Hampshire Plumbers

[cr0ft]

Curious how many plumbers from Hampshire use these forums. All will become clear soon but if you work in Hampshire please reply!

 

[PlumbBobBob]

i do, hampshire born and bred!

 

[HoodedClaw]

I work in hampshire, I was thrown by the title as Hampshire Plumbing is a company name in Winchester.

 

[cr0ft]

OK. I mentioned a while back on this forum about the possibility of putting some sort of co-operative together for plumbers in my area. Basically what I'm looking to do is buy from the manufacturers directly on products and have found quite a few manufacturers who are happy to supply on that basis. To make it work I need to get a good few plumbing companies in Hampshire interested in the idea.

To give you an idea, one plumbing manufacturer is quoting prices of £1.81/m + VAT for 15mm copper pipe based on an order of 1 ton. Merchant price seems to be about £2.24/m + VAT at the moment. I think if I can get 10 companies on board then it would be possible to look into further.

I know a couple of local plumbing companies to me who would probably be interested. Would you be interested and do you know anyone else who is?

I'm pretty sure there's room for negotiation and there's lots to look into but as an idea it's something I'm interested in.

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

Where is this copper coming from? China?

 

[cr0ft]

Nope a UK Manufacturer. Kitemarked CE approved to BS EN 1057 table X half hard. Was quite an eye-opening conversation yesterday.

 

[cr0ft]

based on a minimum order of 1 tonne as I say, which is around 120 bundles of 15mm copper pipe or 60 bundles of 22mm copper pipe to put it in real terms. Obviously the more you can order the cheaper it becomes.

Fitting prices are around 5p and up for end feed fittings, again all uk manufactured.

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

in that case it sounds a good idea if you can get together enough plumbers who are willing to trust you (not implying you are untrustworthy)

 

[cr0ft]

I think so too, especially as copper prices are only going one way at the moment.

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

and they are going to keep going the same way

 

[dontknowitall]

Why not buy a copper derivative as this will increase as the price of copper increases.

(See your stock broker if you're interested!)

I take you've all got enough money to require the services of a stock broker ... I jest, of course. This would have been more true around 10 years ago and with the stock markets in turmoil it's probably not high on the list of priorities.

Seriously though, there are financial commodity instruments that go up and down as the price of materials (copper, corn, beef, gold, etc) varies. And for a £500 investment or whatever you decide it's not THAT expensive when it might keep going up in price for a while.

While this information is given with good intentions remember that the price of your plumbing might go up as well as down ...

 

[moony]

Why not buy a copper derivative as this will increase as the price of copper increases.

(See your stock broker if you're interested!)

I take you've all got enough money to require the services of a stock broker ... I jest, of course. This would have been more true around 10 years ago and with the stock markets in turmoil it's probably not high on the list of priorities.

Seriously though, there are financial commodity instruments that go up and down as the price of materials (copper, corn, beef, gold, etc) varies. And for a £500 investment or whatever you decide it's not THAT expensive when it might keep going up in price for a while.

While this information is given with good intentions remember that the price of your plumbing might go up as well as down ...

gone way over my head.........

 

[dontknowitall]

I won't bore you but you know you can buy shares in companies and dollars and government bonds? Well, these are another family of investment.

 

[cr0ft]

Yup, well I was thinking of doing this as it would directly benefit my own business. That said, I've contacted around 30 plumbers in my local area and no reply so I guess there is no demand. Strange, if someone offered me a genuine way to save money on materials I would jump at the chance but maybe it's just me

 

[Plumbstar Tom]

it depends how you approached it

No offence but if someone contacted me about I would be raising an eye brow thinking isn't this guy just gonna run off with my money?

Again I am not implying that you are like that but thats how I would feel if a Joe Bloggs plumber sent correspondence to me

IMHO