buying from small shops

[SteveT]

A couple of weeks ago I purchased a curtain track from the little DIY shop near Somerfield in Lordship Lane.

They always seem to have what you want and there are plenty of staff so waiting is minimal.

Today I bought the same track and fittings from B&Q for a third (?7 instead of ?21) of the price of LL.

Gutted, but wotchya gonna do!

The moral of this story, buy 2 in the first place then you will never know what someone else is charging.

[skip]

Not always the case. Over summer I went to Norwood B and Q thinking that their Hammerite paint would be cheaper, but turned out to be about 40% more than the little DIY shop you mention. Depends on the item I guess, but decided from then on that it was worth supporting the local store, especially as I'm time poor, and they give you good service.

[*Bob*]

I don't mind paying a leetle bit more for stuff from local shops, because it's nice having local shops for local people. And a visit to the 'Old Kent Road Industrial Estate' makes me want to slam my balls in the fridge door repeatedly just to give me somthing else to think about. But within reason.

Is it time I mentioned SMBS's frozen lime leaves again?

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Is that what you put on bruised balls?

[lizzie]

I bought a radiator for my bathroom from Bells in LL for about ?60 and then saw exactly the same thing in B&Q for double that. Admitedly it was on special offer but I bought the whole of my new bathroom from Bells and my builder said they were cheaper than anywhere else he'd seen. And I got fantastic service

[karter]

local shops also give advice that can make the difference for example in choosing a product and what tools to use for that product, and it comes free, fair go though, sometimes there may be a price difference compared to the places you find in industrial estates.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

I love Dulwich DIY and they always take back a product if I've bought it in error.

[Louisa]

Local shops, schmocal shops, it's a bloody recession no one in their right mind would think that going to a small independent retailer would be in some way 'better'! "They give advice" - incorrect, what they do is, cleverly pretend they know what they are talking about so that it encourages you to return to their overpriced little shop as opposed to go up to one of the major DIY outlets! If you had the slightest clue about anything, you would know that going out to do some DIY shopping would be quite an enjoyable experience, and I have (more than likely against the grain on here) been pleasantly suprised with the great advice I have received at various B&Q, Homebase and Wickes stores, throughout London. I have now come to the conclusion that some 'with it' folk just enjoy wasting money in small shops because they do clearly have money to burn, either that or they are just complete fools who think that it is a better experience in a cramped little shop along LL. I am happy I have saved an extra couple of hundred quid this year shopping at a major retailer, go waste your cash good folk of ED!

Louisa.

[Domitianus]

Louisa Wrote:

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> Local shops, schmocal shops, it's a bloody

> recession no one in their right mind would think

> that going to a small independent retailer would

> be in some way 'better'! "They give advice" -

> incorrect, what they do is, cleverly pretend they

> know what they are talking about so that it

> encourages you to return to their overpriced

> little shop as opposed to go up to one of the

> major DIY outlets! If you had the slightest clue

> about anything, you would know that going out to

> do some DIY shopping would be quite an enjoyable

> experience, and I have (more than likely against

> the grain on here) been pleasantly suprised with

> the great advice I have received at various B&Q,

> Homebase and Wickes stores, throughout London. I

> have now come to the conclusion that some 'with

> it' folk just enjoy wasting money in small shops

> because they do clearly have money to burn, either

> that or they are just complete fools who think

> that it is a better experience in a cramped little

> shop along LL. I am happy I have saved an extra

> couple of hundred quid this year shopping at a

> major retailer, go waste your cash good folk of

> ED!

>

> Louisa.

louisa, don't hold back. Say what you think, girl. It's good for the soul!

[*Bob*]

Louisa Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

I have now come to the conclusion that some 'with

> it' folk just enjoy wasting money..

I am happy I have saved an extra

> couple of hundred quid this year shopping at a

> major retailer, go waste your cash good folk of

> ED!

That's ?200 you can put towards your next skiing trip, comrade.

[Louisa]

*Bob* I would have done but it has more than likely already been spent at Ann Summers, sorry to destroy your little fantasy of my communist undertones hehe

Much love

Louisa.

[SteveT]

B&Q are by no means infallible as I learned some years back when I had to have a front door lock, that day, it was ?65, the following week I saw the same lock at Brick lane market for ?15, I thought they had made a mistake when pricing it up, until I saw a second one for the same price.

Doh!

[*Bob*]

Louisa Wrote:

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> *Bob* I would have done but it has more than

> likely already been spent at Ann Summers,

You do know you can buy all that gear online for a third of the price, don't you?

[Jeremy]

lizzie Wrote:

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> my builder said they were cheaper than anywhere else he'd seen.

Strange because my builder said pretty much the opposite! I actually find most of their stuff quite expensive, but the guys in the shop are (mainly) fairly helpful.

[woofmarkthedog]

Peckhamgatecrasher Wrote:

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> I love Dulwich DIY and they always take back a

> product if I've bought it in error.

