Wholesalers who’s the best service and value

[Dozer 73]

asking this because our company uses .........wait for it CEF
And yes I know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They do stock and provide us any manafacture we require , and provide us a good service , but I do know these prices are highly inflated , even dearer than general public prices
Which really annoys me
We did try newhey and eyres or whatever name they are now trading under , prices were good but the service was terrible with odd items turning up by couriers weeks later
It’s for service round manchester/Leeds / Nottingham we require

 

[ashrow]

I once asked a few suppliers to quote a second fix of a large house
250 + downlights 48 way rcbo populated board etc etc
CEF and Eddies were around £7000 plus vat
local independent £5000 plus vat

Once CEF charged me £75 for a 2 gang dimmer, went back to the job and replaced dimmer and returned it, never used them since.

(i know people that work in both CEF and Eddies and the annual bonuses is based on branch profit, i built a 12 msq single storey extension with vaulted ceiling and veluxes etc for one of them just on their bonus pay out for that year and they just answer the phone/sales etc)

 

[Midwest]

Get a quote before hand? Or if calling in get a docket with prices on it...


I know screwfix and TLC display their prices...for me that works in my favour as it's more expensive that what I buy at+my markup, but...if buying from them anyone can see their prices.

I get all my invoices by email, WF sound like a forward thinking company

I often ask for quotes, and get them, but they can change month by month. If that means getting things cheaper than Screwfix, I would be happy. For me, MK faceplates cheaper at SF, cable RCBO's cheaper at WF. Horses for courses.

 

[Midwest]

WF / Senate / Wilts have had the ability to email invoices since 2014 - just ask your branch manager for it!

That's the rub, I shouldn't have to ask they should. Someone has to pay.

 

[Octopus]

That's the rub, I shouldn't have to ask they should. Someone has to pay.

They can also do consolidated invoices....

I think their business managers are living in the past .... Not the front line ones, the ones at head office

 

[Midwest]

I popped in WF the other day. Needed just one gang dry lining box. Could of picked up pack of ten I know, but not sure when I would of used the other nine, 83pence. Two days later, envelope 2nd class post (56p) & invoice. They need to develop.

 

[Leesparkykent]

I popped in WF the other day. Needed just one gang dry lining box. Could of picked up pack of ten I know, but not sure when I would of used the other nine, 83pence. Two days later, envelope 2nd class post (56p) & invoice. They need to develop.

Haha...reminds me when I was just out of my time, I started working for a national company wiring heating systems. They sent me a letter with 1st class stamp to tell me that they were deducting 11 pence for private mileage

 

[Octopus]

I popped in WF the other day. Needed just one gang dry lining box. Could of picked up pack of ten I know, but not sure when I would of used the other nine, 83pence. Two days later, envelope 2nd class post (56p) & invoice. They need to develop.

Go back a few years and they put each invoice in a seperate envelope ......

Email is so much better, they have just made a small change so in the title of the email is the invoice number and your order reference ....

 

[Midwest]

They still do, well not each invoice, but they could save the weeks up and post them in one envelope. I was think of doing them a favour and give them an idea to save a fortune, but its their money.

 

[stevey1983]

With CEF I think it depends on the branch, my nerest cef is useless, I use the one where I used to live and they look after me, but you do need to check the invoices but as a business owner I check every invoice no matter where it's from

 

[davesparks]

What frustrates me is when so called "wholesalers" dish out "advice" and discounts to Joe Public!

Yes, I can think of one particular local establishment where staff are far too eager to offer advice to anyone who’ll listen.

 

[davesparks]

I use a local independent wholesaler called Wilson electrical distributors. When I started my apprenticeship we used them and they had, I think, 6 branches in the area. Now they’ve doubled the number of branches and still provide a great service.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

Bath where I am is a small city but we do have a range and you need to float between suppliers to get the best prices, as some have prices that are just unfathomable - such as Newey and Eyre.
within 3 minutes of each other we have

C.E.F - :-(
Denmans
Wilts
Edmundson Electrical
Newey & Eyre - Very Expensive
Screwfix
Toolstation
Homebase (Rarely)
KEW electrical - a bit further out but reliable and good staff

If i am over bristol and that area then there are quite a few suppliers such as Yess and TLC but my day to day needs can be met with the local ones. The days of loyalty to one supplier i think have long gone now with internet ordering where anybody can set themselves up on ebay and avoid the overheads.

 

[sparksfly]

I have always found CEF to be very expensive no matter who I was working for or the location , Northants, MK, Oxford , North London.
I use a variety in order below...
Neweys ( Rexel) as they have known me for numerous years and service is good locally.
Denmans
Toolstation (avoid the cheap brands)
Independants
TLC or other online elec wholesalers
Screwfix (very rarely due to quality of some items but are open late)

As a Sole trader myself I still do find it unfair that larger companies get better prices due to number of units sold but thats the way they work I suppose. Also I do find the whole "lets super inflate catalogue prices to show bigger discount" a big con. I don't care about discount....just the end price. I have never believed the 50% off sales...they always have a few Big Sales after inflating prices for a couple of weeks....same year after year.

 

[Pete999]

I have always found CEF to be very expensive no matter who I was working for or the location , Northants, MK, Oxford , North London.
I use a variety in order below...
Neweys ( Rexel) as they have known me for numerous years and service is good locally.
Denmans
My local independent Midshires, nice people, good prices and services, and they are always ready to match or better any prices from others.
Toolstation (avoid the cheap brands)
Independants
TLC or other online elec wholesalers
Screwfix (very rarely due to quality of some items but are open late)

As a Sole trader myself I still do find it unfair that larger companies get better prices due to number of units sold but thats the way they work I suppose. Also I do find the whole "lets super inflate catalogue prices to show bigger discount" a big con. I don't care about discount....just the end price. I have never believed the 50% off sales...they always have a few Big Sales after inflating prices for a couple of weeks....same year after year.

 

[EbolaSideRoom]

I was in a CEF once when a women come in...Clearly not an electrician. The person behind the counter charged her an outrageous price for 4 lamps....As she left he turned and called her an idiot seeking approval from us who was standing there waiting for gear....He then went into the back office and you could hear him bragging to the other staff about how much he charged where they all seemed to give him a pat on the back for his ordasity.

Unfortunately this seems to be the attitude in many a wholesaler.
Often they are staffed with poorly trained staff with little product knowledge and even less customer-facing skills. I still find I’m shocked by the appalling level of service in some places, particularly if it’s one I’m not known in. Which is arse-about-face in this day and age.