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Building: It is an ex-Locost - it has gone to the IOW!
posted on 12/11/14 at 02:02 PM
But according to their advertising they're the cheapest DIY place around!
I know what you mean though - I avoid the place if at all possible. You know something's adrift when I can go to a local independent fastener
supplier (Suffolk Fasteners), order exactly the quantity I require, get far better quality stuff than B&Q's, AND pay a fraction of the
price. In fact, I often buy more than I need because (1) I'm embarrassed to occupy the salesman's time for just 50p or £1 and (2) you
never know when I might need those extra nuts, bolts & washers!
What really annoys me is that an excellent hardware shop in Ipswich folded because they couldn't compete with B&Q, even though that shop was
often cheaper.
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Building: BMW 2.8 Viento, On the Road, 1949 MG TC in bits
posted on 13/11/14 at 11:00 AM
Screwfix are owned by B&Q but they are a lot cheaper. Mine is just around the corner from B&Q and I am surprised than anyone still uses
B&Q for anything that screwfix sells - even though its often a case of more for the same price, you can never have enough nuts, bolts and washers.
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Building: a reputation as a BEC devotee. Built: ZX12R Indy
posted on 13/11/14 at 07:20 PM
I once bought an extension lead with surge protection from Screwfix. It wasn't the main purchase but the other stuff I'd bought was the
cheapest I could find, so I naturally thought that the extension lead would also be a good deal. Wrong! The exact same extension lead was actually £5
cheaper in B&Q. Managed to get the difference back due to their price promise but if I hadn't looked at the item in B&Q on the same day,
I'd have been none the wiser.
I've shopped around for a few items over the last year or so and found B&Q to be the cheapest. Even when compared to online retailers.
My main problem with screwfix is that about half the time i go there, i have to go back again to get something changed. Broken tools, 40mm pipe
fittings missing seals, etc etc. That combined with the fact that the cheapest of any tool there is generally not up to the job intended (and you have
to then buy a dearer one) has made me very careful shopping there.
quote:Originally posted by splitrivet
Think B&Q are dear have a wander into Homebase you'll come out laughing your nads off.
Cheers,
Bob
Another place that insist that they are cheap on TV ads....
SWMBO is always commenting on their kitchen ads that they are offering 50% off - but 50% off fricking expensive is still fricking expensive....
Cheers, Pewe10
I have actually done some research into this. B&Q is expensive for EVERYTHING unless you have a trade card. The trade cards are easy to get.
Screws and Bolts come our about the same as Screwfix as you get access to the trade only products. Plumbing fixtures and fittings are cheaper at
B&Q with the trade card and they have a great returns policy. The Tradecard makes B&Q as cheap if not cheaper than screwfix for SMALL items
and consumables. But for larger items just stay well clear. I bought a bath tap from B&Q and found it for half price elsewhere. Took it back
and got a refund.
I HAD to buy a length of box steel from them a week or so back as it was a Saturday and my steel stockholders were obviously closed.
£20.00 for 1.5m!!!
I pay less than that for 7.5m, with as many cuts as I like!
It felt like they'd inserted said steel when I got to the till
Photo Archive
Building: Dax Rush - very, very slowly....
posted on 8/4/15 at 09:50 AM
We needed a couple of lengths of kitchen worktop (for the cheap and cheerful temporary kitchen)
Wickes stuff looked decent but was £130 each
Ikea stuff looked almost as good but was only £35 each (but in some weird 620mm widths)
B&Q looked really cheap and nasty and was still £130 and most of the ones the had were damaged - total rip off
Needless to say we got it from Ikea....
quote:Originally posted by thefreak
I HAD to buy a length of box steel from them a week or so back as it was a Saturday and my steel stockholders were obviously closed.
£20.00 for 1.5m!!!
I pay less than that for 7.5m, with as many cuts as I like!
It felt like they'd inserted said steel when I got to the till
I hope the steel isn't for anything critical - none of the stuff I've ever seen in the place has ever been a decent grade (if the even
tell you what it is)