Hi I am new to the space and was wondering what people thought on which places are actually best value (Service, price, convenience etc.)? I have heard some mixed things on TP on here, was wondering if they have improved at all?
For convenience it has to be SF - plenty of easy accessible branches, good opening hours SEVEN full days a week, most of teh others are just five and a half as well as early closing. Value for money - SF can often be cheaper than some of teh merchants too especially if you have an Plumbfix or Electric fix account.
100% agree. I also buy a fair number of high-end power tools, and in most cases SF are right on the money compared with online retailers.
Just my personal experience: SF & TS great for ‘need it now’ and if you have a trade account. Have a loyalty to SF since for a v.long time the were the only intermediary between the DIY sheds and snooty ‘trade’ wholesalers. TP good for sheet material and if you need delivery. Huge difference in trade vs cash prices. Jewson great if you’re a big company or high volume. Buildbase good for agg and timber. Selco better than DIY sheds for ‘off the shelf’ convenience. Better if you can have a relationship with the local manager and access better pricing.
SF unsurpassed for service and stock. TS hopeless. Awful service , often the cheapest price….but it’s never actually in stock. TP prices are horrendous. I have one round the corner and still try to avoid it. Lawsons for timber. Expensive but excellent quality and service. Selco generally pretty good. MP Moran great if you happen to have one nearby. Used to buy powertool’s from SF but then discovered Powertool World. Always cheaper by miles. Next day free delivery. Authorised seller for most major brands.
You cannot put them in the same league ... SF service is probably some of the best in the industry and they put a lot of training into their staff. SF reputation is excellent and their expansion over teh past few years confirms that. Why do TS try to locate as close a possible to SF ? Maybe to try and ride on the reputation and snatch customers. I will only visit TS when absolutely necessary and about once or twice a year and will go elswhere if at all possible.
Ah okay good to know! I thought they might be good cause it seems like TS is just everywhere all the sudden. But seems like maybe that’s just cause some guys just care about cheapness.
TS for me. SF is a close second. The others are general builders merchants so a different animal. I generally use Selco, but depending on time scale and job location, supplies can come from anywhere...I have no loyalty.
I do, but only with regard to the sheet goods and timber I buy (which is a fair bit). I’m a great believer in supporting local businesses, so it all comes either from a small independent yard, or a local sawmill. Been dealing with both of them for 30 years. All my kitchens etc come from my local Howdens branch (not quite the same thing obviously), but it certainly feels that way, given the fact that managers are free to run their depots autonomously. The service I get is unsurpassed.
All I can say is, horses for courses ! It all depends on what you want, who has it in stock, who has the best price, how far are they from where you are and how urgent is your need. That said between SF and TS, SF stock control is vastly better. SF usually has in stock what the website shows but not always the case with TS. For timber products local chains are better than national chains. I stopped looking for timber in Wickes as they are invariably warped and chock full of knots and imperfections. My local timber merchant will happily replace bad lengths without fuss. for paints SF has good deals but often specialist places or manufacturers own centres are the only places to get some paints or colours. Same for electrical bits.
Trade accounts generate more money than cash accounts. People just book goods out without questioning prices
Ts was created by a falling out at sf back in the early days.iirc. Not sure if it was family or friends/businesd partners, thats why the two sell similar and target the same markets. Very often ts do some stuff that sf dont
Likewise. Not looking for any advice and perhaps my local one is particular bad but buying online from Screwfix most is in stock immediately. I buy, it’s picked and I get a text saying it’s ready within a couple of minutes max. I go in and the cheerful team welcome me and deal with the transaction efficiently. TS I order online, if it’s actually in stock, get no confirmation, get told not to pick up until I get told to do so. Never receive confirmation that it’s ready so I go in anyway and then get asked why I’ve turned up without being told it’s ready and then they grumpily go and pick it while I wait. Only worse service, selection and quality I get is in Wickes. No coincidence that they’re all owned by TP which is the worst of all of them. Not a one-off. This happens almost every time I order. Hence I try to only use SF who are a lesson in how to run a business.
Not any longer. Back in April, Wickes was demerged from TP and is now a standalone company. However, the same mentality will prevail for a long time.
You’re correct and as my brother is part of the team working on rationalising the two sets of stores I should know better really.
Strange, I always get notifications on collections etc, usually within about 10 mins of placing the order. I’ve used the one branch so much, that the moment I walk in, they’ll often just bring my click and collect to the counter
They must just hate me then. Conversely Screwfix team greet with by name. I am in there pretty much every day mind.