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Welcome to the forum. Although you can post in any forum, the USA forum is here in case of local regs or laws

R

Ray Stafford

Hi All

You might like to go for a wander around the beta test version of our ecommerce site.

You will notice that you have to register before you can see prices or buy anything. This is because we don't want the general public seeing our prices, and we certainly don't want to sell them anything. I know that its a pain to register, but I think its worth it to protect your margins and keep joe public out.

You can register in 3 ways.

1) If you are gas-safe registered, you can use your gas safe number to verify your trade status. The registration system checks this automatically via the Gas Safe register, and should allow you access without further hassle. However, if you ticked the "no publicity" box when you registered with Gas Safe, then this won't work, and it ought to apologise and tell you that a human being will contact you soon.

2) If you have an account with us already AND we have a valid email address registered on your account, then you can get in almost straight away - we will just automatically send you an "update password" link and you should be fine.

3) If you have neither of the above, just fill in all the details, and it will tell you that a human will contact you. However, if you PM me with the email address that you registered with, I can authorise you immediately - although this only applies to plumbers arms members.

Please remember that it is a first release. It was working perfectly on the test set up earlier, but I bet something goes wrong now. If it does, please don't be afraid of letting us know. However, it is working and if you checkout, your credit card will be debited, and we will ship to you!

So fill yer boots. 🙂

Cheers

Ray
 
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Just had a look round it Ray, everything seems to be working nicely, site looks good, will sign up later. All the best with your new venture. Stani.
 
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Nice raymondo.

I have noticed however that prices can be viewed without signing in....

But only on the special offers tab with all the vanity units on.

Just thought you should be aware of this and it has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with me angling for a biscuit/sweets upgrade on my next order......honest😀
 
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Had a look around and all seems good. It keeps logging me off though for some reason.
 
Nice raymondo.

I have noticed however that prices can be viewed without signing in....

But only on the special offers tab with all the vanity units on.





Just thought you should be aware of this and it has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with me angling for a biscuit/sweets upgrade on my next order......honest😀

Thanks Kevan

Trying to duplicate that here, but I think I need to clear my cookies, because it doesnt seem to want to log me out.
 
I omly discovered it because I am too bone idle to put in the password you kindly supplied. The browse tabs were lit so I just clicked and hey presto special offer prices can be seen.

Heads must roll ray, heads must roll😱
 
One feature that you might like is the ability to save a basket for 30 days at a fixed price.

The idea is that if you are quoting a customer, you can log onto the site, type in the list of materials, and get the prices you need to base your quote on.

You then save the basket. It defaults to saving it with todays date as a name, but you can change that and call it "Mrs Smiths boiler change".

It will remain there, fixed at that price, for 30 days. If you come back within 30 days, you can buy it, edit it or discard it. After 30 days it should expire and disappear.
 
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Under what circumstances mfgs?

And do you mind telling me what browser you are using?

Ray

It seemed to be whenever I was trying to get to the inhibitor section using the menu on the left it was logging me out when I got there. I then searched for it in the search at the top and I could see the prices and not get logged out. I am using internet explorer. I have just done this again and it seems to be working now???
 
for a beta version it looks pretty damn good ray. i haven't found any problems with it so far.
 
for a beta version it looks pretty damn good ray. i haven't found any problems with it so far.

We have been hammering it quite hard internally, but that was on a test platform. And I have sent it back to the developers several times for more work.

You never know what will happen when you take it live, and sudddenly all sorts of users with different devices and browsers start using it. 🙂
 
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GasMan - I have just activated your account based on your hotmail account, but you did already have one under the company email address.

Anyone else who register - please don't forget to PM me the email address, so I can activate it. As soon as I see the magic "Pub member" on the PM, we will accept that as proof of trade status.
 
Very nice Ray.

Dont know if it was a problem but i could see consumable item prices without logging in

Thanks Gasmanxxxx. That seems to be a problem, and we will be on to the developers in the morning.

Was it you that just registered at a hotmail account? I thought it was mark (the other gas man)
 
Hi ray. Just registered. Will be ordering a magnacleanse later on the week and some stock.

will send pm now
 
Hi Ray, I'm having the same problem with chemicals and water treatment section. I'm on my ipad, every time I click on it it logs me out, when I click log in it does it automatically without entering details, but kicks me back to the bathroom section. I click on water treatment and it kicks me out again.

Just spent 45 minutes trying to buy a bottle of F1. :wheelchair:

But seriously, from what I've seen it looks really good and the prices are good.

I registered using gas safe. Can you only register once per gas safe details? It wouldn't be hard to get a postcode and G.S number if you were a ****tard wanting trade prices.
 
