connect: cost of parts to publc

[eastlmark]

Called today to fit a fan element to a CDA oven that the customer got themselves. Opened the box and found their reciept inside, looking very similar to our usual connect invoices despite them ordering from “Partmaster”. Could not help but notice the cost they paid, not including the carriage cost, £29.99 inc vat (it was DEL062057004 btw). made a point to check how much I would have paid from connect and atstonished to find it would have been £29.40 inc vat a whole 59p cheaper than the general public can order it for. Whats more, connect show me the RRP as £36.76

[EFS]

Re: connect: cost of parts to publc

I always trawl the internet for spares prices before ordering anything.
I do have a lot of time on my hands at the moment so put it to good use.
Point is though the customer can do the same search and get the same result as me.

We’re all doomed 😥

Steve

[spimps]

Re: connect: cost of parts to publc

I fitted a supposedly gen door seal in the week which was charged to me at £29 more or less,it wasn’t packed just had a label stuck on ,not the manufactures label but the whole sale companies,was it gen? felt a bit cheap to me.
I have ordered other stuff from different wholsalers,oven elements to door seals ,sold as gen but comes unpacked just like pattern stuff.
Does anyone have similar experinces,or am I just too synical? they wouldn’t would they ? surely not!

[kwatt]

Re: connect: cost of parts to publc

I hate to say this, as it’s a tad cliched, but… I’ve been telling you all this for years.

It’s all about sourcing and, frankly, a lot of people are lazy and do not use multiple suppliers, they just stick with one because they get free carriage, like the rep or whatever.

Most parts you can see variance on price.

On a lot of parts you can see an utterly mammoth variance on price.

Now, you can point the finger at Connect and internet resellers for being, in the first instance too expensive and, in the second too cheap but the reality is that Connect charge what they charge because people pay it. On the internet you are in a goldfish bowl with scores of competition that are all on a level playing field, once one starts hacking up prices others are forced to follow.

I would agree that some internet sellers are, shall we say, a bit dodgy. Whether it’s knocked off gear or people simply dodging tax and VAT it is irrelevant.

But HMRC are now actively looking at people selling on Ebay etc. and sussing if they are pukka businesses as many that sell at low prices are not. HMRC like to get their cut. (More here)

But although there may be some that are selling stuff that is quite obviously below cost and therefore either bought extremely well or knocked off in some way, most internet sellers are simply sourcing smart and buying in bulk to get the prices.

However I do find it slightly amusing that people complain that they can’t make a 400{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d}+ mark up on elements, pumps and so on. Then go on to complain about how Connect mark stuff up.

There is a funny sort of irony there.

I also wouldn’t get too hung up on Connect, they’re not the only ones that spank stuff up at times. Or is that, others can’t buy as wisely as Connect to get the same sort of pricing?

The moral of the story is what I’ve been saying and, will say again… shop about and use multiple suppliers as doing so can save even a sole trader business a lot of money.

K.

[Allsorts]

Re: connect: cost of parts to publc

One example:

Qualtex offer 062057004 at £19.58 + vat … a lot better than Connect
Qualtex also do a pattern version of that element at only £4.79 + vat.

George

[eastlmark]

Re: connect: cost of parts to publc

Allsorts wrote:One example:

Qualtex offer 062057004 at £19.58 + vat … a lot better than Connect
Qualtex also do a pattern version of that element at only £4.79 + vat.

George

you fail to mention its (the Gen one) a special order though….
and I always go for genuine elements with few exceptions.
In realiity, its unlikeley I would have sourced that part myself from connect, I only posted it as a like for like price comparison from the same company trade-public.

[kwatt]

Re: connect: cost of parts to publc

It’s really common Mark.

I often see prices online that are lower than a supplier’s trade price and, it’s not just Connect that do this.

I’ll say no more other than, look around at prices. 😉

K.

[Martin]

Re: connect: cost of parts to publc

I would’nt betting CDSL will have a presence at Coventry next month. What then the perfect opportunity to put the rep to task over their trade pricing policy v’s Internet? Whilst he’s pinned against the wall ask about their policy on shipping out used/returned PCB’s?

