Rip off DIY shops

[gbb]

Its easy to forget in the rush to get things done, what markup the DIY shops are putting on their goods...
Just got a new electric cooker (god bless the fact i live in Peterborough , home of Hotpoint and Indesit group. They have a shop open to the public with vastly reduced white goods. Cannon Kendal cooker for £310 ...absolute cheapest online price £505, normally £579 anywhere else)...anyway, sorry, i digress...

So i want some cable and trunking. Off to Homebase...the cable they had was underrated so no good, but it worked out to £5 a metre (it came in 5 mtr rolls, too much for me, and the trunking was £7.99 I know that trunking is never that dear so off to the wholesalers.

2 mtrs of 10mm2 Flat T+E cable and a length of trunking...£7 the lot , that would have cost me about £50 in Homebase if they'd had the right size cable.

It's worth remembering, if you want plumbing or electrical stuff, the trade wholesalers will often happily serve you

 

[snakehips]

It's worth remembering, if you want plumbing or electrical stuff, the trade wholesalers will often happily serve you

And you might even find that the people serving in them know something about the things they are selling.

Snake

My Library

 

[Crankarm]

Pack of 4 wooden curtain rings at Homebase £4.99.

Pack of same 4 wooden curtain rings at Dunelm 99p.

 

[twentysix by twentyfive]

I hate Homebase, B&Q and any other similar outfit Bluddy supermarkety b*gg*rs.

I always go to my local trade folks. I even had the £1.50 spring for the clutch in my chainsaw fitted for free while I waited.

 

[gbb]

And you might even find that the people serving in them know something about the things they are selling.

Snake

My Library

So true...i calculated i needed cable rated to 11 kw or 45 amps... asked the guy on the counter will 10mm do ?...yep was the answer..no fuss, no hesitation.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I hate Homebase, B&Q and any other similar outfit Bluddy supermarkety b*gg*rs.

I always go to my local trade folks. I even had the £1.50 spring for the clutch in my chainsaw fitted for free while I waited.

Me too. We're lucky in Ross: we've got an independent hardware shop, a huge independent tool shop, a builder's merchant and a Travis Perkins/plumb centre, as well as a (hawk, spit) Focus DIY. I only ever go in the Focus if I really can't avoid it.

 

[Milo]

Not all the trade companies are good. Travis Perkins are massive stitch ups..

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Not all the trade companies are good. Travis Perkins are massive stitch ups..

The list is in roughly the order I'll visit them in, assuming the one before hasn't got what I want.

 

[Slowgrind]

I'd steer well clear of Travis Perkins! They are very expensive, more than B&Q and all the other DIY type outlets!

 

[beanzontoast]

I don't use B&Q or Homebase much nowadays - though did go to Homebase when they had the half price loft insualtion offer running last autumn. Quite often go to Wilkos for little bits.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

When I visit my gran in Barton Upon Humber and she needs any DIY stuff doing I always go to Fleetgate (I think it's called). It's an old fashioned hardware shop where you can buy one nail if that's what you need, brilliant shop - got everything in there. They display loads of stock on the pavement - tin baths, brooms, etc. - eee grand

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I used to live in Barton. I remember watching them build the Humber bridge from my bedroom window, I must have been all of five years old.

 

[Over The Hill]

Many of the trade places have stuff priced up at high prices and the trade bods get a big discount on that price. So they often work out quite expensive for casual punters.

Screwfix are cheap on a lot of bits (but not everything*) and I think the shops that are springing up everywhere are staying at the same price as they have in the catalogue.

* good on screws and nails, odd plugs and fittings. Small stuff that DIY shops charge £2.99 as minimum price on. Expensive on things like shower screens, bigger items, kitchen units and fittings. Perhaps they build in a premium for delivery costs.

 

[MrGrumpy]

Many of the trade places have stuff priced up at high prices and the trade bods get a big discount on that price. So they often work out quite expensive for casual punters.

Screwfix are cheap on a lot of bits (but not everything*) and I think the shops that are springing up everywhere are staying at the same price as they have in the catalogue.

* good on screws and nails, odd plugs and fittings. Small stuff that DIY shops charge £2.99 as minimum price on. Expensive on things like shower screens, bigger items, kitchen units and fittings. Perhaps they build in a premium for delivery costs.

was gonna say the same, wholesalers can be cheap but you need the discount otherwise the bigger super stores are reasonable for some things. I` pretty sure the price of copper has gone up considerably, hence twin and earth prices and copper pipe being dear. Of which I`m looking to mooch some 1.5mm twin and earth