Support your local tool store?

[Retired]

I was interested in purchasing a Fein multi tool and last night I browsed eBay to get a feel of the prices and deals available. I noticed a local store was advertising the Fein on eBay at £189.99 with free postage and PayPal accepted. As the store isn't too far away I've visited the store this afternoon. I used to buy from this store when I worked for Brooks on behalf of the company. I very seldom visit this store but thought I might manage to obtain a better deal for cash after all this would save on postage and packing together with PayPal charges? I entered the store and immediately noticed the upstairs floor was blocked off; I wandered around on the ground floor but didn't spot the Fein's. The guy at the counter asked if he could help so I said I was looking for the best deal I could get on a Fein Multi Tool? I had walked straight past the stand as I entered the store without noticing so I wandered over followed by the guy.

Sure enough the Fein I had seen advertised on eBay was on display but at £189.99? I mentioned to the guy I had seen this on eBay at the same price? He countered by saying if you buy this then you only get three attachments but if you buy this other Fein it comes with a kit and the total for tool and kit is £208.49? The guy then pulled a number of attachments from their hooks and took me over to the computer where he punched up the prices. All in all the kit would cost in excess of £100 bought separately but buying with the tool it was only? £208.49 but it didn't stop there; VAT was to be added? I said I'm unsure how much cash I have with me so pulled out the money and I had exactly £220; sorry you haven't enough money and again he started to bang on about what a good deal this was then his mobile phone rang and he answered it; at this point I said I'll see you later and left the store.

The good news is that I've just bought the Fein with a big kit for £208.49 from the following website;

http://www.powertoolworld.co.uk/fein-mul...m250q.html

This includes free delivery and VAT included. The guy at our local store must have thought I'd just blown in from Mars? I'm not surprised many stores are closing when they are treating customers like idiots; this store has not only lost a sale but now lost a customer for good. I now await delivery of the new Fein.

The reason I've gone for top quality is that I save so much money doing all the maintenance around home that I can afford to buy good kit and best materials so I'm slowly building up a new set of top quality kit which is something I've always wanted but could never previously afford. I could have bought a decent multi tool from Screwfix for under half price which would do everything I ask of it but Bron and I now have disposable income and to save everything would be silly because we have no family to pass it onto to? We are comfortable and now I can do jobs around home without the worry of spending too much?

How sad this story really is though; I was willing to hand over the full £220 and all the guy had to do was pass a box over the counter and produce a consignment note; I thought I was supporting my local store and gave them the chance to equal the price being charged elsewhere?

The price of the accessories he quoted also appeared to be excessive as I've seen genuine Fein accessories on eBay and even with postage they appear cheaper?

I've just received an email informing me the Fein will be delivered tomorrow and could someone please be home to sign for it adding the courier is DPD.

I've wasted a trip out and petrol this afternoon whilst trying to support our local store; in future I'll shop online to save a lot of hassle because I never have enjoyed getting caught up in the school run.

Kind regards, Col.

[Joe]

It's the same conclusion I came to years ago, Col. I used to buy a lot of goods mail order even before the coming of the internet.

There are good independent local shops but, sadly, they seem to be the exception to the rule.

- Joe

[camallison]

I'm with you both - my wife complains that I order too much online. I counter with the total savings I have made against what I would have paid at list - the price our local stores sell at. So far, my savings amount to a total saving of 35% against list. Now I am wondering what to spend that money on, plus the petrol money I saved too.

How often do you need something urgently and find that all the local stores who SHOULD stock it don't and so you drive around, wasting fuel.

Colin

[pwdrive]

Not sure if I've got this right Col but as I read the post it would seem that you had enough cash for the Fein plus kit but not the full total including the VAT?

It's difficult for some local stores to compete against certain online suppliers, having said that my experience seems to suggest that online isn't always the cheapest or the best.

A few months back I was after some Knauff Exterior Aquapanel to use as a carrier board for the render on the radio room jobbie, I spent several hours on the internet looking at online sources etc, our local Travis Perkins branch beat them all hands down, they were sellin the Belle 150 cement mixer ( the other day) cheaper than Scewfix.

I use local if I can as most stores are within a 10 minute drive from where we live.

Lawrence.

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks Joe and Colin. I too buy a lot of items on the web because many times by browsing I can find the item at a much discounted price and it takes some beating for sheer convenience with many items offered with free postage and pay by PayPal.

