Which wholesaler is your preferred option and why? Is it just price?

Post new thread
Search for tools and product advice,

Discuss Which wholesaler is your preferred option and why? Is it just price? in the UK Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net

Marti

Marti

-
Arms
Reaction score
244
Evening Gents and Gentle Persons,

As the title asks, Which wholesaler is your preferred option and why? Is it really just a price decision? I'm Essex based, using CEF and Screwfix. The CEF staff, at least at the Romford branch, are second to none! Unfortunately the corp' website is impenetrable, slow, hard to price anything. Screwfix is well...We all have our views on the Kingfisher Group but the website is perfect and the Android app even better. Their other half is the badly managed orange joke we'll ignore (get down Kingfisher legal hounds).

Just signed up to the forum sponsor, Electrical2go so no experience yet but the website look snappy. Personally I value more than price and I like the convenience of a one-stop-shop so we'll see. Where do you folk part with your money and why?
 
Screwfix .... yuk ..... only good if you know what you want
CEF .... yuk ....... talk about inconsistent pricing
TLC .... good ..... for stuff you know yourself, but great web based tools
Senate / Rexel / Wilts / Newlec .... great knowledge but being ruined by the carp Newlec are forcing on the stores
Local independent ........ ok but antique billing methods and no internet capability
 
Good point on the local independents. Tried two. One was based on the corner sweet shop and the other never missed an opportunity to sting you for a few quid more. Both off my radar now.
 
Electric Centre, Kews, phase electrical in that order for me. Electric centre will drop off at any time of the day which is really handy. Kews you are stuffed unless you catch the van before it’s goes out all day. Phase good for alarm gear.
I haven’t used my CEF account for about a year now so it’s probably been put on hold....I don’t intend on using it any time soon either.
 
I went into Electric Center the other day they told me that if you had an account at an Edmundson's you could go into an Electric Center and have materials from there onto your Edmundson account (who price it).
 
I make almost all of my material purchases online using several different suppliers. I prefer to shop online as I can quickly compare prices. Only occasionally do I visit Screwfix and Toolstation.

My main online supplier is Discount Electrical. I also use Trade Sparky quite a lot along with Direct Trade Supplies and Superlec. I buy all my meter tail kits and glands from Remora Electrical. I like the convenience of having all my orders delivered direct.
 
Eyre and Eliston for me, local staff are very helpful. I find CEF unreliable with orders. Screwfix for the odd bits and any Saturday/Sunday jobs.

Would order online for price but have nowhere to get deliveries dropped off
 
Jay89 said:
Eyre and Eliston for me, local staff are very helpful. I find CEF unreliable with orders. Screwfix for the odd bits and any Saturday/Sunday jobs.

Would order online for price but have nowhere to get deliveries dropped off
Click to expand...
What about your House?
 
I think it is very much about the price. Edmundsons; £85 for Kosnic em. module, Denmans £35 for same. But between those two are my most purchases just have to watch those bills like a hawk. CEF if I am desperate and also they do stuff others don't do so it is a bit mix and match. Denmans are really domestic electrician stock where Edmundsons are more commercial. Asked for a 600 mm x 600 mm pattress at Denmans, blank looks had not a clue what I was asking for Edmundsons "how many ?" got them in stock. So it is a matter of what kind of work and materials I need. Screwfix again if I am desparate i.e. Sunday and need a doo dah.
 
I needed 4 boxes of cat 5e yesterday morning for a job, only place nearby was CEF they tried to charge me £192.40 +VAT for 1 box!!!!!!
So travelled to Screwfix got it for £76.50. Was 15 miles away!
Been using local suppliers near me lately call SRM great service and if ever stuck the will do emergency delivery. The manager even open the branch up at 8pm so I could get an RCBO.
 