Don’t forget to bring along your invoice statements so everyone can compare any potential discrepancy.

[pete909]

Re: connect: cost of parts to publc

Yes Ive come across this I wanted an element last week for a belling and I was quoted £27 plus vat. I asked was this a gen or
not the sales person said they were not allowed to state gen or none gen, Home spares listed gen for £11-?? and pattern £3-48 plus vat,

Also Ive noticed on goggle connect have another retail site

4 my look it up they use the same part numbers and yes
the same style invoices, on that web site they are more helpful and more clude up, more than sales in connect, when they
cant find a part number their answer is discontinued, theres been many a time Ive gone on 4 my site looking for part numbers
when you go back to connect quote the part number ITS IN STOCK

WE SHOULDNT BE SPENDING TIME LIKE THIS, IT MEANS LESS REPAIRS,
LESS MONEY, HAVING TO CHASE PARTS AND MORE PAPER WORK, GRIEF
FROM CUSTOMERS AND THE MISSUS

[squadman]

Re: connect: cost of parts to publc

This got me to thinking, why dont we pool our knowledge and start a definitive list of Suppliers across the country as a there must be suppliers which some or all of have missed, we do not all have the time to be searching at a computer all day and this sort of list could cut a lot of donkey work out and help us all save money in these pressed times, the knock on effect could be that IF orders were to drop off from the major players they would have to smarten up their pricing to the trade and look after us instead of the public being able to buy directly at what some wholesalers deem to be trade !!

Now who would like to start ?

[iadom]

Re: connect: cost of parts to publc

squadman wrote:This got me to thinking, why dont we pool our knowledge and start a definitive list of Suppliers

Now who would like to start ?

What a good IDEA 😉 😀

Started in 2005. 8)

[Martin]

Re: connect: cost of parts to publc

squadman wrote:Now who would like to start ?

I’ll just sit here eating my popcorn…. :popcorn:

The simple truth is that CDSL and the other large wholesalers offer what amounts to a greater degree as a ‘one stop shop’. Have access to 10,000’s of spares and hundreds of suppliers feeding them stock. They have a huge account base, 95{e5d1b7155a01ef1f3b9c9968eaba33524ee81600d00d4be2b4d93ac2e58cec2d} of the guys on here use them day in day out. From big monthly spenders right down the chain to cowboys filling their saddle bags once in a while.

Their pricing structure based entirely on supply and demand toward each individual. What turns around quick is flogged off cheap. What sits on the warehouse shelf for months on end has to include certain storage costing added on.

It takes an enormous amount of time surfing around the wholesalers looking for spares at the best of times. In stock one minute, out of stock the next. Joe Bloggs buys a widget for £5 but you can only buy them for £7.50. There’s no justice is there, but it’s a fact of life. Business is business.

Snow shovels are on sale right now for £6 here in the sunny south. But when (and if) it snows the price will rocket to £12 I guarantee. 😈

[Jonah]

Re: connect: cost of parts to publc

I have accounts with a lot of suppliers, I do check occasionally but generally due to the fact I repair integrated high end or obscure brands most of the time the only one having it in stock will be Connect (and no customer want’s to wait 3 weeks for a part), I agree their prices are high and I have had customers checking part prices on line after we have completed a repair, if they question it I advise them that they agreed to the price before we fitted the part and prices vary enormously on spare parts depending on genuine or pattern parts.

[squadman]

Re: connect: cost of parts to publc

iadom wrote:

squadman wrote:
This got me to thinking, why dont we pool our knowledge and start a definitive list of Suppliers

Now who would like to start ?

What a good IDEA 😉 😀

Started in 2005. 8)

OK Iadom I completely missed that, it was a good idea back then and a good idea now the purpose being the same to try and save where we can. Without the Trade buying from say CDSL that would make a severe dent in their business, they have everyone on a sliding scale and are willing to barter with pricing, its nothing more than a big market stall and if that stall starts to see a noticeable downturn in trade sales then action would follow.

[iadom]

Re: connect: cost of parts to publc

TBH that thread could do with ‘updating’ 🙂

[Author]

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