The guy at the store today was quoting me RRP. I've just been looking through the Fein "Interior accessories price list" this is one of the items I was quoted for not from the price list but from the store computer; this is a picture of the RRP;

   

Now here is the identical part number on eBay;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FEIN-CARBIDE-S...erTools_SM&hash=item3f11d8f0fe

I also checked locally for a new cement mixer and Wickes charge £245 for a 130L 450W mixer this being their cheapest mixer; I checked out eBay and bought a brand new 140L 650W mixer for £160 delivered. Just going online can save a fortune.

If as you say Lawrence you can buy cheaper locally than going online and find this to be more convenient good on you because you are doing well and keep it up.

I like to check prices of items on the web and even on the web it pays to shop around.

Yes Lawrence you have correctly understood me; I didn't have the full £250 or so on me when I visited the store this afternoon and initially I had visited intending to buy the Fein at £189.99 and with £220 on me I had plenty of money. This was the same store advertising on eBay the Fein at £189.99 which is fair enough and I thought yes I can easily afford this and its local so I'll pop along and buy one. I wrongly assumed the Fein would be cheaper in store because the store did not have to wrap it and print off labels then handle it again whilst having it collected; on top of this the store would incur PayPal costs so I felt justified in expecting a price reduction even if it was only a tenner? Was I being unreasonable?

The guy then distracted me by offering me a more expensive package dressing this up as a genuine bargain but now at home the prices he was quoting for the accessories are found to be RRP. There is a massive saving to be had by browsing eBay and I'm comparing like with like on the above accessory and it can be seen that the item on eBay carries the same OEM part number and is in fact a Fein OEM product.

I will not support local stores when there is such a vast difference in price when I get things so much cheaper on the web and as I say many times with free P&P and the convenience all without leaving my desk.

Screwfix is my favourite store and generally the prices are fair; Screwfix is local and open long hours so for this I don't even mind paying a little extra. Another reason I like Screwfix is that I receive "fliers" through the post informing me of special offers as only a few days ago I bought a brand new Erbauer jigsaw discounted by a massive £40. At Boundary Mills in Colne last week I bought a pair of very comfortable work shoes discounted from £40 to £20.

I don't shop exclusively online but I'll never pay RRP when with a little effort I can shop around and save a lot of money for very little effort on my part. In the three items Fein; Erbauer and shoes I saved £100 so I'll carry on looking for the bargains.

I do feel sorry for larger stores with massive overheads trying to compete with the Internet where many will be selling goods from a spare room or their garage with no such overheads. The store I visited today was selling the item I wanted through eBay so would any Yorkshireman pay the same price in store? I'm not a charity and I do like a bargain; being retired I now have time to shop around and it pays handsomely.

I only ever feel I've got a genuine bargain when I buy like for like at a cheaper price. Does any other member find their local store to be cheap?

I added this thread just to generate interest and gain other views on this subject.

Kind regards, Col.

[pwdrive]

Yes, online is ok for some stuff, but don't go for fake Honda airbags or fake BMW alloy wheels, they might look like the real deal but some are potentially lethal....check out tonights "Fake Britain"

A lot of folks live there lives living for the best "deal" the "deal" mentality in my observation seems to have started when the milk snatcher got into power, that's why the Chinese love us and our industries are going down the pan, but hey, that's just me thinking.

A lot of deals turn into problems, the goods arrive damaged etc or are just plain crap, eg: fake psuedo electrolytics etc

If it's from China on the internet and it's heavy then you might be in for a shock if it comes to the return postage.

Lawrence.

[pwdrive]

I only ever feel I've got a genuine bargain when I buy like for like at a cheaper price. Does any other member find their local store to be cheap?

Yep, on many occasions, the thing that I find is that if I don't go in talking like a cheapskate then they usually do me good price, the problem is that some places can only discount down to a certain level depending on which product it is that I am buying, builders merchants are like that, I used to get cheapskate or the big I am "customers" like that at the sawmill..."Hi there, I wan't you to sweat your guts out sawing up some timber so that I can have it at a price where you don't make a living"....Yeah...F off.

Lawrence.

[Radio Fixer]

Its a difficult one. I too shop online but also try to do local. I have one, general house maintenance, paints, tools, you name it, shop whose prices are not too bad and I wouldn't want them to close. If I need something on Sunday morning they are open.

