Yesterday I received Screwfix Spring Essentials 6 March- 2 April 2017 newspaper. I had a quick glance through and noticed fence posts; as I'm planning on erecting a new fence this year needing posts this interested me. At "From only £59.99 each" I wondered if these posts were made of gold but as I read more this price is for four posts 75 x 75mm x 1.8m.
I usually buy our garden timber from Job Earnshaw's so I checked their prices which are shown in the snip below these being 2016 prices but still on their website so must be current. Same size posts at Earnshaw's cost 5.69 each and even less with a loyalty card. So Earnshaw's cost £22.76 for four? Am I missing something?
Nope, I fell off my unicorn when I saw the Screwfix prices. I can buy concrete posts for that price! We have a sawmill and treatment plant near us and they do all our local authority fencing, so they have volume. If I want timber for garden use, I buy from them and their prices are much in line with what you pay, and include delivery.
Screwfix have lost the plot.
Colin
These users thanked the author camallison for the post:
all retail and institutions do it
they rely on apathy loyalty and convenience
they publicize the good deals that are often loss leaders to get you in
they are not charitable institutions and have to pay the wages taxes and the shareholders
These users thanked the author big-all for the post:
Ha ha, I thought exactly the same, what a stupid price. This is the mugs price for people who do not know any better, I cannot see anyone trade or experienced DIY buying at that price. I do not know what gets into Screwfix at times, they must have a buyer who is on a fat backhander there from the supplier I reckon
DWD
These users thanked the author dewaltdisney for the post:
I needed some 3 core round cable for a machine ages ago and I think it was around Christmas time when Screwfix sent me a flyer which included the kind of cable I needed at a very special price limited to one per customer; I bought the cable at a longer length with free delivery for less than half Screwfix price through eBay; this is such a pity because generally I like Screwfix but this kind of taking the Mickey is a real put off making me shop around before even considering Screwfix. I don't mind paying a bit more if it secures local jobs but Screwfix aren't doing themselves any favours.
Yesterday I received Screwfix Spring Essentials 6 March- 2 April 2017 newspaper. I had a quick glance through and noticed fence posts; as I'm planning on erecting a new fence this year needing posts this interested me. At "From only £59.99 each" I wondered if these posts were made of gold but as I read more this price is for four posts 75 x 75mm x 1.8m.
I usually buy our garden timber from Job Earnshaw's so I checked their prices which are shown in the snip below these being 2016 prices but still on their website so must be current. Same size posts at Earnshaw's cost 5.69 each and even less with a loyalty card. So Earnshaw's cost £22.76 for four? Am I missing something?
Kind regards, Col.
Fence posts..JPG
The only point I can make to justify the (extortionate?) S/fix price is that it includes National delivery...
I would imagine that Job Earnshaw's price would be collection only and if you asked them to deliver to Verwood for example then the price would be considerably higher
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Many thanks wine~o; I confess I hadn't noticed delivery was included in the price but I thought delivery was free from Screwfix over a certain price; I don't want to malign Screwfix and I did say I glanced through the paper; a customer must be desperate though to pay the price at Screwfix because there are usually garden centers etc nearby selling these posts very cheaply. Yes the prices at Earnshaw's are for collection. Thanks wine~o for enlightening me.
Kind regards, Col,
These users thanked the author Retired for the post:
I'll own up and admit I made a mistake; as I glanced through the Screwfix details I thought the price of these posts to be sky high; I wrongly assumed the prices were for collection so I'm indebted to you wine~o for pointing out they are delivery only which does make a big difference; I don't wish to mislead anyone.
However I've now got time to look at the prices and out of curiosity have just had a quick look at eBay and here is an example of what I found;
Buying four of the same size posts at 1.8m from eBay as shown above costs £33.44 including delivery. My sincere apologies to Screwfix for my mistake but in this instance Screwfix price is still sky high and certainly not a bargain.
Not trying to spam here and no connection to this company but this is where I bought my fencing stuff from as it was cheaper even with delivery from lancashire to devon than buying locally. http://www.garden-fence-panels.co.uk/
These users thanked the author keithski122 for the post (total 2):
Thanks Stevie; it sure pays to shop around for best price.
