B&Q Bathrooms - Can I haggle in-store?

pinkteapot

I'm looking at doing a large order for bathroom fittings from B&Q (everything required to re-fit two bathrooms and a cloakroom). The order value will be in the region of £3,500 (supply only - my brother is a plumber and will be doing the installation). Is there a deal to be done by going in-store to order?

I am really not a fan of my local B&Q and its rather unhappy band of staff. I would prefer to order online or by phone, but if I can save some £££ by going to the shop then I might have to bite the bullet. Has anyone had any luck?

Canucklehead

pinkteapot wrote: »

I'm looking at doing a large order for bathroom fittings from B&Q (everything required to re-fit two bathrooms and a cloakroom). The order value will be in the region of £3,500 (supply only - my brother is a plumber and will be doing the installation). Is there a deal to be done by going in-store to order?

I am really not a fan of my local B&Q and its rather unhappy band of staff. I would prefer to order online or by phone, but if I can save some £££ by going to the shop then I might have to bite the bullet. Has anyone had any luck?

Good morning: your brother is the plumber fitting the bathroom?...I would have thought he'd advise you to source brand name, quality gear from plumbers merchants using his trade discount/knowledge instead of B&Q???

Canucklehead

pinkteapot

Thanks - he's only been plumbing for a couple of years, training with two experienced plumbers. He's started doing his own jobs this year but doesn't have trade accounts yet.

Are B&Q or other high street bathrooms that bad?

hazybubbles

If you really want to use b&q then see if you can find the same suite cheaper elsewhere and I think they will price match within a certain distance (10 miles?) Also they do a 10% discount for over 60s on a Wednesday so perhaps you could get a friend/relative to go with you and get the discount.

pinkteapot

Thanks - I have no great love of B&Q, I just preferred a range there to Wickes or Bathstore. I am open to other suggestions though before we go ahead!

We have been looking in-store and at their catalogue of Cooke and Lewis bathrooms. We thought we had a range chosen, and now I see on the B&Q web-site that around half of the designs are in a half price sale. The one we had chosen isn't included, so it might be back to the drawing board anyway!

Thanks for the tips. I would almost pay the 10% extra to avoid having to go in there on a Wednesday. Trying to shop there on OAP discount day is what has put me off the place! :rotfl:

Canucklehead

pinkteapot wrote: »

Thanks - he's only been plumbing for a couple of years, training with two experienced plumbers. He's started doing his own jobs this year but doesn't have trade accounts yet.

Are B&Q or other high street bathrooms that bad?

Hi...most experienced plumbers would recommend that the 'sheds' be avoided for bathroom gear. Lots of value for money options available from independents and chains such as City, PTS, HPS, Plumb Centre, Plumbase, Graham's etc. Your brother could get recommendations from the 2 experienced plumbers.

Btw...many MSErs have sourced gear online then used those prices to get price matches at traditional merchants.

HTH

Canucklehead

pinkteapot

Thanks canucklehead - I'll have another chat with my brother before doing anything else. Was in the process of being put off by the customer reviews on the B&Q site anyway!

Doozergirl

I wouldn't even bother with B&Q bathrooms unless they are in one of the half price sales (Aside from any quality issues, what's the point in paying full whack when they're often reduced anyway?)

£3500 is a lot of money. Even without any kind of trade discount you could have a lovely quality suite from one of the good bathroom brands for that.

pinkteapot

Thanks Doozergirl. I'm getting my brother to come up with some brand recommendations. Do you have any as well?

B&Q do have a sale on, so I have looked at the ranges that are included. Do you think they're worth it at half price, or are there too many issues? I've read bad reviews on the B&Q site of some of the products, and have also found comments online regarding the time B&Q take to deliver (sometimes substantially longer than their quoted 2 weeks).

suisidevw

1/2 price isn't as it says on the tin. They just raise the price at one of their lowest selling stores for a month or so then drop it to 'half price' at all other stores....... it's how all the big companies work with their amazing dazzling sales! LOAD OF TURD.

Canucklehead

pinkteapot wrote: »

Thanks Doozergirl. I'm getting my brother to come up with some brand recommendations. Do you have any as well?

B&Q do have a sale on, so I have looked at the ranges that are included. Do you think they're worth it at half price, or are there too many issues? I've read bad reviews on the B&Q site of some of the products, and have also found comments online regarding the time B&Q take to deliver (sometimes substantially longer than their quoted 2 weeks).

Hi..try here (and send the link to your brother;))

HTH

Canucklehead