Can UK Businesses Really Be Paying Four Times Too Much For A Legal Requirement Asks FireProtectionOnline.co.uk?

Every business in the UK has probably bought fire extinguishers in the last year or two. In a trade worth an overall £1billion a year, it’s no surprise the suppliers are fighting hard to stop businesses buying online at a quarter the price.

London, England (PRWEB) May 21, 2007 -- Big UK fire extinguisher suppliers are fighting tooth and nail to protect their lucrative prices from being destroyed by the internet. But online companies such as FireProtectionOnline.co.uk are helping businesses large and small buy the same fire fighting equipment at a fraction of the price.

I spoke to a lovely old lady the other day who had been quoted £189 each by the largest fire company in the UK for four extinguishers that we sell for £31 each – and, amazingly, that company makes them for us! She was very happy when our extinguishers arrived the next morning.

In October 2006, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety Order) came to be law and businesses suddenly became aware of their legal duties to protect staff and visitors from fire.

Many traditional fire protection companies saw orders increase as business owners and managers rushed to renew or increase their fire extinguisher cover. The normal source of supply has been to either call the current maintenance company or reach for the Yellow Pages – yes, people still use it!

But why not use the internet to research the current prices and availability of new technology?

Well, it seems the established companies have been doing a great job of installing fear in the minds of buyers. Stories of Chinese fake extinguishers, second-hand eBay equipment and “seconds” being passed of as genuine are rife.

But it appears these “fakes” don’t actually exist and may be an attempt, not surprisingly, by the big guns to hold onto a very lucrative trade at wildly inflated prices that has been enjoyed for many a year.

According to the Fire Industry Confederation, the UK fire protection market is worth a cool £1billion a year. Suddenly, it makes sense why many are not keen to start lowering prices on the internet.

Jason Miller of leading internet supplier www.FireProtectionOnline.co.uk tells us, “I spoke to a lovely old lady the other day who had been quoted £189 each by the largest fire company in the UK for four extinguishers that we sell for £31 each – and, amazingly, that company makes them for us! She was very happy when our extinguishers arrived the next morning.”

The story has been reflected in many traditional businesses whereby the old guard has resisted the onslaught of the internet. New, highly efficient, service-lead online companies have fast become industry leaders. Look at Expedia and Lastminute in the travel industry, Amazon in book retail, eBay for selling unwanted items. Many established names have left it too late to take action and are no more.

Says Jason Miller, “the huge, national firms simply cannot compete, and we’ve had to take on extra packing staff. Our figures for the May are already three times our forecasts and everyone is telling their friends. You cannot get the smiles off our faces.”

Of the big three fire protection companies, each has a web site but none have any online extinguishers for sale. In fact, a quick phone call to each quickly informed us that the only way to find out their prices would be by sitting face to face with one of their sales people. No-one at the three companies was available for a comment.

So, what of the future?

Is the fire extinguisher industry, ripe for change? Are companies like Fire Protection Online selling the same equipment at, on average a third or quarter the price? Do bears …errr…in the woods?

Enough said?

Note to Editors:

Related events:   International FireExpo, National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, UK - 21st-24th May 2007

About Fire Protection Online Ltd
In a very short space of time, Fire Protection Online has risen to become the leading UK online supplier of fire extinguishers, fire blankets and related fire safety equipment.

For further company information, please contact:

Jason Miller, Fire Protection Online Limited
Tel: 01322 303127 or 07976 899692
Email: info @ fireprotectiononline.co.uk
www.FireProtectionOnline.co.uk

or

Jon Butt, Planet Web Marketing
Tel: 0033 666 325072
Email: jon @ planetwebmarketing.co.uk

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