You’ve already understood the point, you’re not stupid. The point is: all the legal stuff, being right doesn’t help if they want something, they hold the longer lever. That’s just how it is. A builder should know that. And then you go along with their cost avoidance strategies, not against them. That’s all. Karsten
A poor attempt to sustain a business model by unfair means, which won’t last forever in this form.
Why don’t these companies just buy from Reuter themselves, add 10% for the all-in-one service surcharge and be done with it? But they don’t, because for 40 years everyone has been sent to Harald’s showroom. In return, Harald occasionally gives a free washing machine hose.
That’s how outdated systems are kept alive, but fortunately, people eventually outgrow them; it just takes a while.
There are plenty of examples. Look at municipal utility companies losing customers. In the past there were only a few who switched providers online. Over time, that number grows, because even older people lose their fear of contact or simply “outgrow” it. This is turning the whole industry upside down. And that’s how it is with plumbing as well. End customers will eventually no longer accept old supply chains – at first, it’s just a few software people and business economists, but their ranks will grow, not shrink.
It’s just like the assumption that Reuter craftsmen, MyHammer … that must be the bottom of the industry? Why on earth?! They simply outsourced their sales. A discipline in which these fellows have never been very bright, it’s just a burden.
You make it look like they have to prostitute themselves on platforms. For some, that may be true. Others simply see a huge opportunity in it.
I bought tires online in spring. Try bringing bought tires to one of these tire dealers to have them mounted on rims. Nope, they won’t do it, only if the tires come from them. Unfortunately, they are 25% more expensive there than online. The online shop knows this and has built a partner network, where you can see everyone in the area, have the tires delivered directly there, and they will mount them. I think €10 per tire and €2 for disposal. Deal.
So I went there, got the appointment and everything online, and found a small workshop with two lifts and the necessary material. No more, no less. And everything top quality! They obviously do very well with their €10 per wheel, the online platform delivers customers constantly.
But Harald the heating engineer can’t even afford a decent website. I work with an architect and besides his recommendations, I also search online for potential partners. Whoever isn’t there is out of the question. That might work fine for Harald as long as all the regular clients still come and word of mouth attracts people – but there will be fewer. Not today or tomorrow, but it’s coming. The younger generation just does it this way, because it’s fast and easy.