The future of DIY

[Tim W]

The Medway Handyman wibbled on Thursday 14 January 2010 22:10

Self service facility - that would sort the men from the boys.

Or the ham-fisted to the no-fisted...

[John Rumm]

You should have said sooner, never mind too late now.

Flattered no. However it is an interesting question, and as is often the case with this group (and so it has turned out in this case) much interesting conversation can arise from it. So for that it is worth putting up with some inept questions, and some obnoxious answers.

Perhaps and quite possibly, but in reality neither of us can know for sure.

For other reasons I felt it worth responding - few to do with the OP in this particular case.

[John Rumm]

Even many of those are frustrating...

We have some very good constructional timber merchants - any shape, size, rating etc of wood so long as its pine or some variant. Delivered in quantity etc when you need. No internet, no hardwood though.

We have one independent with loads of softwood, reasonable choice of hardwood sizes (but not species), and accurate cutting service.

Furniture grade hard woods however are very hard to find.

[Bruce]

That seems like a good idea. The trouble is, B&Q's business model seems to be based on passing off cheap junk as though it was something with better quality, accordingly charging higher prices.

[Steve Walker]

Trouble is, when you're short of something and your wife is out somewhere, you've no choice but to take the kids. When you've got two young ones (we have three, but one's just about old enough to be semi-trusted), a double seater trolley is a blessing!

SteveW

[Dave Liquorice]

Isn't that moving a bit away from DIY to self build? Interesting idea but would be better on the companies website so you can sit at home and use it.

That's probably covered better by a leaflet you can take away, read and easyly refer to as the project is planned and shopping lists drawn up etc. Screen based stuff is just about OK for reading but refering back forward between pages is PITA ona screen.

[Jason]

Oh boy, don't get me started on those infuriating ....grrrrrr!!!

[Jason]

I have got that stuff from companies in trading estates, and boy - does the service suck big balls when dealing with "trade" companies. What is it with them? Do they stretch out a simple purchase for the benefit of builders so they can charge their clients extra time while they have a cup of coffee?

I just don't get it. You can have service or a good range of specialised hardware. Seldom can you find both at the same time.

-- JJ

[Jason]

B&Q North Shields had a whole aisle of sheeps-wool insulation before Christmas. Must have just got a job lot in; never seen it before or since.

-- JJ

[Dave]

Quite often that is down to the customers and the computer ordering system. They buy rubbish wood and stack it up for sale. The customer comes along and buys the best of the selection. The worst of the selection stays on the shelf and the stock computer say 'we have lots of wood, so don't order any more'.

I had a part time job at Buy and Queue for 6 months and found out that they only sold what can only be described as crap.

If I want anything now, I go to a local independent DIY store.

Dave

[<me9]

Stockton had quite a lot last week. Can't say I noticed any this week, had recycled plastic though.

I was in getting spaceblanket. The wibble said £2.xx, it was £5.xx in store. I think they'd done the half price twice then realised. It was (on a Wednesday) cheaper than elsewhere even at the doubled price.

[PJ]

Gaffer tape can be a big help or even cable ties.

I think Dr Spock recommended bungee cords but he probably liked children. :-)

[Chris J Dixon]

They have done tools in the past. I bought a set of well-made screwdrivers with really grippy handles. They had a demo rig with a screw head operating a set of LEDs, and two drivers - theirs and one with a smooth plastic handle which you could try and see how many LEDs you could light. My set is still going strong after at least 15 years.

Chris

[Tim W]

PJ wibbled on Friday 15 January 2010 02:18

More importantly, what would Mr Spock recommend?

[The Medway Handyman]

Laser levels on stun....

[NT]

bad management

NT

[NT]

I'm not sure why you say self build. There's a huge number of diy projects and repairs people undertake - and more often dont due to lack of knowhow or confidence.

Have it on both. Leisurely perusal at home is a fine thing, but there are also many cases of 'ooh, I need to grab this, but not sure what to get to do it.' And many people still dont have net access. Also you get otherwise busy people having to wait outside for one reason or another, one more selling opportunity.

I think both have their uses. The issue with paper is it takes too much space up if you're going to stock a half decent rage of info, and its not that good at engaging the customer in dreaming about the products. You could replace the wallspace taken up with pamphlets with a handful of computers with a 'print this' button, and consequently offer far more info.

What %age of the population will diy something? Most dont, and many would if they knew how. There's a big potential market waiting to be captured.

NT

[Owain]

Barbara Woodhouse recommended choke chains and if they're good enough for labradors ...

Owain

[Tim W]

The Medway Handyman wibbled on Friday 15 January 2010 08:37

Best not to ask Kirk:

"We come in peace. [Shoot to kill]"

[Andrew Gabriel]

I used to have a similar problem in Maplin trying to buy cable. Once the staff had nicked more than about a 1/4 drum of cable, it got into a deadly embrace with the computer not seeing any more sales so it didn't reorder, but the store having no more cable to sell, and the staff apparently unable to do anything about it.