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Wickes vs. BES

Welcome to the forum. Although you can post in any forum, the USA forum is here in case of local regs or laws

N

Nat

I went into Wickes the other day to pick up some plaster for my house and picked up a catalogue on the way out. Just having a look at the plumbing section and I am shocked at how much they charge for some fittings in there! Just having a comparison to my preferred online supplier...

15mm x half inch backplate elbow - BES price incl. VAT = £2.94, Wickes price = £9.79!
Solder ring half inch tap connector - BES price incl. VAT = £1.47, Wickes price = £3.49
Solder ring bent tap connector half inch - BES price = £1.30, Wickes price = £4.29
Flexible tap connector 600mm, compression - BES price 2.76, Wickes price = £8.19

I could go on but I can't be arsed! Imagine what your estimates would come out at if you used Wickes as guide price?!

That brings me to my next question: who is your preferred online supplier? I do like BES as prices are good and the catalogue is really clear and easy to use. Not EVERYTHING is cheap though... there's the occasional thing which is pricey so you have to be on the ball. Why can't there be a supplier that is cheap for everything? Huh? It'd make our lives alot easier
 
I like Plumbfix/Elecfix. I know it's a bit hit and miss though depending on the staff at the local branch. Mine are great though and the prices are pretty hard to beat. Quality has improved substantially over the last 3 years.
 
I price everything on plumb center prices, then if I have time to get things cheaper all well and good, but if I don't then at least it's not hitting my profit.

A good example, needed a price for 4 22mm tees reducing to 15 on branch (compression). I was quoted over 18 + vat for one. I bought a pack of 10 from tool station for about 28 inc vat.
 
i think wickes plumbing prices are way to high, dont know who would buy there plumbing stuff, maybe unsuspecting diyers. i reckon toolstation should be your 1st port of call, especially for fittings, then probably bes, then maybe plumbfix. i try to stay away from plumb centre as well, as i find them abit expensive.
 
If ypou have the time and inclination to shop around you will save a LOT of money.
Buy your fittings etc online in bulk. You will use them and you will get bigger discounts.
Play the merchants against the internet and they will drop on the big ticket items.
Wouldn't dream of buying big items online. I need to guarantee the materials will be there and complete and also any problems only means a phone call or a couple of miles drive not a wasted shift waiting on the parcel van.
 
They are part of the travis perkins group who also own city plumbing and PTS. Maybe that is where PTS get some of their prices (you got to watch them)
 
now owned by the same company.lol.

i will let you into a secret,

go into wickes and buy a bayonet it will have a ticket price of £29.95...yup.
go to the checkout and produce your toolstation catalouge and show it is available for £8.95.
under their fair trade match terms in the wickes catalouge they will match the price.

try it.lol.
 
Noticed PTS prices have increase quite a lot since take over ,not to many good deals there now,same as when city plumbing took over b&g (was a big london independent),prices shot up,used to get a 2% discount if you paid account in full by end of current month,that was dropped straight away,said prices very good already as they put everything up!!
 
Plumbline used to offer the discount years ago but that stopped when Plumbase took over.
I've started using Grahams more. Used them a lot years ago but moved to pts. Had to constantly check invoices there as there would always be a few wrong. Also noticed the creep up happening so i am moving back and there prices are good. Bundle of 22mm is £109 from grahams atm
 
tamz said:
Plumbline used to offer the discount years ago but that stopped when Plumbase took over.
I've started using Grahams more. Used them a lot years ago but moved to pts. Had to constantly check invoices there as there would always be a few wrong. Also noticed the creep up happening so i am moving back and there prices are good. Bundle of 22mm is £109 from grahams atm
Click to expand...

£10.90 for a length of 22. That is good.
 
i never use plumbcenter unless av no choice cos there the closest and only want one thing that doesnt cost much so cheaper cos of petty after they wanted £15 for 3 22,22,15 elbows and £3.50 for 15mm slip coupler thats a £1 in plumbase or i use my local merchant to help keep it going use pts for boilers nothing else and same as plumbcenter with city plumbing
 
I always used to use BES for fittings but I'nm noew using plumbfix for all but the specialist gas stuff. Large items I use Plumb Center as I've got someone to shout at if things go wrong.
 
I hardly ever use Wickes for plumbing fittings/parts, but they are a mile down the road and open earlier than anywhere else and 7 days a week. I do use them for odd pieces of timber, plaster, cement, that type of stuff. I know builders merchents will be cheaper, but for one offs its not worth the time/petrol to go there imo. Normally use Plumb/screw/electric fix or toolstation for plumbing. They even do boiler packs now at plumbfix - but don't seem to advertise this.
 
boilers/rads/cylinders - local shop ,
cooper pipe - mates,left overs from contact work
copper fittings - left overs from contact work ,toolstation
polyplumb pipe /fitings - local shop
plumbing - local shop

weeks is 2min drive from me but will not use only in emergency
 

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