Screwfix Pricing

[mlines]

-1 (yes, minus) for Toolstation.

Went online to order some ratchet straps, their website showed 3 in stock at my local (Bracknell) store. Clicked and bought three. A short while later the status changed online to "picked" so I went around to the store.

Assistant "Sorry, your straps will not be here until tomorrow"
Me "But they showed as being in stock and went to picked status when I ordered them"
Assistant "They are in stock there (pointing back into warehouse) but you ordered them online and your order will be available tomorrow, they are picked in our central warehouse ready for you"
Me "Can't I have the ones over there?"
Assistant "No, your order will be here tomorrow"
Me "What a stupid online model, goodbye"

 

[David2452]

If you have a plumbing /electrical/electronics qualification and register with Screwfix you get 20% discount plus their return policy is good.

The catalogues (Plumbfix & Electricfix) may give that impression but they are, unlike the screwfix catalogue, ex VAT. I have an Electrifix account and that is not - 20% when VAT is factored though they do have offers regularly for proper trade buys in bulk and the general prices are lower than the standard catalogue but not 20% lower. From my point of view Screwfix 24hr opening is a huge benefit and that gets them most of my business for stuff I need from their range.

 

[Sailfree]

Screwfix is very good for being open on Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday when electrical wholesales are shut!!!

 

[lw395]

-1 (yes, minus) for Toolstation.

Went online to order some ratchet straps, their website showed 3 in stock at my local (Bracknell) store. Clicked and bought three. A short while later the status changed online to "picked" so I went around to the store.

Assistant "Sorry, your straps will not be here until tomorrow"
Me "But they showed as being in stock and went to picked status when I ordered them"
Assistant "They are in stock there (pointing back into warehouse) but you ordered them online and your order will be available tomorrow, they are picked in our central warehouse ready for you"
Me "Can't I have the ones over there?"
Assistant "No, your order will be here tomorrow"
Me "What a stupid online model, goodbye"

I did something similar.
Their online ordering is not click and collect, like Argos or Screwfix, it orders separate stock to be delivered to the store.

Ordered something online.
Went to pick it up at the local store.
It'll be here in two days.
But they've got it in stock here.
I'll take that one.
OK, cancel the web order.
You have to do that over the phone on Monday
So I did that.
But instead of cancelling it, they changed the delivery from the local store to my home.
So it duly gets delivered to my neighbour as I'm out.
Another 3 phone calls.
I took it to the local store, the girl behind the counter did not know what to do, she is trying to be helpful, but looks about 14.
Checked my credit card online, I have been charged for three of these things, and been refunded for two of them.

But, hey, there is a free tea machine in the store.
That's service for you?

 

[TimBennet]

Screwfix is very good for being open on Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday when electrical wholesales are shut!!!

Yes, and late during the week.

It's a common fallacy that trade outlets have to be price competitive. They don't really - it's the retail market that has become so price sensitive.

What trade outlets have to do is allow small business people to get what they need without wasting huge chucks of their day (the real expense). Screwfix's growth was because they got stuff to you next day after a simple phone call to their order line at 5 o'clock the day before. Traditional trade outlets were closed by then and even if you made a trip in to see them during work hours, invariably they wouldn't have everything you needed which then required a second trip on at a later date.

The Screwfix shops work because they are open late and at weekends. Sole traders can get organised at their convenience, not when dictated to by the opening hours of other trade outlets. I'm amazed that there has been no reaction from places like Grahams, Howdens, etc. When they go home at five they must see the 20 to 30 trade vans parked outside Screwfix.

Motor Factors are one area that really has seen competition improve the species. Garages hardly hold any stock of spare parts these days because within an hour of a phone call, a lady (invariably) in a small van will be round with the required bits.