Gary

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks Lawrence. I totally agree there is a lot of rubbish available and cheap copies many carrying what appear to be correct OEM labels but going back to the original intention of me adding this thread I was dealing with like for like and comparing local prices with Internet prices and in this instance both the local price and Internet price was from the same supplier.

I didn't swagger into the store demanding anything I merely visited the store and explained I was looking for the best deal on a Fein Multi Tool doing this in a polite manner. I already knew what this store was charging for the Fein online and knowing the extra costs incurred by the supplier in P&P and PayPal charges I was not trying to obtain anything I didn't think fair?

I don't think I was being cheapskate either because I had cash in my hand and was prepared to pay over £10 extra for the same item I subsequently bought online.

How many stores offer a 10% discount if the same item can be bought cheaper elsewhere?

I went out of my way to support my local tool store whilst trying to buy this Fein multi tool. The sales guy tried to explain the savings to be had through buying the accessory kit with the tool and of course he was correct but he also quoted RRP which increased the quote considerably; the guy was quoting his instore prices of genuine Fein accessories which the store was selling at full RRP.

This sales guy whilst discussing the Fein with me very rudely answered his mobile phone and walked away from me; that ended the discussion.

I would prefer to support my local store but not at a cost to me in excess of £40 on one item?

To expand a bit on the fake items you mentioned Lawrence; we all are aware such items are on the market but does buying an item at your local store guarantee the item to be genuine OEM parts? Buying online through eBay and using PayPal at least affords some protection because of Ebay and PayPal policies regarding purchases; if a fake item is bought through eBay and the seller reported then eBay can immediately close the sellers account and if bought through PayPal then a refund should be received?

I admit quite openly I'm tight but I also try to be fair and I gave this store the opportunity to price match whilst not trying to lower the price further.

Where I live Lawrence just travelling to the stores is full of frustration and hassle; Millions of red traffic lights; road humps and endless speed cameras together with getting caught up in the school run depending on time of day and all this before even setting foot in a store. I never go into Huddersfield because of lack of parking so more and more I'm enjoying the benefits of shopping online. Our local builders merchants and places like Screwfix deliver very cheaply or even free with a certain spend. I can sit here at my desk with pot of tea and biscuit or I can sit in traffic or be like a nodding dog as I drive over the speed humps. I can check prices and availability online from store to store without wasting time and petrol driving around.

Distance isn't a problem online; I buy items from Scotland of from Southampton with equal ease and I've also bought from China and America all without problems. I now even shop online at Screwfix but collect in store. This is most convenient; I can check if the item is in stock and place the order allowing me to simply walk into the store and immediately collect with just a debit card confirmation; if my local Screwfix don't have the item in stock I can order for next day or check other stores saving a wasted journey.

I stress this is the way I do things and we are all different; normally I enjoy browsing tool stores but I dislike B&Q and I don't even like Homebase. I find Wickes to be very good.

I'm playing on the computer because I'm uncomfortable this morning with a peeling neck and shoulders due to sunburn; I hope summer doesn't disappear before I can potter around again shortly?

( A quick update. I ordered the Fein yesterday and I've received an email this morning to inform me the item will be delivered between 11:33 and 12:33 today; now that is not only excellent service but top class communication.)

Kind regards, Col.

[pwdrive]

I agree, buying locally does not always mean it's the genuine article, a local well known store is generally not in the criminal business but I'm guessing some folks on Ebay might be, Ebay can ban them but they can reappear with ease using false ID etc etc.
Our nearest Wickes is in Truro I think, never been there, a trip to Truro is classed as a major expedition down here, traveling into our nearest town for stuff is basically hassle free only three sets of speed cameras in a notorious black spot.

Stuff I order online is normally special stuff that might not be stocked down here.

It pays to shop around, a while back B & Q were selling cement cheaper than any of the merchants, a loss leader no doubt.

I have some sympathy for some local traders, I am a consumer but have also been in business so I know how difficult it can be sometimes, VAT, tax, rates, rent, wages, insurance for this that and everything else, employers liabilty, trying to find a reliable employee, trying to source sawlogs etc, working all hours, when I had a rush on sometimes I would be up 'till 3 am, knocking out picnic tables, fence and shed panels, it doesn't stop when you get home either, ask anyone who has worked for themselves, yer brains always ticking business....Happy days...

I would never suggest a Yorkshireman is a cheapskate...............

Lawrence.