Going up North for bathroom fittings?

BreeVdK

Hi,

Has anyone done this and is it worth the trip?

Looking for a Roca Eliptico classic bath at best price.

Thanks.

Wibbs

I redid my bathroom a while back and got everything online from the UK and Europe so I would say go for it as the price difference was staggering. I would assume the price in the North will be equally different.

I know we hear about rip off Ireland, but when the average was twice the price and more for the exact same thing, it's time to take money elsewhere.

Getting a bath online may sound daunting, but I got pallets of tiles(which weighed a lot), shower unit, loo, sink etc delivered at reasonable prices.

pbergin

What sites did you use?

yop

Is there not an issue with plumbing fittings though or am I thinking of something else.

ircoha

the 2 most common issues are the continental metric versus irish instantor pipe sizes and that many continental plumbing fittings require a pressurized water supply to work properly.
Both are not a problem as long as u know about them.

ps Wibbs

Getting a bath online may sound daunting

Wibbs

pbergin wrote: »

What sites did you use?

Mostly ebay shops. Ones with large feedback . Googled the rest.

The plumbing fittings were not really a problem TBH. Yea the stupid Irish system is a pain(it's even diff to the UK AFAIR), but adaptors are all available. I had no great difficulty and I did the plumbing myself(and I'm no plumber ) Luckily I know a plumber and he didn't laugh to hard, so that's good.

Yea the bath might be a worry Then again two pallets of marble tiles aren't exactly flyblows weightwise and I got them in easy enough. Plus they're very easy to damage, so a bath shouldn't be an issue. I looked at it this way, they have to get to the shops here don't they? Especially the exclusive stuff. They probably use the same courier company.

The main reason I tried it was a delay in getting a particular shower unit here. Ordered the thing and it took 8 weeks to get to me. And it was the wrong one. That's when I went a looking. Got a better quality one for less than half the price and it took three days to get to me. Three days compared to 8 weeks at less than half the price? Someone is having a laugh. Go to B&Q and ask to order one of their designer bathrooms. 6 weeks delivery time I was quoted. What's up with that? Are they handcrafted from fairy dust by Polynesian princesses?

Taps and showers are crazy money here and that's in the big DIY places. One particular (namebrand) tap I saw here at 450 odd euro. Could get the same tap from a big supplier in the UK for 85 euro including sterling diff and postage. Fair profit is one thing, but the least they could do here is buy me flowers before they ask me to bend over....:D

I have worked out that I saved not hundreds but literally thousands of euro. Saved time waiting too. That can't be bad.

TequilaMockingBird

How can they justify such a price increase? Its infuriating.

Wibbs

Beyond obvious economic reasons in the market, the biggest reasons are down to greed, gross inefficiency and the simple fact that most people here, don't do research and won't shop around, or simply don't care.

The manufacturers/wholesalers and retailers know this. Look at the apple iPhone and compare the price difference and phone minutes offers between one sold in the UK and here. Same phone, same O2, big diff in price. We're getting ripped off massively. Yet people will still march into O2 and buy one.

I reckon that when IKEA does kick off here there'll be a price difference and less of a range or "stocking" issues and smart buyers will still go up north.

Even if and when they see the price difference they won't take the "risk" or are frightened by not being guided through it all.

In this case the fittings argument is often used. Fair enough but the tap you buy is likely made in China for the world market. The tap you buy here has been made with the world market in mind and you can get the fittings, so why pay double triple or even quadruple the price? Makes no sense.

Same with shipping. The stuff has to get here in the first place no matter where you buy it.

Yes there can be issues(pressurised water system etc) but do the research and make the savings or get more for your money.

Thanx 4 The Fish

I buy a lot of my stuff for the home at screwfix, they have free delivery on everything and also if you want to go to one of their stores (all uk based) they operate an argos like store where you can go in and get your stuff.

I have never had any problems when I have brought stuff for my dad fittings wise, buys most of his stuff from there, sell for far less than half the price that they are at home, particularly on bathroom fittings/taps/radiators etc etc and then I send/bring stuff over to him whenever we can.

311

The market here isn't anything like the uk ,I get the stuff at the maximum discount because it's my trade.

I wreckon our problem is ,all the retailers offer various brands and this means everything has to be imported seperately .

For high end stuff though ,very high prices are because of mark ups.