Trade Accounts for DIYers

[keithjeb]

As a rule of thumb how strict are places like selco/b&q tradepoint etc with proof of trade? I clearly aren't a tradesman (although the amount of sh*t I do for other people you'd think I was) but I am tight, so if I can save a bit of money thats nice!

I'm not interested in credit accounts, don't imagine anyone would give me any anyway!

Will a box of letterhead & matching business cards from vistaprint see me straight?

[merseygull]

I would think that you have to show proof of being VAT registered?

ATB,J.

[Mooncat]

I have a Jewson account from the days when it was a different company. My favoured BM requires two trade references to open an account, so I haven't bothered.

[Simon Site Manager]

I wonder how often they check the trade references? Get friendly with your local Jewson/Travis Sales bloke and he can decide the discount. It guts me paying full wedge when if I buy thro' a company your looking about 55% discount. Sometimes more, when I had an account at Amari Plastics, was looking at 75% discount from Joe Bloggs

S

[ultimatehandyman]

I don't know how strict they are but it is very annoying.

I once went into Travis Perkins and bought a few bits and got spanked with the prices, they were a lot more expensive than any of the sheds. At the time I was renovating a property and was buying stuff daily from one place or another.

A week later I was replacing the fascias and gutters and my mate was giving me a lift, when they saw him they immediately started to knock up to about 85% of all the prices


I have avoided Travis Perkins ever since!

[Simon Site Manager]

I tend not to use Travis, there non-trade prices are over the top, my local Jewson give me some discount 'cos they know what I do for a living.

S

[keithjeb]

Seems like most of the bigger places let you apply by post anyway. Going to order up some cards and letterhead and see where it gets me. Less worried about them saying no by post.

Just need to decide what I'm going to be now!

[Simon Site Manager]

Hi Keith,

They normally ask for 2 trade references too! And I'm sure they will credit check you as well.

S

[keithjeb]

Credit check wouldn't be the end of the world, although I'd be after a cash account anyway.

What do you mean by trade reference?

[Inky Pete]

I've had trade accounts with TP, Beers and Selco and never needed anything more than a business card, a letterhead I printed myself, and a bank statement or mobile bill in the company name.

They were all cash accounts with no credit facilities, but it gave me access to the trade prices.

[John MacLeod]

I don't know how strict they are but it is very annoying.

I once went into Travis Perkins and bought a few bits and got spanked with the prices, they were a lot more expensive than any of the sheds. At the time I was renovating a property and was buying stuff daily from one place or another.

A week later I was replacing the fascias and gutters and my mate was giving me a lift, when they saw him they immediately started to knock up to about 85% of all the prices


I have avoided Travis Perkins ever since!

Have a trade account with Travis Perkins and some of their predecessors for the last 30 years (run a caravan site). Goods on credit and, most important, delivered to the door if it's too big to go into/on the roofbars of the LWB LandRover. Got to be careful about some prices, but some of their trade prices are very good and the local branch is very obliging. Perhaps surprisingly, their stock of plumbing and drainage fittings and sanitary ware is excellent and the prices on that likewise.