Treacodactyl
|
Builders' merchantsWhy, oh why, do some builders' merchants quote such utterly ridiculous prices? Do they not expect people to shop around or have a vague idea of prices?
I've just been phoning round a couple of places for a few pallets of bricks and one quote was over 60% more than another for identical bricks. When I didn't sound too impressed they asked me what my best quote was and then said they could match it, so why quote such an inflated price in the first place?
I expect some difference and a bit of haggling but not that much. So, I'll be buying from the one who's given me a reasonable price and happens to be a local independent place.
|
Ian33568
|
Same the world over I'm afraid, here we get at least three quotes before buying from builders merchants and get them to write it down as next time you visit it often bears no resemblance to the first 
|
Gervase
|
Builders' merchants always have two price scales - retail and trade. Trade price is usually at least 40 per cent below the marked price and sometimes 60 per cent, but you generally need to have an account to get trade terms. If you're doing a lot of work it's almost always worth getting an account.
If you can't be arsed to get an account, turn up looking like a builder at 7.30 in the morning and say it's a cash sale but can you have trade terms. Chances are you'll get a significant discount.
Most independent builders' merchants make the bulk of their profit from the DIYers who turn up on a Saturday morning not quite knowing what they want but prepared to pay through the nose for a handful of widgets.
|
Treacodactyl
|
Even though I'm doing a fair bit of work I've not got an account because even after haggling the best prices can still vary hugely between companies round here, possibly because there are so many to choose from. I know I would get a couple of extra % off if I got an account with one national merchant. I've also found there that some members of staff are more willing to give a lower price and some are not allowed to reduce the price by much so getting hold of the right member of staff is very important.
I don't know if it's common but the local independent merchant I'm going to order from publishes a price list and it's prices don't seem to vary from that. It has gradual discounts for the more you buy etc and the prices I've been quoted match those paid by the builder I had in last year.
The main problem is you don't really have much idea what a fair price is. 
|
vegplot
|
They will want to maximise profit, don't we all. This is why they have trade and retail. Trade is to their bread and butter and retail is the jam.
There's also the hassle factor. If one builder's merchant can get bricks from a regular supplier then it will be cheaper than from a BM who has to arrange a special delivery from the same supplier.
|
judith
|
| vegplot wrote: | | There's also the hassle factor. If one builder's merchant can get bricks from a regular supplier then it will be cheaper than from a BM who has to arrange a special delivery from the same supplier. |
This has a lot to do with it. We have been shopping for a bathroom, and the catalogue prices bear almost no resemblance to the price actually paid. But the size of the discount will depend on whether the retailer has an agreement with a given manufacturer or will have to order the fittings specially (anything up to 60% for the former compared to around 20% for the latter).
|
Treacodactyl
|
| vegplot wrote: | | There's also the hassle factor. If one builder's merchant can get bricks from a regular supplier then it will be cheaper than from a BM who has to arrange a special delivery from the same supplier. |
That's my conclusion with the bricks, they're locally made so I expect the local indi merchant has a long running agreement with the makers, whereas the local branch of the chain of merchants has only started stocking them as it knows people often have them specified to match existing brickwork.
I'm happier now I've found out they are only a couple of pence more expensive per brick than some general facing bricks I can pick up at Wickes and some online searches are showing them up as much more expensive elsewhere.
|
