Forum

Replies

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  Andrew C October 3, 2012 at 12:49pm

  I find builders merchants cant or wont, come close to fencing and decking specialists prices, and they have a better range of sizes.

  Try Mole valley Farmers if you have one near. If they have what you want is is normally a good price
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  Brian Fleming October 3, 2012 at 3:07pm

  Your far better finding a small local fencing company for fencing and decking supplies as builders merchants are far to expensive.

  Buildbase is a rip of for timber i buy very little from them as there just not competitive.
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  Paving & Landscaping October 3, 2012 at 3:21pm

  My local buildbase said he could beat any timber price, he can't. sadly the little firms around me can't offer me a good price, i will keep asking.
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  Colin Hunt October 3, 2012 at 5:06pm

  Going backa few years, there was a general public price and a trade price.  This difference varied, but it enabled me to supply materials at the price the customer would be quoted from the merchants and make a handling profit.  Trade seems to be more of a free for all now and customers seem to be quoted from the same price list.
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  Bespoke Lawncare October 3, 2012 at 5:20pm

  Approach Travis Perkins tell them you are after opening a trade account with them , tell them what you require on your quotation price list, ie Decking, Indian sand stone flagging,block paving, sand, cement fencing etc, they will give you good prices if you argue the toss with them, however never buy anything that you have not agreed a price on before hand or they will shaft you big time 
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  John Cooke October 3, 2012 at 6:08pm

  I got shafted by TP and was so cross I wrote to them. I got a fairly bland letter full of waffle, but more importantly they refunded the difference between what I paid at TP and what I could have paid at Wickes.  In case you don't know, Wickes is owned by TP and is supposed to be their retail arm. I find them cheaper if you are buying bulk bags of anything or cement.

  Graham at GBS (regular good LJN member) set up a landscape trade account at Jewsons which was much better then my own trade account with them.  But Wickes are generally still cheaper and, maybe I'm lucky, but local suppliers are the best for aggregate and timber and hire. 

  I find Build Centre are the best of the 'trade' suppliers and also have a good range of tools.  They are now owned by Gibbs and Dandy and seem keen to make a mark.

  
  BIG companies must get great deals at TP and Jewsons they can't possibly be paying what they charge me!
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  Paving & Landscaping October 3, 2012 at 6:10pm

  I have seen a customer go into a certain builders merchants and ask what price her builders are paying, they gave her the price, i can only guess what happend on site.

  
   
  Colin Hunt said:

  Going backa few years, there was a general public price and a trade price.  This difference varied, but it enabled me to supply materials at the price the customer would be quoted from the merchants and make a handling profit.  Trade seems to be more of a free for all now and customers seem to be quoted from the same price list.
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  Paving & Landscaping October 3, 2012 at 6:13pm

  I will never use TPs, it may just be bad luck on my behalve but they never know anything and take forever telling me nothing. 3 Citys same blank look.
   
  Lawn lover said:

  Approach Travis Perkins tell them you are after opening a trade account with them , tell them what you require on your quotation price list, ie Decking, Indian sand stone flagging,block paving, sand, cement fencing etc, they will give you good prices if you argue the toss with them, however never buy anything that you have not agreed a price on before hand or they will shaft you big time 
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  Austin Powell-Allen October 3, 2012 at 9:36pm

  Lucky there is a great timber merchants near me Braintree Timber and Board in Essex fantastic prices and will gladly cut to sizes supplied for free and free local delivery too, I will never go anywhere else.
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  Andrew Evans October 3, 2012 at 10:08pm

  TP are totaly usless! orderd some rounded top fence pannels last year and delivered straight toped ones instead! you couldunt have got it more wrong! only use them if i am desperate now!

  I also use local agri merchant for fencing supplies much much more competetive than the builders merchants.

  Constantly shop arround for prices on materials to keep profitable and competetive!