hurleys have marstons contract

[Guest]

Their contract is up on towers only, toys and cranes are still current for another 2 years

[Guest]

[/quote]

Business is all about scale and scope through consolidation, I don't think anyone seriously goes into business to be a 'little fish'. Our suppliers will make more money supplying the massive orders at a discounted rate, than they do on an equivalent amount of orders from individual small operators.

The problem with us is we have become the victim of our own success. We have succeeded in making the towers so mainstream they have become the new 'fruit machine', so now every pub has to have one, and the POC's want a slice of the action!
As anyone than knows about fruit machines will tell you, the big pub chains use the same 3 or 4 massive national operators, who tender every couple of years to be on their supplier list. The takings are split 3 ways between the pub co, the licencee, and the operator. The person making the most money is the pub co, as they do noting for their share, they just lay down the terms for everyone else to agree to and watch the money roll in!

I can see this being the case for all the large pub co's in the future, they will hand a national contract out to tender every 3 years, and take the biggest slice of the action. The only way you can do anything about it is to merge with other operators and bid for national contracts yourself, but there's no guarantee you will get any better terms.

The days of one man band operations getting anything other than small local sites (hairdresser, cafe, chipshop), or the odd few privately owned pubs, is probably going to end soon. So if you still want to do pubs you need to become a subcontractor for one of the national firms, or get yourself into a position where you can bid for large contracts.

As for me having any sort of love affair with Hurley's, that's just childishness!
I will admit that in the vending industry they are the lesser of our two evils, but are at the end of the day a comapny trying to make as much money as they can. Obviously there are people on here who given the same choice, would tell their biggest customer (who is about to get a lot bigger) they are not willing to help them find subcontractors, as it is a c**p deal and unfair to the little guys who are losing sites because of it

These people are idiots, and will never make it in business!!

We can sit here moaning about how unfair it all is, or you can do something about it to make sure your in a position to call the shots next time a big deal is going down. It's how the business is going so deal with it!
I really like the secret forum, but it's just a shame people are so eager to tell me I'm completely wrong without the decency to give their name [/quote]


What a 'DORK'!

Is he an ostrich in disguise?

[Guest]

It winds me up when I see comments like the above author hiding behind an anonymous forum. I would suggest comments like that are neither helpful or assist in moving the conversation on.

We are all entitled to our own views and a healthy discussions with all views and ideas is stimulating, the above is not

Steve

[Guest]

It's funny Steve how people are happy to slate anyone who would take the deal and doesn't acuse Hurleys of ruining their business yet don't give their name!

I don't know wether we will get involved or not but will welcome the opportunity.

As far as ruining your business. Rubbish. Their are plenty of offices and garages around that will do £30/40 a month on 5% charity and plenty of sports clubs and working men's clubs that will take good money on commission. I currently don't have a single marstons pub and very few towers in any national chains because they don't stay there. I've got 328 at present.

Andy

[Guest]

I have to say 'it winds me up' when an operator pays good money for a site from a company, only to find that they lose that site because said company has declared a new contract therefore, that operator must move on!

The operator MIGHT be able to renegotiate the site they have lost and for their trouble, must purchase a new machine, stand and a particular stock, service said site for a very small percentage and then have to wait 30 days [if they are lucky] for payment.

So where is the morality in THAT!

I do not have any Marston's sites, have no intention of having any Marston's sites.

But feel for the unlucky punters who have obviously been shafted!

I have well over 150 sites, less than 3% are pubs, but Hey Ho thats a personal thing, get fed up with pubs changing hands or closure or just removing towers etc.

Now some people on here have a problem with people having an opinion, they need to grow a pair!

Not-Shafted, but concerned with how some factions are playing around with percentages/commission

[Guest]

Has anyone who has lost a Marstons site Hurleys got them phoned Hurleys and asked for a replacement. Or tried to negotiate the £20 they probably paid for the site in the first place of the new Marstons rate.
Has anyone whos lost out had a conversation with Rob or Paul? THats what I would do. Thats a fairer way to do business than just moaning on here.

[Guest]

Seems to me that we have vervant supporters of the 'Marstons Contract'

And

Those who totally disagree with what has happened

Best thing to to is to have a:

Poll

This will best place how people think, ie the majority will decide and in doing so stop this 'Sweetie War of Words'

Over to you Matt

[Guest]

Have any of the supporters considered what will happen at end of 3 year contract? If they renew contract will Marston insist on new towers therefore consigning you to 2 more years of no return to you personally!?

Also what happens if 1,2 or several of your Marston pubs close? You may still not have paid off your capital spent and be left with machines not earning. So is this a guaranteed 3 year contract or just until the pubs close their doors?

[Guest]

I dont think any supporters on here have applauded the contract. It doesnt seem great for us operators but that doesnt put Hurleys in the wrong for doing the deal in the first place.
Each of us will do our numbers and make our decision on wether to get involved or not.

[Guest]

Why don't Hurleys post on a separate thread the actual deal or is there seperate deals for different operators depending on their previous relationship / negotiation skills.

Hurleys have created the vacuum of information. Over to them to fill some of the voids in.

Rob/Paul would you be open to a Q and A thread where we all act as adults. Mud slinging only gets you so far.

Regards
Gavin