Like many people here, I am a big DIYer. I am now doing friends and at
this rate should give up the day job !

No, that will never happen. So I am looking at getting access to trade
prices as a 'normal JOE'. It seems everyone has a different trick.

So far I've managed to gleem the following

- Open a bank account in the name of the company.
- Don't bother registering as a Ltd no point
- Use bank as a reference
- Open you have a card from one, use it to get others.
- Visit them during a normal working day. Avoid early AM
- Cover your mobile in dust, paint and scratches
- Ensure your work clothes are filthy in dust, paint cement

The next step for me is to get a trade card. I'm not looking for any 30
days credit. Just the discount. Can anyone recomend a merchant thats
the easiest to get one.

The projects I need the discounts for are
- TILING (Topps Tiles offer %40 off their bulk prices)
- Bathroom (seems plumbcenter is what people recomend)
- Flooring (carpet..not sure about who/where for this


In terms of previous posts, I have already noted the screwfix and
wickes can offer good prices depending..

previous posts
http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk....7eca3409 27d0

wrote:
I am looking at getting access to trade prices as a 'normal JOE'.

What's a JOE?

The next step for me is to get a trade card. I'm not looking for any 30
days credit. Just the discount. Can anyone recomend a merchant thats
the easiest to get one.

Go into the BM, tell them what you're likely to spend per month,
ask for a cash card. TP or Jewson's certainly would issue them
to all comers a year or three ago. You might have to fill in a
short form. Getting an account is a bit difficult.


The projects I need the discounts for are
- TILING (Topps Tiles offer %40 off their bulk prices)
- Bathroom (seems plumbcenter is what people recomend)
- Flooring (carpet..not sure about who/where for this

No idea about them, also I've never used "plumbcenter" as
a) I don't know where there is one, and b) the name.


In terms of previous posts, I have already noted the screwfix and
wickes can offer good prices depending..

Yup. I wouldn't bother with all the subterfuge of getting
dirty, it'll get you nowhere. If you are worried you
might be refused, go into a non-local branch and ask.

On Wed, 05 Oct 2005 09:51:18 +0100, Chris Bacon
wrote:

wrote:
I am looking at getting access to trade prices as a 'normal JOE'.

What's a JOE?

Joe Bloggs, ordinary man in the street (in this case *not* a
tradesman).

T i m

No, that will never happen. So I am looking at getting access to trade
prices as a 'normal JOE'. It seems everyone has a different trick.
I will be doing an extension soon. I was thinking about this yesterday.
I would love to get trade discounts. Are there any laws governing all
this ?
I guess anyone can get bulk discounts, say buying 2000 tiles, haggle a
bit etc.
I have found that wearing dirty clothes makes me feel like a real
builder, but I've no idea if the feeling projects !
Simon.

Great to start up a discussion on the topic.

I've since found that there are at least 2 trade cards that I can apply
for over the internet that allow me in some case to use anyone of 3000
merchants.

And like I say, it seems that once you have 1 or 2 then you can get
others from smaller companies that can open trade accounts.

We'll I'm off to the bank to open a bussiness account..

wrote:
Great to start up a discussion on the topic.

I've since found that there are at least 2 trade cards that I can apply
for over the internet that allow me in some case to use anyone of 3000
merchants.

And like I say, it seems that once you have 1 or 2 then you can get
others from smaller companies that can open trade accounts.

We'll I'm off to the bank to open a bussiness account..


What about setting yourself up as a sole trader/limited company and then
contracting yourself out to yourself to do any work that needs doing?
You would then be a legitimate tradesman and could open up lots of
accounts. You could then start claiming lunches and petrol and other
bits and bobs as expenses!

Chris Bacon wrote:

Go into the BM, tell them what you're likely to spend per month,
ask for a cash card. TP or Jewson's certainly would issue them
to all comers a year or three ago. You might have to fill in a
short form. Getting an account is a bit difficult.

TP still certainly do a trade card
(see http://www.trademate.co.uk/Accounts/TCCInfo.asp)
I have one; it gives me 20-30% off list automatically (ie without having
to do the "wot's yer best price fer..." dance). However, list prices are
so high that this is still very uncompetitive - Screwfix et al are way
cheaper. They'll always negotiate on individual purchases, but it's
about how much you can blag it, and significantly, how much business you
put their way.

Catch 22, of course, as I said to the salesman last time I was in; I'm
not about to start spending loads of extra cash at TP in the hope that
in a few months they might condescend to raise my discount level.

The one good thing about a TP trade card is that it affords free delivery.

Anyway, I loathe the place and use it only when I can't find something
unusual at Wickes or Screwfix (or if I want a ton of sand delivered!).
Being a BM of course nothing is priced so you have to ask; and your
invoice gives no clue as to the level of discount you've been given.
You can get list prices off their website, however.

Where else... I have trade accounts at Howden's - just told them I was
setting up in business; think they might have asked my bank for a
reference (and I only have a personal account). Also Plumbcenter; never
use it as it's quite like TP. I get trade at a local one-man plumber's
merchant though; just by going in there enough I think I'm just now
established as a 'regular'!

