Are Woodies,Homebase and BnQ cheap at all????

paddy147

As above,are they really that cheap at all,or any good??

My local builders providers absolutely blows both companies out of the water on prices.Especially on gardening products and wood/timber.

Infact most bulders providers are alot cheaper to the public,than the large diy superstores.

So my question is what do any of you think about value for money and the likes of Woodies,Homebase and BnQ??

Thanks.:)

earpiece

No they ain't cheap.... well not for 'components', household stuff and crap gatgets, they have it nailed. I consider them to be for the weekend DIYer who generally has little knowlwdge of what they are at (through no fault of their own), but are encouraged by the isles of over priced and over packaged rubbish.
Value for money.... NO.
Thursdays rant over.

paddy147

Im just wanting to read other peoples observations on this matter.

We are all told and led to believe by these large DIY Superstores,that more money saved is good for us,and value for money is the main thing nowadays (prolonged recession).

I was shocked to see yesterday that BnQ and Woodies were/are selling 6 foot square pressure trellis frames for 52-60 euro each.


My local builders providers sells the exact same 6 foot square pressure treated trellis frame for 25 euro each.

Thats not trade price,thats the price to the public,vat inclusive too.Needless to say,I bought quite a few of them from the builders providers.:D




So Woodies and BnQ have a 27-35 euro mark up price.

To me,that is absolutely shocking indeed.:eek:

earpiece

Hey, it's true.... hardware is where you really see it, take flush hinges for example, Woodies and the like charge about €1.30 per piece, where as I would get these for about 25cent from the likes of Hafele, granted I buy 100 at a time, but still the mark up is way over the top. Hey that's the business they are in! Capitalist society an' all.

paddy147

earpiece wrote: »

Hey, it's true.... hardware is where you really see it, take flush hinges for example, Woodies and the like charge about €1.30 per piece, where as I would get these for about 25cent from the likes of Hafele, granted I buy 100 at a time, but still the mark up is way over the top. Hey that's the business they are in! Capitalist society an' all.

I dont get how the superstores can charge such a huge markup price then.??

I mean,they buy in their stock in large bulk (more so than a builders providers will buy in stock).




So why do the diy superstores basicly ripp the public off with their prices??:(

Juwwi

There not too bad on paint Paddy especially white paint because they buy in so much bulk they can be competitive.

paddy147

robbie1977 wrote: »

There not too bad on paint Paddy especially white paint because they buy in so much bulk they can be competitive.

But Woodies "own brand" paint is made for Woodies by Fleetwood Paints in Virginia,Cavan.

Fleetwood Trade Centre (where I buy my paint) sell to the public cheaper than Woodies.

How ironic is that then?

wayoutwest

Please somebody correct me if I'm wrong,but I was once told by someone that a couple of these stores are owned by Screwfix u.k,who are too busy milking the irish market with them to open a screwfix [cheap as chips] outlet here:(

paddy147

wayoutwest wrote: »

Please somebody correct me if I'm wrong,but I was once told by someone that a couple of these stores are owned by Screwfix u.k,who are too busy milking the irish market with them to open a screwfix [cheap as chips] outlet here:(

I heard that before,but dont know if its true or not?

I have often wondered why Wickes in the UK have never entered the Irish market and opened up in Dublin.


But even then,your local builders providers will still be cheaper for what you want.

earpiece

Woodies, Atlantic and Chadwicks and Heitons are all owned by the same group. The higher cost in the 'convenience' stores is firstly profiteering, and probably second, the extra bit of individual packaging.
Screwfix probably aren't arsed to come over here given the small market place.
Shop about folks, there are many deals to be found...... and if you can't find them, ask on boards, somebody will always help to find a bargain.

Cedrus

Builders providers are better on price but they're not open at the weekend when most casual DIYers are out shopping, they also tend to sell in volumes that most people don't want and can't store. Many also specialise so where you might have to go to 3 building providers, B&Q have the wood, the ironmongery, the paint and that plumbing fitting that broke last time you used the powerhose, in adjacent aisles, AND the wife can pick up some bedding plants.

(The bedding plants are way overpriced too if you've got the time and space to plant some seeds.)

danjo

wayoutwest wrote: »

Please somebody correct me if I'm wrong,but I was once told by someone that a couple of these stores are owned by Screwfix u.k,who are too busy milking the irish market with them to open a screwfix [cheap as chips] outlet here:(

So we are being screwed by Screwfix then!

