UK The truth about CEF and why is it so expensive.

[Stingray]

So after reading through some of the threads on here, I think its worth mentioning why you all pay so much at CEF.....I'm a former employee who left for a career in a completely different field (just so you know I'm not a disgruntled leaver).

So first of all Proteus and MCG as we know are CEF products, along with firesafe, tamlight and many more. The problem is as a branch we're told to push the living daylights out of these "in house products" because at the end of the year we all get a huge bonus based on the sales of in house products! A few years ago as a sales advisor I received £5700 bonus in June for inhouse sales.....as a van driver!!! So you can only imagine what we then got working inside.

When someone gives you a "discount" using the price which CEF paid for the item, the price actually has a hidden 5% mark up which only certain members of the CEF food chain know about.

"You want something ordering in? Yeah we can do that.....but you'll have to pay a carriage". You pay the carriage and the branch actually just orders in enough stock to fill a carriage paid order with the company.

Have you ever received a paid invoice from CEF but you haven't used them in a few months? Maybe it was something small like batteries or a light bulb? Branches need to have as many Live Trading Accounts (LTA's) as possible monthly so if a your branch is falling behind on those figures they'll usually trade something on the account to make you look active.

If you use another branch other than the one where the account is held ( a double booking) ring your branch first and get a price quite because as soon as you enter the second branch and as them to get your quote it'll be much higher as both branches must share the profits.

 

[littlespark]

This is business I’m afraid. Making profit is what they are there for.

They make no secret that CEF have connections to proteus, tamlight et al

All wholesalers, even places like screwfix will price things at a discount, even thought the initial price was higher than it should have been.

Supermarkets are just as bad for it.

 

[Timbo]

If I'm quoting for a job and I know the customer is going to ask for a discount, I'll build that into my price - plus a bit more!

 

[Dustydazzler]

Ultimately every wholesalers is in business to make as much profit as possible

CEF has a terrible reputation for sky high pricing but as I rarely buy anything for CEF these days so I have no idea if this is still actually true

I no longer buy enough stuff in bulk to bother using big wholesalers to try to haggle for an extra 1 or 2% discount , my olf company that I worked for used WF but mainly because we could ring up and get stuff delivered to sit at the drop of a hat

 

[UNG]

Yesss seems to have the same method of business as CEF although I believe they are owned by someone who was associated with CEF in the past

 

[Dustydazzler]

Yesss seems to have the same method of business as CEF although I believe they are owned by someone who was associated with CEF in the past

Likewise Yesss has an equally bad reputation in my area as CEF

Over priced

 

[LukeD]

wont step through the door of any CEF. Its not worth the headache

 

[LukeD]

right next I have the "Builders depot ) Bit ---- but handy
I have a screwfix and toolstation
I have a indi whole seller

All within 5 mins from me .


This covers most of my needs . I dont have the time to worry about saving 10p


But during my current work , I have been doing loads of buying via ebay . Ive saved way over £100 on less than £580 worth of stuff from shops .That cover my coffee and lunches for a week !

 

[JBW175]

It absolutely breaks me to buy anything from CEF and only ever use them if I’m desperate and on the rush for something.

I used to continuously get calls from my local branch manager trying sell me gear. In the end I had to tell him that I’d ring them if I needed anything.

 

[littlespark]

I’m in the unfortunate situation where I can only use CEF or YESSS…. But a lot of the time screwfix beats both of them for prices on basic stuff.
YESSS are doing fusebox CUs and Hikvision cameras now though.

 

[nicebutdim]

But during my current work , I have been doing loads of buying via ebay . Ive saved way over £100 on less than £580 worth of stuff from shops .That cover my coffee and lunches for a week !

Online prices can be excellent - not only ebay bargains. If you have sufficient time to plan ahead, it can be well worth the effort of taking a bit of time to search.

 

[LukeD]

Online prices can be excellent - not only ebay bargains. If you have sufficient time to plan ahead, it can be well worth the effort of taking a bit of time to search.

I now buy all my wago's . their boxes .many tools etc .Smoke/heat alarms etc all off ebay. .

 

[DPG]

I now buy all my wago's . their boxes .many tools etc .Smoke/heat alarms etc all off ebay. .

Watch out for the copies.

 

[nicebutdim]

Watch out for the copies.

Plenty of those about, but quite a few distributors selling on ebay at very keen prices.

 

[LukeD]

Plenty of those about, but quite a few distributors selling on ebay at very keen prices.

I used some copy wagos 3 years ago on a lighting job. Never had a issue !!