Vortigern said:
I think it is very much about the price. Edmundsons; £85 for Kosnic em. module, Denmans £35 for same. But between those two are my most purchases just have to watch those bills like a hawk. CEF if I am desperate and also they do stuff others don't do so it is a bit mix and match. Denmans are really domestic electrician stock where Edmundsons are more commercial. Asked for a 600 mm x 600 mm pattress at Denmans, blank looks had not a clue what I was asking for Edmundsons "how many ?" got them in stock. So it is a matter of what kind of work and materials I need. Screwfix again if I am desparate i.e. Sunday and need a doo dah.
Click to expand...
Same here Vort,agree with you regarding Edmundsons and Denmans as we don't buy a lot of materials we mostly pay the prices in their book. Sometimes use Screwfix if it is a known brand or we know the product and small non-electrical products.
 
Electric Centre for me, the Northampton branch is excellent and have an arrangement where you can pick up orders out of hours.
 
I tend to use the main culprits for things like consumer units, lighting etc.

I like my local wholesaler as they have dirt cheap prices for cable and containment and will cut any cable to length if he stocks it.
 
There was a poll done by Dan a few years ago on which was the most used electrical wholesaler but I cant find it now with the new search bar thing. Can anyone find it?

I think screwfix came out on top.

I use screwfix alot because they are local, cheapish and generally have it in stock. I also use Wilts (Rexel) lots for the same reasons, they will also bring an item out to the site for me (same day), even if its just a pot of filler!
 
westward10 said:
You use the Northampton branch Ant?
Click to expand...
We have accounts at Edmunsons and Denmans but the electrical contractor we do sub-contract labour to use all the wholesalers in Northampton but we get deliveries on site from them good old James the delivery driver very helpful in taking delivery into where you are working even if its light fittings up to the forth floor.
 
Hate CEF they take a half an hour clicking at their keyboard before they give you a price and then I laugh and go and get it elsewhere half the price
The most annoying thing is you spent that much time waiting for a price for an item you are too angry to ask for anything else as it would take all morning to get a big order and they do try and shaft you all the time
 
Michael Sands said:
Hate CEF they take a half an hour clicking at their keyboard before they give you a price and then I laugh and go and get it elsewhere half the price
The most annoying thing is you spent that much time waiting for a price for an item you are too angry to ask for anything else as it would take all morning to get a big order and they do try and shaft you all the time
Click to expand...
You're, not the first to say that about CEF when forum members from different parts of the country are posting this over several posts forums there has got to be something in it I think that's why they stopped being a sponsor.
 
90% of my work is house bashing. Depending on quantity I will usually grab it from screwfix as the app is as others said 2nd to none for its simplicity and speed. Also screwfix often turn out cheapest anyway.
I use CEF for certain cables as they always have it in stock, especially larger csa of H07 which other suppliers around Bath dont stock as standard, I dont want to buy a 100m roll when I only need 15M.
Otherwise CEF are a joke on pricing, its a case of what they can get away with. They do have odd items that are useful such as switchgear and enclosures.
Kew Electrical seem quite good around here. but not really used myself.
I use Denmans quite a bit for planned larger jobs as they will often give discount on the list price, likewise, when doing a EV charger install, they will price match any price elsewhere for Rolec chargers and have it within 48 hours. The Denmans website is a bit clunky but is going to be upgraded soon. Do have a good catalogue though. I can give them a ring on phone and they will have it ready for me to pick up within couple of minutes or send it out with the van if urgent.
If there is a small item I need quickly or cheap hand tool/ bit i dont expect to last then Toolstation can be quite useful.
Within 1 minute drive I got Denmans, CEF, Kew Electrical, Edmundsons, Toolstation. other direction I got screwfix, rexel. I find if I keep an eye on pricing then taking a recent partial rewire of a kitchen and extension, I saved just under £100 on materials by getting it from 2 suppliers rather than just one. These being Denmans and Screwfix.
 
anthonybragg said:
You're, not the first to say that about CEF when forum members from different parts of the country are posting this over several posts forums there has got to be something in it I think that's why they stopped being a sponsor.
Click to expand...
We were told that they became a sponsor as a result of the aforementioned poll.
They seemed to think if they were sponsoring the forum they could censor what was said on it, ie disparaging them for being rubbish; apparently they overcharge for the good of the industry!?
 
