Buying Tools and Materials

[Mark Mckenzie]

I'm just starting out and wondering where the best place is to buy materials and tools from. I live in Norwich and know of a few merchants but cost always seem to vary. I really hate screwfix but still find myself in there more than i'd like (early and late opening hours are helpful sometimes) Are there any decent Plumbing Suppliers on-line? Or is it best to stick with the merchants? Anyone use PlumbCentre?

Cheers

Mark

 

[Dannypipe]

A lot of people use BES. Why do you hate Screwfix? Are you a member of any plumbing trade associations? If yes, then Screwfix will offer you Plumb Fix prices at any branch of Screwfix or online. These prices are hard to beat, whether it’s a boiler or a bag of 15mm elbows. The quality these days is good too.

Why not supplement this by opening a trade account with your local independent plumbers merchants? That way you can pop to a place and pick up more unusual items, and build a two way relationship with a local business. My local merchants will phone around for unusual items, and do the leg work for me. They do this because they know I use them over people like PTS, Plumb Centre, and Plumb Base.

Works for me. Good luck.

 

[johnnyplumb]

you can pick up tools & even materials on ebay at good prices . toolstation is good for plumbing materials, they are a bit cheaper than screwfix. i find plumbcentre a bit expensive.

 

[xpertbert]

I use plumb centre most of the time . Mix it with a bit of screw fix for sundries. Any price that beats plumb I show them. They want my money and it's easier to shop at one place. I get good credit, flexible if I don't pay smack on time. And they look after me. Be right with them . Keep an eye on prices and make them feel you want to give them all your business. Get in with plumb manager. Remember proper merchants are better for helping u with problems. Getting u those spare air tap and plugs etc.

 

[johnnyplumb]

I use plumb centre most of the time . Mix it with a bit of screw fix for sundries. Any price that beats plumb I show them. They want my money and it's easier to shop at one place. I get good credit, flexible if I don't pay smack on time. And they look after me. Be right with them . Keep an eye on prices and make them feel you want to give them all your business. Get in with plumb manager. Remember proper merchants are better for helping u with problems. Getting u those spare air tap and plugs etc.

will plumbcentre match toolstation prices ? even if they do, you have to haggle with them ever time you go in . i prefer to just order online, less hassle. i just use local merchants when i'm forced to.

 

[xpertbert]

Perhaps I'm a bit old school. But I want a service that I can phone up at any time and they will work for me to find the answers and sort things. Places like screw fix etc they only know there products through codes. It could be a submarine your ordering, they r not bothered.

 

[Dannypipe]

Perhaps I'm a bit old school. But I want a service that I can phone up at any time and they will work for me to find the answers and sort things. Places like screw fix etc they only know there products through codes. It could be a submarine your ordering, they r not bothered.

No one can argue with that.

 

[Mike Jackson]

Perhaps I'm a bit old school. But I want a service that I can phone up at any time and they will work for me to find the answers and sort things. Places like screw fix etc they only know there products through codes. It could be a submarine your ordering, they r not bothered.

My nearest plumbfix counter actually seem to know and care about what they are selling.

 

[xpertbert]

They might care, but they can't then start stocking something that's not in there book. Or phone a rep up about a product. Or give you another 15 days credit to pay. Just my opinion, buy hey ho I've only been doing it 23 years.

 

[Mike Jackson]

Barely out of your apprenticeship then. I've found that plumbfix are as liitle as a third of the cost of plumb center on fittings so I use them for the majority of my fittings. I use BES for the more unusual stuff and LPG stuff. Plumb center I use for the bigger stuff and copper tube.

 

[xpertbert]

Yes 23 years is nothing lol

 

[adam84]

Where possible i try to support independent merchants rather than companies like PTS, or screwfix for me id rather support a family business than national that couldnt give a rats bum about you except if your late paying account. I also find my independent supplier goes the extra mile for me when i need them to even though im not spending £500,000 a year with them. Ive stopped using my local screwfix altogether now because they have incorporated a policy of not stocking anything, even basic stuff is "warehouse" or next day now its just a waste of time using them and half the time they dont understand what im on about anyway.

 

[scotty plumber]

plumbcentre are helpful for me as they have lots of book's etc and they seem to know a bit about plumbing where as screwfix you need to know exactly what you are looking for

 

[adam84]

The staff at screwfix just pick items of shelfs for customers at the counter, just like Argos realy, having a conversation with a screwfix employee about plumbing is like having a conversation about a bacon sandwich with a vegetarian.:rofl:

 

[dick999]

amazon , if you know what you want to buy and not in a hurry. I always get good deals from there.

 

[colgloUK]

We have recently rebuilt our website at Collister & Glover Fittings, Pumps, Valves from Collister and Glover - www.colglo.co.uk you can browse 25,000 products on there, might be worth a look.

M