Increasing Costs

[Ray LyonsParticipant @raylyons29267]

A couple of weeks ago, I ran out of Mapps Gas. I have a torch which fits directly onto the cannister and used for jobs requiring quite a lot of heat such as brazing and tempering. I live only a short walk from my local B&Q store so strolled along to get a new bottle. I was a bit surprised at the cost, £18.98. Now I know that it is some time ago since I last bought a cannister but at that time it was about £11, so accepting that perhaps the price was following all things in energy, I decided to wait until Wednesday to get a 10% discount. In the meantime, I looked up the price at Screwfix where it is £4 less but is for pick up only. Eventually I bought a cannister on EBay for £12.87 including postage.

Again the other evening, I was soldering a piece of tinplate and went to the drawer where I keep my solders only to find that the little pot of flux was missing. Rather than messing about looking, I popped along to B&Q (we old ones never learn) and was amazed to see that the only soldering flux in stock was £12.98 for a 100g pot. Perhaps I am out of touch with todays prices but that was too much so I decided to wait until the next day and visit the local plumber's shop. As soon as I decided this course of action, the penny dropped and I hastened home to check my plumber's toolbox. Of course, where else would I keep a pot of flux.

Is this a ripoff or is it that I have just lost touch. (could be with the approaching festive season I caught a touch of the Scrooges)

[Ray LyonsParticipant @raylyons29267]

[paul raynerParticipant @paulrayner36054]

I never go to b&q they always have been rip off merchants

homebase are even more expensive

it allways pays to shop around

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Well I suppose someone has to pay for the fact they are open from 7.00am to 9.00pm and also open Sundays and will be there when you run out of gas half way through that critical job when the local plumbers merchant will be closed and e-bay will be next day.

Add to the fact their overheads compared to an e-bay seller who may be working out of their garage or a lockup.

J

[Keith LongParticipant @keithlong89920]

Yes but Screwfix and B&Q are both owned by Kingfisher and have pretty much the same opening hours. The difference is you'll buy a box of 100 widgets in Screwfix for the price of a packet of 10 in B&Q. Or you can go to Toolstation and pay about 10-20% less than in Screwfix!

It also pays to look at the "own brand" lines in these places as well, because they're not made by the seller but are packaged for them by the same people that sell under known brand names usually.

Case really of paying your money and making your choice, but if it's something that you use a lot – and for a non critical application – it certainly is worth trying some of the cheaper options.

I'm fortunate in that where I live all three are on the same trading estate – two of them facing each other across a car park

Keith

[jonathan heppelParticipant @jonathanheppel43280]

They charge extortionate prices on general hardware to pay for flagship discounts on eg tools. Solution is to buy the discounted stuff and boycott the rest. Just hope that everyone doesn't follow suit.

Independant hardware shops and builders' merchants are best.

[LambtonParticipant @lambton]

Ray,

"we old ones never learn"

Same with me but I do have a B&Q "old f–ts" card that gives me a 10% discount on everything but only on Wednesdays. A bit limited but very useful if you have to use B&Q.

Eric

[LambtonParticipant @lambton]

Map gas is only £10.78 (including VAT) in the latest Tool Station catalogue. I find TS very reasonable on most things and there is a branch a couple of miles away.

Eric

Edited By Lambton on 31/10/2013 08:11:43

[IanTParticipant @iant]

I don't remember what I paid for my last MAP gas (which I probably purchased earlier this year. But I do know where I got it from. I am very fortunate to have a small independent hardware shop about ten minutes walk from here (or just five on the bike). My nearest big name hardware store is a good ten minutes drive away.

I try to make a point of buying my small 'DIY' needs there including MAP gas, the odd pot of varnish or paint, wood glue, hacksaw blades etc. He's generally about the same price as B&Q (sometimes a wee bit more expensive and sometimes even a bit cheaper) but he's often a tad cheaper than our local Robert Dyas (who used to be very good many years ago)

He stocks a range of product/brands that I often cannot get in the big stores and he is pretty knowledgeable about what he's got (he advised me to use Gorilla Glue when I had some plywood delaminate for instance). He's open to feedback about what he's sold (and will make changes accordingly) and he's willing to find out how much something new will cost and will get it in if I'm still interested – e.g. he listens to his customers!.

Of course I purchase all of my specialist (metal torturing) tools online these days and any other major purchase gets well and truly investigated on the Web before I spend my pennies. But for my smaller general needs I try to give him my business and (being somewhat dis-organised) I usually manage to run "out-of-stock" of something crucial just before a job (or during it) – like running out of gas for instance. So it's real handy to be able to just walk up and get it locally. I'd certainly miss the convenience and choice I get from him if he shut up shop.

So, If you are lucky enough to have a great local HW shop near you (as I am) then perhaps the price is not the only consideration.

Regards,

IanT

[Ray LyonsParticipant @raylyons29267]

Ian, I remember those. The last one disappeared from here about 20 years ago. You din't just get a pack of nails but weighed out on the scale and put into a paper bag for about 1/2 the price of the DIY merchants. Well worth looking after the local HW shop while you can.

[Boiler BriParticipant @boilerbri]

I buy mine from a local propane supplier in Huddersfield they charge £11 a bottle. My dad used to buy the big bottles and decant it. Dangerous but cost effective!

B

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