I prefer using a bricks and mortar shop if I can. We are lucky that by me there is a very good plumbers merchant and an electrical factors. But bear in mind I'm an enthusiastic amateur tinkerer. for specialist stuff, I have my preferred suppliers which I usually order on-line.
- Thread starter 8ob
- Start date
Barking Mat
Cuddler of hedgehogs.
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I do like to go into match whatever I need.
Fan belts and hydraulics, antifreeze local shops, filters too.
Yes Wurth got stupidly expensive 10 years ago, we stopped using them, we're supposed to use Berner, don't rate their stuff and it's expensive, just hit local tool supplier, Facom etc.
Fan belts and hydraulics, antifreeze local shops, filters too.
Yes Wurth got stupidly expensive 10 years ago, we stopped using them, we're supposed to use Berner, don't rate their stuff and it's expensive, just hit local tool supplier, Facom etc.
I consider online shopping a win as a lot of it is next day shipping to your door, there is no fighting traffic or using up $10.00 bucks of gas and come winter when it’s 25* below it’s nice to see the delivery guy and just smile and wave! My only beef is why can’t they ring the bell? There right there according to the pic they send.
I was only say the same to my wife on our way home yesterday.
No shops left around here even the one that is left mostly stocks Chinese stuff.
But no where you can take stuff in and get a matched item.
That just adds time they don't have, I get deliveries sometime just after lunch and the tracking says the driver is making delivery 79 and I'm number 88. I live in a rural area and I just don't see how they manage it.
We still have quite a places in Herefordshire that keep unusual stuff and still quite a few of the "Come out the back and have look" kind of places. I've lived here 20 years and those places had long gone from Berkshire when I moved.
I actually love the fact that some of the places I go in Hereford have exactly the same people working in that they had when I moved here.
Some motor factors are the worst, "Can I have a 380 bulb please?" ----"Have you got a reg number?" ----"You don't need a reg number I've just given you the part/model number"
premmington
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There is a saying in the motortrade...
"A good parts person can make your day - a bad one can spoil your whole week"
Red'n'Black
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I just discovered this little gem of a place, tucked away in the back streets of Gloucester.
Like stepping back 30 years. Bearings, fasteners, etc all on the shelf and a helpful owner who knows his stuff. Prices are a bit higher than online but I'd much rather support somebody local.
A C Belting Ltd. Bearings, Belts, Chains and P.T.O. Spares, Wheels and Castors
www.acbelting.co.uk
Like stepping back 30 years. Bearings, fasteners, etc all on the shelf and a helpful owner who knows his stuff. Prices are a bit higher than online but I'd much rather support somebody local.
roofman
Purveyor of fine English buckets and mops
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I used to use Websters for my bits and pieces but prices went through the roof after Covid and never went down..now it's mostly Amazon or Ebay and what i find on my travels day to day, so i would say a 3 way split.
JOEPRO
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Yep all online. Good prices on fleabay etc and can get exactly what you need.
Sadly any time I have tried to buy supplies locally like disposable gloves etc they are cheap garbage and terribly overpriced. Hence why I re-order from prior good purchases on ebay. Postie kept busy all the time too
Sadly any time I have tried to buy supplies locally like disposable gloves etc they are cheap garbage and terribly overpriced. Hence why I re-order from prior good purchases on ebay. Postie kept busy all the time too
JOEPRO
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I would generally agree.
However I've had some odd ones lately in local places. Examples:
Ordered a fan belt in from local Fyfes for my S320. Came in next day went to collect and paid £38 for it and got an old continental belt dated about 15 years old. Ended up bringing it back as wasn't happy with putting on such an old belt and continental aren't great anyway. I ordered a dayco belt on ebay for about £13 delivered and it was fresh 2023 stock.
2nd example - went to local auto factors for a few filters for my S600 merc. To my surprise they had a Mahle fuel filter in stock. So I took all. Fuel filter was about £100 and when I opened the box it was at least 25 years old and covered in oily finger prints. Thing is that engine has the fuel check valve inside the fuel filter too. So it's critical. I left that back and bought new fresh stock from dealer (also Mahle but in MB box and PN) which I will do from now on for oddball stuff like that.
Well yes BUT.......I most likely already have what I need on the shelf. My problem is "which" shelf. Lol
angellonewolf
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i still use shops for 80 percent of what i buy but im lucky in the fact around here i got
2 toolstaions 2 screwfix ,b&q ,4 plumber merchants 3 large builder merchants 2 electrial factors 2 lock places all with in 12 mins drive
and what i need mostly is this time yesterday as stuff needs fixing in a couple hours
yes we could prob save a bit buying online but at least parts wise plumbing electrial etc you buy quality and it dont break once installed
unlike some of the cheap carp supplyed off ebay and amason
led flood lights for instance
2 toolstaions 2 screwfix ,b&q ,4 plumber merchants 3 large builder merchants 2 electrial factors 2 lock places all with in 12 mins drive
and what i need mostly is this time yesterday as stuff needs fixing in a couple hours
yes we could prob save a bit buying online but at least parts wise plumbing electrial etc you buy quality and it dont break once installed
unlike some of the cheap carp supplyed off ebay and amason
led flood lights for instance
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- Birmingham
They have a good reputation with the stationary engine crowd, like you say, a knowledgeable owner, asked him about a belt to drive a water pump and he told me what I needed
Turned up a couple of days later
MattF
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Shedendman
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Were you ordering workshop stuff at 14 then?
8ob
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They are still there Mick, stopped using them when they hit me for their minimum spend of £5 when I only wanted a couple of nuts. it was the the way they put it across that rattled me. More of a principle thing, they have done themselves out of a tidy few quid adopting that attitude/policy.
Bob
Ubique
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Pretty much all online apart from gas, bearings & hydraulic fittings.
Gas is cash only but 60% cheaper than the usual sellers, bearings are from a local co. that I've used since the late 80's and know (and stock!) the oddball stuff, Hydraulics, well, how do you explain online 'I need to go from this, to that'....
Gas is cash only but 60% cheaper than the usual sellers, bearings are from a local co. that I've used since the late 80's and know (and stock!) the oddball stuff, Hydraulics, well, how do you explain online 'I need to go from this, to that'....
ajlelectronics
Member
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- Gloucester, England
Same with a fixing supplier in Gloucester. Declined to honour the law on faulty goods, after imposing ridiculous minimum charges earlier. Luckily the competitor (closer to me) seems to have now changed into one that understands who pays their wages, from the same sort of minimum charge stupidity.
