Hillsborough
Sheffield
S6 2LL
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Pondering On Prices etc
“A wall bracket is a wall bracket”.
As my ex-
(accompanied with the merest suggestion of sarcasm............)
Our prices for some products are a little less than some suppliers and a little more for
some others, though this does not always take into account the differences in quality.
All our prices include VAT and small orders can sometimes pay less P&P.
What I can never understand about some peoples shopping habits is that some of us never seem to value our time as we do at, say, work. Let me give an example. I go swimming about three times per week and those infernal coin operated lockers regularly fail and keep ones 50p. I used to go back out to the kiosk and summon the attendant to retrieve my money until I realised this was crazy..... If it took 10 minutes to sort out, that`s only 3
(three, THREE ) pounds an hour ! In fact if everything went really smoothly, and it was resolved in five minutes flat, that`s still only £6 per hour. I`m in the fortunate position that I wouldn`t work for £6 per hour and my free time is definitely worth more than that to me. These days I simply chalk "U/S" on the locker (to save others the same problem) and
write off the bleedin` 50p.
All very rational, so why do some people spend an hour or more scouring the internet to save £5 ? Even then they may well not get the same quality of product, even if they do they probably won`t get the same quality of service, and even if they get that as well, is that
really worth £5 an hour ? Food for thought......
This is one of my favourite pictures on the entire site, in fact I like it so much it`s
also on the Sales / Mail Order and the Poles & Brackets page !
Nothing shows so vividly the differing qualities of materials used in this trade.
On the right is a 1” steel pole. Remember this was originally galvanised, although
as we have already seen it was only “Pre-
The alloy pole on the left is a 1” diameter 18 gauge and compared to the pole in the centre it`s smaller size and wall thickness are immediately obvious. A 6ft x 1” alloy pole weighs about 450g. The pole in the centre is a 1.25” x 16 gauge. It`s superiority is plain to see and a 6ft length of this pole has a weight of around 750g, that`s 67% more metal....
This is the only type we sell / install. In normal usage it will never fail.
Choosing An Aerial Installer (and tradesman generally.....)
We regularly get people phoning us from all over the country wanting us to undertake an aerial installation for them but, unfortunately, we only work in the vicinity of Sheffield.
The next question is can we recommend anyone, and again the answer is no, but here is some guidance in how to find an installer locally. Bear in mind that this advice is unbiased
as we don`t recommend anyone, and certainly not for payment.
Don`t forget to use the information on this website to check up on the installer (and the job), but don`t go on too long (or make it too obvious) because that`ll just annoy them !
Do they use steel poles (or 1" alloy) and/or Contract aerials ? That`s always a bad sign because it proves they`re using the cheapest possible materials.
On a positive note if they use Log Periodic aerials that`s a good sign.
Obviously the best way to find any tradesman is by personal recommendation but this is
not cast iron as aerial jobs can be so different. The recommended installer could have done a job for someone who lives in a strong signal area, were anyone with half a brain would
get "perfect pictures", even by indulging in some Bertie Bodging.
The Confederation of Aerial Installers is a good place to start, theoretically you`ve
got some redress if the job is unsatisfactory. But to be honest, not all CAI members
are people that I`d recommend.......
I find that adverts in Church / Parish magazines are a good source of tradesman,
not least because the Vicar may very well remove adverts from traders that have
been the subject of complaints !
Getting someone out of the Yellow Pages (or some other printed directory) is preferable to just an advert in the paper, at least they exist as a company, and have managed to survive since it was published. On that point, an old edition directory is preferable, so remember to keep one of them !
When using the phone directories there are a few things to watch for :
1 Try and use someone with a local telephone number and preferably not just a mobile
as the latter can be ignored if they don`t want to talk to you, and they`re more expensive obviously ! Avoid Freephone numbers, apart from being "non local" my experience is that companies using them are often more expensive in the end.
2 It`s definitely a good idea to use someone with (local) business premises, if you can, because it`s so much easier to get hold of them, they can`t just ignore you if you have a problem. Alternatively make sure the installer put`s their address on the advert, and make sure it`s a genuine one, not just a misleading "geographical reference point". Beware of Nationwide companies who are not local to you (they often just sub contract the work out) and many use multiple company names all going to the same call centre.
3 I think it`s good practice to go for companies with medium size adverts, big enough
to convey information and suggest they`re established, but not too expensive to put in.
After all, you`re the one whose paying for it one way or another......
4 Watch for firms which use .....00000AAAAA prefixes to their company name(s) in order
to improve their alphabetical ranking. You`ll usually find these pseudonyms in some
obscure place on the advert. Trying to find them make`s for an amusing parlour game,
hours of fun, and the kids can play too !
I know the publishers should ban it, but at the end of the day they`re not bothered so long
as the advertiser pays the bill ! Personally I can`t abide anything which isn`t "up front", and this isn`t, so what does using this kind of subterfuge say about the attitude of the trader ?
5 Ironically "free surveys" are not necessarily a positive. Generally speaking people cannot survive by working for nothing ( ? ! ? ) so the temptation may well be to recommend work
which is not actually required. For example, if it`s simply a case of telling you that you can already get digital with your present aerial the installer who charges a call out should be (relatively) happy to tell you this and leave. One doing a “free call out” will obviously be
more tempted to recommend an "aerial upgrade".....
6 Try to get a few quotes over the phone but remember they can only be ball park figures. Avoid the temptation to go for the cheapest, unless you know for a fact that they`re reputable and they do a good quality job.
Lastly, always get an (itemised) invoice, and don`t pay up until you get one.
