Founded in 2008. The Landscape Juice Network (LJN) is the largest and fastest growing professional landscaping and horticultural association in the United Kingdom.
LJN's professional business forum is unrivalled and open to anyone within within the UK landscape industry
LJN's Business Objectives Group (BOG) is for any Pro serious about building their business.
For the researching visitor there's a wealth of landscaping ideas, garden design ideas, lawn advice tips and advice about garden maintenance.
Replies
Are you a fan of the scheme then?
Doing a search locally, there are no "trusted traders" in High Wycombe.....
Of course, there are dozens of people listed as classifieds. What Which rely on is that people will use the classified ads, and won't read the disclaimer that "these guys aren't trusted traders, so you don't have any comeback"!
These schemes are a complete con. You pay to be listed, and the client loses out because you pass the cost on to them. So long as you pay, you are seen as somehow "recommended", in a way that the old Yellow Pages never was.
The internet rate-a-trader sites are dangerous for both sides IMO...
I don't need to be a member of Which? as well.
I don't understand the 'Directory Listings'
D
how do they decide who to list if they are not vetted?
Also do they 'vet' or somehow qualify reviews as some read rather like adverts.
The directory listings are just paid adverts, like Yellow Pages.
The problem with all the "trusted", "Rated" or "reviewed" sites is that they are businsses: charging the traders to advertise, then buyers get the perception they are somehow protected!
So just another opportunity to work to line someone else's pocket.
How many hours work ...sorry jobs do we have do to make enough surplus profit to pay to be on a directory listing, that has a questionable impact on increasing our earnings?
I'm still waiting for the data, that says if you pay £xxx to be on this site, after checking 10,000 similar advertisers it was found that their turnover & profit increased by xxxpercent, i.e the R.O.I. was worth it.
Indeed. Personally, I think these sites are one step removed from a bloke knocking on your door offering some "left-over tarmac".
Seriously. Talking to friends, they genuinely believe that these websites are portals for proven businesses only, and that you are guaranteed a reliable trader. When I point out that there has to be a profit somewhere, and Phil flippin' Spencer isn't doing the ads for charity, they juust can't get it.
When you look at the internet scams people fall for, it doesn't surprise me, I guess. How many of us use sites like Trip Advisor, Last Minute etc., without a thought as to whether we'd get a better deal going to the hotel direct, and saving them 20%!
Paul McNulty said:
There's something very 'uncomfortable' about this whole Which ? scenario...
- Do the Producers of the products endorsed by Which? pay for that privledge ?
Vs
- Trusted Trader scheme - A trader pays a considerable amount of money to be 'vetted & endorsed' by Which?
Is it truely impartial ?
Is the consumer being commercially led down a path by Which?
Surely, this is a commerecial, profit making scheme or are Which? doing this out of the goodness of their heart ?
How many schemes can Contractor's afford to belong to ?
Just a question I keep coming back to....Has Which? lost sight of it's origins ?
Adrian - any update on how well the scheme has worked for you?
I received the little red book yesterday and if I'm honest I wasn't too impressed with some of the companies listed and also very few trades in there and then this morning received a blanket Email asking if I would be interested and even offering pay monthly option.
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next