Screwfix- Plumbfix- Electrifix

Had a plumbfix catalogue a while back - all the prices I checked were exactly the same as SF. Seemed like an exercise in the pointless.

As far as the phone and collect service goes, I always find I have to wait just as long to collect, as I would to order and collect. Only advantage I can see is **IF** they tell you when you phone whether it's in stock at your local branch. I'd much rather they were set up so I could do that online.

I saw a Plumbfix van the other day and thought it was a local rip-off of Screwfix, even down to the use of the same colouring and typeface!

..I then later saw it mentioned on the back of a catalogue but it's not clear to me what it's been set up for.

Mathew

Presumably marketing to counter Plumbcentre, Buildcentre, Partscentre, Electricentre, etc from the Wolseley Group. Why would a plumber go to "Screwfix" he wants plumbing bits not screws... B-) Hence Plumbfix for the plumbers of little brain.

Good theory. Plumbers of little brain? Surely not!

mark

I've tried that, only to find that they'd then sold it in the meantime anyway! Fair enough risk if I've only made an enquiry beforehand, but using their deliberate collection service and a 20 mile round trip ought to be a guarantee of them keeping it to hand.

I don't really use Screwfix any more. Toolstation is more reliable (out of stock at the counter is very rare) and cheaper.

locally, one at either end of the towns. The one at t'other end of town is a very large store & now has a 'Tradepoint ' entrance. The local one is small & just has a sign saying "Tradepoint cards can be used here".

They are totally confused by them. No training obviously.

I used to have a B&Q "Trade Discount Card" which gave a small rebate on purchases. Once you accrrued over £50 you got paid your rebate.

Incredibly complicated - the rebate on some items was 15% and on others 2%, but every 2 or 3 months ( I try not to use B&Q) I'd get a cheque for £50 odd.

This is now converted to the Tradepoint Card which apparently gives you discounts on any item in the Tradepoint catalouge. These prices however seem to be the same as Screwfix - and if its an item not in the Tradepoint catalouge I pay the same as Joe Public.

The local Screwfix depot is 100 yards away from the B&Q Tradepoint store, so I can't see the point.

The benefit of the old style "Trade Discount Card" was that you could bank the cheque & spend the dosh wherever you wanted. Now I get the same prices I would pay at SF or TS anyway - if the item is in the magic catalouge.

I'm also convinced that the price difference between the online suppliers & the big stores is getting bigger.

Wickes also have a loyalty card which pays out vouchers - like a Tesco Clubcard. Problem is you can only spend them in Wickes.

I have a running 'wish list' of stuff I could find useful, but only if I can get a silly money deal on it. The B&Q rebate was handy for this, the Wickes points aren't.

Example - I've been after a 6' level for ages. Local BM had a Stanley one on offer for £25, which I bought knowing that the latest B&Q rebate cheque had just gone in. I have a Wickes £10 voucher, but their best deal on a 6' level at the time was £40.

==============================================================================

I use Screwfix for most things because it's quite local and Toolstation for delivered goods but I wonder how long Toolstation will be able to maintain their excellent free delivery on an order of just £10-00p. There can't be much profit on such small orders.

Cic.

I've just been looking at prices for dehumidifiers. Screwfix are charging about 10% more than Wickes for exactly the same products. If dehumidifiers, what else?

I've got a 'B&Q' TradePoint card and you pay the bill to Screwfix in Doncaster. According to a leaflet I recently picked up if you pay by tradepoint card you canget 55% off the B&Q price for kitchens and bathrooms. Another leaflet mentioned that the TradePoint card was valid at Screwfix, Plumbfix and Electrifix. I investigated and that triggered this post.

mark

mmm especially as wickes aren't known for being "cheap"....

Jim K

I've wondered the same. I now buy lots more stuff from TS - but how can they afford it?

SF aren't the cheapest place for lots of stuff anymore.

I gave up the B&Q trade card a few years ago (can't remember why: I think they were changing it and wanted me to jump through some paperwork hoops and I wasn't using it much anymore).

But if I could buy stuff from B&Q on my screwfix trade a/c that would be useful.

Haven't tried my Tradepoint card at Screwfix yet so can't say if is accepted there. Like others I tend to go TS for bits and pieces as they have been cheaper than SF in all of my sample tests.

It wouldn't be a bad idea to have a 'shopping basket' of common DIY supplies and compare the price of it at various suppliers.

What would we put in it?

I have started a comparison list of various items. It is more difficult than you'd expect to get 'like for like'. For instance if you compare branded tools there are slight model differences etc. Some accessories may be included by one supplier and not the other. On the plumbing side they are sold in different quantities, lots of 10 or 25 etc. I'll report back when I've got a few more items on my list.

mark