 

[DPG]

I used some copy wagos 3 years ago on a lighting job. Never had a issue !!

I'm sure many are fine, but too risky using unbranded copies of unknown origin on customer jobs. Not worth the risk to save a few pence.

 

[UNG]

I used some copy wagos 3 years ago on a lighting job. Never had a issue !!

But how long do you wait before you can say you have never had an issue, fake product longevity is an unknown

 

[littlespark]

But how long do you wait before you can say you have never had an issue, fake product longevity is an unknown

Exactly. It’s unknown.

It might last as long… it might fail within a week.
“Real” products are tested…. To destruction in some instances so that the manufacturer, seller and end user - us - are confident in its qualities.

 

[Baddegg]

It absolutely breaks me to buy anything from CEF and only ever use them if I’m desperate and on the rush for something.

I used to continuously get calls from my local branch manager trying sell me gear. In the end I had to tell him that I’d ring them if I needed anything.

I did the same thing except I used the phrase f&@k off you robbing barst&ds at least dick Turpin wore a mask

NB…they’ve not called me since

 

[brianmoooore]

This something relatively recent? I started with Superlamp Metallic, which became Newey and Eyre. Then tried CEF who gave much better discounts than Newey. Stayed mainly with them throughout the 80s and early 90s, before following one of their staff who set up as an independent, before being bought out by Wilts, now Rexel.
Only thing I've used CEF for in recent years is for their excellent plastic conduit box lids. Manager is the YTS kid from when I regularly dealt with them.

 

[Lister1987]

I only use thrm for sundries, ferrule crimps mostly

 

[123]

The trouble with buying the goods online (assuming it's genuine) is the returns process. My wholesalers aren't too local (nearest is roughly 20 miles away but they all deliver, for free, up to 5 days a week). Wrong item sent out is sorted same day if the need is there, and if an item fails under warranty I have the replacement before the faulty item is even touched.


Also have found CEF generally the cheapest for cable for about the past 5 years...and that's including the likes of Screwfix and Toolstation.

 

[Baddegg]

You can walk into our branch down here and leave with out getting served or even seeing a single soul……it’s lucky for them I’m the last true bastion of integrity!
Obviously I know this is only true of my local store as if I use any others they are always ready to help but my local one has tainted me they are so bad in there it’s unbelievable, I’ve taken back £100’s of unused stuff and been assured leave it with us well refund it and then been billed for it twice on my invoices, and that’s happened more than once…..:the place is a shambles

 

[Dustydazzler]

Exactly. It’s unknown.

It might last as long… it might fail within a week.
“Real” products are tested…. To destruction in some instances so that the manufacturer, seller and end user - us - are confident in its qualities.

Fake Wago

At first glance they look exactly like a wago but they are a copy , I have a couple boxes of fake wagos I picked up online for about 3 quid a box. Haven't tried them out yet but there must be millions of fakes out there being used on a daily basis on site

 

[DPG]

Fake Wago

At first glance they look exactly like a wago but they are a copy , I have a couple boxes of fake wagos I picked up online for about 3 quid a box. Haven't tried them out yet but there must be millions of fakes out there being used on a daily basis on site

That's the trouble - all these counterfeit connectors hidden away and they will most probably never be seen or checked again. Let's hope they went though all the testing and approvals eh (sarcastic comment).

 

[Dustydazzler]

That's the trouble - all these counterfeit connectors hidden away and they will most probably never be seen or checked again. Let's hope they went though all the testing and approvals eh (sarcastic comment).

At £3 for a box of 50 , I doubt very much that they went through any sort of quality control when they come out the sweat shop in Vietnam

 

[DPG]

At £3 for a box of 50 , I doubt very much that they went through any sort of quality control when they come out the sweat shop in Vietnam

Absolutely.

 

[nicebutdim]

You can walk into our branch down here and leave with out getting served or even seeing a single soul……it’s lucky for them I’m the last true bastion of integrity!
Obviously I know this is only true of my local store as if I use any others they are always ready to help but my local one has tainted me they are so bad in there it’s unbelievable, I’ve taken back £100’s of unused stuff and been assured leave it with us well refund it and then been billed for it twice on my invoices, and that’s happened more than once…..:the place is a shambles

I'm close to a couple of branches - one I'd visit regularly get small bits & pieces for my employer and the guys are great, but too expensive to buy from for myself. The other branch is like something out of a sitcom and I wouldn't set foot in the place - it could be half an hour before someone comes to the counter and that's just so they can moan about the inconvenience of customers coming through their door.