Any business failing to leave a bill is thoroughly unprofessional, and possibly dishonest.
If you get one of the “cash in hand” brigade giving you a poor service,
I`m sure that the Inland Revenue would be interested of their activities.
That way they might even start paying their fair share for the NHS, like the rest of us do...
Incidentally if you purchase any parts from us and subsequently decide to employ an aerial installer to fit them, any decent rigger should be impressed by the quality of the materials you have bought. If they try to tell you they are unsuitable in any way, you may have picked the wrong installer.
Problems When Ordering Online ?
Try checking the security settings on your computer if you find that the PayPal order page
is not behaving as it should, e.g it will only allow you to order one item. We experienced
the latter problem on both our PCs, even though we hadn`t altered anything ! Those helpful chaps at Very PC suggested we try the reset procedure outlined below, and it worked.
In fact experiments on both PCs indicated that this was definitely the problem.
Whilst on Internet Explorer click on :
Tools > Internet Options > Security > Custom Level > Reset To Medium > Reset > Yes
> OK > Apply > OK
Alternatively try :
Tools > Internet Options > Security > Default Level > Apply > OK
Problems With “Slippage” On The Website ?
This website is optimised for display at 96 DPI screen resolution and some monitors set
to 120 DPI may suffer from “slippage” problems of the pictures / text.
To reset your screen resolution (in Windows 98 / XP) proceed as follows :
Right click on the desk top background > Properties > Settings > Advanced > DPI setting
> Normal size (96 DPI) > (Change DPI setting, restart computer > OK) > Apply
If the “General window is displayed here click Yes.
For the settings to take effect you must restart your computer.
If you want to reset your resolution back to 120 DPI repeat the above but select 120 DPI at the relevant point.
My thanks to Michael Slattery for discovering this problem.
3” Fence Posts (and the meaning of life) See Tests of Aerial Poles
I know what you`re thinking, “Good Lord, what a website this is, it even tells you about
fence posts, it`ll be revealing the meaning of life next”. The answer to the latter is effort
by the way but back to fence posts. I would only ever use 3 inch fence posts for a small fence in a sheltered area, what you should be using are the 4 inch variety.
When my fence got blown down a few years back I did my usual trick and thought about it far too much. The fence was the usual 6ft square panel type and the posts were the common 3” x 3” variety. A bit of rot had set in over the years so they were probably down to about 2.5” square at the base, which is just the point that is put under the most strain....... Now the strength of a post is down to it`s cross sectional area, that is to say a 3” variety would be 3 x 3 = 9 square inches. Add in half an inch of rot to the equation and we get
about 2.5 x 2.5 = approx 6 sq in. Compare that to a 4 inch fence post which is
4 x 4 = 16 sq ins, or about 12 sq ins if some rot has weakened it.
The point of all of this is that a 4” post is not just 33% stronger than a 3” one, it`s nearly twice as strong. In fact if you add in half an inch of rot, it actually has got twice the strength ! The price difference on the job, whether you DIY or GSI * is
not worth bothering with, and you get a fence which is TWICE as strong !
You know it makes sense, just like our 1.25” x 16 gauge aerial poles !
* Do It Yourself / Get Someone In
These two models of 18” T & K brackets are ostensibly the same but the one on the left
has metal 3.6mm thick whereas the one on the right is only 2.7mm.
In terms of weight the stronger item weighs 4300g against 3000g of the inferior product.
If my maths is correct that`s 40% more metal.
We sell the product on the left....... Also see Bracket tests and Flimsy X Beams
We are more than willing to give advice to those actually purchasing from us.
Could those only seeking information please just ring an aerial installer local to them or try calling reception advice on 08700 100 123 (BBC) or 0844 881 4150 (ITV).
Subjects are listed on this page in the following order :
We have The Ultimate In Secure Purchasing ! ! !
The Story Of The Poles (not the Eastern European type......)
Problems When Ordering Online ?
Problems with “slippage” whan viewing this site ?
Three Inch Fence Posts (and the meaning of life)
It has come to my attention that some of you out there think this site has an abundance of amusing anecdotes on it. Some of you spend far too long on this site just for amusement.
I would ask, nay demand, a termination of this tremendously tiresome tittering.
I would remind you that you are with this establishment to learn. You lot at the
back there will never make anything of yourselves, and when you end up in some dead
end job -
If any of the above comments apply to you I would suggest you take advantage of the following list of the more amusing jokettes and then leave this site immediately, so your classmates can concentrate on their studies in peace. Shut the door on your way out.
The Forth rail bridge of 1890 is one
of my favourite structures.
One of the reasons for this is that it was massively over engineered,
due to the tragic collapse of the
Tay bridge in 1879.
"What has this got to do with aerial sales ?"
Well I think it goes some way to explain why we only sell QUALITY stock. I love well engineered products and I can`t stand cheap rubbish, particularly when any price difference is so small compared with the cost
of the average TV.
Also see 3” Fence Posts....
Picture : Forth Bridge Visitor Centre
There`s one other thing that this business has in common with the Forth bridge.
Painting the latter is reputed to be a never ending job (this is no longer the case but why spoil a good anecdote), and as my wife pointed out, this website is never finished either.....
Thick N` Thin
The Ultimate In Secure Purchasing ! ! !
In addition to our Online buying system we are more than happy to take orders over
the phone. This method is more appropriate for “non-
it`s all on paper so no sodding hacker can possibly get your details !
Think about it, you know it makes sense......
In addition it avoids giving PayPal anything, let`s face it they`re so bleedin` useless
(for the retailer) that they don`t deserve any money anyway........