Buying boiler spares

[southcoastboile]

Has anyone tried setting up acounts with any of the places that supply the stockists?

I have noticed alot of parts I get from my stockist comes from interpart, was wondering if they sell direct, or does anyone know of a similar company that can get parts cheap?

Im thinking of cutting out the middle man. I have heared you can't buy direct from these sorts of places as its "unfair compertition"

Used to be a place called antaires that were realy cheap, don't know what happened to them

 

[ecowarm]

Possible if formed a Co op of a number of members i.e. from here. have say 100 members or more = buying power

See what people think....................

 

[CES]

That sounds like a good idea ecowarm.

 

[southcoastboile]

Yeah definitly, how would that work though, wouln't someone have to take overall responsability for the acount?

 

[Leo21]

Can we do this with boilers?

 

[ecowarm]

Not sure exactly, but may be 100 shareholders or what ever the total members, so equal responsibility
Will google later

 

[CES]

well, count me in if its a goer.

 

[southcoastboile]

Thats actuly a realy good idea:hurray:

 

[ecowarm]

It could work for boilers, bathrooms etc etc..........

 

[ecowarm]

Setting up a Co-Op

 

[mountainman]

This idea could work but distributors will probably only supply a retail outlet.
So the buying group would need to set up an umbrella company to buy stock and a premises to store the stock and distribute from.
I've bought from both main dealers and manufacturers over the years and I doubt they would be interested in delivering to individual premises or homes.

Furthermore, to get the really best deals the group would need to buy in quantity, eg 100 boilers a month, every month.

Possibly a link up with an established independent retailer may work as the group could increase their partners buying power and get a better discount.

Not a project for the faint hearted I feel.

 

[southcoastboile]

This idea could work but distributors will probably only supply a retail outlet.
So the buying group would need to set up an umbrella company to buy stock and a premises to store the stock and distribute from.
I've bought from both main dealers and manufacturers over the years and I doubt they would be interested in delivering to individual premises or homes.

Furthermore, to get the really best deals the group would need to buy in quantity, eg 100 boilers a month, every month.

Possibly a link up with an established independent retailer may work as the group could increase their partners buying power and get a better discount.

Not a project for the faint hearted I feel.

How did you manage to buy from manufacturers?

 

[mountainman]

I was a partner in a plumbers merchants in a previous life.

 

[REDSAW]

retail via the tinternet?

 

[Kev the gas]

The problem with buying off the net is when parts break down under warranty, this month I have had to return a diverter valve motor, walked straight into local Plumb centre, handed over faulty part and walked out.

The job was visited, diagnosed, part swapped over all within 1 hour. Not bad considering it was for free.

Same scenario if part was from the net, phone call to supplier, convincing them the part is broken, wait for post ............ you get the jist !!

To save a few ££ can cause an awful lot of hassle.

Imho, building a good relationship with your local suppliers pays dividends in the long run, not only in financial terms

 

[Hybrid]

Used to be a place called antaires that were realy cheap, don't know what happened to them

I have an antares catalogue from 96. It's depressing to look at how cheap parts were back then.

 

[mountainman]

I checked out a boiler fan today out of curiosity, Internet price £85ish
Local City Plumbing £76ish.
Wouldn't waste my time buying fallible moving parts off t'net.