 

[123]

I'm close to a couple of branches - one I'd visit regularly get small bits & pieces for my employer and the guys are great, but too expensive to buy from for myself. The other branch is like something out of a sitcom and I wouldn't set foot in the place - it could be half an hour before someone comes to the counter and that's just so they can moan about the inconvenience of customers coming through their door.

Duncrue by any chance? I find it like that on the extremely rare occasion I'm there, and YESSS in Duncrue even worse.

 

[nicebutdim]

Duncrue by any chance? I find it like that on the extremely rare occasion I'm there, and YESSS in Duncrue even worse.

Lisburn is the branch I'd be happy to never set foot in.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Some of these wholesalers I have been in it feels like you are an convenience to the trade counter staff

I much prefer my screwfix click and collect app , you get lots of offers and money off vouchers like 10% off every purchase in May I was paying £71 inc vat for 100mtr of 2.5 prysmain. my local wholesaler couldn't get anywhere neat that price

 

[littlespark]

Some of these wholesalers I have been in it feels like you are an convenience to the trade counter staff

I much prefer my screwfix click and collect app , you get lots of offers and money off vouchers like 10% off every purchase in May I was paying £71 inc vat for 100mtr of 2.5 prysmain. my local wholesaler couldn't get anywhere neat that price

I order online from screwfix through Quidco cash back website… Sometimes get little bonuses but normally 1% on spend.

Got £45 beer money sitting from last 12 months spend.

Started using a Chase bank card as well, which is also 1% cash back.

 

[Baddegg]

I order online from screwfix through Quidco cash back website… Sometimes get little bonuses but normally 1% on spend.

Got £45 beer money sitting from last 12 months spend.

Started using a Chase bank card as well, which is also 1% cash back.

That’s a blinding idea @littlespark!

 

[nicebutdim]

Tried one of those cash back sites a couple of years back, as I used to spend thousands each month online, but it never worked and eventually I gave up. Problem was the access it needed to browsers and even giving full access to the cashback site, along site purchase was made from, wasn't sufficient.

They make money from your data, which is fair enough, but that wasn't something I was prepared to give unlimited access to for several hundred pounds a year. I know a number of people who are very happy using cashback sites and get a lot of money from it.

 

[Rockingit]

CEF often win from me simply as they're everywhere and do mail order - my home account branch isn't even anywhere near my home base (London / Somerset). The only thing which does wind me up is that the online ordering prices never seem to include the discount structures - everybody pays the same - and life's too short to spend hours on the phone getting account prices.

 

[nicebutdim]

CEF often win from me simply as they're everywhere and do mail order - my home account branch isn't even anywhere near my home base (London / Somerset). The only thing which does wind me up is that the online ordering prices never seem to include the discount structures - everybody pays the same - and life's too short to spend hours on the phone getting account prices.

Their online operation is excellent and customer support is great when stuff is missing. Downside, as you state, is high prices on everything.

 

[rapparee]

Lisburn is the branch I'd be happy to never set foot in.

CEW are worth a chance, their Newry store is decent, despite the fact I'm not using them as much as I'd like to.

 

[Flanders]

CEF often win from me simply as they're everywhere and do mail order - my home account branch isn't even anywhere near my home base (London / Somerset). The only thing which does wind me up is that the online ordering prices never seem to include the discount structures - everybody pays the same - and life's too short to spend hours on the phone getting account prices.

If I do an online order. I request a quote first. Then my branch apply all the discounts upload the quote then I could order the parts. I find they give me good discounts and I like there next day delivery which seems to be working ok again now .

 

[UNG]

CEW are worth a chance, their Newry store is decent, despite the fact I'm not using them as much as I'd like to.

Used to have an account with them when they had a branch in Liverpool although a good mate of mine was the manager when they opened the branch, I will quite often have an account at the wholesaler whenever he moves on to a new job. I always found the finance bod at CEW an aggressive pain always on the phone chasing an account that was a few days overdue I think that stunted their expansion plans as I don't think they have any branches over here now

 

[rapparee]

Used to have an account with them when they had a branch in Liverpool although a good mate of mine was the manager when they opened the branch, I will quite often have an account at the wholesaler whenever he moves on to a new job. I always found the finance bod at CEW an aggressive pain always on the phone chasing an account that was a few days overdue I think that stunted their expansion plans as I don't think they have any branches over here now

I'd only be using them about once a month, I'm based on the other side of the town so I just use an independent wholesaler in the same industrial estate as myself.

I'm not quite as involved in electrical installations anymore.

Plant & Machinery is my priority to be honest