Screwfix shops - useless?

[willk]

Is it just me or are Screwfix outlets utterly pants? Just completely pointless destinations?

Online is fine, but God help me, the shops...

[Fenlander]

Must depend on location... ours are brilliant re same day stock and being helpful. Toolstation over the road even more so in both respects but website less informative.

[Limecc]

We have three stores locally and all are brilliant. Just discovered Toolstation which is a couple of units next door, but for some reason (habit?) I keep using Screwfix. Must use Toolstation more..

[Pikey Dave]

My experience of Screwfix is generally positive. Carry good stock, long hours, good prices. I exclusively use Click & Collect now, saves time & ensures that stock is available.

[Jon Tallis]

I'm my experience Screwfix click and collect is great and local store staff couldn't be more helpful

[treerat]

Our local branch is great if its in stock, if not just as easy to have delivered.

[Orwell boy]

[QUOTE=willk;840323]Is it just me or are Screwfix outlets utterly pants? Just completely pointless destinations?

Online is fine, but God help me, the shops...

[/Q

i have to agree ,not so much the service but the quality has dived since its been owned by b&Q (i think ) margin pressures have lead to the lowest quality products ,unlike the early days when it was catalogue based ,you could often be surprised how good quality things were ,,,, most of the stainless is a2 and rusts in no time ,even the galvanised items are so thin they may as well be unplated ,still handy to get throw away use once stuff !
Use your local specialists for more profesional products ,saves going twice !

[willk]

Just me then!

There may be Covid staffing issues here.

[Nasher]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

My experience of Screwfix is generally positive. Carry good stock, long hours, good prices. I exclusively use Click & Collect now, saves time & ensures that stock is available.

I couldn't agree more with what PD says.
I use them all the time now.

All 3 of our Local(ish) stores are really good, the quick and easy click and collect is the icing on the cake, especially as I have 3 stores within 20mins of me I can check stock at.

What is it this week?
Ah yes, Mira Shower £100 cheaper than I could find it elsewhere, a Shower tray from stock that nobody else has stock left of, and an enclosure that Lady Nasher actually liked the look of - Bonus.

Nasher

[charliee]

I'm always amazed at how much of the "right" stock they hold in the shops - 7 out of 10 times what I need is on the shelf or I order it and it always in next day - I think they are great.

[paulbrown22]

I've only started using them since COVID, but have used them several times in the last 1.5 years to grab mainly plumbing parts while I do jobs around the house. I always use Click and Collect, works very well, and generally they are the cheapest/nearest/quickest, so I've had no issues.

But I do agree that the shops are effectively just collection points - I'd only go there to grab something I have already chosen and ordered, not to look at things or discuss options!

[Wightdiver]

Originally Posted by willk

Is it just me or are Screwfix outlets utterly pants? Just completely pointless destinations?

Online is fine, but God help me, the shops...

I have always found them to provide a good service, what is your specific issue?

[spartacus]

Think Screwfix are bad? Try Eurocarparts on a Sunday!

It's not the staff, it's the situation. These operations are run by HQ with one eye on the bottom line.

[jwalker]

Originally Posted by willk

Just me then!

Not to worry, I'm all for being 'a little unusual'.

[Steve509926]

Screwfix are now owned by Kingfisher owners of B&Q. The founder of Screwfix started up Toolstation a few years after he sold out to Kingfisher, that's why both operations are very similar. Both have appalling online search engines, probably designed by the same company and I've heard both are doing away with the catalogue and only having an online catalogue.
Screwfix are not as good as they used to be. They don't stock as many main stream brands and are going towards stocking Kingfisher B&Q brands such as Cooke & Lewis and Dial. The other recent trend is to sell items in multi packs - who needs or wants 4 x 13mm drill bits when you only have two holes to drill, who wants 100 x M10 nuts when you only need 10 of them.
Prices differ greatly between the two so it's always worth checking and playing one off against the other.
One online company that's also worth considering in Ironmongery Direct, I've found them to be very competitive.
Another company that I find really helpful, give good advice and are very competitive is "Nuts of Chorley" (only one location but are also online) They also sell in sensible pack sizes.

[jeffstevens763@g]

Originally Posted by willk

Just me then!

There may be Covid staffing issues here.

Yep but then there needs to be one

[lakelandterrier]

Screwfix is owned by Kingfisher (B&Q in UK) but operate as totally separate businesses, including supply chains. Kingfisher operated the same way when they owned Wooolworths & Superdrug. I worked for Woolies distribution in the 1990's and pointed out (and costed) the benefits of sharing transport to the the usually neighbouring high street locations, but the "wise" owners did not want to save £ms every year!

Tool Station is now owned by Travis Perkins, it is not independent.

In my experience both Screwfix and Tool Station offer great service - if they stock what you want. All businesses are suffering supply / availability problem from COVID knock on, the national driver shortage, and extortionate international container rates.

I use both,very happy with service from each.

[Matt]

Irrespective of the shops themselves, I find the quality and stock of toolstations tools to be better than screwfix. So I generally make toolstation my first place to check and then compare to screwfix. And I’ll almost always avoid Diall brand anything if I have a choice.

[Nasher]

I don't think I've ever actually purchased tools from screwfix, apart from the odd hole saw I might use once, and even then that will be Erbaur.

I do use toolstation for tools, but as others, only better respected brands.

Screwfix for me is more about materials, like those I mentioned previously.
I've also ordered a Radiator from them this week since I posted earlier in the thread.

[MustRib]

Originally Posted by Steve509926

"Nuts of Chorley" (only one location but are also online) They also sell in sensible pack sizes.

Brilliant - no doubt owned by Peter Kay !