EPISODE 14 | TECH FOR TECHS Your customer should not need a side quest to get a laptop repaired. They need to know where to book, what it costs to find the fault and when they will hear from you. Every unclear handover adds another call to a day that already contains quite enough ringing. Imagine booking your own service using a phone you have never logged in on. The form asks for a serial number you cannot find. The confirmation says nothing about charges. At drop off, some

UK reseller partners gathered for exclusive product previews, the launch of Crosscall Connect and the first Crosscall Connect UK&I Awards 2026. Basingstoke, UK –October 2026: Ci Distributionwelcomed reseller partners to its Basingstoke headquarters on 14th October for an exclusive Crosscall Partner Event, showcasing the latest rugged mobile technology and new opportunities for the UK IT channel. Hosted in partnership with French company Crosscall, which develops enterprise-gr

Sanjay from TechPoint Distribution joins Phil and Jenni to discuss merchandising, accessories, customer service and the road ahead for independent technology retailers. Watch Tech Talk episode 187.

EPISODE 13 You arrive with six jobs to finish. By closing time, you have answered fourteen calls, helped somebody find a password, checked a delivery twice and explained why a laptop cannot be repaired while it is still in the customer's kitchen. You have been busy all day. The six jobs are still looking at you. For a repair shop, callout technician or MSP, interruptions can quietly become the working day. Customers need help and colleagues need answers, but every request ca

EPISODE 12 You fixed the computer. The invoice is now the thing that refuses to work. It sits there for weeks, receiving less attention than a Windows update nobody asked for. Credit control keeps that delay from becoming your problem to finance. Agree the limit and payment route before the next job starts. Imagine a regular customer asking you to order six laptops. Lovely sale. Slight complication: they still owe you for the last four. Your inner technician is already compar

EPISODE 11 April has gone. The paperwork has not. Making Tax Digital for Income Tax is already running for the first group of affected sole traders and landlords. If that includes you, the job now is to keep your records working and get the next update ready. If you join in April 2027, you have time to build a sensible routine before it becomes compulsory. Being good with computers does not automatically make your bookkeeping digital. A folder full of receipt photographs is a

EPISODE 10 Money in the bank can make a struggling business look surprisingly healthy. You open the banking app, see a decent balance and relax. Then the supplier payment lands, the tax bill arrives and half that confidence disappears. Management accounts help you understand what the business has earned, what it owes and which work deserves more of your time. What the business needs to understand You don't need a finance department. You need regular figures that show sales,

EPISODE 09 Profit on paper won’t help when the bank account is empty. Cash flow keeps the doors open. Profit on paper doesn't pay suppliers when customers have not paid you. Cash flow problems often begin with small habits: ordering parts before taking a deposit, allowing business invoices to drift or holding completed devices for weeks. Why this matters This is bigger than it looks. Payment rules should be decided before the job starts. They protect both sides by making t

EPISODE 08 Discounting can feel like the fastest way to save a sale. It can also be the fastest way to damage your margin and your confidence. When a customer says the price is too high, the first instinct may be to defend it or cut it. Both reactions can damage trust. A price objection is often a request for clarity, reassurance or a different option. Why this matters Here is why you should care. The customer may not understand the work, may be comparing a different servic

EPISODE 7 Set Prices That Leave Room for Quality and Profit A price that wins the job but loses the profit isn’t a win. Price should fund the service you promise. If it leaves no room for proper testing, good parts, insurance, training and the occasional difficult job, the customer may receive a cheaper invoice but a weaker service. Why this matters Look closely. This is where problems hide. Profitable pricing is not about charging as much as possible. It's about recovering