Ur favorite DIY Online Store

ampleforth

I discovered ScrewFix just a few days ago and love the site.

Nevertheless, I wonder if there are others (perhaps more specific) online stores for DIY, tools, materials (e.g. timber, pallets, tiles, garden material), etc. that do beyond Woodies and B&Q. Local stores with websites and shipping are welcome, too! Let me know why you like them.

Many thanks in advance!

Sleepy

Offline, I use Heiton Buckley and the Trade Electric Group (TEG) in Santry, and more locally Chadwicks Express and a Heat Merchants in the Turvey Business Park. B&Q and Woodies are handy when the trade places are closed but you definitely pay a premium for not having gotten up early enough on a Saturday morning.

A lot on-line hardware stores suffer from the cost of shipping since, by their very nature, they tend to be selling heavy things. Screwfix, as you mentioned is very useful for some things. Another I could recommend from past experience would be victorianplumbing.co.uk (noticed they've started doing telly advertising lately).

the_pen_turner

i cant see why anyone uses screwfix. their website is terrible. their selection of tools is very poor and their prices are at least 20% higher than other shops. its all shipped from the uk so you may as well go to one of the better online shops like ffx etc

example. makita 4ah battery is 52 sterling (58 euro)in ffx but 80 euro in screwfix

they have been cheaper on 1 or 2 things but it very rare

Sleeper12

ampleforth wrote:

I discovered ScrewFix just a few days ago and love the site.

I have nothing against screwfix and I use them myself for some things but you need to be careful about what you buy. Any triton shower bought from them will be a UK model & as such will have no Irish warranty. Aqualisa aquastream is very cheap here but you'll find the Irish agent won't honor the 3 years parts and labour warranty as again its a UK model. Almost anything with an Irish agent may not be covered by a warranty.

This is the same for any UK websites. Screwfix fools people with their .ie site. The same goes for many UK stores in Ireland. B&Q, argos, Homebase etc. Many products bought in these stores don't have an Irish warranty. You do still have your sale of goods act protection but you might have to go the small claims court to get them.

listermint

i could be construed as a fanboy but i have to hand it to goodwins their materials website is good it has fully pricing and stock counts per store on the screen.

I use them regularly and cant complain and their pricing is far better than the what id call high street DIY as they are a builders providers.

goodwins.ie

Sleepy

They seem to have by far the best website of the Irish builder's providers (the Chadwicks / Heiton Buckley ones are a joke) but I've rarely found them that competitive on prices to the other builder's providers. Maintaining a good website obviously isn't cheap!

listermint

Sleepy wrote: »

They seem to have by far the best website of the Irish builder's providers (the Chadwicks / Heiton Buckley ones are a joke) but I've rarely found them that competitive on prices to the other builder's providers. Maintaining a good website obviously isn't cheap!

Chadwicks is the closest to my workplace, Their pricing is eyewatering. Its like walking into Woodies. I do have to get the odd bits in there but its begrudgingly.

Not sure if they operate a different cost structure per store though, but the pricing is madness

Dr_Colossus

the_pen_turner wrote: »

i cant see why anyone uses screwfix. their website is terrible. their selection of tools is very poor and their prices are at least 20% higher than other shops. its all shipped from the uk so you may as well go to one of the better online shops like ffx etc

example. makita 4ah battery is 52 sterling (58 euro)in ffx but 80 euro in screwfix

they have been cheaper on 1 or 2 things but it very rare

+1 regarding Screwfix review above although don't find their website that bad. Was trying to buy a few radiators last year which were well priced and in stock on their UK site but not listed on their Irl site. After much frustration and contacting the company a number of times they eventually confirmed they didn't list the items on their Irl site and wouldn't ship from their UK site as the radiators were deemed to heavy for their delivery guys. Total cop out since they were fairly standard sized.
Was also looking to purchase a decent quantity of stainless screws from them some time later but their delivery costs were eye watering so sourced them from an ebay shop.

listermint wrote: »

i could be construed as a fanboy but i have to hand it to goodwins their materials website is good it has fully pricing and stock counts per store on the screen.

I use them regularly and cant complain and their pricing is far better than the what id call high street DIY as they are a builders providers.

goodwins.ie

listermint wrote: »

Chadwicks is the closest to my workplace, Their pricing is eyewatering. Its like walking into Woodies. I do have to get the odd bits in there but its begrudgingly.

Not sure if they operate a different cost structure per store though, but the pricing is madness

Agree with all of above, Chadwicks is closest to me also but I generally avoid it as their pricing appears very disorganised and their range or products quite poor. I believe it's under the same ownership umbrella as Woodies which says a lot.

Also find Goodwins website a big asset and their prices keen for most building related stuff. It's generally my go to place although have bought some stuff in Brooks previously also.

Woodies I find terrible, crazy prices and no proper building related products and they really gouge you on the small stuff like plumbing connectors and screws. B&Q on the other hand I really like, great opening hours and prices aren't that bad although we don't get half of what they stock in the UK.

Amazon though I find great, so many UK shops and distributors selling on their marketplace and great selection of product and prices to match. Delivery is usually very reasonable but for all those stores that don't deliver to Irl I use ParcelMotel which is very efficient. Have bought some big and delicate items such as shower doors and bathroom mirror cabinets via Amazon and ParcelMotel oversize and prices are a fraction of what you can get here.

