrives when they say it will, the driver even calls me an hour before he is due to arrive to make sure that I am there to sign for the delivery.

I have also started using a little company in Stoke called Ambient Technical Solutions known locally as Ambitech, they can supply virtually any make of a/c, they also supply domestic gas spares and have waited after hours for me when I needed parts but was stuck in traffic. They are a little dearer, but there are some things that are more important than the bottom line

[rdocwra]

It seems to me that not a lot of people have good things to say about the big three.

The bit that annoys me is that none of them really offer a one stop shop. What do i mean by that ?, well most systems at some point will have either a capacior or contactor in it but no one stocks them. HRP list Danfoss contactors but they never hold them, i get wound up having to go to both a refrigeration & electrical supplier especially when it is a pack or condensing unit supplied by these guys.

I think they may have had it too god for too long and now with some realistic compertition they might wake up a bit

Regards

Raymond

[chillyhamster]

The only one stop shop i know about is Just One Call, part of the NRW group. They source from all major suppliers. :rolleyes:

[Karl Hofmann]

I can reinforce what the other guys say about HRP Warrington, they are dreadfull, especially the guy who deals with the Tosh/Carrier sales, he seems to believe that it is below him to speak to you, and rolls his eyes when you explain that you only want one ac unit (I wont use his name, but those who have met him can guess)

[rdocwra]

It looks like the big three are losing out. There seem to be quite a few smaller independant companies up the north end of England, but down here in East Anglia it's between HRP & NRS.

My vote went to NRS as i can't fault their Cambridge branch. I have been in twice this week and they have had everything i have wanted each time, the staff are friendly, all know me by name and the coffee machine's free :D

I certainly know what some other people say about HRP although Bury depot is quite good and the staff on the trade counter know what they are on about some of the other depots make you feel like you are an inconvience to them by having the cheek to go in and ask them fo some parts.
I am also p'd off that HRP put things in their catalogue and when you ask for them no depot has them and they go on back order.

While on the subject of parts Norpe fit a lot of their units with 10w Magnatec/A O Smith fan motors( the round one's with the 3 hole/stub fixinf). HRP Never have :( and NRS no longer supply them. You can get the 7w versions OK but i am a little concerned that if a unit is design'd to have 2 x 10w condenser fan motors, replacing them with 7w ones is going to cause them to overheat. Before anyone say's it, 10w multifits (EMI82/Elco/Olmo) are too big and dont fit. Anyone else had any probs

Regards

FATBOY !!!