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.

 

[DPG]

I used some copy wagos 3 years ago on a lighting job. Never had a issue !!

I'm sure many are fine, but too risky using unbranded copies of unknown origin on customer jobs. Not worth the risk to save a few pence.

 

[UNG]

I used some copy wagos 3 years ago on a lighting job. Never had a issue !!

But how long do you wait before you can say you have never had an issue, fake product longevity is an unknown

 

[littlespark]

But how long do you wait before you can say you have never had an issue, fake product longevity is an unknown

Exactly. It’s unknown.

It might last as long… it might fail within a week.
“Real” products are tested…. To destruction in some instances so that the manufacturer, seller and end user - us - are confident in its qualities.

 

[Baddegg]

It absolutely breaks me to buy anything from CEF and only ever use them if I’m desperate and on the rush for something.

I used to continuously get calls from my local branch manager trying sell me gear. In the end I had to tell him that I’d ring them if I needed anything.

I did the same thing except I used the phrase f&@k off you robbing barst&ds at least dick Turpin wore a mask

NB…they’ve not called me since

 

[brianmoooore]

This something relatively recent? I started with Superlamp Metallic, which became Newey and Eyre. Then tried CEF who gave much better discounts than Newey. Stayed mainly with them throughout the 80s and early 90s, before following one of their staff who set up as an independent, before being bought out by Wilts, now Rexel.
Only thing I've used CEF for in recent years is for their excellent plastic conduit box lids. Manager is the YTS kid from when I regularly dealt with them.

 

[Lister1987]

I only use thrm for sundries, ferrule crimps mostly

 

[123]

The trouble with buying the goods online (assuming it's genuine) is the returns process. My wholesalers aren't too local (nearest is roughly 20 miles away but they all deliver, for free, up to 5 days a week). Wrong item sent out is sorted same day if the need is there, and if an item fails under warranty I have the replacement before the faulty item is even touched.


Also have found CEF generally the cheapest for cable for about the past 5 years...and that's including the likes of Screwfix and Toolstation.

 

[Baddegg]

You can walk into our branch down here and leave with out getting served or even seeing a single soul……it’s lucky for them I’m the last true bastion of integrity!
Obviously I know this is only true of my local store as if I use any others they are always ready to help but my local one has tainted me they are so bad in there it’s unbelievable, I’ve taken back £100’s of unused stuff and been assured leave it with us well refund it and then been billed for it twice on my invoices, and that’s happened more than once…..:the place is a shambles

 

[Dustydazzler]

Exactly. It’s unknown.

It might last as long… it might fail within a week.
“Real” products are tested…. To destruction in some instances so that the manufacturer, seller and end user - us - are confident in its qualities.

Fake Wago

At first glance they look exactly like a wago but they are a copy , I have a couple boxes of fake wagos I picked up online for about 3 quid a box. Haven't tried them out yet but there must be millions of fakes out there being used on a daily basis on site

 

[DPG]

Fake Wago

At first glance they look exactly like a wago but they are a copy , I have a couple boxes of fake wagos I picked up online for about 3 quid a box. Haven't tried them out yet but there must be millions of fakes out there being used on a daily basis on site

That's the trouble - all these counterfeit connectors hidden away and they will most probably never be seen or checked again. Let's hope they went though all the testing and approvals eh (sarcastic comment).

 

[Dustydazzler]

That's the trouble - all these counterfeit connectors hidden away and they will most probably never be seen or checked again. Let's hope they went though all the testing and approvals eh (sarcastic comment).

At £3 for a box of 50 , I doubt very much that they went through any sort of quality control when they come out the sweat shop in Vietnam

 

[DPG]

At £3 for a box of 50 , I doubt very much that they went through any sort of quality control when they come out the sweat shop in Vietnam

Absolutely.

 

[nicebutdim]

You can walk into our branch down here and leave with out getting served or even seeing a single soul……it’s lucky for them I’m the last true bastion of integrity!
Obviously I know this is only true of my local store as if I use any others they are always ready to help but my local one has tainted me they are so bad in there it’s unbelievable, I’ve taken back £100’s of unused stuff and been assured leave it with us well refund it and then been billed for it twice on my invoices, and that’s happened more than once…..:the place is a shambles

I'm close to a couple of branches - one I'd visit regularly get small bits & pieces for my employer and the guys are great, but too expensive to buy from for myself. The other branch is like something out of a sitcom and I wouldn't set foot in the place - it could be half an hour before someone comes to the counter and that's just so they can moan about the inconvenience of customers coming through their door.

 

[123]

I'm close to a couple of branches - one I'd visit regularly get small bits & pieces for my employer and the guys are great, but too expensive to buy from for myself. The other branch is like something out of a sitcom and I wouldn't set foot in the place - it could be half an hour before someone comes to the counter and that's just so they can moan about the inconvenience of customers coming through their door.

Duncrue by any chance? I find it like that on the extremely rare occasion I'm there, and YESSS in Duncrue even worse.

 

[nicebutdim]

Duncrue by any chance? I find it like that on the extremely rare occasion I'm there, and YESSS in Duncrue even worse.

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