UK The truth about CEF and why is it so expensive.

[Stingray]

So after reading through some of the threads on here, I think its worth mentioning why you all pay so much at CEF.....I'm a former employee who left for a career in a completely different field (just so you know I'm not a disgruntled leaver).

So first of all Proteus and MCG as we know are CEF products, along with firesafe, tamlight and many more. The problem is as a branch we're told to push the living daylights out of these "in house products" because at the end of the year we all get a huge bonus based on the sales of in house products! A few years ago as a sales advisor I received £5700 bonus in June for inhouse sales.....as a van driver!!! So you can only imagine what we then got working inside.

When someone gives you a "discount" using the price which CEF paid for the item, the price actually has a hidden 5% mark up which only certain members of the CEF food chain know about.

"You want something ordering in? Yeah we can do that.....but you'll have to pay a carriage". You pay the carriage and the branch actually just orders in enough stock to fill a carriage paid order with the company.

Have you ever received a paid invoice from CEF but you haven't used them in a few months? Maybe it was something small like batteries or a light bulb? Branches need to have as many Live Trading Accounts (LTA's) as possible monthly so if a your branch is falling behind on those figures they'll usually trade something on the account to make you look active.

If you use another branch other than the one where the account is held ( a double booking) ring your branch first and get a price quite because as soon as you enter the second branch and as them to get your quote it'll be much higher as both branches must share the profits.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Some of these wholesalers I have been in it feels like you are an convenience to the trade counter staff

I much prefer my screwfix click and collect app , you get lots of offers and money off vouchers like 10% off every purchase in May I was paying £71 inc vat for 100mtr of 2.5 prysmain. my local wholesaler couldn't get anywhere neat that price

 

[littlespark]

Some of these wholesalers I have been in it feels like you are an convenience to the trade counter staff

I much prefer my screwfix click and collect app , you get lots of offers and money off vouchers like 10% off every purchase in May I was paying £71 inc vat for 100mtr of 2.5 prysmain. my local wholesaler couldn't get anywhere neat that price

I order online from screwfix through Quidco cash back website… Sometimes get little bonuses but normally 1% on spend.

Got £45 beer money sitting from last 12 months spend.

Started using a Chase bank card as well, which is also 1% cash back.

 

[Baddegg]

I order online from screwfix through Quidco cash back website… Sometimes get little bonuses but normally 1% on spend.

Got £45 beer money sitting from last 12 months spend.

Started using a Chase bank card as well, which is also 1% cash back.

That’s a blinding idea @littlespark!

 

[nicebutdim]

Tried one of those cash back sites a couple of years back, as I used to spend thousands each month online, but it never worked and eventually I gave up. Problem was the access it needed to browsers and even giving full access to the cashback site, along site purchase was made from, wasn't sufficient.

They make money from your data, which is fair enough, but that wasn't something I was prepared to give unlimited access to for several hundred pounds a year. I know a number of people who are very happy using cashback sites and get a lot of money from it.

 

[Rockingit]

CEF often win from me simply as they're everywhere and do mail order - my home account branch isn't even anywhere near my home base (London / Somerset). The only thing which does wind me up is that the online ordering prices never seem to include the discount structures - everybody pays the same - and life's too short to spend hours on the phone getting account prices.

 

[nicebutdim]

CEF often win from me simply as they're everywhere and do mail order - my home account branch isn't even anywhere near my home base (London / Somerset). The only thing which does wind me up is that the online ordering prices never seem to include the discount structures - everybody pays the same - and life's too short to spend hours on the phone getting account prices.

Their online operation is excellent and customer support is great when stuff is missing. Downside, as you state, is high prices on everything.

 

[rapparee]

Lisburn is the branch I'd be happy to never set foot in.

CEW are worth a chance, their Newry store is decent, despite the fact I'm not using them as much as I'd like to.

