Homebase prices

[The Medway Handyman]

For the last couple of years I've not bothered to charge for the odd plumbing fitting/length of cable/tube of silicone etc & I've realised this is costing me a quite a few quid a month, which all adds up.

So I've decided to charge for these consumables at DIY store prices - what the punter would pay if they bought the same item. Since I mainly buy from Screwfix/TLC & the like, this should show me a reasonable profit without ripping the client off.

Decided to have a look at Homebase prices since I've always considered them the dearest - what a shock!

Straight compression fitting 15mm £1.49

Elbow compression fitting 15mm £2.49

300mm flexible tap connector £7.49

15mm service valve £3.99

Gripfill type product £4.59

Silicone £5.99

2.5mm T&E - metre £1.49

Washing machine hose £5.49

I've started to charge things out at higher prices, but I can't find it in myself to charge what Homebase do! I feel like I'm ripping people off! How could you charge someone £7.49 for a 300mm tap connector that costs £1.29 at Screwfix?

[BRG]

Dave,

That's why most reputable builders get their supplies from a 'pukker' builders/plumbers merchant at trade prices (the actual discount can usually be negotiated after a while using the same company) and then charge the client the retail price - plus around 15% to cover the cost of collection etc - they also open accounts at these places and generally get around

10 -15% off for paying the invoice within15 days of receipt.

You can also (upon proof) open an account with the likes of Makro cash and carry wholesale sites - and save a bob or two there.

BRG

[Lobster]

Most plumbers I've ever come across seem to think it's fair play to charge above B&Q prices for materials, so I wouldn't agonise too much.

David

[Peter Andrews]

...and all trade prices are not necessarily cheaper than the sheds. I bought a dishwasher trade last year (where I have an account) and then discovered it was only £2, yes two, cheaper than Dixons, but it was delivered when promised!

I will check more carefully next time.

Peter

[John Rumm]

Same old story - to an extent you are paying for 12 hour a day availability, nice packaging, spoon feeding instructions etc. It priced for a particular market. It also represents a good profit centre for the shop - they can offer low headline prices on big ticket items, but then clean up on the sundries. Rather like PC world selling a PC at £249 and then charging £19.95 for a USB lead.

On the odd occasions I do things like plumbing jobs for people, I find I use a variable markup depending on the items. Maybe 5 - 10% on bigger items so the prices are close to what they can see in retail shops. Then higher (could be as much as 100%) on mickey mouse stuff that I buy in trade packs (end feed fittings etc). I also use a fixed charge for sundries like flux, solder, gas, PTFE etc since there is no easy way to account for that sort of thing. One just accepts that some you will more than cover costs and others you won't but the average should be ok.

One always has to remember that even stocking up on small stuff from TLC or screwfix is an overhead that has to be paid for somewhere.

[John Rumm]

With IT kit I often find the trade prices are *more* than I can get stuff retail! (when buying single items)

There have been occasions I wanted something like a scanner, checked the price at Midwich wholesalers, then ordered it from eBuyer because they were £10 cheaper, only to then have it drop shipped directly by Midwich.

[Dave Liquorice]

Makro isn't that good on prices compared to say Tesco for an awful lot of items. You have know the "price" of what you you are buying and remember that the shelf ticket shows ex VAT prices...

Costco is better than Makro by about 3 or 4%, they only deal in cash or debit cards though, no credits cards. Odd that their prices are 3 or 4% lower, prehaps not... CostCo shelf tickets show ex and inc VAT prices.

[Andy Hall]

Why does a bog lick its bollocks?

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Round this way you're paying for the fact that the Homebases are near all empty during the week while you have to queue at B&Q.

I'm well impressed with the Screwfix counter in Croydon. Had everything I've asked for in stock - and total time taken from arriving to leaving little longer than B&Q. Sadly it takes over three times as long to get there as the nearest shed. Oh - there's a Trade Depot opening next to it on Saturday for those local.

[The Medway Handyman]

I didn't know that a small area of marshy land had testicles?

[Martin Crossley]

If I were in the market for your services, I would glady accept those prices for *a few* odd bits supplied to the job from stock, rather than pay for your travelling time plus a fair mark-up on the cheapest. Martin.

[David in Normandy]

B&Q have some strange pricing policies. I once wanted some=20 PIR detectors. B&Q sold them singly at =A310 or a twin pack=20 (identical model) for =A330. Two for the price of three -=20 nice deal! I queried an assistant and they went away and=20 checked. Yes the prices were correct. Duh!

--=20 David in Normandy. [e-mail]=20 To e-mail you must include the password FROG on the subject line, or it will be automatically deleted.

[tinnews]

I've never seen anything at Makro that was actually cheaper than buying at a specialist supplier (or supermarket). I guess they may make sense if you're buying a whole range of things and don't want to shop around for each one but for specific items I'm looking for I have always found cheaper elsewhere.

This has included things like:-

DECT phones Toolboxes Cameras

[tinnews]

This is quite common in the supermarkets now too, though not always to quite such an extreme extent.

[The Medway Handyman]

These prices are for stuff off the van.

If I know in advance exactly what I need for the job I'll pick it up in the morning or the day before, & I don't charge for that time & travel.

For example I installed a WC for a client last week. Picked it up on the way to the job, supplied the shut off valve & flexible tap connector from van stock. Couldn't buy the multiquick pan connector in advance until I offered the new WC up to the old soil pipe (it was in a funny place). So I had to go & get one - and I think its reasonable to charge for the time involved.

If I don't have something I should have with me in order to do the job (rare), I'll go & get it, but I won't charge for the time.

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember Andy Hall saying something like:

Ask Pete.

[Grimly Curmudgeon]

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold. I remember [e-mail] saying something like:

Indeed. On several occasions my local supermarket has priced items such that it's far cheaper to buy lots of smaller packs than the bigger ones. Teabags are a particular favourite of their crazy pricing.