B&Q? Grrrr.....

anxious_mum

I am having my shower room completely transformed, as my old shower leaked and it really needed sorting (very heavy use, two teenage boys and me using it at least once a day). A friend of mine (qualified builder/plumber etc) is doing it, and sometimes he will tell me about something I need to go out get, rather than him buying it and adding it to my final bill. The latest was 2 x valves for my towel radiator. He told me what to get, and I trundled off to B&Q and bought what I thought were the right valves. I paid 5.99 each for these valves.

Anyway, when I brought them home, my builder said I'd got the wrong ones. I'd got angled valves, and I needed straight valves. I went back to B&Q and they didn't have straight ones in stock, although when they are in stock they cost the same as the angled ones. So I got a refund. I then went next door to Screwfix (after I'd phoned my builder in a panic, he told me to go there) and I got two valves for 5.50!!!!!

When I came home I looked at the Screwfix website, and the towel radiator I had bought from B&Q was going for 50 quid less than what I paid!!!

I always thought B&Q were good value, but I'm having second thoughts now. I think the problem with me is, because I'm a single woman and don't have much to do with DIY things, I just go to B&Q without even thinking there might be somewhere else I could go to.

Plus, B&Q has changed its refund policy now - if you have lost your receipt they will only exchange 'like for like', for example, you buy a small tin of paint, they will only exchange it for another tin of paint and you pay the difference, rather than just giving you a credit note so that you buy something different. My mum bought a lock from them which didn't fit her door. They didn't have any other locks that would fit her door, but they were insisting that she had to exchange it for a door lock as she had lost her receipt! Needless to say, she won in the end, but I think its a bit of a con.

Rant over :j

WhiteHorse

Use Google before visiting B&Q, Focus and the rest! See also the local phone directory for proper trade suppliers.

shaun_from_Africa

If you think B&Q are expensive for plumbing supplies, then their markup on electrical items will scare you silly.

Go to somewhere like QVS or TLC electrical and the stuff there is generally about 40% the price of B&Q or homebase.

anxious_mum

Thanks for the advice guys, I will not be trundling off to B&Q for anything before checking it out first! Plus, you can never find anyone to help you! Plus, the guy in Screwfix was quite cute :-)

squack

funny thing is, B&Q and screwfix are both part of the Kingfisher group so are owned by the same organisation

anxious_mum

Really Squack??? Well I never! I would never have gone into a Screwfix if my builder hadn't advised it, as they don't appear very 'woman friendly'. For a start, everything is behind a counter and you have to order it, then go to another counter and collect it. I spent about 5 minutes describing to the man behind the counter how the valve needed to look, and he just said 'oh, so you want a straight valve then?' If only my builder had told me what to ask for! Doh!

How can they charge such amazingly different prices? I am gobsmacked tbh, especially if they are part of the same group.....

squack

yes, tis true, Screwfix is supposedly aimed more at "trade" customers, although some of their prices are still laughably high compared with other trade companies, it's the same with B&Q, when an item is on special offer they are unbeatable but when you actually need something you will pay over the odds

anxious_mum

Thanks for that advice Squack, I will bear it in mind x

deanos

Toolstation is another great place, they have loads of branches popping up and many items are cheaper than Screwfix

The guy who started Screwfix owns it

http://www.toolstation.com/

durham_girl

Thanks for the link Deanos, I've just had a look and something that I need is 7 quid odd in B&Q but £2.50 at TS! Plus there's one about 2 min drive from B&Q and I didn't even know it was there! Cheers muchly

nzmegs

There is a new site just started which compares prices in stores such as B&Q, Wickes and screwfix and others. i think it is called tradessupermarket.com. Might be a good idea to use it to see where to go to get the cheaopest prices. best thing is that once these stores see that they can be easily compared they might be more realistic with their pricing.

Is your builder signed up as a tradesperson with B&Q because if so he will be getting things much cheaper. Might be better to get him to buy it for u.