On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 07:01:00 GMT, Richard Caley MY_FIRST_NAME @
MY_LAST_NAME.org.uk wrote:

In article , donotspam (d) writes:

d http://www.screwfix.com

d Order one day, it'll be with you the next more often than not. They
d hold good stock and they don't exactly over charge most of the
d time.

OTOH the delivery charge will kill for small orders. (even if they
want to call it a handling charge). A quid for 200 screws might look
OK, seven quid is another matter.

N.B. Most of the following is written with a certain amount of tongue
in cheek! I may digress here and there too as I write! There's the odd
point worth thinking about too hopefully. ;O)

Delivery is not free when I go to the shop either; Additionally I
figure the vehicle delivering to me will cost about the same to travel
to me no matter what I order. It's nice that delivery is free on
orders over 45 of course. I tend to save it up and do it in batches
that fit with their scheme on that aspect.

I don't own a vehicle (being house bound it's like a fish needing a
bicycle!) However those people I know who do own and use one, often
and increasingly complain that fuel is unreasonably priced, insurance
and road fund license are no better, servicing costs are apparently
pretty diabolical too, and now getting fined for the slightest
speeding error is easier than it ever was before, parking is scarce
and inconvenient as well as being rather pricey in places. By the time
you add all that up, I'm not sure which is the more attractive
proposition.

If one adds the time one spends stuck in traffic, and the time finding
the item you want (coz they have moved everything about in the store
again!) and waiting in line to pay for it, then it's hard to see why
anyone might find it as useful as some seem to.

Heaven forefend you need to ask a member of staff about something, I
understand that getting their attention to start with can be a black
art more or less! (flooof went the big clear plastic flexidoors doors,
and they were never seen again; or so I hear quite often from others
going through that particular wringer!)

I'd be the first to concede that in my position I have no trouble
"being in when it arrives" and that could be more of a problem for
some! (probably out, in a queue, in a shed, waiting to pay a lot of
the time:O) I've noted they have provision for alternate delivery
address details too, although I've never needed to use that facility,
I just know it's there rather than knowing how effective it may be to
use.

So there is still a big role for shops you can walk in to.

Oh yes, you can see it and I can see it, but why can't they see it?
and by all accounts they don't!

That would seem to me to imply that those shops should be moving
towards supplying those odds and ends.

Sure, but will they? The need we are discussing has been around for
many years, but here we are discussing that fact that it still could
do with being addressed properly. Not an overly hopeful track record
on dealing with the issue so far, surely?

Mind you, what would I know, I never worked out why B&Q sells
timber. It's crap, expensive and comes in any size you want so long as
it is one of these three. If they used the space to stock more types
of weird fixing, odd tools etc. ISTM they'd be onto a much better bet.

I've found a couple of timber yards not so far from me and they cut
(and finish to final size - not to length though, obviously!) before
delivering if asked, and I've never been overcharged by them in my
view. Also, I've never spotted a direct charge for any of that so far.
The wood I've had so far has not been any worse than sheds offer, and
often a fair bit better (certainly fewer knots and splits, fewer or
smaller machining marks too)

I'm sure it wouldn't suit everyone to work this way, but I have to say
I've found it more acceptable than many might imagine it to be.

Take Care,
Gnube
I don't want to win the lottery I just want to win a barn full of seasoned timber! ;O)