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Post by rocketmanbkk on Aug 27, 2022 11:29:43 GMT
I try to use the local merchants to buy bit.
Yesterday I need a pt2 valve, popped in, shite service, then said £10 (without float).
I just said no thanks & left
When to the other chap a bit further & £6.
Unfortunately the local merchants are now history
They’re injuns but I tried.
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Post by tomplum on Aug 27, 2022 12:20:35 GMT
What I found was, the merchants give massive discounts if you use them regular, for instance if you pop in for a 15mm coupling, its 20 pence, if you have an account, its 2 pence,  |
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Post by rocketmanbkk on Aug 27, 2022 19:40:41 GMT
What I found was, the merchants give massive discounts if you use them regular, for instance if you pop in for a 15mm coupling, its 20 pence, if you have an account, its 2 pence, They don’t give you the steam off their piss here Tom |
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Post by dickpuller on Aug 28, 2022 6:02:52 GMT
Unfortunately, there’s not any local Indies near me, I need to travel to the other end of the City to buy from my favourite.
Known the guys for years, but it’s a PITA.
Any merchant, it’s a relationship you need. Talk to them, tell them what you’re all about & if they don’t play ball, fuck em!!
On-line suppliers have been brilliant for the last few years & delivery of items has never been better. So any merchant, Indy or nationals, need to up their game!!
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Post by rocketmanbkk on Aug 28, 2022 6:48:41 GMT
Unfortunately, there’s not any local Indies near me, I need to travel to the other end of the City to buy from my favourite. Known the guys for years, but it’s a PITA. Any merchant, it’s a relationship you need. Talk to them, tell them what you’re all about & if they don’t play ball, fuck em!! On-line suppliers have been brilliant for the last few years & delivery of items has never been better. So any merchant, Indy or nationals, need to up their game!! The merchants here don’t really know what they’re talking about You’re lucky if they can get by in English |
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Post by tomplum on Aug 28, 2022 8:01:01 GMT
Its true that screwfix and toolstation have made their lives harder, During the 70,s and 80's the main plumbers merchant in Wigan was an Indie called JKS, ALL the plumbers in Wigan met there in the morning and got their stuff because, they stocked everything and it was the cheapest around, In the 90's they sold to builderBase and it changed over night, the prices rocketed and they cut everyone's discount and lowered their credit limit, Thats when I then used screwfix and toolstaion, The main pain in the arse then was, looking up the item numbers for every single bit you needed, In the plumbers merchants the counter rat would know his stuff in the catalog shops were, and still are , counter staff that don't know a thermacouple from a telegraph pole,  |
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Post by crowsfoot on Aug 28, 2022 8:13:33 GMT
The old style merchants are now almost all gone these days even though the prices were always higher than the DIY chains, even with the trade discount. There is still one local plumbers merchant going near to me, however, the guy must be in his 70s now. If you ever came across a plumbing problem that had you stuck he would almost always find something in the back of his shop to fix it! All his stock was dusty and the shop window had the same bathroom suite in the window for the last 25 years  . NB During the first week of lock down you had to ring the merchant (one of the big nationals) to order your item who would then open the door and leave it outside for you to collect (after he had got back inside). For some reason the youngster serving me came out of the door and threw the "short reach pan connector" across the car park at me like a missile! Had it hit me I'm certain it would have bowled me right over! However, with an audience of other plumbers watching I decided to stand my ground by slowing it down with a finger tip save which sent it spinning ten feet in the air, it came back down and I then caught it with both hands. I then took a round of applause from the other plumbers waiting in the car-park before making a curtain call and getting back in me van . |
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Post by pb on Aug 28, 2022 10:34:49 GMT
If I'm doing a big job with lots of materials needed I generally use BES, next day delivery if ordered before before 7pm. Reasonable prices and I've never had a bad order yet. As Dick said, these online companies offer a fantastic service for the jobbing plumber.
If I'm going in a supplier I will use Williams, Screwfix or Toolstation
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Post by dickpuller on Sept 1, 2022 19:33:52 GMT
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