David










The projects I need the discounts for are
- TILING (Topps Tiles offer %40 off their bulk prices)
- Bathroom (seems plumbcenter is what people recomend)
- Flooring (carpet..not sure about who/where for this


No idea about them, also I've never used "plumbcenter" as
a) I don't know where there is one, and b) the name.


In terms of previous posts, I have already noted the screwfix and
wickes can offer good prices depending..


Yup. I wouldn't bother with all the subterfuge of getting
dirty, it'll get you nowhere. If you are worried you
might be refused, go into a non-local branch and ask.

wrote:

I've since found that there are at least 2 trade cards that I can apply
for over the internet that allow me in some case to use anyone of 3000
merchants.

Could you post the links?

We'll I'm off to the bank to open a bussiness account..

Do you actually need the business account, or do you just want it as a
vehicle to access trade accounts with suppliers? Because running a
business account can be very expensive, and TBH the lack of one has
never been an issue for me in getting trade discounts.

The other point is that getting decent prices is NOT just about getting
a trade account. You may find yourself getting only a trivial discount
compared with other (ie big) trade customers; you can often pay cash and
get trade prices. And there are a lot of people in the building trade
who do just that, regularly.

Having a trade account also lets the company monitor your spend
precisely, so if it's not whopping, it's likely to be hard for you to
justify having them increase your discount rate; easier to blag it if
you come in paying cash!

David

In article ,
says...

The other point is that getting decent prices is NOT just about getting
a trade account. You may find yourself getting only a trivial discount
compared with other (ie big) trade customers; you can often pay cash and
get trade prices. And there are a lot of people in the building trade
who do just that, regularly.

Agreed. At my local Jewsons I mutter the magic words 'Cash Trade' and
get their standard discount. I don't buy enough stuff there to get any
super discounts. I asked them once if there would be any advantage to me
in getting a trade account with them and they said there is no advantage
financially, but it would be handy if I want to send the teaboy to pick
up materials. As I'm the teaboy I didn't bother

Anna

--
~~ Anna Kettle, Suffolk, England
|""""| ~ Lime plaster repairs
/ ^^ \ // Freehand modelling in lime: overmantels, pargeting etc
|____| www.kettlenet.co.uk 01359 230642

Anna Kettle wrote:

Agreed. At my local Jewsons I mutter the magic words 'Cash Trade' and
get their standard discount. I don't buy enough stuff there to get any
super discounts.

What do you classify as "standard" and as "super" discounts?


--
Ian White

But tile companies offer massive discounts. To be fear I'm not all that
fussed about builders merchants. But to get %40 of tiles is great !

wrote:
But tile companies offer massive discounts. To be fear I'm not all that
fussed about builders merchants. But to get %40 of tiles is great !

40% off what though? That's the issue.
I usually buy my (bog standard) tiles at Wickes where I get no discount
at all.

On Tue, 04 Oct 2005 20:49:20 -0700, wrote:

Like many people here, I am a big DIYer. I am now doing friends and at
this rate should give up the day job !

No, that will never happen. So I am looking at getting access to trade
prices as a 'normal JOE'. It seems everyone has a different trick.

So far I've managed to gleem the following

- Open a bank account in the name of the company.
- Don't bother registering as a Ltd no point
- Use bank as a reference
- Open you have a card from one, use it to get others.
- Visit them during a normal working day. Avoid early AM
- Cover your mobile in dust, paint and scratches
- Ensure your work clothes are filthy in dust, paint cement

The next step for me is to get a trade card. I'm not looking for any 30
days credit. Just the discount. Can anyone recomend a merchant thats
the easiest to get one.

The projects I need the discounts for are
- TILING (Topps Tiles offer %40 off their bulk prices)
- Bathroom (seems plumbcenter is what people recomend)
- Flooring (carpet..not sure about who/where for this


In terms of previous posts, I have already noted the screwfix and
wickes can offer good prices depending..


IME the places which offer 'trade' discount are the ones which put up the
prices way above the going rate only to take _some_ of it off for some
customers as a discount.

For example Topps tiles are easily 40% more expensive than some other tile
outlets. Same with TP. Another silly is having theoretical 'retail' prices
with ludicrous mark ups and then pretending that those mark ups are being
removed just for you (and you) (and him) (and her)...

It's a bit like pizza pricing - there are so many discount schemes
available that you would have to work hard not to be included in one of
them. It would make more sense and save a lot of leaflets to cut their
prices and charge a peak time surcharge on Sat evenings, but the marketing
would 'feel' wrong.



--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html

In message , Richard Conway
writes
wrote:
Great to start up a discussion on the topic.
I've since found that there are at least 2 trade cards that I can
apply
for over the internet that allow me in some case to use anyone of 3000
merchants.
And like I say, it seems that once you have 1 or 2 then you can get
others from smaller companies that can open trade accounts.
We'll I'm off to the bank to open a bussiness account..


What about setting yourself up as a sole trader/limited company and
then contracting yourself out to yourself to do any work that needs
doing? You would then be a legitimate tradesman and could open up lots
of accounts. You could then start claiming lunches and petrol and
other bits and bobs as expenses!

