This is what the guy at the parts counter told me:
Normal Vx Trade prices are essentially discounts given by the local dealer. The dealer buys the goods at the same price from vx regardless on whether he sells them for Retail price or Trade price.
Trade Club is a completely different arrangement. When you buy the part at Trade Club prices, the dealer gets an agreed small commission from the price you pay, and in turn he gets the part from Vauxhall for less than he normally would.
This is why the dealer can give you normal Trade prices at his own discretion, but in order to sell you the part at Trade Club price he will need to record the sale under your TC number to make sure he gets reimbursed by Vauxhall Motors.
The guy insisted that the commission they get is ‘very small’ (small??? Probably small compared to their usual 300% mark-up on Retail prices…), and in fact many dealers chose to opt-out form the Trade Club scheme altogether.
This also explains why dealers have different attitudes to Trade Club sales – mine is very helpful and friendly, but I heard that some dealers are not happy about selling small quantities e.g. just the odd filter etc at Trade Club prices.
BTW, my delaer also discounts non-TC items for me, this comes under the 'Oooh, I think we can do something on this item for you Sir...'.
As for your application, you should get your card and a hefty book in the post in around three weeks or so…
A note to RMcB – you closed the TC thread because of potential misuse of the TC card by members who have them for ‘personal use’ only. This is OK, but some of us have ‘proper’ Trade Club cards – which allow us to buy parts and sell them on to others. I can see no reason why the thread should not be re-opened for posting but only for full Trade Club members?