City Plumbing

[chirpychippy]

Anybody use them, I have for quite some time but tomorrow I'm going into branch to moan like a drain...

Last month a full flow isolator valve 15mm cost £5.70 + VAT each. Yesterday I was charged £8.49 + VAT each.

Likewise 15mm compression elbow, April last year they were £1.62 each + VAT, yesterday £3.10 each plus VAT.

I understand inflation but, this isn't inflation to my mind...or have plumbing fittings shot up across the board?

Fortunately I haven't used the stuff yet so I'll be asking for a refund...

 

[Stuckinarut]

When use them, but often we don’t get to see the price as we deal with Travis Perkins who then have to send a quote etc etc. Things have gone up, but that seems a hike within a month. BES are quite competitive.

 

[Wayners]

Setup a credit account or cash account.
Get them to discount the prices and make a note on your account.
You will have to buy a certain amount from them to keep the prices discounted.

If you don't buy much then use Screwfix or Toolstation or buy online. For small monthly orders don't use trade centres.

 

[chirpychippy]

Setup a credit account or cash account.

I have a credit account, some months I don't spend anything other months £500 plus, not alot really, but nonetheless it seems a bit naughty...

 

[muggles]

15mm full bore iso valves at Screwfix are £3.07+vat
15mm compression elbows are £12.79+vat for a bag of 10, so £1.28 each

 

[Wayners]

Well we spend £5000 or more some months at work. Some of the sub contractors spend 10s of thousands on plumbing supplies. Unfortunately trade counters aren't interested in small tradesmen buying bits and bobs. It's not cost effective for them.

Just accept it and keep stock or use places like Screwfix

 

[chirpychippy]

Well we spend £5000 or more some months at work. Some of the sub contractors spend 10s of thousands on plumbing supplies. Unfortunately trade counters aren't interested in small tradesmen buying bits and bobs. It's not cost effective for them.

Just accept it and keep stock or use places like Screwfix

I understand the bigger businesses get better terms, that's is not my point.

Why have a trade counter and invite tradespeople to open accounts if they are then going to shaft us as we aren't the Big Boys?

Doesn't happen in Tescos does it, oh the person in front spend £500 on their shopping but your only spending £50 so we'll have to double your cost.

 

[ChrisJP]

One of the reasons brass fittings have shot up in price is because the price of copper has risen very sharply over the last year. Demand for copper has increased a lot - EVs, wind turbines and expansion of the electricity grid has led to highly increased demand. In fact there is some doubt emerging about whether to world's copper mines can keep up with demand

 

[chirpychippy]

Transpires the "Terms" weren't set up on my account, but that to my mind doesn't explain the price difference in a 30 day period - suspicious!

Branch manager was very apologetic when presented with the evidence and credited the differences and promised to reinstate or set up Terms.

Small victories.