trade discounts?

[andekoch]

What trade discounts do you ugys get or are you just getting the catalogue prices that jo public can get as well?
I tend to use QVS for most of my stuff but dont get any better that the catalogue price, ie the same price the customer can get it for. Best I get is free delivery even if below the 50 quid normal limit.

I feel that as a legit trader I should get a better price than my customer can get it for. What you think?

 

[Graeme Harrold]

Its a sign of the times, no matter what you get, someone will always get it cheaper. I have trade accounts with two suppliers who also sell to the public, but I get a variable discount dependant on what Im buying and how much of it Im getting..........

I have seen trade suppliers out bid their customers for the same business in other trades. Its not ethical, but it aint illegal. Just get the best deal you can and seel yourself up, not down.........

 

[Phil Mumford]

I run a small wholesale business and having a two tier pricing structure would be hard work - we charge trade and Joe Public the same. What we try and do is offer trade account holders special offers like a loaded 4+4 dual RCD board for, say, £46.50 when everyone else pays £53.50 plus VAT.

The nationwide wholesalers can and do offer different prices to trade and public. The problem wth e-commerce is that they have to supply BOTH sectors as they cannot differentiate between them !

Should be illegal for anyone without proper credentials to buy cable, in my opinion. Same as it is with guns and should be for gas boilers etc.

 

[Guest123]

My discounts vary from bugger all, to 95%!!!

Always makes me wonder how much they mark stuff up beforehand.

 

[Phil Mumford]

Generally its a simple mark-up disguised. Most big wholesalers will aim for 30-40% mark-up on cost. I make 20% and am doing good business but I have smaller overheads.

I think we all know what things should cost generally - sockets just over a quid, MCB's about £2 and 17th edition boards around £50 including MCB's. Just got to watch you dont get ripped off !!

 

[Spudnik]

I am quite happy to pay a higher price to get decent stuff.

I can get a fully loaded Hager dual RCD CU for less than £100 inc vat.

At the end of the day whether supplier or end user, we are all in business to make money.

 

[vardymr2]

I get a Wylex dual rcd fully loaded 10 way board for £55 plus VAt if i buy 5 or £60 if i buy them in singles from neweys

 

[Graeme Harrold]

Just got the "ElectricFix" catalogue from ScrewFix, its their "Trade only" catalogue that is discounted against the normal range. Call 0808 172 7000 to get a copy............

Just watch some of the prices though, there is no online site for this, just check pricing against std as there may be special offers running.

 

[andekoch]

thanks for the feedback guys. I am finding that if I open up a trade account, even if it is a 'cash account' I get a small variable discount off the internet prices that joe public sees althoug not all do this. I also tend to use electric fix as well since the range is good especially when added to the normal screwfix range and the delivery pretty reliable so saves me time which is worth something.

 

[supasparxs]

Recently I got some bits from the Plumb centre, (Yes, I do DIY aswell. I do sometimes buy a bit of stuff from there )
said an item was a bit expensive the guy behind the counter said I was right

Instead of paying £8.50 + vat I got it for £3.50 + vat

don't forget to ask for a discount

 

[lockhes]

I am quite happy to pay a higher price to get decent stuff.

I can get a fully loaded Hager dual RCD CU for less than £100 inc vat.

At the end of the day whether supplier or end user, we are all in business to make money.

think i paid 70odd for a 6 x6 not so long ago

got a bit of gear and did me a good price

 

[TPES]

I am VERY pee'd off with my wholsalers at the min..

I did a job in a factory of just checking & replacing a number of 8ft flourescent tubes, checking a number of fittings for lamps and starters.. eliminating faulty fittings..

Anyway.. the customer asked me to get a box of 25 tubes and a box of starters. so i went off to the wholesalers to collect, returned and put them in the store room. I then went around up and down the ladders changing a few flourescent tubes..

I was there all in all about 2.5hrs and only invoiced £60 labour plus the cost of 25 x 8ft tubes and starters.

I added ontop about £18 to the parts which i thought would still be dearer if anyone off the street walked in and wanted the parts, i was taking my % disscount into account.

The customer has now behind my back rang up and got the price of the box of 25 tubes and starters from the wholsaler and wrote it down in a letter to me, asking why i have charged extra on the parts and also he's not happy with the labour and wants me to do something with that..

When he rang up and got the total price for the parts from the wholesalers they gave him a price of £15 less all inc VAT than what they charged me...

I cant belive my wholsaler that i go in many times a week have charged me MORE than a stranger off the street for parts when all along ive thought i was getting a trade disscount... Ive been made to look a right plonka and been ripped off by my wholsaler.

Im going to let them know monday what i think of them..

 

[supasparxs]

I am VERY pee'd off with my wholsalers at the min..

I did a job in a factory of just checking & replacing a number of 8ft flourescent tubes, checking a number of fittings for lamps and starters.. eliminating faulty fittings..

Anyway.. the customer asked me to get a box of 25 tubes and a box of starters. so i went off to the wholesalers to collect, returned and put them in the store room. I then went around up and down the ladders changing a few flourescent tubes..

I was there all in all about 2.5hrs and only invoiced £60 labour plus the cost of 25 x 8ft tubes and starters.

I added ontop about £18 to the parts which i thought would still be dearer if anyone off the street walked in and wanted the parts, i was taking my % disscount into account.

The customer has now behind my back rang up and got the price of the box of 25 tubes and starters from the wholsaler and wrote it down in a letter to me, asking why i have charged extra on the parts and also he's not happy with the labour and wants me to do something with that..

When he rang up and got the total price for the parts from the wholesalers they gave him a price of £15 less all inc VAT than what they charged me...

I cant belive my wholsaler that i go in many times a week have charged me MORE than a stranger off the street for parts when all along ive thought i was getting a trade disscount... Ive been made to look a right plonka and been ripped off by my wholsaler.

Im going to let them know monday what i think of them..

If I were you I would challenge the wholesaler about it.
Tell him you are not happy and make noises that you may take your business elsewhere.

out of curiousity is it a independant or part of a chain link CEF or someone?

 

[TPES]

AMP Electrical Wholsale..

 

[supasparxs]

AMP Electrical Wholsale..

Thanks thats is one to remember

 

[Eggster71]

I use Edmundson, neweys, cities, senate and Wf as well as going to TLC/QVS etc. I always ring round on bigger jobs as I've had as much as £15 difference in a drum of 2.5 before!
Another reason to have a few accounts is you're more likely to be near a branch at, say 4.35pm on a friday and all you need is a socket! I've got wholesalers on my sat nav by the way.