Hi Ray, I'm having the same problem with chemicals and water treatment section. I'm on my ipad, every time I click on it it logs me out, when I click log in it does it automatically without entering details, but kicks me back to the bathroom section. I click on water treatment and it kicks me out again.
Just spent 45 minutes trying to buy a bottle of F1. :wheelchair:

But seriously, from what I've seen it looks really good and the prices are good.

It looks like we have a problem with the logging in and out thing - I will take that back to the developers tomorrow. That the beauty of doing stuff on the forum - we can sort these things out before the whole world gets at it.

I registered using gas safe. Can you only register once per gas safe details? It wouldn't be hard to get a postcode and G.S number if you were a ****tard wanting trade prices.

This is something that we have considered - a determined retail customer getting someone's gas safe details and using them to spoof the system. The honest truth is that it would work, but there are a few barriers.

Firstly, they would have to know that we exist. We intend to spend exactly nothing on SEO, and have no intention of climbing up the google rankings.
Secondly, they would really have to make an effort. People won't normally wait 4 secs for a page to load, never mind actually working at something like this
Thirdly - although we would be ****ed off, its not the end of the world. We know that lots of our customers leave our pricelist on jobs, and sometimes even give them to custards and tell them to come here (that never ends well).

Finally, if they do actually succeed in buying something, then its christmas for the gas safe engineer. As a security measure, first orders can only go to the account address, unless Ian or I override it personally.

And they couldn't phone up and admit what they had done, could they. Claiming to be gas-safe registered when you aren't is a criminal offence... 🙂
 
It does say in the delivery section that they will deliver anywhere in the world.............for a price 🙂

And we do. We have a regular in the Falklands for example. But it isn't FOC over £100 or a tenner for smaller orders....
 
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Ray, could you use the engineers ID number info?

I think the name, postcode and company number are easily obtainable off the webiste, but engineers numbers not listed. You can search for them specifically but unless you do this the ID number is never displayed.

just a thought if you wanted to be ultra safe, I'm happy for people to deliver free stuff to my house in exchange for my details.
 
Ray, could you use the engineers ID number info?

I think the name, postcode and company number are easily obtainable off the webiste, but engineers numbers not listed. You can search for them specifically but unless you do this the ID number is never displayed.

just a thought if you wanted to be ultra safe, I'm happy for people to deliver free stuff to my house in exchange for my details.

GasSafe will only release to us information which is otherwise publicly available, as part of their privacy policy and duty of care to you, so I don't think so.

But I will ask. Most of that work was done between our developer and the IT people at Capita (who run GasSafe). That was neither quick, nor cheap!
 
OK, I am off home, so there will be a delay in service while I am driving from Fareham to Portsmouth, saying hi to Mrs S, getting something to eat, and removing the cork from a bottle of plonk.

See you later.

🙂
 
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And maybe by the time I get home, someone will have actually bought something! 🙂

A random prize of doubtful value to the first five orders received. 🙂
 
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Can we clear our accounts on it?
will sign up when I'm on the iPad.

No, although account holders in good standing can charge stuff to their account. However, you have to change your password first, and even then - expect to get a phone call from us to verify its really you for the first couple of times you use it.

Just on another note - at the moment, the click and collect only offers Fareham as a collect address.

We still have some staff training to do in the other branches, and I don't want to waste time on training materials until we have got all the wrinkles out.
 
Hi Ray

the system doesn't seem to have like my gas safe details. They are definitely right but it's saying they require manual verification.

The he screens I've seen look very pro though.

Cheers

matt
 
As Maidstone is a major branch, get it done quick ray ray 😉
I'm sure Ollie will be up for it !!

Need to get it right first Bill, then roll out. No point in training 27 branches, then deciding to change some aspect of it and have to do it all again. Thats why its just fareham at the moment.

Ray
 
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Hi Ray

the system doesn't seem to have like my gas safe details. They are definitely right but it's saying they require manual verification.

The he screens I've seen look very pro though.

Cheers

matt

I'll try and fix you manually Matt, but my admin console is not working, so we may have broken it! 🙂

Ray
 
Well done Ray I will order from the site but I still like speaking to Ian for my orders
 
Well done Ray I will order from the site but I still like speaking to Ian for my orders

Our aim is to speak to every customer twice per order Steve - once to confirm shipment and offer the chance at last minute additions, and the other to confirm receipt. Obviously if this starts to bug people, or they would rather not get calls, then we will flag this, but we prefer the human contact if possible. And when we ship a thousand quid's worth of stuff to someone, its got to be worth a 10p phone call to make sure it got their safely. 🙂

Ray
 
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[DLMURL="http://www.tradeonlyplumbing.co.uk/pipe-fittings/copper-pipe-fittings/brass-fittings/brass-drain-of-cocks.html"]Brass Drain Of Cocks - Brass Fittings - Copper Pipe & Fittings - Pipe & Fittings | Trade Only Plumbing & Heating Supplies[/DLMURL]

Thanks Chris. I think thats another of our spelling mistakes. It shouldn't be "drain of cock" it should be "drain off cock"

Will fix tomorrow.
 
