Prices and Service at CEF / City Electrical Factors?

[Hellmooth]

My first account was with CEF, used them a couple of times but now just use Yesss.

 

[LankyWill]

I think their prices are ridiculously high, i mean i only use them for odd bits as the eddies down the road are pretty competitive and their prices are fairly reasonable. The one thing i find strange is they hide their prices on the web which looks to me as an easy way to rip you off. Plus their own brand products are terrible and they don't stock reputable brands either. I always feel i leave with no dignity and my trousers round my ankles....

 

[Leesparkykent]

My local CEF thanet branch is spot on. Their salesman Mat often jumps in his car to deliver stuff out to site if the vans already left. They stock Hager and click which we often use. When quoting for the bigger jobs the office sends the material list out to CEF, kew electrical supplies and phase electrical supplies and then play them off of each other untill i get the cheapest price. My only gripe with them is you have to Check every figure (that's what CEF stands for btw lol) as you normally have a little surprise on your monthly invoice with something they haven't discounted properly.

 

[Andy78]

My local CEF thanet branch is spot on. Their salesman Mat often jumps in his car to deliver stuff out to site if the vans already left. They stock Hager and click which we often use. When quoting for the bigger jobs the office sends the material list out to CEF, kew electrical supplies and phase electrical supplies and then play them off of each other untill i get the cheapest price. My only gripe with them is you have to Check every figure (that's what CEF stands for btw lol) as you normally have a little surprise on your monthly invoice with something they haven't discounted properly.

And that's why I'd never regularly use them. I have experienced this first hand and heard the same complaint from many account holders and forum users.
This can lead me to only 2 logical conclusions. That their pricing and billing system is flawed and has been for many years, therefore rendering it unreliable and possibly unsuitable for purpose. Or that there is an endemic culture of misleading and overcharging customers on a nationwide and regular basis in an effort to maximise profits at the expense of repeat business from accounts that they do not deem worthy of proper care and attention, whilst looking after and giving proper discount to the larger spending accounts.

I may of course be wrong, these are only my assumptions.

 

[slingshot2000]

Check Every Figure (that's what CEF stands for btw lol) as you normally have a little surprise on your monthly invoice with something they haven't discounted properly.

Brilliant !

 

[Leesparkykent]

And that's why I'd never regularly use them. I have experienced this first hand and heard the same complaint from many account holders and forum users.
This can lead me to only 2 logical conclusions. That their pricing and billing system is flawed and has been for many years, therefore rendering it unreliable and possibly unsuitable for purpose. Or that there is an endemic culture of misleading and overcharging customers on a nationwide and regular basis in an effort to maximise profits at the expense of repeat business from accounts that they do not deem worthy of proper care and attention, whilst looking after and giving proper discount to the larger spending accounts.

I may of course be wrong, these are only my assumptions.

We average around 12k a month on material so that's probably why we get looked after. I just email them straight back and don't pay the invoice untill its sorted.

 

[Phil Thompson]

Where is your local CEF? A CEF with many staff seems a bit novel, my local branch stuggled badly for staff last year (not used them at all since around September) and doubt I will again.

Bangor is my local one. But been using W.E.S. more as the prices are way cheaper and service is much faster, and that's with just 1 driver and 2 on the counter. Was in Century yesterday and they seem a lot more switched on, left a list in so awaiting to see the prices, but have heard good reports about them and the van comes down my way regularly so easy to get deliveries.

 

[stevey1983]

To be fair to them my cef have been pretty good lately, prices cheaper than others and fast getting quotes back to me. Wont use there proteus or m2 as its cheap tat though

 

[rolyberkin]

I went in to my local CEF the other day as a bulb had blown in my house, I have an account there, some new bloke was behind the counter and told me the bulb I had in my hand was from a cheap Chinese fitting probably from a DIY store! Try around the corner in Screwfix he said! Now the funny thing is that I bought the fitting from CEF. Just feel like they are more interested in mugging people off than making money! I refuse to use them now unless needs must.

 

[plugsandsparks]

Don't use them, TBH there is plenty of competition in this market, no need to moan just go somewhere else.

 

[HappyHippyDad]

I was hoping CEF would respond as I was genuinely interested in their pricing. I hear lots of people saying that their prices are high, and they are, however almost one in four of electricians on this site use them as their main supplier, so I must be missing something. See link below.

http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk...ctrical-suppliers-electrical-wholesalers.html

 

[HappyHippyDad]

Just had a scout around the site.

Looks pretty unlikely they'll be a reply from CEF :leaving:

I'll stick with Wilts.

 

[Marvo]

CEF are a sponsor who haven't been active on the forum. It's not ideal but there's not much we can do about I'm afraid. I'd suggest you contact them direct via their website if you've got complaints or queries.

 

[Octopus]

CEF are a sponsor who haven't been active on the forum. It's not ideal but there's not much we can do about I'm afraid. I'd suggest you contact them direct via their website if you've got complaints or queries.

TBH I think that most of us have "choice" about suppliers and we are voting with our wallets to go elsewhere..........

 

[NDG Elecs]

I have used CEF a handful of times only as other wholesalers are in my area and I tend to use them instead. The times I have used CEF I actually found their prices reasonable. This has been for small value items only. There are a couple of CEFs within five miles of me but due to their reputation preceding them I tend to avoid.

 

[drzsta]

Sorry to bring back an old thread but it did make me chuckle today at work. CEF are our companies preferred supplier and we spend hundreds of thousands across the group with them yet I can get better prices straight off their website than when we get quotes from our local CEF branch for the same products! :banghead:

 

[Rampage]

Just registered so I can check prices on the Internet.
Said I DIDN'T want a credit account, but still they have obtained the name of my partner, previous address and details about where I hold bank accounts. Would have been nice to know they do this, probably buried somewhere in the terms and conditions.

 

[Rampage]

Wylex TP 16B MCB:

CEF: £43.20 (inc £10 for it to be delivered to store)
Screwfix £22.99

 

[Admin]

Just to keep it fair.....

Saw a thread about another supplier and thought I'd ask what the prices and service is like at this one.

• Prices at Edmundson - http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/threads/prices-at-edmundson.113925/
  
• Prices at Screwfix / Electrifix? - http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/threads/prices-at-screwfix-electrifix.113924/
  
• Prices at TLC? - http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/threads/prices-at-tlc.113922/
  
• Prices at Yesss? - http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/threads/prices-at-yesss.113921/
• Prices at CEF? - http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/threads/prices-at-cef.108907/
• Prices at Toolstation? - http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/threads/prices-at-toolstation.113926/

And just for those who wonder, these are the most used electrical suppliers in the UK, according to our own members....

Most Used Electrical Suppliers & Electrical Wholesalers - http://www.electriciansforums.co.uk/threads/most-used-electrical-suppliers-electrical-wholesalers.89888/