You then start getting charged for bank transactions, Don't forget your
NI stamp as self employed which they might come after you for

There are several downsides you have to think about


--
geoff

wrote:
So I am looking at getting access to trade
prices as a 'normal JOE'. It seems everyone has a different trick.

Just blag it, no need for anthing else. Ask for the price of X amount of
xyz. When price is quoted feign shock & disbelief, saying things like;
"you're having a laugh" or "leave it out, whats the trade price" or "I can
buy that down the road for half that" etc, etc.

A few simple tips; Know what to ask for. If wearing a shirt & tie, slip a
hi vis vest on, works a treat - they assume you are a project manager or
something. Or spend a tenner on a polo shirt with "XYZ Builders Ltd"
embroidered on it.

Bull**** beats brains any day - everyone is struggling for sales at the
moment - ergo almost everyone will do a deal.

Dave

Yes I agree with all the points raised.

We all should know that 'list' prices allow for a max of %60 of.
However depending on where you buy, ie. How many people buy direct from
a factory ? ie. Distribution

And yes if I was looking for some plane cheapo tiles wickes might do.
However I've found mosaic tiles for =A31.99 a sheet from tops tiles.
This is by far the cheapest I've found, so when you suggest that they
are not all that cheap, I find that hard to understand. I've been to
about 8 other tile shops. None keep any tiles in stock and all just
have displays, with a 8+ week lead time, and the prices are more like
=A33-4 a sheet.

So when you consider a %40 discount on this, it really is a good price.
Oh and no delivery cost or waiting

Huge wrote:

This is the essence of it. If you're repeatedly asking for "one of
those little doohickeys that screw onto a thingummybob", they'll twig
straight away.

.... or "a length of wood 3 inches by 2" instead of "some threebitoo"

Lobster wrote:
Huge wrote:
This is the essence of it. If you're repeatedly asking for "one of
those little doohickeys that screw onto a thingummybob", they'll twig
straight away.

... or "a length of wood 3 inches by 2" instead of "some threebitoo"

Pish. I was in at a place a while ago, about to talk to the yardman,
when some old bint zoomed in and said "I want a piece of wood". On
asking for further details (we were both almost cracking up) about
size, etc., she said "Oh, about that big", pointing to some scrap
resting up against a bin. He gave it to the (and wrote a ticket).

On Thu, 06 Oct 2005 18:07:02 GMT, Lobster wrote:

.... or "a length of wood 3 inches by 2" instead of "some
threebitoo"

Worse would be not using threebtoo but 75 x 50...

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

On Wed, 05 Oct 2005 21:02:13 -0700, wrote:

Yes I agree with all the points raised.

We all should know that 'list' prices allow for a max of %60 of.
However depending on where you buy, ie. How many people buy direct from
a factory ? ie. Distribution

And yes if I was looking for some plane cheapo tiles wickes might do.
However I've found mosaic tiles for £1.99 a sheet from tops tiles.
This is by far the cheapest I've found, so when you suggest that they
are not all that cheap, I find that hard to understand. I've been to
about 8 other tile shops. None keep any tiles in stock and all just
have displays, with a 8+ week lead time, and the prices are more like
£3-4 a sheet.

So when you consider a %40 discount on this, it really is a good price.
Oh and no delivery cost or waiting

Try Tile Clearing House or Tile City - I beleive the first is part of the
same group as Topps!


--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html

In article , says...
Anna Kettle wrote:

Agreed. At my local Jewsons I mutter the magic words 'Cash Trade' and
get their standard discount. I don't buy enough stuff there to get any
super discounts.

What do you classify as "standard" and as "super" discounts?

Wet finger in the air .. 10% 30%

Anna

--
~~ Anna Kettle, Suffolk, England
|""""| ~ Lime plaster repairs
/ ^^ \ // Freehand modelling in lime: overmantels, pargeting etc
|____| www.kettlenet.co.uk 01359 230642

Anna Kettle wrote:
In article , says...
Anna Kettle wrote:

Agreed. At my local Jewsons I mutter the magic words 'Cash Trade' and
get their standard discount. I don't buy enough stuff there to get any
super discounts.

What do you classify as "standard" and as "super" discounts?

Wet finger in the air .. 10% 30%

Thanks for that. 10% is what Jewson's offer in their standard form
letter about a cash account. However, I'm treating that as only their
opening offer, subject to negotiation on the day.

Following the golden rule to "Act Like You Know What You're Doing", it's
good to know what would be a sensible range for negotiation.


--
Ian White

On Fri, 07 Oct 2005 00:44:22 +0100, Owain wrote:

.... or "a length of wood 3 inches by 2" instead of "some
threebitoo"

Worse would be not using threebtoo but 75 x 50...

or centimetres.

Oh gosh yes I'd forgotten that unit.

Now that could cause confusion asking for some 7 1/2 x 5.

--
Cheers
Dave. pam is missing e-mail

Thank you to the poster who suggested the Tile Clearing House. I will
do a google and see if there are any near me.

It does appear hard to find a place where I can get tiles at a fair
price, while offering a decent range