B & Q cheap? No!

G

Graham_Wright

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www.mastaclimba.com
I bought 5 grinder discs from the small local hardware shop;- Black and Decker;- £4.99 for a pack of 5.

Next day, I ran out but local shop was closed and I spent maybe £10 on fuel and bought 8 discs from B & Q for £1.98 each! Their own brand.

Almost twice the price!

Beware!
 
Yeah. I tend to use Screwfix for most stuf but B&Q is handy for the odd little thing when you get stuck. Did the grider discs from B&Q last any better though? I bought some really cheap discs in a street market once but they were a false economy. They "evaporated" almost as quickly as what I was trying to cut!
 
Almost any large independent (so not Travis Perkins,Jewsons etc)builders merchant will sell you good quality stuff at reasonable prices.If you must use the diy halls ,Wickes are ok on quality/price,but if you want really cheap power tools for a winter boat project,b+q are even cheaper than Screwfix! Plan ahead and shop around -All in my experience,of course.
 
This is the "Big Shed" con.
They trumpet all the time about how low their prices are and it's just not true.
DIY, White Goods, Leisure Goods,Furniture, they're all pulling your pisser.

True, some of the DIY sheds sell some battery-powered tools at £10, but they fall to bits if you fart whilst using them. I've squandered money on 3 angle-grinders in the past 3 years. I should have bought a good one to start with.

I will give a vote to Machine Mart though. As long as you're not going to use the tools professionally their stuff is pretty tough. In fact I bought an engine crane from them when I was rebuilding a Mini. Cheaper than hiring, as I had the motor in and out a few times and still sold the thing for £80 to a mate who uses it to replace truck gearboxes.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Did the grider discs from B&Q last any better though? I bought some really cheap discs in a street market once but they were a false economy. They "evaporated" almost as quickly as what I was trying to cut!

[/ QUOTE ]

To be fair the B&Q own brand (Power??) lasted about the same time as the Black and Decker.

We suffer from the ingrained belief that big shop = lower prices. Second consideration is the cost of the car journey and the time wasted. Round trip to B&Q for me takes about an hour; to the local shop, 20 minutes.
 
Cheeky [--word removed--] ....

I use a cheapo angle grinder ... fiver + discs = about 8 quid ... it has cut toughened door locks, barn door hinges etc. - discs and grinder still in VGC.

I wouldn't buy B&Q shackles or anything for real marine use ... but honest - I think Wickes is rubbish ... most prices I have seen are same item different label + 10/20% more price ...

B&Q is a good place when on Sunday your usual haunt is closed and owner is supping his sunday pint !!

Have to admit that wiring up my 240 on board was cheap and easy using B&Q stuff ... making up the 12V side was cheap and easy after trip to local Caravan store ....

Oh - nearly forgot .... had to replace water tap on boat last time back ... was told by various that it was too old and I'd need completely new jobby ... Bah !! Hants & Dorset Caravan Centre .... exact same model new and perfect fit ... Thomas1 did the honours of fitting it while Admiral and I got under way ...
 
Re: Cheeky [--word removed--] ....

I think that when the stuff is available, both Aldi and Lidl are unbeatable for price and quality is good also.(SBO)
 
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