agents (yet again)

[TheFaQQer]

name and shame

Name maybe, but I see no shame.

The aim of any business is to make as much profit as possible, so where is the shame in the agency doing that?

[DodgyAgent]

I would like to name and shame Tesco , who make 4000% mark ups on their cabbages

(I know you are going to ask "what's the difference between a contractor and a cabbage"? but give me time to think about it )

[TheFaQQer]

I would like to name and shame Tesco , who make 4000% mark ups on their cabbages

(I know you are going to ask "what's the difference between a contractor and a cabbage"? but give me time to think about it )

Bet they don't, really. You're just making that figure up, aren't you?

As I said before, I see no shame in maximising profit margin.

[DodgyAgent]

Bet they don't, really. You're just making that figure up, aren't you?

As I said before, I see no shame in maximising profit margin.

Nope, straight from the horses mouth (or should that be carrots? ).

Anyway I know a lot of cabbages, they think Tescos are worse than recruitment agents (which is why they talk to me )

[VectraMan]

Tesco don't try to keep their suppliers in the dark about the markup, because they can't. Agents must be one of the few industries that try to keep their prices secret.

[SueEllen]

Tesco don't try to keep their suppliers in the dark about the markup, because they can't. Agents must be one of the few industries that try to keep their prices secret.

The supermarkets use different tactics to screw their suppliers which could be worse then some agents i.e. agreeing to buy lettuce of a farmer and then just before it's harvest telling him they don't want it.

[tim123]

Nope, straight from the horses mouth (or should that be carrots? ).

Anyway I know a lot of cabbages, they think Tescos are worse than recruitment agents (which is why they talk to me )

But you are comparing apples with oranges (groan).

The difference in price between what Tesco sells the item for and what it pays the supplier, has to cover the cost of transporting, cleaning and packaging the item (which on a low value item is substantial).

A contractor arrives at the end client already: transported, cleaned and packaged.

(And yes, I know that the analogy doesn't work anyway, but I wanted to make this particular point)

tim

[DodgyAgent]

But you are comparing apples with oranges (groan).

The difference in price between what Tesco sells the item for and what it pays the supplier, has to cover the cost of transporting, cleaning and packaging the item (which on a low value item is substantial).

A contractor arrives at the end client already: transported, cleaned and packaged.

(And yes, I know that the analogy doesn't work anyway, but I wanted to make this particular point)

tim

Cleaned ???????

More like "cleaned out"

[r0bly0ns]

Cleaned ???????

More like "cleaned out"

By the agent, yes.

[BrowneIssue]

Just found out an agency managed to charge 28-29 % on my contract. I think its a tad excessive. Anyone agree.

Back in the 1990s I had a contract where I found out the margin was about 45%. (This was because the client's Chief Accountant abused me in a meeting and said "We're paying £xxx an hour for that kind of advice?" - I nearly fell of my chair.) (Yes, that was 45% margin, not 45% markup; the markup would have been about 81%.)

That contract lasted just under five years, paid off my wedding bill, paid for a cruise and I have never since earned as much as I was by the end of it.

So, are you gonna walk? I didn't - I negotiated. After I got angry I decided that if the agent was that clever, I should get him working for me.

And I outlasted their Chief Accountant.