Members in Practice - Schools Supply Service - any experience?

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Schools Supply Service - any experience?

Jason

44 posts

# 77606
Fri 09 Dec 2011 10:54 AM

Hi,

I spoke to them a couple of weeks ago. From what I can tell, you are basically buying advertising in a publication that goes out too all the local schools etc. It's all very glossy, but like anything, there are no guarantees. I asked for a list of the schools in the area that this would apply too, and was told they couldn't email that information to me, but he would find out and let me know over the phone later. That call never came.

I am sure it has it's uses, but I am not so sure as a bookkeeper that you would get much out of it. But take a look at the publishers website if you can find it. They have last years brochure on there.

Best of luck

Jason

gigagirl

220 posts

# 77615
Fri 09 Dec 2011 04:24 PM

I had a call from them about 2 weeks ago. Asked for information to be emailed to me, but heard nothing. He didn't mention any fees though (I was wondering how this all worked) I did file it in the "sounds to good to be true" file.

Another42

Companion Fellow PM.Dip
Practice Licence
50 posts

# 77644
Mon 12 Dec 2011 10:18 AM

Very interesting - I just had a call from the same set up. They need to have a reply when he phones me back at 4pm today - wonder if he will? Does sound a bit too good to be true, but I notice that there is at least one ICB member in practice registered on their site. I think I will contact them. Looking for them first on the ICB directory I think... I'll keep you posted.
Sylvia

Another42

Companion Fellow PM.Dip
Practice Licence
50 posts

# 77665
Mon 12 Dec 2011 02:23 PM

Well, I think too good to be true sums it up. I checked with a fellow ICB member who is listed on their site, she said:

I have to be honest I only signed up about a month or so ago and I’ve had absolutely nothing from it, so I suppose it does fall in to the ‘sounds too good to be true’ category. In hind sight I wish I had done what you have and thought to contact someone in the trade first.

So, we'll wait and see if I get the return phone call I was promised later today, then file in the round filing cabinet...

FYI - they were asking me for £200 plust VAT.

Sylvia

Another42

Companion Fellow PM.Dip
Practice Licence
50 posts

# 77666
Mon 12 Dec 2011 02:32 PM

I looked them up on Companies House, found they used to be called SCEMES Ltd, ran a google search and came across the following comment from 2010 from another bookkeeping/accountancy service:

As I've done some work for a couple of schools over the past few years and remain interested in expanding on this I ran an ad in the Scemes handbook/on the website last year. In all honesty though, it has been a waste of my time and money. Fortunately, the rate I paid was very much reduced – to the point that I felt it was worth risking getting nothing in return for the chance that it might generate some leads – however, I wouldn't run the ad again, even if they offered it for the same rate. Maybe it works for some services, but clearly not for me. I wonder how many of the handbooks get to the desk of the headteachers/decision makers or how many are aware of the website.

So, definitely for the round filing cabinet.