Thanks for adding the link keithski122 ; I've just had a look and their price per post of the same size is a mere £3.25 +VAT; if the prices get any cheaper we'll be paid to take them away?
I dug a hole for myself but it's generated some interest and demonstrates how much prices can vary even for something as basic and readily available as fence posts; I need twelve 1.8m posts for my new fence which I'll buy once the weather warms up a bit; the gardening season is almost upon us; friends have already mowed their lawn but ours still remains asleep up the mountain.
What height of finished fence are you having col? 4ft I presume with you needing 6ft 3x3 posts?
And I'd go the postcrete route all the way col,quick and easy and no mixing concrete!!
Carpentry,I can explain it to you but I cannot understand it for you.
keithski122 wrote:Not trying to spam here and no connection to this company but this is where I bought my fencing stuff from as it was cheaper even with delivery from lancashire to devon than buying locally. http://www.garden-fence-panels.co.uk/
+1
SN
"When nine hundred years old you reach, look as good you will not"
Above is the type of new fence I plan to erect. When Bron and I moved in here 30 years ago there was already a 4' tall wire netting fence up the garden; I left this in position and planted conifers; over the years these conifers grew into a lovely hedge but at over 80' long and 8' tall it became a major chore trimming this hedge up the steeply sloping garden with the big petrol hedge trimmer; the hedge had also become thick so trying to reach full across the top was a pain and our neighbours are the type we want little contact with. Last year I removed the conifer hedge down to ground level and shredded it. No sooner had I cleared the hedge our neighbour turned nasty towards Bron; Bron came to get me and the neighbour told me she didn't like it because it was too open; this really was rich considering this same neighbour has been complaining all the time we've lived here that our trees and hedges were blocking light into her bedroom and kitchen windows; I've removed a big Scots pine; two 80' tall conifers and a big Elderberry tree plus dropping the height of the privet hedge to try to be a good neighbour now its too open; I politely informed this neighbour that in future our garden is our garden and I'll do as I wish in it then I walked away from her. Her son burgled her neighbour the other side years ago and the family recently had a drugs bust; she's been moaning for years about our holly tree but she can now moan alone because I've had enough of her and it takes a bit to get me annoyed. A lot of the original fencing is still in place. I'm being careful not to get rid of one problem only to replace it with another problem; once the new netting is erected I can forget it; it won't need any maintenance and it won't be blown down by the terrific winds we suffer here on the valley side; I'm sorry to see the hedge go and it hurt me to fell the two specimen conifers but they were becoming too tall and endangered our bungalow in high wind; our tallest tree now is a nice blue spruce at around 40' tall it was taller than this but a few years ago I went up and topped it removing 15'; last year I also brought our 30' tall laurels down to 4' tall where I can talk to them; we still have two 40' tall oaks plus other trees; our rear garden we call our mini park because it is very mature and the wildlife love it.
Thanks also Stevie for the postcrete tip; I think this will be the route I take; traipsing up the mountain carrying wet concrete doesn't appeal to me; I'll also buy a post hole digger. A couple of years ago I erected a chain link fence for our neighbour Carole who is a lovely lady but then I said I wouldn't mix concrete again for another fence.
Time I now wandered into the workshop to resume work on my new saw bench before another day slips quietly by.
Kind regards, Col.
These users thanked the author Retired for the post:
On putting the posts in Colin here are a few tips. Dig new holes by staggering the post centres to avoid the old posts. Put the posts in the holes, get them plumb and aligned by wedging broken bricks around the base. Pour in water and let it soak and then pour in the Postcrete. When the posts are in and set I would recommend that you put a heavier gauge stretcher wire at the top so you can anchor the chicken wire to it as the wire has no real strength and it will bow if unsupported. You need to fabricate a stretcher to pull the chicken wire taught before stapling and arrange to get a joint on a post that minimises waste.
Hope this helps
DWD
These users thanked the author dewaltdisney for the post (total 2):
