Bathroom suppliers

Techno

The time has finally come to rip out the pink suites in the bathroom and en-suite. Want to put a shower bath in main bathroom and quadrant shower in ensuite.
I live in North Wales so the question is are there any decent bathroom suppliers who don't charge a fortune? Willing to buy off t'internet but then you can't see what the quality is like. Saw better bathrooms advertised in the Telegraph yesterday - they are based in Wigan and prices seem reasonable but without visiting how do you know what the quality will be like?
Any advice gratefully received
Techno
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biggus_richus

Techno,

I am having my bathroom refurbed shortly and can tell you what I'm doing if it's any help.

I started off browsing local builders and plumbers merchants looking at suites from the likes of Ideal Standard and Roca and picked up a couple of brochures. I've generally avoided bespoke bathroom showrooms that tend to offer their own ranges because there's less chance of price matching or driving a bargain.

The wife and I have picked a couple of suites we like and have moved to the Internet to find the cheapest online suppliers. Among the cheapest I've found are homesupply (used them before and happy to do so again), h-i-e, doblebathrooms and boundarybathrooms. You need to take into account things like delivery costs and lead times; some sites' prices are VAT inclusive, others not. I've emailed them to see if they can supply items not listed on their sites, and usually they can. I've also sourced some second hand but unused items on ebay for much lower prices.

I've yet to buy any tiles, but unfortunately the wife and I only agree on one (expensive) design, so I can't advise there

Our fitter is booked in for September; just waiting for a coupe of auctions to finish on ebay and then I'll know what else I need to buy.

Hope that's some help,
Rich.

Techno

Many thanks Rich - we've got a lovely plumbers merchant nearby with some great stuff but pretty expensive so I'll try your suggestion - just noticed it's your first post - welcome to MSE

vansboy

Don't forget B&Q will plan your bathroom, just like they do kitchens.

Get an idea of what you'd like, select from their range & get your room sizes - accuratly - book an appoinment instore & let them do the work.

You'll get some ideas from them & a few printed out pictures, of what it COULD be like.

Then it's up to you to buy from them, or someone else - it's free, of course!!

MFI do it also.

VB

Techno

Thanks VB - we saw a bathroom in B&Q we liked - the Winchester - supposed to be reduced from £1200 to £595 - we have heard though that some plumbers refuse o fit B&Q bathrooms they are of such poor quality!!

biggus_richus

Techno,

Thanks for your warm welcome.

It seems (to me at least) that the plumbers merchants always seem to list retail prices, or as near as, with little variation between them. I've found the best internet prices have been about 25% - 33% less than retail. However, the cheapest I've found for my bathroom suite (Doble) also slap on an outrageous £100 delivery charge for orders under £500. And they don't state delivery times either.

As to ebay, I won a bathroom sink auction at half the best internet price (and a third of retail) and some taps on buy-it-now making similar savings. They haven't arrived yet, so I may have bought a couple of crocks, but you take your chances...

Rich.

Snow_Dog

http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/

Someone i know has been using these guys and has heaped praise.

Techno

Thanks Snow Dog - they've got some fantastic offers here and I've just spotted 5.5% back on quidco

Snow_Dog

You are welcome,

he has also been using:-

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/

For loads of other stuff, electrical etc. Have a look in their technical section, loads of how to and guide to regs etc.

itzmee

We used plumbworld.co.uk and ordered this suite:
http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/1608-16644

We haven't installed it yet but the quality looks fantastic and is also great value. We don't have any complaints.

Techno

Thanks everyone - just need to find out how much the plumber will cost now!!