On a serious note I would say that there are bargains to be had in the big DIY stores such as B&Q e.g bathroom furniture, kitchens, and special offers like De Walt drills etc.
You have to be very careful though because many items are way overpriced. So shop around and know what the prices are with competitors.

wayoutwest

Here's a good tip for haggling -next time you or a friend is visiting th U.K,bring back a screwfix catalogue and use it as backup when kindly asking your local hardware why they are charging three times the price for EXACTLY the same item.Chawicks wanted E240 for a particular plumbing fixture I wanted.After showing them the catalogue,that had it advertised for 109 pounds,he offered it to me for E160,which I thought was pretty reasonable [considering exchange rate +postage] .Have'nt tried it in Homebase- I can imagine the[non]responce that I would get!

Cedrus

There are some fantastic bargains to be had all right, something to do with the corporate buying doesn't always work at local level, there are constant clearances lines. The B&Q kitchens are great.

gigino

paddy147 wrote: »

As above,are they really that cheap at all,or any good??

My local builders providers absolutely blows both companies out of the water on prices.Especially on gardening products and wood/timber.

Infact most bulders providers are alot cheaper to the public,than the large diy superstores.

So my question is what do any of you think about value for money and the likes of Woodies,Homebase and BnQ??

Thanks.:)

they are not cheap...but they are a handy one-stop-shop especially at weekends with the family etc. They are a rip off for rope - I needed some and found a sailing chandlery / watersports shop to be much better value ( cheaper and better quality and bigger range ) for rope than a big chain diy store.

jamesjustjames

I find that builders merchants (Dublin 13/17) are only a good price if you have an account or are in the building business and have a knowledge of what is a fair price.

I decided a few years ago that I would rather over pay at Woodies than ever again put up with the sales staff of a well known builders providers in Coolock Industrial estate - (not Newtown Supplies who I found helpful and courteous).

For gardening stuff Woodies is as good as anywhere that I have found

paddy147

jamesjustjames wrote: »

I find that builders merchants (Dublin 13/17) are only a good price if you have an account or are in the building business and have a knowledge of what is a fair price.

I decided a few years ago that I would rather over pay at Woodies than ever again put up with the sales staff of a well known builders providers in Coolock Industrial estate - (not Newtown Supplies who I found helpful and courteous).

For gardening stuff Woodies is as good as anywhere that I have found

I find Chadwicks Builders Providers in Coolock brilliant,they have allways been very nice and helpfull to me.:)

They gave me a brilliant deal on 4 large SO6 sized Velux "Solar Powered" blackout blinds for my house.

Oh and I dont have an account with them,Im not in the trade either.Im just a normal "joe soap" customer.



Woodies like you to think that...."theres no better buy in diy".

But the truth is the complete opposite.

They are way overpriced on allmost everything they sell.

An 8 foot length of pressure treated 2 x 2 inch wood is around 8 euro in Woodies.

Yet in most builders providers,you can get a 16 foot length of pressure treated 2 x 2 for around 5-6 euro and 3 x 2 for around a tenner or less.

BnQ and Woodies are an absolute ripp off on sheet woods like MDF,Ply,WPB and chip board.


You can get an 18mm thick full sheet (8 x 4) of WPB ply in most builders providers for 25 euro these days.

You wont get that price in a DIY Superstore.

If your main selling point,TV Ad and claim is "theres no better buy in diy".....then back it up with the prices.Dont ripp people off.

You wouldnt believe the amount of times Ive sent friends/people down the road to the builders providers,and they have saved alot of money then giving it to BnQ or Woodies.



PS-Ive used Woodies and BnQ myself and will do too,in the future.But only as an absolute last resort/last ditch desperate measure (on a Sunday).

My money allways will go to the builders providers,as I will allways buy from them 1st,before entering any diy superstore..

paddy147

Cedrus wrote: »

Builders providers are better on price but they're not open at the weekend when most casual DIYers are out shopping.

Allmost every builders providers opens on a "Saturday" from 8am in the morning.

Some open till 1 pm and others stay open to normal closing time (5pm).