 

[Flanders]

CEF often win from me simply as they're everywhere and do mail order - my home account branch isn't even anywhere near my home base (London / Somerset). The only thing which does wind me up is that the online ordering prices never seem to include the discount structures - everybody pays the same - and life's too short to spend hours on the phone getting account prices.

If I do an online order. I request a quote first. Then my branch apply all the discounts upload the quote then I could order the parts. I find they give me good discounts and I like there next day delivery which seems to be working ok again now .

 

[UNG]

CEW are worth a chance, their Newry store is decent, despite the fact I'm not using them as much as I'd like to.

Used to have an account with them when they had a branch in Liverpool although a good mate of mine was the manager when they opened the branch, I will quite often have an account at the wholesaler whenever he moves on to a new job. I always found the finance bod at CEW an aggressive pain always on the phone chasing an account that was a few days overdue I think that stunted their expansion plans as I don't think they have any branches over here now

 

[rapparee]

Used to have an account with them when they had a branch in Liverpool although a good mate of mine was the manager when they opened the branch, I will quite often have an account at the wholesaler whenever he moves on to a new job. I always found the finance bod at CEW an aggressive pain always on the phone chasing an account that was a few days overdue I think that stunted their expansion plans as I don't think they have any branches over here now

I'd only be using them about once a month, I'm based on the other side of the town so I just use an independent wholesaler in the same industrial estate as myself.

I'm not quite as involved in electrical installations anymore.

Plant & Machinery is my priority to be honest

 

[nicebutdim]

If I do an online order. I request a quote first. Then my branch apply all the discounts upload the quote then I could order the parts. I find they give me good discounts and I like there next day delivery which seems to be working ok again now .

I tried that once and they quoted about 6 months after the order was delivered. The branch whose door I never darken is considered my local branch.



Edit: I just might request quotes on any future online orders, if for no reason other than to annoy the people in that branch.

 

[Flanders]

I tried that once and they quoted about 6 months after the order was delivered. The branch whose door I never darken is considered my local branch.



Edit: I just might request quotes on any future online orders, if for no reason other than to annoy the people in that branch.

My quotes come back within the hour mind you we do give them a lot of business . I think it all depends on the beach you use.

 

[DPG]

My quotes come back within the hour mind you we do give them a lot of business . I think it all depends on the beach you use.

Cleethorpes

 

[littlespark]

StAbbs…. Or now internationally known as New Asgard

Beach? branch? You’de be no good at wordle

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

I use them for emergency lighting and 3 phase cables.
They take AMEX and a discount if invice paid esrly. If i take a quote in from another local supplier they will at worst match it often beat it. Add in my airmiles which i convert to nectar and 2.5% for esrly payment and we got a happy relationship.
I can easily spend around £6-7k a month on materials locally. Im not averse to going into all of them and showing quotes from different
suppliers. It keeps them honest!
Within 100m i have Rexel., kew, cef, add 1/4 mile in i got screwfix, toolstation, edmundsons.
When one of them said we dont take AMEX anymore. I said i wont be buying here anymore then and walked out. Had a phonecall later that day saying we dont as a rule take AMEX due to the fees but as you spend so much each month with us we will for you. When the new zappis came out they sent me prices. I sent it back marked in red and said i can get them for this much online so match it plus another £20 and you keep the zappi orders, they did as i wanted.
Never be afraid to set out your terms of them supplying you. They want your business and have targets to meet, especially when they leave target figures on the whiteboard outback showing if they have met it or how fsr under they are that week or month.
I once placed an order for around £2.5k and outright said i want an ev charger but will take an extra 3 if you do them at my usual price plus 10%, he moaned but then i pointed to the white board and said isnt it better you meet you target and make an extra whatever it is from the extra 3 units than just the profit in the 1st unit.
He reluctantly agreed and met his monthly target by a few hundred and got the branch bonus. So i reminded him how i helped!!
Basically never be afraid to ask them the cost price and see the screen where it shows there profit!!