Local independent (Lenton Electrical), occasionally Screwfix/Toolstation for the odd thing like 2m lengths of mini trunking and PVC conduit (3m won't fit in my van!). They (the wholesalers) are not bottom book, but the convenience of local pick-up (or delivery), knowledge, felxibility and ability to get most things you want makes up for it. TLC-direct (no branches round here, so internet and deliver) for stuff I can't get elsewhere (e.g. the Quinetic switches) but getting stuff delivered really winds me up. I took a day off work once to wait for a parcel, only to find out that they could not find my address, despite it being a numbered house over 100 years old in a residential street. Another time, I was going to be working at a house for 2 straight days so set up delivery there, phone pinged at 7am to say your parcel will be delivered between 7-8am, no chance I could get there in time (and client was away). Much prefer to pick up local as the majority of my work is small jobs that I can't get stuff delivered to.
 
Thing is if you have to go to 1 supplier and they can supply everything you need, how much time would you waste going to a 2nd supplier to save money?

I’m referring to smaller jobs ...
 
Murdoch said:
Thing is if you have to go to 1 supplier and they can supply everything you need, how much time would you waste going to a 2nd supplier to save money?

I’m referring to smaller jobs ...
Click to expand...

Exactly. Spending four hours on a round trip to another supplier to save £50 makes no sense.
 
Pricing is so important for me. I have accounts with mainstream ones like the Senate/Rexel/Wilts combo and with Edmundson. My gripe with those is it's not possible to get sensible prices to cost a job without a load of pain, so I try to avoid them.
Whenever I gripe to Rexel etc about pricing, - perhaps at an exhibition, they (rightly) say that I need to drop them a line with a list of parts and I'll get a quote in return. This is true, and if I do that I will normally get a good deal. But it's PAINFUL. - My life is too short to list out stuff, email it in, wait, then place an order. I am usually needing to be doing this at 10PM anyway, so that doesn't work when mailing shirty-office types who pack up at 4:30.
If I go into the Rexel branch with my shopping trolley and tour the aisles, I either need to question and haggle for each individual item as it's laboriously checked in, complete with "Ooh's" and pursed lips, or I don't bother and then just walk out smarting.
This must all work well for the big businesses, but that's not me.
Rexel also have a newly fangled trade on-line counter which I can access through my trade account, but it's no better, the search engine is appalling, and the shopping trolley prices are deeply unrealistic.
I do on-line with TLC who are very good and can get close to the better web prices and their website works well. I also use many of the public "discount" mail order sellers when I have the time to wait.
I also use Electricfix, but that can work out a bit costly except for headline "sweeties" such as consumer units and sockets, and their range is limited. - Toolstation even have turned over a new leaf, much of the previous rubbish quality of years ago has gone, and prices have improved. QVS are still much of a muchness on all those counts, friendly in the branches but quality can be iffy and stocks often poor.
 
Facinating answers. Despite retail being a tough call it seems there is still a market for quality service and understanding that the retailers have to have a margin of profit but not stupidity. As for CEF getting huffy cos the children won't play nicely! Don't they know negative feed back is a tool to improve what you do. My Mrs phones every customer to find out what we, actually ME, could have done better.

I'll re-read this thread and approach some of the names mentioned. Thank you everyone.
 
Marti said:
Facinating answers. Despite retail being a tough call it seems there is still a market for quality service and understanding that the retailers have to have a margin of profit but not stupidity. As for CEF getting huffy cos the children won't play nicely! Don't they know negative feed back is a tool to improve what you do. My Mrs phones every customer to find out what we, actually ME, could have done better.

I'll re-read this thread and approach some of the names mentioned. Thank you everyone.
Click to expand...
Being that WF or whatever they are rebranding themselves have got their main distribution centre at Romford you should not have any problems with the stock availability.
 
I use Screwfix a lot but of late have used forum sponsors electrical2go for lighting who are very competitive for Enlite. Toolstation have upped their game and are undercutting Screwfix on a lot of stuff so it is worth checking their prices.
 
Screwfix - the sparky's fast food. Not good for you but quick and convenient. Crippling prices for Enlite so I'll follow your lead 'cos I like their quality. Thanks guys. A really useful thread of answers.
 