Grange Builders Providers,Heiton Buckley,Chadwicks,Newtown,Goodwins,PH Ross,TJ O'Mahony and Smiths Builders Providers are just to name a few.

They all open on Saturdays.:)

paddy147

Cedrus wrote: »

Builders providers are better on price but they're not open at the weekend when most casual DIYers are out shopping.

Allmost every builders providers opens on a "Saturday" from 8am in the morning.

Some open till 1 pm and others stay open to normal closing time (5pm).

Grange Builders Providers,Heiton Buckley,Chadwicks,Newtown,Goodwins,PH Ross,TJ O'Mahony and Smiths Builders Providers are just to name a few.

They all open and also deliever on Saturdays.:)

Jesus Shaves

wayoutwest wrote: »

Please somebody correct me if I'm wrong,but I was once told by someone that a couple of these stores are owned by Screwfix u.k,who are too busy milking the irish market with them to open a screwfix [cheap as chips] outlet here:(

both screwfix and b&q are owned by Kingfisher, who also own thousands of stores in poland, france, china etc.

Cedrus

paddy147 wrote: »

Allmost every builders providers opens on a "Saturday" from 8am in the morning.

Some open till 1 pm and others stay open to normal closing time (5pm).

Grange Builders Providers,Heiton Buckley,Chadwicks,Newtown,Goodwins,PH Ross,TJ O'Mahony and Smiths Builders Providers are just to name a few.

They all open on Saturdays.:)

Yeah Saturday MORNING when many people are having a lie in or starting to think about measuring up.
Half the places you name are not national either so would be no use to half the country.
Convenience is what counts for the people who go to the superstores.

touts

Depends what you are looking for. When I needed a new drill I waited a few weeks and one came up in Lidl for about 2/3rd the price and a better spec than the ones I was looking at in Hardware shops (4 years later it is still going strong). Recently I needed moss remover for my drive. I got a 2lt bottle of the stuff in a farm supplies shop for the same price as a .5lt bottle in Woodies. In comparison when it comes to seeds, garden plants and trees the same Woodies is significantly cheaper than a large garden centre half a mile up the road. I wanted a water Butt and when one came up in Aldi I grabbed it. The following weekend I noticed 5-6 of the same ones (complete with Aldi stickers) stacked up behind a shed in the previously mentioned garden centre. A month later they were on "sale" by the entrance at a 50% markup on the price Aidl had sold them for. Yet the same garden centre has a large collection of really good quality pots and containers much cheaper than I have found elsewhere (including Woodies and Aldi/Lidl where the quality of pots also tends to be very poor).

Stores will have some products with a price designed to attract in shoppers and they make up for losses on those by upping the prices on other stuff. It's the loss leader strategy that supermarkets are so good at. So shop around lads. You just have to be disciplined to go in and only get the cheap product you want and not fall for the expensive impulse buys around it.

r3nu4l

Is not just Ireland, these stores, minus Woodies who are not in the UK, are way over priced compared to builders merchants in the UK too. B&Q is cheaper than Homebase for most things over here. home base are owned by The same company that owns Argos so in fact if you look in both catalogues ou will see many of the same items at exactly the same price.

I think people prefer the big DIY stores because while the customer service is not great it is still way above the standard of most, not all, builders providers. When I was renovating my house, all of my floorboards, light sockets etc we bought from various builders providers and merchants. Light fittings in particular were way cheaper at Screwfix than at the major DIY stores.

Joey the lips

I only go to woodies for ideas as they have a large display. They also have a great display of nuts bolts and washers.

I will always buy in a providers because if you price in woodies and know the providers are ripping you off then you can say it to them and they will do something. Say that to someone working in woodies and they will look at you and go "Meh"

fryup

the great thing about B&Q and the like is that if you're not happy with stuff you can return things willy nilly and no one bats an eye lid...i hate returning things to my local hardware store feels kinda awkward

Jesus Shaves

Joey the lips wrote: »

I will always buy in a providers because if you price in woodies and know the providers are ripping you off then you can say it to them and they will do something. Say that to someone working in woodies and they will look at you and go "Meh"

Thats bull, there's a price promise in both woodies and b&q where that if you can prove its cheaper from somewhere else they give you 10% plus the difference off

Joey the lips

darokane wrote: »

Thats bull, there's a price promise in both woodies and b&q where that if you can prove its cheaper from somewhere else they give you 10% plus the difference off

Its not bull. The providers will always beat it and if you look at the price promise they are very clever to usually include a radius and exclude electric showers.

