Benchmarx Kitchens - Do You Need a Trade Account?

lobster123

Hi,

I'm thinking of buying a new kitchen in the near future and exploring various options. I've read about Benchmarx on this forum and wondered if I could just walk in and buy a kitchen or do you need to be trade? Has anyone had any experience?

Thanks

keystone

Checked their website? If not - why not?

Anyway - I wouldn't buy anything from T&P if I could help it - too expensive for me.

Cheers

phill99

If youi tell them you are doing loads of work on your house, they will probably set you up a cash account.

I don't agree with keystone - although Benchmarx are owned by Travis Perkins, they act as a stand alone company. There prices are as competitive as Howdens or Magnet Trade and the quality is very comparable.

lobster123

Thanks for the replies.

Yes I did read their website and "trade only" was mentioned. However, after trawling through this forum I noticed that some people were managing to purchase a kitchen direct. I just wasn't sure how they managed.

Thanks again.

Alan_M_2

Benchmarx are a trade only supplier, but then Screwfix is also meant to be the same from it's warehouses.

This is simply down to premises cost - if you have a large warehouse unit for B8 distribution use the business rates are based on that use - you're not allowed to have "Retail points of sale" but you can have a "Trade counter".

The difference in business rates between B8 use and retail use in a building of this size can easily be over £120,000 a year.

So technically they should only sell to trade, but most will simply open an "account" for you to buy.

Some local authorities are more draconian at enforcing this than others so sometimes it can be a little different from area to area.