The final word. Popped into Rexel (called summit else last week) and generally impressed. They want to do business and the IT systems appear to be getting an overall. Again, thanks for sharing - I'd never heard of them before but looks promising.
 
Marti said:
The final word. Popped into Rexel (called summit else last week) and generally impressed. They want to do business and the IT systems appear to be getting an overall. Again, thanks for sharing - I'd never heard of them before but looks promising.
Click to expand...

When you set up your account be sure to ask for the prompt payment discount on your monthly bill .....
 
I have found that, in spite of efforts to the contrary, round my way it really does depend on the branch ( with the exception of Electrifix/Poofix, who are nothing if not consistent). I use my local branch of Edmundson Electrical (Hereford) for 95% of my kit and they’re amazing. The prices mightn’t be cheapest, but there’s room for manoeuvre usually, and the service and product knowledge are unbeatable. Other branches I’ve found to be not so good....
Don’t even get me started on Electric Centre. They badgered me for ages to get some business from me; I relented in the spring and ordered a case of JCC LED down lights. Which never appeared. When the invoice landed on my door mat I called them and asked “why have you invoiced me for goods I haven’t received?” “They’re on their way. With you today”. No lights arrived. I wasn’t in a hurry for them so I went to Edmundson when I needed them.
A week later the statement turned up. No credit for undelivered lights. So I called them. “Driver left them outside your porch”.
I don’t have a porch.
I went down the road to a neighbouring cottage that is only used occasionally, at weekends, to find rather a soggy box of down lights...
Never again.
 
I think it has a lot to do with branch personnel (ex CEF). We get a phone call from the driver before delivery from the two wholesalers we use and from the wholesaler's contractor we work for.
 
We mostly use CEF I find all wholesalers you need to keep in check regarding price. With cef I can call them up and get them to pop me kit out anytime during the day and will open up if emergency outside normal hours for us (but we do spend alot each month with them)
 
I work for a large contracting firm so we have approved suppliers. All the major wholesalers are on the list.

Company procedures is you go out for a price on everything to 3 suppliers minimum and go with the best price.

CEF never come close on price so usually end up ordering from Rexel and Edmunsons. However, the last 12 month's Rexel around South Wales has gone absolutely awful. They take days to return quotes, orders turn up with stuff missing or turn up late or turn up not at all! So I get Edmunsons to price match. The Bridgend brand of Edmunsons rarely ever let's me down and if they do they always have a genuine reason. Customer service is first class!

For containment, bracketry and fixings it's often cheaper to use companies like R&M fixings and Kernow fixings as opposed to Electrical wholesalers.

The next job I have that I'm running by myself I think I'll try and get one electrical supplier to price match everything including Unistrut, basket, trunking etc. Hopefully using one supplier on one job will make life much easier.
 
Murdoch said:
Not worthless if you don’t pay in time to claim it ....
Click to expand...

Like I said they will just account for it in your discount. Instead of a 20% discount on an item they will just give you a 19% discount.

The wholesaler has their margins to stay in business and they will meet them. They can dress it up as an early payment discount but will just add it elsewhere and the customer thinks they have won and will keep returning even though in reality they have not.

It is very clever marketing.

I suppose our equivalent would be doing an EICR cheap and loading up the remedials to make the discount back.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I go for the best trade off with service, price and convenience to suit me.

I often use the local CEF as they give a great service and are very convenient, but only for certain things as if I bought other items there I would be making literally thousands less per year.
 

Reply to Which wholesaler is your preferred option and why? Is it just price? in the UK Electrical Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Electrician Courses Green Electrical Goods PCB Way Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Pushfit Wire Connectors Electric Underfloor Heating Electrician Courses
These Official Forum Sponsors May Provide Discounts to Regular Forum Members - If you would like to sponsor us then CLICK HERE and post a thread with who you are, and we'll send you some stats etc

YOUR Unread Posts

Tags

advice aus cable circuit course earth electric electrical electrician hello led light lighting lights looking new please question rcd socket supply switch testing training wiring
This website was designed, optimised and is hosted by untold.media Operating under the name Untold Media since 2001.
Tiling Advice
Back
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website. For the best site experience please disable your AdBlocker.

I've Disabled AdBlock