Builder's Merchant

eddtduck

We're about to start building a single storey extension and as we're project managing ourselves, we'll be sourcing all of the material (under the guidance of our builder). We have a quote for materials from one of the big builder's merchants (Jewsons), and skimming through it I can see several items I can source cheaper elsewhere. So my question is this: is there one builder's merchant that is good value for everything or is it like supermarket shopping and I need to shop around for each item. (eg I need to get my veg from Lidl, my cereal from Morrisons and my booze from Aldi)

Grateful for your suggestions

stebiz

eddtduck wrote: »

We're about to start building a single storey extension and as we're project managing ourselves, we'll be sourcing all of the material (under the guidance of our builder). We have a quote for materials from one of the big builder's merchants (Jewsons), and skimming through it I can see several items I can source cheaper elsewhere. So my question is this: is there one builder's merchant that is good value for everything or is it like supermarket shopping and I need to shop around for each item. (eg I need to get my veg from Lidl, my cereal from Morrisons and my booze from Aldi)

Grateful for your suggestions

Having just spent upwards of 50k on a huge modernisation project and extensions on my house and project managed myself I would say you are best shopping around.

I bought bathroom suite from B&Q on 20% off days. Got UPVC cladding delivered from 30mile away. Used all local builders merchants playing them against eachother. It is hard work though.

Prothet_of_Doom

If I am buying lots of stuff, I price it up at a few places, and then I divy it up placing orders with the cheapest supplier, but then I'll ask for a trade discount and usually get 5 or 10% off the cheapest price.
I also make sure there's a use or return policy.

eddtduck

Thanks, Stebiz. Ok that's what we'll do. I'll focus on the big ticket items and work down. It'll be time well spent. Cheers.

eddtduck

Good tip, Doom, about the return policy. I have no use for spare cement.

eddtduck

Can a regular person ask for a trade discount?

stebiz

eddtduck wrote: »

Can a regular person ask for a trade discount?

Just call it Eddies Building Company and say your a new start up. You'll be fine mate.

Ebe_Scrooge

In my experience, if you speak to the manager at Jewsons, TP etc., they will give you a discount if you're buying a fair amount of stuff - even to Joe public. A few years ago I was buying about £2000 worth of stuff for a project I was doing. Jewsons immediately knocked almost 50% off the catalogue price for the paving stones I wanted ( which amazed me, but I wasn't going to complain ! ) I then went to Travis Perkins, the manager there said "We'll always beat Jewsons", and knocked a further 5% off the printed quote that Jewsons had given me.

So haggle

ivory55

You can play TP manager against another TP manager as they will under cut each other for business. It's down to each manager how much discount he will give as they work on bonus on turn over etc. That's why you can see the lorry from another town delivering in your town, the manager of that branch is cheaper.

Clive_Woody

eddtduck wrote: »

Can a regular person ask for a trade discount?

Yes definitely, always ask for discounts, as far as I am aware a 'trade discount' has no legal standing and is more of a bulk buy type discount to try and keep tradesmen heading back (at least that's how I understand it).

There is absolutely no reason why an individual can't also ask for a discount on list prices and haggle very hard, particularly if you are potentially spending lots of money.

ian103

I would suggest having 2-3 merchants you use - remember cheapest isn't always best. Sometimes the diy sheds can be cheap but not alwas the best quality. I'd also try and use a local company but thats not always possible.