B&Q Trade Discount Card

[NikNak]

Morning all....

I was in B&Q yesterday, just having a mooch, and was approached by a guy asking if i was 'in the trade'.
I said i wasn't, but used to be.
"oh... what did you do.... ?"
I explained etc...
"oh, thats a shame you're now out of it, oh well never mind"
"Are you a landlord as that would also entitle you to a Trade Card..?"
Yes i am
"just bring in details to prove it and you can get a Trade Card giving you discounts"
What sort of discounts and what are they worth... i ask
"they tend to be different discounts for different items, and on different days too. you need to take the item to the trade counter to find out"
But i might just as well come on a wednesday and get 10% anyway...
"yeah you can still do that too, but the Trade Card works every day of the week...."

So.... has anyone got one.? and is it worth it..?

I've just done a very quick google search and come up with this...
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/sho ... ?t=5715545

Seems its probably not worth it in my case.
Plus... i didn't realise, but by buying via the 'trade' you dont get the same consumer protection.

As my missus said... B&Q are suffering from the downturn in DIY era, as its now become the GSI (Get Someone In) era

Nick


oh.... p.s. we dont buy a lot from B&Q anyway as they're too expensive. We found that Homebase were top of the list for high prices, but since being taken over by the Australian company they're now our first choice to visit =D>

 

[Doug71]

I finally gave in and got one, haven't saved anything with it yet.

I sometimes send my mother on a Wednesday, gets her out of the house and gives her something to do

Doug

 

[novocaine]

Yes I have one, no it isn't really worth it unless you are buying bulk on trade related items (kitchens can be cheaper but why would you), stuff like cement and sand tend to be cheaper than if you don't have one, but then I'm not sure why you'd buy it in B&Q when it's cheaper at other places and in bulk they deliver for cheaper. CLS and framing is often discounted to the same price you get if you aren't trade but are buying more than 10, but then, why would you buy less than 10 anyway if you're trade?

main reason I've kept it is the tills at the trade end are normally quieter and the counter is near the heavy stuff so you don't have to pull a carp trolley to the other end of the store. I only tend to be buying in there on weekends when I'm doing stuff to the house, otherwise it's jewsons or TP delivered for the same price. occasionally it comes out cheaper but it really is occasionally. oh and screwfix trade, only so I get to go behind the closed door.

 

[MartinCox]

Had the trade card for several years. Now never use it. The discounts seemed entirely arbitrary - charging differently on the same item seemingly at a whim. We can always get what we want cheaper from Screwfix, Toolstation etc.

Bunnings is the Australian firm who now own Homebase. They are in trouble with the purchase - see business press for details but essentially way overpaid. The original idea was to revamp as Bunnings stores and they have opened up a couple (?) new stores as Bunnings in the UK.

In Australia, Bunnings reign supreme as shed DIY. Woolworths (no relation to UK company) are the big rival retailers to Wesfarmers who own Bunnings and they opened up a rival chain called Masters. After losses of over £2 billion in just a few years, Masters were closed down.

Bunnings are okay but not more than that. Good range in larger stores; motivated staff; free loan of trailers to take stuff home; same day delivery available at cost. Timber is very expensive in Australia anyway compared to UK and Bunnings quality tends to be of a B&Q level. Their own brand of power tools is Ozito. Very variable quality. I’ve had some stuff which really lasts (SDS drill) and other stuff (jigsaw) which just about lasted until I got it out of the box. One good thing is that if Bunnings do a price promise. If you find the same product elsewhere and go in to a Bunnings with proof of the quote, then Bunnings will equal the price less 10%. You can say that Bunnings must have been overcharging in the first place but I’ve saved $000’s through this when buying branded items. If they bring that to the UK, then I suggest you try it.

Martin

 

[nev]

I have one. Sometimes you save a few quid sometimes not. Bought a radiator a few weeks ago and it was cheaper with my mates OAP card by a few quid than with the trade card :shock:
But the card costs nothing so what have you got to lose?

 

[Lons]

What the others said.
I've had one for years and found use for it on maybe a dozen times, not convinced I've saved but as said it's free.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

The few times I've been to B&Q I've never seen anyone at the trade counter - we have two decent builder's merchants, a Toolstation, a Screwfix, a specialist paint supplier and three very good independent outlets within a few miles. One thing I have found them good for is reducing damaged stock - I wanted 40mm waste to cut into 4" lengths to make tool racks, I found a well bent length and asked the assistant how much, as they couldn't possibly sell it - he took one look and stuck a ticket on it for £1. I did likewise with a full sheet of 18mm ply with a corner knocked off - oh, you can have that half price. (I only needed 3/4 of a sheet). I'm not suggesting this couldn't be done elsewhere, of course.
I took a tin of two part filler back as it had been used - someone had mixed what they needed on the inside of the lid used it and taken the tin back. The girl said that's fine sir just go and get another, which I did ........................I also took the next two back to the desk as someone had nicked the tube of hardener ............