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Ha ha. Teething problems. As you say though well worth sorting it on here first. Looks a very tidy site

I *think* you are sorted Matt.

My admin panel wasn't broken, just very slow running from home.
 
Doesn't recognise my email.

it's a @msn.com

will use the third option


hmmmm. We do have an @msn email address registered on your account.

Did you get the postcode right? As a security check, it also cross checks the postcode of the billing address.
 
If someone called Gay has recently registered, don't forget to PM me the email address that you registered and I will authorise it immediately. 🙂
 
Loving this. Finally no guessing on quotes!!

would quite like an option to see inc vat and excluding vat on items if possible at somepoint ray 🙂
 
Loving this. Finally no guessing on quotes!!

would quite like an option to see inc vat and excluding vat on items if possible at somepoint ray 🙂

Its something we are considering for version 2.

It seems a bit silly when you are using a £500 device to access a £30,000 website that you have to use a £3 calculator to work out the vat. 🙂
 
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Really really impressed ray.

Need an option for biscuits/choccies etc :wink:

the he logging out on random pages bit has been mentioned hasn't it
 
Ray I dont mind the calls Ian call me about the shipment delivery and I glad as I always add more to the order lol
 
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and removing the cork from a bottle of plonk.🙂

mmmm. A very acceptable 2011 Bordeaux Superior. One of three I bought for someone else who was doing me a favour. He failed to turn up, so stuff him - I'm having it. Much better than my normal weekday paint-stripper.


And maybe by the time I get home, someone will have actually bought something! 🙂

A random prize of doubtful value to the first five orders received. 🙂

Looks like we will be shipping some Boddingtons tomorrow then - we have our very first order, and thats how he rolls...
 
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How much for free delivery ray I can never remember

£100 Matt.

But we have trucks where you are every day of the week, so chat Ian or his team up, and you will probably be OK for less, so long as you don't ask us to deliver a single 15mm coupling. 🙂

Ray
 
Ha ha nice one cheers. Need some silly bits and I see you also do black mamba gloves for a damn sight less than anywhere else
 
I've signed up 🙂 looks a great site ray!!!!

i don't do any of my own work so I don't really know about prices etc etc, but I've just asked my mate how much he pays for a boiler and you're cheaper ;-)

come april when I start to seriously look at properties again, the first thing I'll be doing is sticking anew boiler in and I'll be buying from you mate 🙂
 
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mmmm. A very acceptable 2011 Bordeaux Superior. One of three I bought for someone else who was doing me a favour. He failed to turn up, so stuff him - I'm having it. Much better than my normal weekday paint-stripper.




Looks like we will be shipping some Boddingtons tomorrow then - we have our very first order, and thats how he rolls...
Sorry Ray, but only her indoors drinks the red or white vinegar.! Bitter everyone for me!:smilewinkgrin:
 
I don't know if this has been raised but I can see most of the prices baxi aqueous logic bahco and a few others other pages it asks I sign in to buy. Also it offers me a button to log out yet I haven't registered for it, that was from your link in the OP
 
I'm signed up twice maybe 3 times with differenht email addresses.
I was on the phone when doing it and not really paying attention. It said something about gas safe not recognised but it was.
Anyway i can see it :smile:
 
I'm signed up twice maybe 3 times with differenht email addresses.
I was on the phone when doing it and not really paying attention. It said something about gas safe not recognised but it was.
Anyway i can see it :smile:

That's the Alzheimer's kicking in............
 
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Another question ray!
as account holders do we have to credit our account or can we use customers cards.....

When you check out, you have the option to charge it to your account, or pay with a credit card.

If you charge a large sum to a card that is not registered to your billing address, you may get a call from us, and the card holder may get a call from their card providers fraud prevention department.
 
I'm signed up twice maybe 3 times with differenht email addresses.
I was on the phone when doing it and not really paying attention. It said something about gas safe not recognised but it was.
Anyway i can see it :smile:

I authorised the first one you tried - the @tc email address. I think you also tried using a virgin email address. The server replied "User not a virgin - application denied"
 
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I don't know if this has been raised but I can see most of the prices baxi aqueous logic bahco and a few others other pages it asks I sign in to buy. Also it offers me a button to log out yet I haven't registered for it, that was from your link in the OP

Yep, it looks like we have a hole somewhere Rob. Lots of others with the same problem.
 
