On Thursday, April 22, 2021 at 2:38:57 PM UTC+1, SH wrote:
On 22/04/2021 14:33, Jonathan wrote:
On Sunday, April 9, 2006 at 11:26:05 PM UTC+1, Martin Wiseman wrote:
I went into our local builder's merchant to get a length of drainpipe at
the weekend and walked straight back out again when I discovered they
wanted Ł11 for a 2m length (and Ł5 for an outlet shoe). I bought the 2m
of pipe from Homebase in the end for Ł5.
So how much discount do tradesmen get at builder's merchants? At those
prices I would think it would have to be at least 60% for anyone to even
bother using them.
Martin.
A few years ago when we were doing a lot of work here, I went to our local builder's merchant three times in a week to buy sand (among other things) and was charged a different price for the sand each time.

Jonathan

Did you not know? Sand is silicon dioxide which is mined, and is traded
on commodity markets, so the price you pay is tied to the spot price on
the commodity markets on the day? :-)


I have the same issue when sellign scrap metal to scrap dealers, teh
price they pay me is tied ot the spot prices on the London Metal
Exchaneg in London..


Its the same with buying currency through a foriegn exchange......
Discounts depend a lot on who you are and on your purchasing power. Many years ago I was sent to make an unusual across the counter purchase of some electric equipment for a LA, normally these things are done through a requisition order and therefore you never see the cost. On this occasion I did and the discount on the retail price was 80% that is some mark up for Joe Public, and I am sure the distributor still made a profit on the transaction.

Richard