Buying from CEF...

[DNS1]

Anyone use these guys? If so, where on earth do I get a price list from?!

No prices on their website and they don't do a physical catalogue! Even the stuff they have instore doesn't have price labels!

 

[cdavies33]

It a total farce in there mate, leave them to it. The price list changes depending how far your nose is up their ---.

 

[Gaj1]

You have to ask them there and then, they will give you a printed quote. It is most annoying, I have an account and wish the website would tell me the prices once I've logged in...

 

[DNS1]

Thanks guys, just getting myself set up so been looking at alternative specialist wholesalers (only been using Screwfix, Tradepoint etc up to now)

I'll go elsewhere. Anyone know of a good place in the Chelmsford area?

 

[mickys86]

My boss was saying today that If they was more consistent with their price then we would use them a lot more

 

[ample current]

you have to have an account and login and add select the items you are interested in and then u get the prices, it is a pain though.

 

[StuSpiers]

nothing wrong with screwfix for certain stuff.

There are other online wholesalers that deliver.

Consumer Unit | Extractor Fans | Chrome Switches
UK Electrical Supplies, Electrical Wholesalers
Electrical Supplies

probably lots more too.

I have always used newey & eyre as a physical wholesaler.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

I think that after a short time of using CEF, you'll decide to use someone else.
There are quite a few wholesalers out there, Neweys, Edmundsons, WF.
Some are better than others, all are better than CEF.
That's my opinion anyway.

 

[YoungBart]

We buy from City quite alot, There prices are quite steep, But theyr'e just down the road from us and it's sometimes the only option We mainly use Electric Center or ERD though.

 

[ackbarthestar]

CEF used to be the cheapest on the block, back in the 80's. I now only use them occasionally.

There are better suppliers around.....

 

[Richard]

It seems to depend on who serves me as to what the price is and on the bill I always seem to have 95% discount (and even after that it's still expensive!!). To be honest we don't really use them unless we need something urgently.

 

[richy3333]

Didn't someone once suggest that CEF stood for cheating electrical duckers? Dunno if there's any truth in that :confused5: :confused5:

 

[topquark]

Closest wholesaler to me and I don't use them if I can help it. TLC or Wilts are much better on prices (and service!). Did pop in a couple of weeks ago for some new insulated gloves (Class 00) and was offered some dewalt fingerless gloves as an alternative ??

 

[Darkwood]

They are ok if you are familiar to staff but they do product ranges that are cheap and tacky, Avoid tamlite fittings like the plague, the endcaps can fail after a few years on the flourescents and the other tamlite gear is poorly designed to say the least.

 

[Richard Burns]

Used CEF for three purchases and that was enough and now promise myself I will never go back to them, not worth the hassles.

There is a Denmans and a Neweys in Braintree that would be worth a go.

 

[oldtimer]

Anyone use these guys? If so, where on earth do I get a price list from?!

No prices on their website and they don't do a physical catalogue! Even the stuff they have instore doesn't have price labels!

If you dont have an account it is think of a number time I have used them once for a Protius RCBO. Also its mentioned in an earlir post they got stung for £300k well they deserve that nice to know they are not getting away with it

 

[mickys86]

I wonder what the owners of citys would think if they see this thread.....

 

[sedgy34]

try calling your local branch with a list and ask for there best price dont forget to mention there is 2 other wholesalers pricing the same list for you.

 

[Guest55]

I'll tell you a little story about my last visit to CEF.....

Saturday morning , got commercial submains job to finish off so call into CEF as my usual wholesalers no-longer opens
on a sat.
All i need to finish job is 4mtr of brown 25mm tails & 2 mtr blue 25mm tails , couldnt be simpler eh ?
So give order to the monkey behind counter , pay , walk out with cable and drive to job.
Midway through wiring main switchfuse , which involved turning off power to the whole building , realised he'd given me only 3 mtr of brown , not enough to complete the job ! effing to$$er !! even worse was he charged me for 4mtr on the invioce , so he never misheard me either , just blatantly ripped me off.
Every CEF in the land can burn to the ground if i had my way.
As for prices , screwfix will beat them hands down all day long.

 

[oldtimer]

I'll tell you a little story about my last visit to CEF.....

Saturday morning , got commercial submains job to finish off so call into CEF as my usual wholesalers no-longer opens
on a sat.
All i need to finish job is 4mtr of brown 25mm tails & 2 mtr blue 25mm tails , couldnt be simpler eh ?
So give order to the monkey behind counter , pay , walk out with cable and drive to job.
Midway through wiring main switchfuse , which involved turning off power to the whole building , realised he'd given me only 3 mtr of brown , not enough to complete the job ! effing to$$er !! even worse was he charged me for 4mtr on the invioce , so he never misheard me either , just blatantly ripped me off.
Every CEF in the land can burn to the ground if i had my way.
As for prices , screwfix will beat them hands down all day long.

