UK The truth about CEF and why is it so expensive.

[nicebutdim]

But during my current work , I have been doing loads of buying via ebay . Ive saved way over £100 on less than £580 worth of stuff from shops .That cover my coffee and lunches for a week !

Online prices can be excellent - not only ebay bargains. If you have sufficient time to plan ahead, it can be well worth the effort of taking a bit of time to search.

 

[LukeD]

Online prices can be excellent - not only ebay bargains. If you have sufficient time to plan ahead, it can be well worth the effort of taking a bit of time to search.

I now buy all my wago's . their boxes .many tools etc .Smoke/heat alarms etc all off ebay. .

 

[DPG]

I now buy all my wago's . their boxes .many tools etc .Smoke/heat alarms etc all off ebay. .

Watch out for the copies.

 

[nicebutdim]

Watch out for the copies.

Plenty of those about, but quite a few distributors selling on ebay at very keen prices.

 

[LukeD]

Plenty of those about, but quite a few distributors selling on ebay at very keen prices.

I used some copy wagos 3 years ago on a lighting job. Never had a issue !!

 

[DPG]

I used some copy wagos 3 years ago on a lighting job. Never had a issue !!

I'm sure many are fine, but too risky using unbranded copies of unknown origin on customer jobs. Not worth the risk to save a few pence.

 

[UNG]

I used some copy wagos 3 years ago on a lighting job. Never had a issue !!

But how long do you wait before you can say you have never had an issue, fake product longevity is an unknown

 

[littlespark]

But how long do you wait before you can say you have never had an issue, fake product longevity is an unknown

Exactly. It’s unknown.

It might last as long… it might fail within a week.
“Real” products are tested…. To destruction in some instances so that the manufacturer, seller and end user - us - are confident in its qualities.

 

[Baddegg]

It absolutely breaks me to buy anything from CEF and only ever use them if I’m desperate and on the rush for something.

I used to continuously get calls from my local branch manager trying sell me gear. In the end I had to tell him that I’d ring them if I needed anything.

I did the same thing except I used the phrase f&@k off you robbing barst&ds at least dick Turpin wore a mask

NB…they’ve not called me since

 

[brianmoooore]

This something relatively recent? I started with Superlamp Metallic, which became Newey and Eyre. Then tried CEF who gave much better discounts than Newey. Stayed mainly with them throughout the 80s and early 90s, before following one of their staff who set up as an independent, before being bought out by Wilts, now Rexel.
Only thing I've used CEF for in recent years is for their excellent plastic conduit box lids. Manager is the YTS kid from when I regularly dealt with them.