[clive ware]

Just heard it`s nearly renewal time for the NCCA. Have to say, I`m struggling to see much value in it. I get a nice NCCA logo and a magazine which I`ve read in 5 minutes once a month and having been a member for 20 odd years am considering not rejoining this year.

[Angelo]

Yes it is worth £300 !! In my opion because of the benefits comes with it .

[*Hector*]

What benefits are those then Angelo ??

[Raymondo]

Been a member for many years have organized event for the NCCA and go to the AGM every year the wife goes shopping in Leicester and I go to the AGM.

Is it worth it being a member a definite yes we get work and the person says we chose you because you are a member.

We have a company not a million miles from us who have the NCCA logo on there website and they are not a member why do they use the logo fraudulently because it gives there company credence.

They also use the TACCA logo and they are not members of that also.

[CleanerCarpets]

Most customers won't know anything at all about the NCCA - when they choose you because you are a member its normally after you have sold them on the idea of what it is and why its important. This means the NCCA isnt getting you work - you are by selling yourself.

Much better trade organisations to be members of and they all work if you sell the benefits.

What does the NCCA spend the members money on? You get a magazine and an AGM - so whats the rest spent on?

Didnt they look to spend a stupid amount of money a while back on redesigning the logo?

[Raymondo]

I am amazed how much effort some put into choosing someone to clean there carpets.

They have done some research before we arrive on the NCCA and TACCA and the IICRC been on the website.

For us it works we are more then happy to pay the money.

Having that logo works that's why some use  that logo fraudulently.

[Mike Halliday]

Having that logo works that's why some use  that logo fraudulently.

Maybe the reason they use the logo is they attend the training course and feel ripped of that they then cannot state the are trained by the NCCA without forking out more money

[Mike Gwilliam]

There is nothing stopping you saying that you have been trained by the NCCA if indeed you were trained by them.

Never worked for me.....one job in the 3 years I was a member and no one has ever asked me if I was a member,  let alone any of my customers knowing of the NCCA's existence. 

Never made any difference to job conversion when un-becoming a member either.
I suppose the only benefit is that it looks good or better being in an association.  Perhaps if your looking for a plumber and he/she is a member of an association like erm.....''the plumbers association!'' it sort of looks better,  even if you havn't the slightest clue what  what that association does? 

[Mike Halliday]

I don't think you can say 'trained by the NCCA'  on your marketing material , unless it's using the logo NCCA  in the sentence  not just the actual letters.

[Shaun_Ashmore]

My opinion on it is that after 20 odd years of cleaning carpets that you don't need it for a sales benefit, yes it can be used for assurances but to give you a sales edge if you can't sell you then it's time to pack it in.

[tony bish]

Shaun ....nail on head mate

[Hilton]

Depends on what kind of value you are looking for, for training wise etc its a good move but more importantly CC can be a lonely business when you are on your own, sometimes you have no one to turn to, simply being or at least feeling that you are member of a club or network can have a huge beneficial effect even just receiving the much lampooned Newsletter helps keeping you in touch, no doubt many more experienced CC use newsletters in their own business's ,

Many moons ago I used to be  a member and a strong one at that, I just felt they got left behind , caught in a bit of a time warp especially when everything went on line (yes that long ago) and need to catch up fast.

How much is it £300 ? £25 per month, it's peanuts isn't it ............I really don't know much if anything at all about the NCCA these days but it does seem a trivial amount to be part of a national network.

[*Hector*]

But.... Hilti.. you are part of a National network on here, and generally there is a lot of support available on here from seasoned and ancient experienced carpet cleaners...

And it is FREE!!

So apart from the training... what has the NCCA ever done for us?? 

[Ian Harper]

clive ware

look at it as insurance if any thing ever goes wrong they can be the go between. take your point its a lot of money, you would think they would produce copy that you can use on your marketing. just think how the JP (Jim wolverton) copy is being used by everyone how nice would it be to nice something like that that is used by members and exclusive unlike JP stuff that everyone just uses having not ever given joe any money at any time.

The type of copy I am talking about is direct response stuff not some corporate looking rubbish, or self promotion from NCCA point. Just think about all the products you use and how each one has a benefit to the customer. its easy to write stuff that can talk about these benefits to the customer. its just translating those benefits that are used to sell that product to us into customer benefits.

I remember back in 1999 when I first went to JP boot camp no representative from NCCA was present checking out what this guy had to say. surely you think that as it represented many carpet cleaners they would have been even just t write an article about him.

Alltec paid JP first class ticket to come over and speak. and they where there at the boot camp.

Its just laziness on NCCA part. its a real shame that NCCA did not do what alltec did (FT) I am sure that the NCCA membership would have been the only ones using the Jim Wolverton stuff if they could have got some kind of agreement with JP. Jut think how recognizable that copy is over the UK maybe even more that NCCA logo -) its as powerful as any franchise copy.

[Hilton]

Always believed the NCCA missed lots of opportunities and still do today,

For instance if I had anything to do with them now I would be approaching organisations such as Costco Services to become a national service provider for them through the network.

10% off for Executive
5% off for Standard

Potential for hundreds of customers in any given area, I would ask those who wanted to be on the scheme to become an NCCA  Premium member paying another 5% of all work through Costco to them to cover costs etc.

Business along these lines anyway, once in at Costco use the National reach to do similar at other organisations, don't think NCCA think along these lines though but there you are I have given it to them now.

[Raymondo]

I seem to be the only one defending the NCCA on here.

I know it works for us happy to pay the subscription.

The directors of the NCCA put a lot of time and effort into it going to meetings the AGM organizing events like the carnival as well as running their own businesses.

This is not a dig at anyone here but if anyone feels the NCCA is going in the wrong direction join the broad as a director and change it from within.

[simonmnickson]

3 things in life are certain OR AT LEAST THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION IS CERTAIN - I GUARANTEE IT :-)

1/Did OJ SIMPSON DO IT?  -   YES
2/DID OSCAR SHOOT REEVA KNOWING IT WAS HER BEHIND THE DOOR - YES
3/IS THE NCCA WORTH £300 - NOT ON YER NELLY

OH -  I FORGOT THERE IS A FOURTH
4/SHOULD KATE & GERRY MC CANN BE IN JAIL  - YES

[Hilton]

You can take a horse to water .................

[homenclean]

Only worth it if you get at least £900 worth of work for your investment if not your paying £75 a letter to put ncca into your adds, customers on the whole don't know who the ncca are. You have to generate the confidence in the customer that you are the people to clean thiere carpets and have the knowledge and confidence to achieve the best result.
Ncca should be doing more to make the public aware of who they are and what they do. Money for old rope

[Hilton]

At 'least' £900 ROI....
Really ?
Explain how you arrived at this figure.