Thomas Sanderson

Username1989

I worked for Thomas Sanderson for a grand total of 3 weeks. It was my first telesales role, indeed my first time 'selling a product'. It turned out to be a lesson learned for life, I dont think I'll ever put mself into that sort of situation again.
I'm generally a happy person, socialable, and can set a person at ease on the phone or face to face. I'd previously worked in a call centre for HSBC, back in essex, in collections. while i wont speak for the way some people in that place treated customers, i'm proud to say i always tried to help as best i could (we all ultimately put ourselves in the firing line with debt, myself included-its our choice and we suffer the consequences). Even so far as to say i was happy reversing bank charges etc, or taking the time to work out a solution, rather than drone monotone like that 'you need to pay that back, when how why hmm?'
I was happy in this role, if only just to hear customers thank me at the end of a call, (thank a debt collector?!) because i'd explained a way and a means to bring control back to people whose money (and lives) seemed to be spiralling downwards, and so get their heads out of the sand.

Perhaps naively, i thought i could apply this principle to working at TS, (this was the best opportunity that had come my way-i'd moved to portsmouth and the first job to come my way was mcdonalds, some of you might find that amusing after working for a bank! but alas necessary in these times, so TS seemed like a godsend in money terms. However, this place had the worst attitude I've ever come accross. It was a small call centre of around 50-60 people, people who seem only to care about themselves, to the point where i didnt speak to anyone.

And the way we were 'taught' to deal with potential customers?
I'd like to think if a customer had interest in a product, and i myself had interest in it (perhaps am mobile phone, or motorbike) i could explain its attributes well, and also the downsides etc, and give the person a fair view of what they're looking at, and so gain their interest. So if my first words in a TS call were ' Hi my name is BLANK calling from Thomas Sanderson, Conservatory Blinds Company' and a customer immediately said 'or sorry but i'm not interested'. My first response would be to apologise, and terminate the call. This is how it went for me the first few days.
HOWEVER, i was told repeatedly, that i could only terminate a call,after hearing three 'no's', ridiculous practice, which of course left some customers fumming, and or frustrated at the feeling they were being ignored. Now is that good business practice?

I stuck at this job for 3 weeks, out of fear of the consequences of not having a job these days, and i sold a grand total of nothing. I can agree with other posts that this company must have been good in its day, but it is now like a person removing bricks from a castle's good foundation to build unsteady personal towers on top.

Luckily I escaped this madness, and now work with another previous TS worker, with a company where I help others again over the phone. I never felt happier than the day I told TS to sod off!

MatthewClements

I was quoted £22,000 for blinds for a conservatory. Ridiculous. I kept saying I wanted to think about it (but really I just wanted him to leave) and he kept getting cheaper and cheaper and cheaper. I asked if he stayed all night if they would be free? He wasn't impressed. He went through this ridiculous act of ringing his manager (he must think I was born yesterday) and came back with a price of £8,000 if I went ahead today only. I explained that the telesales woman told me I would have 3 months to think about it and he informed me that his colleague was a liar. I said no and he left. An hour later, he called and said he had an extra special and could now do them for £6,000. I said no. The next day, his manager called and said that he could do it for £5,000. I said no. A week later, the manager's manager offered me £4,000. This old-fashioned hacking is so 1980's and I cannot believe this type of double-glazing sale still takes place. I could have spent £22,000 on blinds that were now being offered to me for £4,000 without any change in specification. I didn't tell him that my conservatory cost £4,000 How completely ridiculous. I got a local guy to fit blinds for £500 and I honestly cannot see the difference between them and the Thomas Sanderson ones being offered. Is it legal to offer products at 40 times the price they should be?

marleyboy

:eek::eek:Sorry I thought you said 22 GRAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MatthewClements

LOL to Marleyboy - seriously. Couldn't believe my ears.

esmf73

This is SUCH a great thread. Am just about to start having quotes given to me for my conservatory roof blinds. Am expecting them to be expensive - and I will also get my OH to take the kids out whilst the reps are here as it looks like I'll be giving them pieces of my mind!! (the blank ones!!)

Have also contacted a local company so will see which one is the best! Thanks very much to all who have posted on here, Very useful indeed.

shady99

Hi all

Looking for your advice in respect of the conservatory blinds we had fitted in December 2006.

We had around 16 blinds fitted at a cost of around £2400 and found last year that a couple of blinds had started to 'go' at the bottom. By this I mean the tensioned cord had pulled through the side of the thin plastic strip at the bottom of the blind, which cannot be reseated. I called Thomas Sanderson and they have said they can get somebody out to take a look - but a call out charge of around £50.

Now, surely this thin plastic strip has given up in the heat, where it has become liable and the tension in the cord has allowed this to be pulled along the side of the strip. With this in mind would this not be a case of the product not being up to the job in hand ? I would say nothing if this was one or two blinds, but to have seven blinds all now hanging at a crazy angle - is detracting from the image we expected when signing up for a 'premium' product. They are also barely three years old (3 years 4 months to be exact), and so the promise of half the price back towards a new set in 10 years time (part of the buying decision) is looking a little desparate given that I don't believe they will make it that long.

What are my options ? Do I stand my ground, do I have any legal recourse ?


Cheers

teejaybee

A very useful thread. We got a quote from TS and we thought it was far too expensive. Are there any other companies that people have had quote, or have bought conservatory blinds through?

Apparently roof blinds are essential, is this just sale speak for we can take more of your money?

We live in the North East, have Hillarys coming tomorrow. Any help would be great.

Starrystarrynight

We got our blinds through Thomas Sanderson, about £1200 in total I think. I found the service very good and the blinds look great. We still need the door open when it gets too hot, but they cut out all glare.
The quote for roof blinds was crazy, though, so we gave them a miss.

busterpem

..hi...im new to this forum (but not to the web site)..Last year me and the wife start looking into shutters..As iv not got money to burn, i start looking for help...so i start looking on there. i had a few company coming around to "quote" thomas sanderson and hillarys. Sandersaon were the first...They give me a price of £6500 for the shutter but with discounts the price moved down to £4700. This was way more then i was happy to pay. The sales man said this was my 30 day quote but if i was to buy on the day he would see what he could do..So after a call he got the price down to £3700 (fully fitted)..i said sorry but no (to much)..he left me with quote..Then hilarys came around, the shutters i have to say were not as nice as sandersons. The sales man said that he could do all the windows for £3500. As before a said no..two calls later the price was down to £2000, so a signed..The saleman said that the shutter would be installed to 8 - 10 weeks...4 months later (16 weeks) they got installed.. And all i can say is that i would have had more fun setting fire to my money..The Fitter was the same sales man that sold me the shutters, two shutters were put the wrong way up..And the light gaps as so big i can put a pen in one..

My neighbour last week had shutters fitted by Thomas sanderson and what a difference from my shutter..Yes they cost more but they fit and look so nice...I hope i can get my money back and get the shutter i saw in the first place...yes they would have cost more but i and my wife would have been so more happyer

trisontana

Thanks for your input busterpem. Just one question. Why do you think that these companies start with a high price and then reduce them at the drop of a hat?

A cynic would say that the initial prices are artificially high and when they offer a "discount" the potential customer is suckered into thinking they have got a good deal. It's the same ploy offered by many of these companies that come to your home. Be it double-glazing, mobility aids, or blinds.

If you go into an "ordinary" shop you aren't subjected to all that malarkey, so why do door-to-door salesmen have to resort to these trick?