Screwfix Pricing

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Pete735

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This is probably common knowledge to many, but quite surprised me so may be interesting to others.

I'm fitting shorepower and used Screwfix for pricing the MK garage consumer unit as recommended by many. Screwfix £39.90. I also needed cable glands and the 16a angled plug unit. Screwfix had the cable glands but no 16a socket, so I phoned our local electrical wholesaler to check price and availability of one. Plug unit to my surprise was almost £5.00 cheaper than Screwfix (different make, similar quality they said though) so I thought I would ask about MK garage unit. I was very surprised to find I could buy it from them for £30.00 (including VAT) so 1/3 cheaper than Screwfix plus it was in stock.

I then bought all items from electrical wholesaler and saved just over £16.00.

I'm not sure about others, but I always thought of Screwfix as a low cost supplier, clearly it pays to shop around. Pricing I assume has changed since Screwfix got bought a few years ago - was it for the second time?

I am sure I could buy cheaper via ebay or similar, but for convenience i could not beat this.
 
Pete735 said:
Pricing I assume has changed since Screwfix got bought a few years ago - was it for the second time?
Click to expand...

Screwfix has been owned by Kingfisher (B&Q) since the end of the nineties sometime. Certainly since before Ellen McCarthy sailed around the world on her tri as it had Screwfix on the boom on the British (Orange) painted side.
 
Screwfix (and B&Q) are not necessarily cheap. Like most things it's best to shop around if you want to find the best price.

Screwfix is however good for screws if required in modest quantities, providing A2 stainless is acceptable. . I also bought some non slip self adhesive tape from screwfix , which was a little cheaper than the identical product sold elsewhere and no postage as their shop is local to me.
 
The fact that Screwfix doors are wide open to retail customers suggests that they are a retail business that tries to look like a trade business so that people will perceive them as cheap.

Their business model is actually similar to Argos, but marketed differently. I'd guess they are slightly cheaper than B & Q, but more expensive than truly trade suppliers.
 
When Screwfix first was around it had very good prices, but I've noticed it gradually got more and more expensive, I think it may be due to the fact that years ago it was mainly for trades people, nowadays it seems to be more aimed at the consumer market.

I always use Toolstation, their prices are much better and they always seem to have everything in stock.
 
Bergamot said:
+1 for Toolstation
Click to expand...

I have not checked every thing but I think the same criticism may sometimes apply to Toolstation.

I think I could have bought a similar automatic ( dusk to dawn and PIR sensing ) LED light for my porch cheaper from Homebase than from Toolstation .... but I had a money off coupon for Toolstation.

The free delivery on orders over £10 is a good deal.
 
I bought lots of stock , plumbing /electrics /tools etc to take back to Greece and one of the guys at Toolstation told me that the guy
who started Screwfix was the owner of Toolstation .
Apparently he had to wait a while before starting his new business as part of the sale contract to B&Q .
He knew he could undercut B&Q and usually does .
 
grafozz said:
...... told me that the guy
who started Screwfix was the owner of Toolstation .
Apparently he had to wait a while before starting his new business as part of the sale contract to B&Q .
Click to expand...

Correct. And he sold out once again (in 2012) to Travis Perkins ...... who of course also own Wickes . (Look carefully and you may spot similarities in their ranges).

Watch out for another start-up??
 
My local Toolstation is just around the corner from Screwfix. Toolstation is usually cheaper but sometimes Screwfix price can be 25% for some items. Screwfix tend to sell smaller quantities of some items such as pipe, tubing, cable etc.

I usually open tabs for both and check prices when buying a fair bit. Electrical wholesale place around the next corner and they used to be cheaper for a lot of electrical stuff (e.g. ArCtic cable). I must admit that I've mainly used Toolstation/Screwfix recently they are convenient,prices seemed reasonable and easy to check cost/availability online.

I must remember to check the wholesaler prices next time I'm putting a decent order together.

PS Non-boaty item: Travis Perkins also own Tile Giant but I found much lower prices on Tile Magic site. The site looked a bit basic and I wondered if they were a small company. However, they are also part of Travis Perkins and I ordered from them.

Adhesive at Tile Giant £31.49 but £19.02 from Tile Magic, so 40% cheaper. Unfortunately, Tile Magic only deliver pallets and only work out cheaper for large orders. I bought most things from Tile Magic and discovered that Tile Giant offered a 30% discount when I quoted Tile Magic's prices.

It's sometimes worth knowing online prices from other companies in the same group.
 
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These days, the lowest price is rarely a physical shop,
Screwfix and Toolstation get a fair bit of trade from me because they are open when I want stuff.
Having to take even 30 minutes out of the working day to save a bit more at a proper trade place does not always make sense.
Paying postage makes the cheap places dear sometimes.
 
I tend to use Toolstation as they are usually cheaper than Screwfix and for me it's easier to visit Toolstation than Screwfix. For large orders you only have to order £10 worth to get free delivery - with Screwfix it's £50. Saying that I've just ordered an Evolution Mitre saw from Screwfix as it was the best price(my previous saw had packed up after 3 yrs hard work).
 
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