Believe me i know good marketing when i see it.

tipperary

fryup wrote: »

the great thing about B&Q and the like is that if you're not happy with stuff you can return things willy nilly and no one bats an eye lid...i hate returning things to my local hardware store feels kinda awkward

Must agree with you there. I have found Woodies to be a pain also with warranty returns - insist on returning item to authorised repair centre, come back in a few weeks. B&Q meanwhile will just give you a refund there and then, allowing you to get a replacement straight away. Also find their staff to me much more willing to help than Woodies. That said, some stuff will be way overpriced.

As others have mentioned, both are useful for people working 9 to 5, who find it difficult to find a place open after work. In Cork I am not aware of any proper builders providers open on a Saturday morning (admittedly a few used to when there was more money going around).

paddy147

Cedrus wrote: »

Yeah Saturday MORNING when many people are having a lie in or starting to think about measuring up.
Half the places you name are not national either so would be no use to half the country.
Convenience is what counts for the people who go to the superstores.

I see that you didnt quote my post and quote the part where I also posted/stated that all builders providers open on a Saturday now,some of them stay open till 5pm and some of them stay open til 1pm.

To me that is not the morning,but well into Saturday AFTERNOON.....;)

paddy147

Joey the lips wrote: »

Its not bull. The providers will always beat it and if you look at the price promise they are very clever to usually include a radius and exclude electric showers.

Believe me i know good marketing when i see it.

Heres an example of how good builders providers are.:)

Today,Heiton Buckleys charged me the "very expensive" sum of 4 euro 64 cents for a 16 foot length of pressure treated 2 x 2 inch wood (perfecty for the garden).

Now I highly doubt that Woodies or BnQ will sell me 2 x 8 foot length of it to me at that price,considering that an 8 foot length of is allmost 7 euro in Woodies.So 2 x 8 foot lengths would be 14 euro.:eek:

Oh and heres the reciept,just incase anyone here thinks Im making up the prices and posting false/silly stuff








To comment on what you said about builders providers and their overall attitude and good marketing....I fully agree with you,and I have also found that builders providers will gladly replace and refund you,if the products you bought didnt do the job that you thought they would do.

Sure Chadwicks and Heiton Buckleys even game me credit notes and cash back,when I asked if I could return some stuff that I had bought 2 months ago but didnt need.

It was actually 3 lengths of 16 foot skirting board that I returned to Heiton Buckleys.

I ordered 12 lengths,but only used 9.

Got a choice of cash back or a credit note for the 3 that I returned 2 months later.I opted for the credit note.:D

Also 1 bag of Gypsum skim coat went "off" on the plasterer,when I said this to Tommy in Heiton Buckleys,he gave me another 2 bags for FREE.

Same thing with Chadwickes for multiple bags of plastering sand,returned several unused bags and got a credit note and also a very friendly service from the staff.

paddy147

Oh and another comparrison on prices.

Grange Builders Providers,Baldoyle

8 foot pressure treated railway sleeper-18 euro each.


Homebase,Santry

4 foot pressure treated railway sleeper-33 euro.



Holy Sweet Jesus,allmost twice the price for HALF the product.:eek:


Needless to say,I bought from Grange Builders Providers.

Cedrus

paddy147 wrote: »

I see that you didnt quote my post and quote the part where I also posted/stated that all builders providers open on a Saturday now,some of them stay open till 5pm and some of them stay open til 1pm.

To me that is not the morning,but well into Saturday AFTERNOON.....;)

Paddy, I did quote your post, I quoted it verbatim, didn't interfere with it in any way, I simply didn't address every item of your post.

Like half the population of ireland I don't live in dublin so apart from Chadwicks and Heitons, the providers you listed are no use to me, the petrol would be astronomical from cork. I have two chadwicks near me they both shut at 1:00 on a saturday so too I believe does Heitons, but since it is as far across the city as is possible, I go there too rarely to know their times.

I agree with you that the Builders Providers (and small local hardware, electrical & plumbing shops) offer a far superior service at (usually) lower cost, but sometimes convenience is worth paying for, and sometimes the superstores are just more interesting for a family trip.

paddy147

Heiton Buckleys

6 foot x 6 foot pressure treated trellis frame-25 euro each.


