B&Q price differences between stores

tonyivb

Where I live in West London we have 4 B&Q stores (that I know of) within a few miles of each other, and I always assumed that an item would cost the same no matter which store you used.

Yesterday I was looking for MK triple sockets in the large 'Trade' B&Q in Yeading where they were £13.73 each... not bad, but still cheaper at Screwfix (£11.49 each). Later that day I had to go and get something else so I went to the smaller Greenford/A40 store where I saw they had the same item for over £17!!!

I questioned this with someone and they said that some items are the same price in all stores, but some are cheaper in the 'Trade' B&Qs. Trouble is, you don't know which items?

I can understand a few pence difference, but this is nearly 25% more expensive.

MarkyMarkD

There's no reason why shops have to charge the same price in each outlet - it's up to you whether you find the price on offer attractive or not.

The same applies to Tesco, and in our area the Co-op, who charge higher prices in smaller stores as a matter of course.

Altarf

Experienced this a few years back with B&Q. I needed some fence panels, so checked the price at the local small store a couple of miles away and the large warehouse 15 miles away. The panels were about a pound or two cheaper at the warehouse.

Would the local store price match - no; did the warehouse then have to do a 30 mile delivery for nothing as the value met their free delivery criteria - yes.

Mind you the funniest thing was that I told the warehouse that I didn't want any broken or damaged panels, so could I select the ones that they were to deliver. "No" I was told, undamaged ones will be delivered. It took three return trips before they managed to deliver 12 undamaged fence panels.

So instead of their delivery van doing a 6 mile round trip, they ended up doing 90 miles and still charging me less. Great business acumen.

tonyivb

I agree with you MarkyMarkD, stores are under no obligation to charge the same in all outlets, and we all know that it goes on... especially in furniture stores that always seem to have 'sales' on.

It is quite obvious why they have the differential pricing... the customers of the smaller stores are more likely to be the general public (i.e. us) who are not so aware of prices, whereas the 'Trade' B&Qs are targeted at (extremely price conscious) business customers who know the price of these items at the wholesalers.

As I said before, I would have no complaint if the difference was a few %, but I interpret 20-25% as exploiting their non-trade customers.

I imagine that the items with differences in prices would be those more commonly used by the trade, therefore I would recommend that if you are planning a large purchase of anything like this then do it at a 'Trade' B&Q.

Or go to a local wholesaler instead!

carlachloe

I had the same happen to me when I was doing up my kitchen I was needing tile effect laminate flooring and went to the nearest B&Q, they told me they didnt stock it so I would have to have it delivered which was "free" so I asked if the other B&Q would stock it and was told absolutely not so I went ahead and ordered it. Only when I did end up in the other B&Q a couple of days later they had heaps of it!! So it turned out it was £5 cheaper a pack as obviously this is what they added to each pack for their "free" delivery charge in the other store!! What a joke!!