Across virtually all industries and markets responsible businesses join their trade associations as a matter of course.
Below we list some of the general benefits of membership of the TCA, and to the side we list some more specific ones. Click on "deals and discounts" to discover more about some of the tangible benefits of being a member. TCA members can access full details including contact information via the Members area of the website.
The main activities and benefits listed below are largely self-explanatory, but we provide some detail and illustration. The benefits are both tangible and intangible and vary depending upon the area of business in which the member is operating. Most of the benefits are applicable in particular to our retail section, those who sell products to the final user, but new benefits are being added all the time.
A picture (of a logo) is worth a thousand words
Customers like to have third-party endorsements of their buying decisions, they like the feeling of security that comes with buying from a Member of a trade association although they might have little idea as to the real benefit to be gained.
Our retailing members can offer tangible benefit to their customers, because they must conform to an industry-agreed Code of Practice. Customers have the extra assurance if something goes wrong and they are unhappy with the solution implemented by the Member, they can apply to the TCA for help in sorting things out.
But customer-facing benefit isn?t just limited to consumers. More and more business and government buyers want to buy from members of trade associations. The current BECTA contract requires tenderers to state what industry associations they belong to.
How many customer decisions does the logo have to influence in order for it to pay for your membership? It costs you no extra to make use of it in every means of promotion at your disposal. And remember, it?s not just about you using the logo, it?s about your competitors using it.
TCA helping to solve problems
Even the best businesses can have problems with customers, whether deserved or not. The TCA can help to resolve your customer disputes, and very often to do so in a way that saves you money. If we shortened or resolved just 1% of your customer disputes in a year how much would that save you?
A trouble shared
The Association provides a superb forum within which members can discuss issues of common interest, share their experience and find solutions to common problems. Many members find this the most gratifying of all the benefits the Association has brought to the industry.
Membership Benefits
o Code of Practice ? tells customers you?re a decent business
o Membership certificate
o Door/window stickers
o Listing on the website with Member Locator for Public to use
o Negotiated Member Benefits and Discount Schemes (see separate details)
o Useful & informative news
o Regional and national meetings
o Members coffee lounge at Computer Trade Show
o Use of TCA Member logo in your marketing
o Disputes Procedure
o EMC Guidance notes
o Consumer Guarantees Directive guidance
o WEEE guidance
o Channel to government departments
o Representation on the Parliamentary IT Committee
Forewarned is Forearmed
The TCA (as the PCA) first brought information about CE Marking to the industry, as well as effective guidance notes that have saved members a great deal of money. We were a consultee to the DTI, the UK Government and to the EU regarding the Consumer Guarantee Directive ? without us this particular directive would be even more punitive that it is. And in doing this we have kept our members well briefed on the best ways of handling the issues that will arise.
We were involved in representation to the government in respect of The 'WEEE' Directive and have provided guidance notes to Members as well as and some practical solutions to the issues.
If you aren?t a retailer you?ll still get some of the benefits as detailed, however most distributors and vendors who join us do so because of the benefit of being identified with ? and networking with - some of the most respected and successful resellers and retailers in the industry.
Companies or individuals who don?t easily see the rightness of joining a trade association aren?t really ready to join one. But if you are one who does see why it makes good sense ? we look forward to welcoming you to the Technology Channels Association