SJD price increases

[TheFaQQer]

Same here, we have had ex SJD clients who have been with us for 2 or 3 years receiving these letters. I welcome healthy competition but unsolicited (attempted) potching is quite unethical in my view

What about unsolicited poaching though?

[MrMarkyMark]

Same here, we have had ex SJD clients who have been with us for 2 or 3 years receiving these letters. I welcome healthy competition but unsolicited (attempted) potching is quite unethical in my view

How long have you been in business

[Dan@OrangeGenie]

We got one of those letters. A client who moved to us from SJD ~5 years ago (so their database must be a bit out of date), we're registered office.

Probably not breaking any laws but unethical marketing IMHO.

I agree. Clearly they can't build a business themselves. This goes on far too often in my opinion.

Most of my clients follow me due to the relationship we have, no need for underhand tactics here.

[Alan @ BroomeAffinity]

I'm not sure I buy into this "unethical" angle. If it's blatant race-to-the-bottom type marketing then clients will see it for what it is. If not, maybe these aren't the clients we want to work with? If the service is poor, the client will soon realise that and move back. If the service is good at the lower rate, then maybe we're doing something wrong.

[jamesbrown]

What about unsolicited poaching though?

That depends. If it's an egg, I'll take it. A Haddock, not so much.

[Sarah@PaperRocket]

How long have you been in business

Obviously too long and getting reliant on the spell checker by the look of things :-)

[pr1]

Same here, we have had ex SJD clients who have been with us for 2 or 3 years receiving these letters. I welcome healthy competition but unsolicited (attempted) potching is quite unethical in my view

What are the chances that, if left to their own devices, a disgruntled SJD client looking to switch will choose company X (out of dozens of options)

What are the chances if company X puts a flyer through their door a week after the price rises are announced? almost certainly higher...

this is what virgin, sky and BT are doing to each other all the time - it's just modern marketing

[Maslins]

What are the chances if company X puts a flyer through their door a week after the price rises are announced? almost certainly higher...

this is what virgin, sky and BT are doing to each other all the time - it's just modern marketing

Perhaps, but a staff member from the firm in question will most likely have taken a copy of that database of clients when they left SJD. There is no public list of which business is with what accountant.

I never approached any clients of firms I used to work for. Not due to any contractual clauses (which I gather don't tend to hold up well in court anyway) but because it would be biting the hand that had fed me for a few years.

Ethics are a personal thing I guess, each to their own. I don't claim to be perfect, far from it, but I found this in poor taste. Certainly I'd be very upset if a few years down the line an ex Maslins employee did it to us.

[MrMarkyMark]

Perhaps, but a staff member from the firm in question will most likely have taken a copy of that database of clients when they left SJD. There is no public list of which business is with what accountant.

I never approached any clients of firms I used to work for. Not due to any contractual clauses (which I gather don't tend to hold up well in court anyway) but because it would be biting the hand that had fed me for a few years.

Ethics are a personal thing I guess, each to their own. I don't claim to be perfect, far from it, but I found this in poor taste. Certainly I'd be very upset if a few years down the line an ex Maslins employee did it to us.

Happens with recruiting firms all the time, they always take a copy of contacts / database.

[LondonManc]

Happens with recruiting firms all the time, they always take a copy of contacts / database.

Beat me to it!