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Just actually able to start, at long last.

What builders merchants do trade accounts for self builders and are they even worth having.

Who are the best for price, stock and service.

TIA

 

Jill

 

 

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In the current climate send a generic email to all the local builders merchants asking for an account.

 

im sure you will get a reply

 

some merchants even have a pricing offer, send them drawings they will work out how much flooring, timber etc is required , just a way for them to win the work.

 

 

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27 minutes ago, TonyT said:

In the current climate send a generic email to all the local builders merchants asking for an account.

 

im sure you will get a reply

 

some merchants even have a pricing offer, send them drawings they will work out how much flooring, timber etc is required , just a way for them to win the work.

 

 

thanks, the estimate is one thing that Ridgeons offered us.

 

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The wickes one is worth doing (assuming they have a branch near you) 10% off for making up a letterhead and business card for Joe blogs home improvements.

 

Surprising how competitive they are on some things and how handy out of hours so might as well get a bit off. They're owned by Travis Perkins yet offer better than TP's price on some things.

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I haven't found one merchant that is competitive on everything. We have a cash trade account with travis perkins, they are competitive on some stuff but ridiculous on other but they del and accept amex as payment (airmiles). 

It pays to price everything as we regularly buy from b&q, screwfix, tool station, ebay, TP, trade counter online etc. For online I usually Google search for the cheapest. 

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Not sure if MKM have made it as far south as you but they are good. TP are ok but can sometimes be laughable on single items the day after you’ve bought 14 packs of blocks ... Wickes is a good shout - they do delivery too. 

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Interesting you mention MKM we have one opened up 30 miles away and one supposedly opening up around the corner but TP always been cheaper. Unfortunately a lot of trade prices depend on who is working the computer behind the counter.

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11 hours ago, Alexphd1 said:

.... Unfortunately a lot of trade prices depend on who is working the computer behind the counter.

 

And if you don't follow up that issue with the accounts clerk the price agreed over the phone is just hot air. 

In self-builds, its the relentlessness of the need to attend to detail that gets to me .   We could all do with a back-office whirling dervish  posessed of an uncomfortable eye for detail. 

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12 hours ago, PeterW said:

Not sure if MKM have made it as far south as you but they are good. TP are ok but can sometimes be laughable on single items the day after you’ve bought 14 packs of blocks ... Wickes is a good shout - they do delivery too. 

not heard of MKM, we have a brand new TP just being finished.

 

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In an out of town area we have.

 

Jewsons

Ridgeons

TP (opening in Feb)

Wickes

Screwfix

Toolstation

 

and B&Q in Ipswich, walking distance from my office, although I'm RFH at the mo

 

We also have a number of small / private merchants within 8 miles from home and another small Jewsons

One in particular are expensive, but really helpful and drop things off to us at short notice.

I might have a chat with them about discounts, we already have a monthly account .

 

Also on the industrial estate that I work on they are plumbing shops, electrical shops, timber merchants and maybe others.  It's a huge estate that I've never looked round fully, should do now.

But, the plumbing and electrical only seem to supply their own brand and didn't seem very price competitive in their 'trade' catalogue

 

I have a very detailed spreadsheet covering everything room by room of what I need, except of course for the things I've forgotten.

Is it worth me sending this list via email and asking for a trade account at the same time to the above list.

 

For items like Windows, doors, flooring etc is it best to use specialists even though the likes of Wickes provide everything.

 

Interesting about AMEX, I have one somewhere so I shall dig that out.

I spent an hour yesterday raising the limit on my 3 credit cards so I'll look at amex today.

WFH does help with the build as I can do some bits like respond to emails whilst I'm 'working'

Somethings just have to be done in the daytime.

My job at the moment is IT commissioning for our new 8,000 sqm factory, I see so much waste there, maybe I should try and pluck up the courage to ask the site manager if there is anything I can have.  Bet they get good prices on things.

 

 

Thanks for all your comments & ideas

It just marginally reduces the stress from 10,000 to 9,998 ?

 

Jill

 

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The only place I opened an account at was Howdens as they won't sell to public. I just turned up in scruffy site clothes and that seemed to do the trick.

 

Every other BM I just negotiated per item or got my trade to get their best price and I got the invoice in my name.

 

I think the main advantage for trades are the payment terms where cashflow can be an issue.

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Regarding AMEX, b&q doesn't accept it but I go through the avios store to the B&Q website which is 2 points for every pound then pay through PayPal which accepts amex for the extra point. The avios store is often up to 4 points for every pound on the b&q so its a nice little boost to the airmiles when I shop there!

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I opened an MKM account, I managed to get exceptional discount on timber and OSB but that was because the joiners I used were also a (big) customer and they secured their pricing on my account - I had them on a labour only deal with me supplying materials but when they saw my MKM quote for the timber they burst out laughing and a phone call saw it cut in half! othewise MKM werent much interested, was uphill getting decent prices on anything - insulation, blocks and so on, I gave up and went elsewhere. Had more luck with Travis Perkins, didn't open an account but got a trade card.  With other suppliers, haggling worked often and just asking saw another 10% or 20% off their trade price but you need to be buying decent volumes of stuff, not dribs and drabs. Insulation I found best prices from the specialist suppliers like encon or the online discounters, builders merchants werent much interested in trying to compete and were better on timber, sheet materials, sand, cement, plaster, blocks, etc.

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5 hours ago, Alexphd1 said:

Regarding AMEX, b&q doesn't accept it but I go through the avios store to the B&Q website which is 2 points for every pound then pay through PayPal which accepts amex for the extra point. The avios store is often up to 4 points for every pound on the b&q so its a nice little boost to the airmiles when I shop there!

If only you could fly somewhere ?

 

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1 hour ago, Alexphd1 said:

Tell me about. Got vancouver flights coming up in 3 weeks?

will you be able to move them, I have relatives in Vancouver, great place

haven't been for years though

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How do physical merchants (with/without trade pricing) compare to online for pricing? Looking at my budget spreadsheet I have Roofing Outlet and Insulation Superstore identified as cheapest for wall insulation and sound insulation, respectively, after a wee trawl of publicly available pricing. Are your merchants with their hidden/discounted costs likely to come in cheaper? 

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