Using builders merchants

[sarahw]

Hi,

I've been getting stuff at B&Q but now need smoe more serious materials - 25 sheets of plasterboard, 15 bags of plaster etc... I'd like to try a builders merchant but am wary.

1. Will they deliver locally and is ths extra?
2. I've heard that prices need to be negotiated... I knoiw what B&Q charge for plasterboard so should I be looking to beat this by say 10%???

Thanks!

 

[noseall]

B&Q could promise me boards for free and i still would not use them.

My local bm will bend over backwards to see that my materials get to me no matter what. To me, this service is without equal, no matter the cost of the stuff.

If we are kept waiting for stuff for a lengthy period, then the savings promised by others amounts to jack.

For 'cheap' one off deals, i would stick to the sheds.

Us builders are in it for the long term.

 

[^woody^]

B&Q are cheaper than any trade merchants near me and also do 15%(?) off if more than 10 boards are purchased - and will price match. And they are the same British Gypsum boards sold at the merchants. Similar for all common building materials

Wickes do something similar

A merchant will quote you a price he thinks yo will pay ... ask for a trade discount

Merchant delivery will normally be chargeable unless you spend a minimum amount - but again negotiate or walk away

B&Q delivery seems a bit unreliable though, and they need more notice

 

[CortinaV8]

B&Q are fairly reasonable for boards and plaster.

I would go down there and pick them up yourself, don't rely on them to pick the best of the lot, they wont.

As other people have said if you are buying decent quantitys they are good.

 

[IJWS15]

The trick is to know what the B&Q price is, then to go in to the builders merchant and ask them for a price, if you think it is high tell them and if they can they will move.

Generally they have a retail price and an "account customer" price, if you don't ask you pay retail, the lowest they will generally go is the account price.

Biggest discount I ever got was 80%.

If you just go in and ask for ploasterboard you will pay the higher price.

Normally delivery is free above a set sum (£20) around here.

 

[Goldberg]

The trick is to know what the B&Q price is, then to go in to the builders merchant and ask them for a price, if you think it is high tell them and if they can they will move.

There's only one "trick" when bartering, and it isn't actually a trick - it's to know at what price you're prepared to walk away. If you don't know that, then you're not negotiating, you're just bluffing.

Generally they have a retail price and an "account customer" price, if you don't ask you pay retail, the lowest they will generally go is the account price.

In case you didn't know, and hadn't worked it out, bigger discounts are available to regular cash customers, because an account costs the merchant money to operate, both in administration and in extending credit. Many offer an early settlement discount, which further erodes margins.

However, the unknown-man-off-the-street-with-cash generally won't get the highest discount possible, because he usually isn't interested in becoming a loyal customer, so there's no reason for the merchant to offer that extra enticement.