Now QVC stopped selling Spray n Grow in England, the sale runs now through Grow Spray, our distribution network in the Netherlands.
Many loyal customers in England happily find their way to our website and come to the conclusion that it is still available for them.
Unfortunately, it is still the case that when it comes to a transfer to an account abroad, banks charge rediculous transfer costs. We have heard from customers amounts ranging from £ 9.00 to £ 15.00.
Especially for our older customers who do not use electronic banking, this amount is a threshold to order, partly due to the fact that the amount is disproportionate to the actual price of an average order of our products.
To enhance our service to customers in England the idea came to go and see whether it would be possible to open a business account through our own bank, the Rabobank
The helpful people at the desk could give me no answer to the question whether it could be and what the cost would be. There had to be a specialist asked. A week later and 3x the promise that they would call back, I still had no answer. Until finally after a 4th call the redeeming word came:
Costs:
- Installation costs € 100.00
- Cost per month charged by external bank € 40.00
- Cost per month charged by Rabobank as service € 7.50
I was baffled about the absurdity of the amount and asked the gentleman if he was serious. His answer was a simple and bold: yes, these are the costs.
I gave him my opinion upon this and answered: "Shame to your bank to dare charge this amount of costs in the digital age!"
Banks continue rummaging, in every possible way and with all the means at their disposal. Service, or in other words, be happy with it that they get a customer, or it may manage funds from others, is no longer paramount.
Our UK customers can be confident that despite this opposition we continue to look for a proper solution!
