Member Info for johnvic

Very interesting and not totally surprised to hear this. Despite my dislike for the service that customers get from Nationals - I am not a huge critic of SFE really. The way they do things is just the way it is (Bruce Hornsby) !! What does irritate me though is that when someone else decides to muscle in, they can�t come up with an original name for their Company. A play on words is very �Double Glazing� !!.

Is very good when everything is going for it. When there is a downturn, fact is that small Companies with much lower overheads can buy equivalent products extremely competitively and without doubt give a better all round service. The only way for firms like SFE is to throw more money at marketing. Fitters outside of big towns often have to drive 75 + miles to nearest depot to load. I spoke to one team who sometimes have to leave home at 4-00 am in the summer to be first in line to load frames, then travel 100 + miles to site to install. Then the only way they can make up their money is to fit 6 or 7 windows when they get to site. Something inevitably has to give, and I wonder what that is? This news today doesn�t surprise me at all. The business model looks good on paper but relying on fitting too much in too little time might just about get them by when there is plenty of work for everyone but won�t do when the going gets tough.

You won’t see the likes of SFE, Anglian, Everest fitting windows and doors etc for the likes of Bovis, etc. If £575.00 is an average installed frame price for SFE, these builders would only expect to pay around half of that price per frame (best guess) The specification is usually quite basic and the installers would easily fit 10/12 frames per day to earn their money. Seems to work. New house has double glazed plastic windows!

I just meant that when leads are scarce and all and sundry are chasing what is out there, the customer senses an opportunity for a better price. Of course, everybody’s profit margin drops and the weakest go under, but it’s inevitable that a huge Company like SFE’s profits will get hit. The established local Companies survive with lesser profits of course. Been doing this for many many years so I’ve experienced the good and bad including a few recessions. SFE may have a new factory and may buy in their PVCu profile, glass and hardware at great prices but if their average price per frame sold is say £575.00 net, there are plenty out there who can beat those prices without compromise on quality of product or installation. Let’s hope I’m wrong but it feels like next year might be more challenging.

Been in this trade for a very long time. When there's plenty of work to choose from SFE will do well. The indications are for a big slow down in New Year which doesn't bode well. When appointments dry up, price becomes a bigger issue and the small Independent's have more flexibility to price cut for what is out there. It already looks as though SFE have been paying more to generate leads, which all comes off the bottom line. Haven't seen their vans in my part of the world very often for quite some time, whereas 12/18 months ago you would see them often.

What the market will read in to that. Will likely have a true picture nearer 10-00 am than 8-00 am.

I agree with your comments ref clothes. We all end up in M&S several times a year. It�s been going on for decades with me. I walk around the Gents clothing dept looking for something different and always come away disappointed. It�s the men�s trousers that really does it. I take one look at them hanging on the racks. They are all 3 feet wide all the way down to the ankles. I walk away with a feeling of resignation and think to myself �Did you honestly expect something different� - then go and buy some chicken Kiev and on my way. I buy my trousers from Next these days. M & S don�t even get my socks anymore. That�s Primark. I actually thought Mr Rowe was going to be the radical change but they are stuck in a time warp. I�ve lost money here. Managed to average down the morning of Brexit would you believe - which saved me from a big loss. What a shame.

I thought you'd been out of this one for months. Are you back in or just showing an interest from the sidelines ?

To see that new CEO built and sold M&C Energy. This must surely be a medium term plan here ?

can only recycle the same spin so many times and I almost detect a tone of 'waving the white flag' from CG today. I said a very long time ago that all they need is a sales force who can get out there and 'do it'. There must be something fundamentally wrong with these people unless there is an ulterior motive that we are not privy to. What a waste !

Just the start of a 'batten down the hatches' period in the replacement industry. I've been through several. Latest FENSA stat's say June & July sales nationwide down a whopping 18% !! This don't make pretty reading to me at all and there is worse to come IMHO. The trouble is that when there is less and less business out there, unfortunately a price war commences and when the diary for the week is looking a little sparse, even the best find themselves having to explain why 'man and van' is not a good long term option for the prospective customer, but nevertheless I believe we are in for a sustained period whereby the customers concept of replacement window and door prices is lower than it is now which always causes pain for the ones who do it right and who are in for the long term. EPWN have missed out on goog 'no risk' business from us which is crazy as I have dealt with some of their Divisions for absolutely ages. They need to send someone out there on a fact finding mission. I may buy some of these in and around the low 50's. Still too high just yet.

Recycling same old stuff and going backwards. Doubt whether that will do share price much good. Still think they need a good sales rep !!

No incentive given to buy when spreads at a ridiculous 8%. This share is tightly under sole control of MM's.

A 10p spread on buy/sell IMO MMS are taking the .... from all who trade this share.

As always with this share is not so much the price (albeit falling) but the spread at 8%. This puts the punter in a 'no win' position in my opinion. Not in with a hope of making a profitable trade. PURE GREED !

can continue to suppress this share price for the time being. Sooner or later there will be too many buys for this to continue.

but I reckon there will be some positive news coming within the next 2 weeks - maybe this week. Just a feeling - nothing more !

You've gone quiet. Are you still in here?

gone very quiet. Anyone heard/read anything good or bad recently ?

deal including the cash only adds up to a premium of 12% from yesterdays closing BOK share price.