The likes of B&Q verses builders merchants etc

As title, following on from the off topic debate in the water garden section.

Personally i agree with bas regards B&Q etc, give me a wholsaler/ merchant or better still one with online ordering like BES for plumbing, or TLC for electrical stuff anyday.

I cant stand the likes of B&Q and only use them for emulsion and or gloss paint as trade paint is so grossly overpriced for almost the same product. Only exception with paint being specialist trade products like , zinser that the likes of B&Q dont always stock.

 

I'm in two minds about them.

On the one hand they do put many more products on display than the traditional ones did, helping people to see what is available.
This has moved things on, as regards what people want or need in their homes and gardens.
They were actually spawned by the DIY craze in the seventies I believe.
Builers merchants being very stuck in their ways took time to catch up.

We now also have the online shops, most of the ones I have tried are little better informed than the DIY shop, although I've not tried many to be fair.

I think if they were to train staff much better and perhaps pay a decent living wage they could take over entirely.

Infact I know quite a few trade people who use Wickes, just because they are convienient.
Lets face it, if you youself know what you want, you dont need knowledgeable staff, just someone to take the money, I supose.

 

Lol......................A very big difference for me,when I go to B&Q I have to pay with my own money..............When I go to Ridgeons or Travis and Perkins(building suppliers )I put it on my bosses account.
Seriously though I disslike Homebase very much,no personality just a money making machine.

 

I love shopping but I DETEST DIY stores be they B&Q or an independant. In fact the independants are probably worse than the chains. There is a timber yard near us and a plumbing supplies and I find them a night mare. Over the years I have learnt to take in a list of exactly what husband wants, preferably with a sample. I think the people who work in them just like to play games and confuse me:rolleyes::D

 

Nice boat, shame about the ladder.:D

Health and safety would not allow that.


Joking aside, a fantastic boat if it was built with such tools.

where was it Shiney?

 

Depends what im after but i tent to use the stax trade center near here for most stuff i need an now theyve started to do trellis an fenceing its great :D but there is a minimum spend of 25 quid so if i just need summut small i tent to go to focus b&q here are useless :rolleyes:

 

Shiney, I love that top picture - just no one in their right mind would plan to build a boat like that! - but it clearly works, so who are we to criticise.

Oh! and I don't like Homebase - too expensive, but I love the large B&Q. I like seeing the things that are available. It gives me ideas. If only I could follow them up. :D

 

Hi folks. I believe there's a place for both. Years ago, most people wouldn't tackle big projects, maybe put up a shelf or maybe even make themselves a bar (yuck!). Nowadays, DIYers will take on all manner of tasks, even building their own extensions. Fact is (I believe), the likes of B & Q cater very well for those types of customers, offering a vast range of all sorts of things,with a choice to match. Also, I believe we've never had it so good with regards to tools and equipment that these stores offer. OK, having said that, I do have a couple of things I DON'T like about them. Firstly, a lot of the staff don't really have a clue when it comes to specific requests of information and products. Secondly, if you only want say, a couple of screws, forget it. I have a local 'ironmongers' and he is VERY good. I can tell him the task I wish to carry out, and he knows straight away the right 'item' I need, great service which is hard to beat. Oh, one thing I should have said, many times I've been down to my local B & Q not really knowing what I need (only an Idea), so, I can just wander round until something leaps out at me. Imagine going to a builders merchant and he asks "Yes sir, can I help you ?" and you say, "I don't really know what I want". You can almost hear the rest of the staff sniggering eh ? Like I said, I think there is a place for both types of supplier. Cheers...freddy.