____________________________________________________

I love the "Theatre of paying" in there, basically a sweaty orange haired man opperates the said till, the staff tell him the costs but only he can touch the till, oh yes

Galvanised rubber window wedges, they're great. Sweaty man does a good line in those.

[SteveT]

Lizzie wrote:- I bought a radiator for my bathroom from Bells in LL for about ?60 and then saw exactly the same thing in B&Q for double that. Admitedly it was on special offer but I bought the whole of my new bathroom from Bells and my builder said they were cheaper than anywhere else he'd seen. And I got fantastic service.

Sorry Lizzie but I have to agree with Jeremy here, if you know anything about the trade the first thing you would look in for competitive prices is the Screwfix catalogue.

Bells is minutes away from me but I have found their prices soooo prohibitive that I would only call there if I had a bad leak and could not turn the water off.

It sounds like you acquired a bargain, so good for you.

[thebestnameshavegone]

Louisa Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Local shops, schmocal shops, it's a bloody

> recession no one in their right mind would think

> that going to a small independent retailer would

> be in some way 'better'! "They give advice" -

> incorrect, what they do is, cleverly pretend they

> know what they are talking about so that it

> encourages you to return to their overpriced

> little shop as opposed to go up to one of the

> major DIY outlets! If you had the slightest clue

> about anything, you would know that going out to

> do some DIY shopping would be quite an enjoyable

> experience, and I have (more than likely against

> the grain on here) been pleasantly suprised with

> the great advice I have received at various B&Q,

> Homebase and Wickes stores, throughout London. I

> have now come to the conclusion that some 'with

> it' folk just enjoy wasting money in small shops

> because they do clearly have money to burn, either

> that or they are just complete fools who think

> that it is a better experience in a cramped little

> shop along LL. I am happy I have saved an extra

> couple of hundred quid this year shopping at a

> major retailer, go waste your cash good folk of

> ED!

>

> Louisa.

Massive devil's advocate post. Not rising to the challenge I'm afraid.

[HonaloochieB]

thebestnameshavegone

-------------------------------------------------------

Hello TheBestNamesHaveGone, would you consider changing username to AllOfTheGoodOnesAreTaken?

It's an Ian Hunter song, though frankly it's not one of his best.

Just a thought.

[*Bob*]

I can't believe all these muppets who buy their radiators in B&Q, thinking they're getting a bargain!

I buy mine in bulk, by container load, delivered direct from China.

I admit it's slightly inconvenient having to store them around the house until required, but I've saved a fortune.

[????]

and you keep warm

[thebestnameshavegone]

HonaloochieB Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> thebestnameshavegone

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

>

> Hello TheBestNamesHaveGone, would you consider

> changing username to AllOfTheGoodOnesAreTaken?

> It's an Ian Hunter song, though frankly it's not

> one of his best.

> Just a thought.

The Mott the Hoople guy?

I would, though I'd feel a pseud for doing so - I only really know 'All the Young Dudes'..!

[Sue]

woofmarkthedog Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Peckhamgatecrasher Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I love Dulwich DIY and they always take back a

> > product if I've bought it in error.

>

> __________________________________________________

> __

>

> I love the "Theatre of paying" in there, basically

> a sweaty orange haired man opperates the said

> till, the staff tell him the costs but only he can

> touch the till, oh yes

>

> Galvanised rubber window wedges, they're great.

> Sweaty man does a good line in those.

xxxxxxxx

Are you not confusing the shop by Somerfield with the shop opposite the Plough?

[Smiler]

It takes ages to drive to Wickes/Homebase in Catford and the B&Q in West Norwood is rubbish. Good to have local place.

[sophiesofa]

I don't have a car and therefore love dulwich diy and the one opposite the plough. When I did get 2 buses each way to B&Q to get some fire paint for my fireplace I asked 3 separate employees and got the following responses 1) "It doesn't exist, just use emulsion" 2) "Think we used to do it but don't anymore. Just use black gloss" 3) "Never heard of it so it can't exist". Next day popped to Dulwich DIY for something else and spotted 3 different types of fire paint and have since seen it in the one opposite the plough. For some things they are more expensive but others can be cheaper and it's amazing how much stuff they can ram into their shops.

[HonaloochieB]

thebestnameshavegone Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> HonaloochieB Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > thebestnameshavegone

> >

> --------------------------------------------------

>

> > -----

> >

> > Hello TheBestNamesHaveGone, would you consider

> > changing username to AllOfTheGoodOnesAreTaken?

> > It's an Ian Hunter song, though frankly it's

> not

> > one of his best.

> > Just a thought.

>

> The Mott the Hoople guy?

>

> I would, though I'd feel a pseud for doing so - I

> only really know 'All the Young Dudes'..!

Naah you'd be fine. Anyone calls you on it, tell 'em I said it was OK.