ProDave Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 So I needed two 40mm solvent weld straight couplers. I needed them today so I could not mail order. £4.30 for two from TP. I could have got 5 from screweys for £3.75 or 78p each in Toolstation. Just saying. Then they wonder why I don't buy much from them lately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney12 Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 I agree. I guess they work on the premise that the “I need it now” sales are better than the volume business but it hardly develops loyalty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dee J Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 So many of the 'Trade' suppliers run such obscure pricing models, with ridiculous list prices and mysterious discounts. Thoroughly off-putting. Much prefer a realistic published price. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrerahill Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 1 hour ago, ProDave said: So I needed two 40mm solvent weld straight couplers. I needed them today so I could not mail order. £4.30 for two from TP. I could have got 5 from screweys for £3.75 or 78p each in Toolstation. Just saying. Then they wonder why I don't buy much from them lately. The irritating thing is, if you were known to them, that price would probably fall to about £2! Over the years of DIY I have built up relationships with merchants and the prices I get are the same as trade but the issue is if you go in and the guy behind the counter is not your usual guy you are back to square one. There is a wholesale motor factors I go to for oil and wipers and things, if I go in and it's not the guy I know I tend to just look about and then leave. I needed an alternator one Saturday in a hurry, it packed in on a Friday night and I needed to go somewhere on the Saturday night, garage said they couldn't do it till the following week, went in and luckily my chap was on, I got a genuine 160A Bosch alternator for less than £100 - when he rang up the part at first he said, "Right so, £268, but we can do better for you, £85 (I think it was) to you" I would have been happy if he said £200! I do think however that merchants are better than they were say 10 years ago, I think with the likes of Screwfix and Toolstation (mind you, a lot of the TS stuff is cheap for a reason) they have realised they need to be more competitive even for the average walk in. I went into a Jewsons about 10 years ago for 2400x600x22mm T&G caberfloor, chap said £33.00 a sheet and looked at me with a serious face when he said it, I just laughed and said, I assume there is a mistake, he looked again and said no £33, I said for both I assume, no no each! I said we both know that is a £7-8 sheet at best, what can you do it for - £11 - not great but for 2 sheets not bad either! I have since been in after about a decade of boycotting them for that ridiculous price and this time they were much more sensible prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrerahill Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 45 minutes ago, Dee J said: So many of the 'Trade' suppliers run such obscure pricing models, with ridiculous list prices and mysterious discounts. Thoroughly off-putting. Much prefer a realistic published price. I have noticed this, for example a 100m drum of 4.0mm T&E list price in CEF is about £1000.00 but they always discount it - obviously! I think it is so they can rip of government organisations or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nod Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 2 hours ago, ProDave said: So I needed two 40mm solvent weld straight couplers. I needed them today so I could not mail order. £4.30 for two from TP. I could have got 5 from screweys for £3.75 or 78p each in Toolstation. Just saying. Then they wonder why I don't buy much from them lately. TP are a nightmare I needed a foam gun in a hurry £37 Normally pay under a tenner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Davies Posted December 16, 2019 Share Posted December 16, 2019 Diary entry for the last time I went into TP: Quote = 2018-02-22 Thur … .Thurso Travis Perkins for 3.75x40 galv twist nails but only had 30mm (at £30+VAT for 2.5kg). Asked for quote on 20 x 220x45 C24. Left number for them to phone back. They didn't phone back. I ordered 3 × 2.5kg bags for £29.70 (incl VAT and delivery) on line the following day. That's the price for the 3 bags, not each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMagic Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 (edited) 12 hours ago, ProDave said: £4.30 for two from TP. I could have got 5 from screweys for £3.75 or 78p each in Toolstation. The most bonkers thing is that TP actually own Toolstation, so why the insane price differences god only knows... Gave up with builders merchants a long time ago, tend to use online 'brokers' or eBay if I can plan ahead, it all turns up on a TP/Jewsons/a-n-other lorry at the end of the day anyway! The only one I've been to recently was CCF for an obscure plastering product (Knauf Betokontakt) although even thats now in TS as 'blue grit' Edited December 17, 2019 by MrMagic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 11 hours ago, Barney12 said: I agree. I guess they work on the premise that the “I need it now” sales are better than the volume business but it hardly develops loyalty! Also, the "someone else is paying" aspect that builders may have, so material costs are secondary to ease of getting it on site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 14 hours ago, ProDave said: [...] I could have got 5 from screweys for £3.75 or 78p each in Toolstation. [...] We all focus on the job in hand - "Get [...] done". That's where the profit lies. Urgency. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottishjohn Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 all i would say is just look at the other shops for all sorts of things, that are not there now ,due to internet with no overheads . you can,t have it both ways --local+best price Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToughButterCup Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 54 minutes ago, scottishjohn said: [...] ,due to internet with no overheads . [...] e-commerce isn't zero overhead(ed) though....... Once set up it's very flexible - scalable - adaptable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 1 hour ago, scottishjohn said: local+best price Not as if BMs are local, often on obscure little industrial estates. Not many have been in a High Street. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted December 17, 2019 Author Share Posted December 17, 2019 2 hours ago, scottishjohn said: all i would say is just look at the other shops for all sorts of things, that are not there now ,due to internet with no overheads . you can,t have it both ways --local+best price But Screweys and toolstation both have shops. The only trouble is, they are 24 miles from me. TP is only 7 miles, and I was going that way for something else anyway. It is no wonder though that those that can't compete, die. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonshine Posted December 17, 2019 Share Posted December 17, 2019 2 minutes ago, ProDave said: The only trouble is, they are 24 miles from me. TP is only 7 miles TS have free delivery on any order over £10, so if you can wait 1-2 days you can get it your door and save the petrol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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