Ray ray, a little idea.
list up fitting packs.

its such a pain booking in each one.

15mm straights x 50
15mm elbows x 100
15mm street elbow x 50
15mm equal tees x 50
15mm slip coupler x 10
15mm 45 x 20
15mm street 45 x 15
22mm straights x 25
22mm elbows x 25
22mm street elbow x 20
22mm equal tees x 25
22mm slip coupler x 10
22mm 45 x 15
22mm street 45 x 10
22mm to 3/4 imp x 10
22mm x 15 fitting reducer x 25

comes too £150.06 inc vat 🙂
and the tool bag 😉
 
Looks fantastic Ray!

Just wish I'd seen your email earlier before I ordered all my kit for this weeks work!

Look forward to using the site.

Ps, also having issues with being logged out. Using Firefox on Mac!
 
Ray ray, a little idea.
list up fitting packs.

its such a pain booking in each one.

I think will probably go with that Bill. We had a £100 pack on the back of our Pricebuster a while ago, and that sold reasonably well.

It shouldn't be too much of a pain though.

You don't have to go into each fitting - you can go to the tiled page like [DLMURL="http://www.tradeonlyplumbing.co.uk/pipe-fittings/copper-pipe-fittings/endfeed-fittings/endfeed-elbows.html"]this[/DLMURL] and use the "add to basket" number under each fitting. It was designed to allow you to crack out a fittings order ASAP.

Theoretically, you could do the same with boilers, but not many people buy boilers by the 100. 🙂
 
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I think will probably go with that Bill. We had a £100 pack on the back of our Pricebuster a while ago, and that sold reasonably well.

It shouldn't be too much of a pain though.

You don't have to go into each fitting - you can go to the tiled page like [DLMURL="http://www.tradeonlyplumbing.co.uk/pipe-fittings/copper-pipe-fittings/endfeed-fittings/endfeed-elbows.html"]this[/DLMURL] and use the "add to basket" number under each fitting. It was designed to allow you to crack out a fittings order ASAP.

Theoretically, you could do the same with boilers, but not many people buy boilers by the 100. 🙂

Still takes ages 🙂

it would be better if they all started at zero or nill instead of one, then you could enter 10 in one, 25 in the other and 6 on a third item.

hit add to basket and it adds all three items. (Any above zero on the page)

Take into account that adding each item refreshes the page, on slower connections itl be a massive pain.

You could show 40 items, enter values for 16 but refresh the page just ones.
 
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Still takes ages 🙂

it would be better if they all started at zero or nill instead of one, then you could enter 10 in one, 25 in the other and 6 on a third item.

hit add to basket and it adds all three items. (Any above zero on the page)

Take into account that adding each item refreshes the page, on slower connections itl be a massive pain.

You could show 40 items, enter values for 16 but refresh the page just ones.

Will put it to the developers. I think it might have to wait until v2.0 - it sounds like more than a minor tweak.
 
What device are you using Billy? I just cracked out an order for endfeed very quickly, but I am using a desktop machine hardwired to a highspeed broadband connection.

Mind you, it didn't help me look at chrome fittings - just like other people are reporting, it logged my bum out. Doesn't it know I'm its boss? Or is it me that doesn't know that its my boss?

How do you spell paranoia ?
 
Can we have a "Remember me" option when logging in please? No point in logging out on my home PC - no custards going to get their mitts on that!
 
Also if we can see our past orders?
online and instore?

i love my screwfix because i can see exactly what ive had even a few months ago

We are storing the history. One of the things I want to use it for later is "people who bought this, also bought that...." as well as the "your favourites".

Obviously neither of these make any sense until you have some history.

The core engine of the site is Magento, which is one of the biggest ecommerce engines in use today, so lots of possibilities are available for the future - if there is enough demand.
 
Also if we can see our past orders?
online and instore?

i love my screwfix because i can see exactly what ive had even a few months ago

The main instore system is a bit more troublesome. Its a 1986 vintage DOS based system that we have kept alive long past its sell-by date, because its so damned robust and fast. Unfortunately, it isn't very accessible to external systems. It has no ODBC drivers, there is no way of accessing it via Windows, and there are only 3 programmers left alive that speak the language - MickW, his daugher Rachel (our FD) and me.
 
We are storing the history. One of the things I want to use it for later is "people who bought this, also bought that...." as well as the "your favourites".

Obviously neither of these make any sense until you have some history.

The core engine of the site is Magento, which is one of the biggest ecommerce engines in use today, so lots of possibilities are available for the future - if there is enough demand.

you're using ebays child then 😀

Change masonry hole saws to core bits and accessories ?
 

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