Screwfix query

Had your theory been correct, would they not have refused the sale? Surely more likely they were checking if you were eligible for trade discount?

No Prat P police are involved. They are trying to sign you up into their trade department.

heavens no.

NT

My local Screwfix has recently changed.

A month or so ago they were operating an Argos type system. Warehouse hidden, someone serves you and hands out a ticket and then you wait for

Now the warehouse can be seen (the partitions have been removed) and the person taking my order fetched the goods aka the toolstation way.

Next stage will be remove the counters, install self-scan checkouts, and you will be able to collect your own goods and walk out with them in your pocket (aka the B&Q way)

The space saved can be used for a new cushions display.

Owain

I did wonder.

They couldn't refuse it because I wasn't buying MCBs!

They do that to me occasionally. I usually reply "I tend to buy electricals from TLC [true] but seeing as I was here for something else..."

They give up at that point.

Once I did explain I was a DIYer - they said I could still sign up if I brought my Part P exam cert in (EAL-II DI).

Well data collection is what everyone does these days. If you had said yes you would get loads of adverts for electrician stuff no doubt. The pioneers of this kind of thing way back when were Tandy of course who seemed able to sent you targeted little newspaper offers in the post which uncannily had details of things similar to what you had already bought from them. Brian

I've never understood this method of poorly targeted advertising. Offer you goods that you have ALREADY purchased. When I purchased my TV I had targeted adverts from the same retailer only offering alternative TVs and not any of the other goods they also sold etc.

When I occasionally disable my web Ad-blocker I get targeted adverts for the site and item I have previously visited. If I was looking for something to purchase I would have already: i) made a note of the site with the best price/delivery/reputation ii) already purchased the item when visiting the site iii) rejected the offer.

I don't think there is much to understand... It is simply an example of poor marketing.

A lot of people are clearly not as meticulous as you (or me...) or they would not do it/companies would not pay for it. Just look how far targeted marketing has taken Google in 20 years.

Google is different. You search for something and the first item in the list is the retailer with (or without) that product who pays the most to advertise with Google.

It used to be that some retailers sold absolutely everything. Type in "dog s*it" and a pop up would appear saying that Amazon sold it.

I'll take some of that back. I went into SF today. Severed immediately but then waited 10 minutes for someone else to pick the item. During that time 3 customers, 3 staff at the front of house including one with a job welcoming customers through the door and couple of staff seen in the warehouse part of the building.

I'd complain if I were you.

Owain

Owain

Yup - ring up and get cut off!

But they are selling the 'targetted' marketing to someone else, they don't use/depend on it themselves. Personally I think advertising is a huge scam which supports the advertising industry but not much else. Who 'proves' that advertising works - mostly the advertising companies!

Descriptions a little odd.... NEW FAKE DOG HUMAN POO .

anyway I was pissed off when they stoped selling dehydrated water !