Woodies and BnQ

Exact same trellis frame-52 euro each (Woodies) and 60 euro each (BnQ).

27-35 euro more.:eek:



Again,bought them from Heiton Buckleys.:)

paddy147

Cedrus wrote: »

Paddy, I did quote your post, I quoted it verbatim, didn't interfere with it in any way, I simply didn't address every item of your post.

Like half the population of ireland I don't live in dublin so apart from Chadwicks and Heitons, the providers you listed are no use to me, the petrol would be astronomical from cork. I have two chadwicks near me they both shut at 1:00 on a saturday so too I believe does Heitons, but since it is as far across the city as is possible, I go there too rarely to know their times.

I agree with you that the Builders Providers (and small local hardware, electrical & plumbing shops) offer a far superior service at (usually) lower cost, but sometimes convenience is worth paying for, and sometimes the superstores are just more interesting for a family trip.

Well with all the money you could/would save in Chadwicks or Heiton Buckleys,you could take the kids/family out to the cinema or for a McDonalds or KFC on a Saturday afternoon.;)

Jesus Shaves

Joey the lips wrote: »

Its not bull. The providers will always beat it and if you look at the price promise they are very clever to usually include a radius and exclude electric showers.

Believe me i know good marketing when i see it.

There is a radius of 10km and showers are included in the B&Q one
sounds like a good deal to me

paddy147

darokane wrote: »

There is a radius of 10km and showers are included in the B&Q one
sounds like a good deal to me

Funny then that BnQ Airside dont include showers,neither does BnQ Bellgard road.

Your BnQ must be the only one then??;)



Also compare the BNQ and Woodies prices on showers with the price that a builders providers or plumbers merchants will give you,then your eyes will really be opened.

Jesus Shaves

paddy147 wrote: »

Funny then that BnQ Airside dont include showers,neither does BnQ Bellgard road.

Your BnQ must be the only one then??;)

I used to work for them, they do, they advertise 10% off anything if you can get it cheaper anywhere else in a 10km radius
Everything means everything
Sorry but you must be confusing this with something else

paddy147

darokane wrote: »

I used to work for them, they do, they advertise 10% off anything if you can get it cheaper anywhere else in a 10km radius
Everything means everything
Sorry but you must be confusing this with something else

You need to read the very very fine print then.

Jesus Shaves

paddy147 wrote: »

You need to read the very very fine print then.;)

working for them is enough proof for me, many a shower was reduced when it was cheaper elsewhere

paddy147

darokane wrote: »

working for them is enough proof for me, many a shower was reduced when it was cheaper elsewhere

You need to read the very very fine print.

Juwwi

Things like attic insulation,white paint,radiator covers,electric heaters
are all very competitive in the big DIY stores.

Woodies do a 20% off voucher regularly aswell.

There seems to be a pattern of that wood seems to be dear in the Diy stores but I would'nt totally say they are more expensive on everything.

Jesus Shaves

no i need to stop answering someone who doesn't know what they're talking about
You might need to change which store you go to

paddy147

robbie1977 wrote: »

Things like attic insulation,white paint,radiator covers,electric heaters
are all very competitive in the big DIY stores.

Woodies do a 20% off voucher regularly aswell.

There seems to be a pattern of that wood seems to be dear in the Diy stores but I would'nt totally say they are more expensive on everything.

Knauf 150mm Earthwool is 15-16 euro in most builders providers (Heitons anyway).

30 euro in BnQ and stupid silly high money in Homebase.Woodies,forget about it


10 litres of brilliant white Dulux Weathershield (20% extra free) is 50 euro in Woodies

Exact same 10 litre tub of brilliant white (20% extra free) is 44 euro in Heiton Buckleys.

I could go on and on and on here...but I think you get the idea here.;)

paddy147

darokane wrote: »

no i need to stop answering someone who doesn't know what they're talking about
You might need to change which store you go to

I know exactly what Im talking about,as does another member who pointed it out to you.I go to builders providers as thats where I get the best prices on the items I buy.BNQ dont do it for me and cant sell their products at the prices that I get.

But you seem to be in denial.

So,you "worked" there in the past...great...so you think you know it all then??