You could have went to Screwfix 5 metres of 25mm Double Insulated £17.39 83735

 

[Guest55]

Didn't someone once suggest that CEF stood for cheating electrical duckers? Dunno if there's any truth in that :confused5: :confused5:

Its as truthful as night follow day.
Avoid them at all costs.

 

[Guest55]

You could have went to Screwfix 5 metres of 25mm Double Insulated £17.50

Screwfix branch was many miles detour.
Didnt think there'd be any probs was such a simple order.

 

[Rockingit]

I once had some muppet in CEF try and charge me £9 trade for a Hager MCB (that I'd normally expect to be around £2.50).

I told him he was being an idiot, and the price dropped to £4 - still a rip-off but cheaper than me driving 25 odd miles to another wholesaler.

 

[alarm man]

i can see cef's solicitors sharpening their pencils..

 

[Guest55]

i can see cef's solicitors sharpening their pencils..

Why ? who are they going to sue ?

 

[alarm man]

Why ? who are they going to sue ?

you for one or the forum,blame/claim culture these days.damaging the brand etc..it happens

 

[cbw]

I Like them!

Went through cash flow crisis not so long ago, they were the only ones not to put me on stop.

Screwfix, denmans and Eddies all put me on stop.

Now all paid up, I favour CEF for being understanding.



Cant see anyone getting sued for expressing an opinion!!!!

 

[Guitarist]

I can't stand any of the wholesalers tbh. Unless you are "one of the boys", it's hard to get decent service. Quite often just get fed up of waiting and walk out. Quick drive to screwfix and it's sorted. That said, my local CEF are probably the friendliest.

 

[Guest55]

you for one or the forum,blame/claim culture these days.damaging the brand etc..it happens

For expressing an personnal opinion on a public forum ? lol , they can try but last time i checked freedom of speech was still a basic tennant of British law.
;-)
As for brand damage , they dont need my help , they do a great job all on their own.

 

[nickblake]

well it all boils down to the branch the branch i have in all fairness are good good lads and try there best to help and they stock scholmore click which at the mo is my favoured socket and switch and they guys know they cant sell me M2 appart from the consumer units which i do like ,but you do have to watch their invoicing

 

[alarm man]

For expressing an personnal opinion on a public forum ? lol , they can try but last time i checked freedom of speech was still a basic tennant of British law.
;-)

just an opinion mate,you know what these big companies are like..

 

[nickblake]

Now what was it on the radio today about churches ...

 

[Steve_P]

Can't sue for telling it how it is.

I find that the price at the counter bears no relevance to the price on the invoice. £60+ for a mini torch that was £9. Told £35 for a digital timer (which I based my price on to my customer) then got charged £45. M2 gear crubmles as you touch it. MGC may as well be made by Airfix. Denmans oe Eddies every time. Even the sheds are better and usually cheaper.

 

[micknew]

I've found that they will rip you off unless you get a quote.
Even then you must be vliligent and check invoices.

 

[Adam W]

There's no such thing as a 'CEF price list' - they just make up the prices as they go along. I'm not saying other wholesalers don't do it as well, but CEF seem to be the most prolific offenders.

Try buying multiple items, paying for them, then turning around and saying "actually can I get another one of these?" then compare the prices on the receipts.
I hate using S*itty's even if I'm not paying.

 

[sedgy34]

Think we all have a story about them people

 

[mickys86]

I'll tell you a little story about my last visit to CEF.....

Saturday morning , got commercial submains job to finish off so call into CEF as my usual wholesalers no-longer opens
on a sat.
All i need to finish job is 4mtr of brown 25mm tails & 2 mtr blue 25mm tails , couldnt be simpler eh ?
So give order to the monkey behind counter , pay , walk out with cable and drive to job.
Midway through wiring main switchfuse , which involved turning off power to the whole building , realised he'd given me only 3 mtr of brown , not enough to complete the job ! effing to$$er !! even worse was he charged me for 4mtr on the invioce , so he never misheard me either , just blatantly ripped me off.
Every CEF in the land can burn to the ground if i had my way.
As for prices , screwfix will beat them hands down all day long.

What did they say when you went back??

 

[Steve_P]

Probably shrugged and said "oops sorry mate, it should have cost you twice that"

 

[Guest55]

What did they say when you went back??

Never did and never will.
Not much i could do , the staff were arrogant jerks anyway so was unlikely to get any apology / refund.

 

[DNS1]

i can see cef's solicitors sharpening their pencils..

As said previously, they can't sue because people have told their stories... Most newspapers have a consumer advice column and print peoples letters about companys they've had problems with.

Thanks for the tips guys, I'll be going back to ScrewFix for the time being!

 

[Adam W]

As said previously, they can't sue because people have told their stories... Most newspapers have a consumer advice column and print peoples letters about companys they've had problems with.

Yes, there's a difference between spreading malicious lies about a company and sharing your experience as a customer.

 

[stepoutyourbox]

I was told recently that they are revamping their website and everything will be priced although you will have to have an account with your local branch and you will still have to build a relationship with the staff to demand better prices. But its an improvement on the existing ..

 

[edrobbo8]

people round here call it check every figure....