I think you need to open your eyes a bit more and look around you more.

Regards.

Cedrus

paddy147 wrote: »

Well with all the money you could/would save in Chadwicks or Heiton Buckleys,you could take the kids/family out to the cinema or for a McDonalds or KFC on a Saturday afternoon.;)

If I'm building a deck, Yes.
If I'm putting up one 600mm shelf, Not a hope in hell!

Juwwi

Right I did'nt realise that Paddy I must take a trip down there next week to have a look at the prices.
I do remember getting nearly ripped off buying tile adhesive in woodies before thank god I checked around they were double the price for that.


Anyone see any good prices for bathroom renovation out there around Dublin ?
Need shower tray,shower door,new toilet,presure pump usual sort of stuff.

Jesus Shaves

paddy147 wrote: »

I know exactly what Im talking about,as does another member who pointed it out to you.But you seem to be in denial.

So,you "worked" there in thr past....so you think you know it all then??

You think you do,when you actually dont.

I think you need to open your eyes a bit more and look around you more.

Regards.

You have shown me no proof, you obviously have some kind of agenda against the big DIY chains which is clear to see in all your posts, Yes i worked there which puts me in a much better position than you to comment on policies and prices.
you could ask me any question and it would be answered honestly about the prices etc. You are simply wrong here
Please take your biased, uneducated views somewhere else

paddy147

darokane wrote: »

You have shown me no proof, you obviously have some kind of agenda against the big DIY chains which is clear to see in all your posts,

So ripping people off with the high prices isnt of any concern then??

And because I post this thread and subsiquent posts (with proof),now Im wrong and biased??

It is a concern to me and yes,it is an agenda,that has to be talked about and highlighted here.And thats what Im doing with proof too (but you seem to be blind of that and still in denial).



OPEN YOUR EYES.


How much is a 16 foot length of pressure treated 2 x 2 in BnQ then??

How much is a 6 x 6 foot pressure treated heavy duty trellis frame in BnQ then??

How much is 10 litres of Dulux brilliant White Weathershield (20% extra free) in BnQ ??

How much is a 4 inch solid block in BnQ then??



Seen as we are all led to believe by the various DIY Superstores (current recession) that more money in the pocket is best for us and TV ads and slogans like ..."theres no better buy in diy".:rolleyes:

So DIY Superstores are cheaper than anywhere else then??

Yeah right,if you want to fall for that,fair enough then.

Jesus Shaves

paddy147 wrote: »

So ripping people off with the prices isnt of any concern then??

It is to me and yes,it is an agenda,that has to be talked about and highlighted here.And thats what Im doing with proof too (but you seem to be blind of that and still in denial).

How much is a 16 foot length of pressure treated 2 x 2 in BnQ then??

How much is a 6 x 6 foot pressure treated heavy duty trellis frame in BnQ then??

How much is 10 litres of Dulux brilliant White Weathershield (20% extra free) in BnQ ??

How much is a 4 inch solid block in BnQ then??



Seen as we are all led to believe (current recession) that more money in the pocket is best for us and slogans like ..."theres no better buy in diy".:rolleyes:

So DIY Superstores are cheaper than anywhere else then??

Yeah right,if you want to fall for that,fair enough then.

See now, I didn't say any of the things you just accused me of, I said you were wrong about the price promise, which you are, you clearly have an agenda here.
I know some of the prices in these stores are a rip off, i know know what times of the year to shop there to get stuff cheaper than you'll get it anywhere else
now please stop embarrassing yourself :rolleyes:

Farmer Pudsey

During the boom the big Builders Providers did not want to deal with anyone not buying in bulk however in the last year they have copped on and are a good bit cheaper than B&Q and Wooddies. The same with Paint shops and garden centers. However you still have to shop around. Halfords is the same for car gear way over priced as were the motor factors however I have found that the motor factors have copped theselves on as well.

However you still have to price around and keep eye on Lidl and Aldi as well I picked up the wood/Metel holesaws in Aldi today was looking for a 2" holesaw a couple of weeks ago over20 euro with the center bit the set today was 11 euro.

Joe10000

I am in this business and the margins these stores work off never cease to amaze me, as somebody told me a long time ago they are Sunday shops, if you need something on a Sunday you know you have to pay a premium.