Lumen

goodwins.ie for general supplies and materials
powertoolworld.co.uk for power tools
axminster.co.uk for hand tools, glue etc, the odd power tool
westfieldfasteners.co.uk for fancy fasteners (e.g. stainless bolts)
baunativ.de for Spax (when will Ireland embrace Torx?!?!)
screwfix for bits and bobs
amazon for electronic stuff (e.g. smart home gadgets) and anything else I can't find elsewhere

Websites aside, I actually find Power City quite good price-wise, often competitive with Amazon.

Like others, I use Chadwicks under duress only. Their yard is usually a tip, which says a lot.

Rows Grower

Build4less is the one I usually end up buying from after pricing everywhere else, delivery is peanuts on heavy goods and they are good to deal with over the phone too.

Sleeper12

listermint wrote:

Not sure if they operate a different cost structure per store though, but the pricing is madness

They give trade discounts. They must be charging you full retail. Try going in wearing snickers or other work wear. I don't use them because they are horrible stores to queue up in. One of my autistic quirks is I like structure. I can't use a store where there isn't a proper queue, the guy you have been queuing up for takes a call or walks away or them calling the guy behind you to the counter ahead of you.

listermint

Sleeper12 wrote: »

They give trade discounts. They must be charging you full retail. Try going in wearing snickers or other work wear. I don't use them because they are horrible stores to queue up in. One of my autistic quirks is I like structure. I can't use a store where there isn't a proper queue, the guy you have been queuing up for takes a call or walks away or them calling the guy behind you to the counter ahead of you.

been in snickers various times their pricing is still poor even in comparison to the O Mahonoy group who id also use as a walk in

Lumen

I just saw this website (dictum.com) mentioned on a Scott Brown video.

Holy crap, it's the motherlode of handtool porn! I think based in Germany.

e.g. something like 100 japanese saws!

https://www.dictum.com/en/japanese-saws-baaa

Lumen

Oh, one more: inox.ie for stainless fasteners.

They deliver fast (possibly next day) which means I won't bother with westfieldfasteners.co.uk

Along with dictum.com my DIY shopping is getting steadily closer to being Brexit-proof. :pac:

hesker

Buying more and more stuff online from UK and EU stores.

Example 1
28% savings on a range of stuff to build a wetroom shower. Exact same items. 1800 here, 1300 from Germany. Both prices incl delivery.

Example 2
1100 euro for 4msq of floor tile. (I kid you not).
350 euro + 150 euro delivery from Spain.
55% saving.
Exact same tile. These were not end of line or stock clearance.
I actually had an issue with a few of the tiles. Email sent Sunday. Replacement tiles arrived Wed morning.

I’ve had good experiences with the smaller suppliers here. Guttering and stuff much cheaper than big builders suppliers

1874

hesker wrote: »

Buying more and more stuff online from UK and EU stores.

Example 1
28% savings on a range of stuff to build a wetroom shower. Exact same items. 1800 here, 1300 from Germany. Both prices incl delivery.

Example 2
1100 euro for 4msq of floor tile. (I kid you not).
350 euro + 150 euro delivery from Spain.
55% saving.
Exact same tile. These were not end of line or stock clearance.
I actually had an issue with a few of the tiles. Email sent Sunday. Replacement tiles arrived Wed morning.

I’ve had good experiences with the smaller suppliers here. Guttering and stuff much cheaper than big builders suppliers

what's the site? link please, thinking of doing my bathroom

jonon9

My goto for tools is

Power tools https://www.powertoolworld.co.uk/

Hand Tools site 1 https://www.tbs-aachen.de/Sprache/en/Englisch.htm

Hand/Power tools site 2 https://www.axminster.co.uk/

Hand tools site 3 https://www.fine-tools.com/

I love to buy in Ireland but aot of things are way overpriced.

Rows Grower

One of your links got me interested in a Dewalt mini grinder for 77 euro, went to pay, none in stock.

Checked Amazon Warehouse Deals got one plus a 500ml bottle of Simoniz car wax and polish for 74 euro delivered.

antiskeptic

Sleepy wrote: »

Offline, I use Heiton Buckley and the Trade Electric Group (TEG) in Santry, and more locally Chadwicks Express and a Heat Merchants in the Turvey Business Park. B&Q and Woodies are handy when the trade places are closed but you definitely pay a premium for not having gotten up early enough on a Saturday morning.

Chadwicks and Heat Merchants (both owned by Grafton, as is Heitons as is Woodies) are rip offs - so hardly a saving getting up early on a Saturday. Any builder I know avoids them like the plague.

I was in Chadwicks on a Saturday and wanted a double switched socket (which I could normally get during the week for about 2.50 in the electrical shop locally). It was 5.78. I waited until Monday.

Layed my hand on some 21mm scotia to get 8 lengths and thought "bloody hell, that's pricey" (@ 6.50 an 8 ft length). Rang Woodworkers - hardly a discount store and they only had 25mm. At 3.55 a length.

Grafton are a monopoly. And price accordingly.

Double rad in Chadwicks 500x500. 55 quid. Same thing in Heat Merchants next door 45 quid. Heat Merchants are specialist plumbing so do have to compete differently than Chadwicks.

Now I too avoid them like the plague.

the_pen_turner

was in chadwicks last week needing somethng to finish off a 'while your here' job. i wouldnt use chadwicks mostly because they arent near me but was shocked at the prices

the reizer screw boxs that are 25.99 everywhere else were 30 .
they will only be on my emergancy list like band q ,woodies etc. total rip off

Calahonda52

the_pen_turner wrote: »

was in chadwicks last week needing somethng to finish off a 'while your here' job. i wouldnt use chadwicks mostly because they arent near me but was shocked at the prices

the reizer screw boxs that are 25.99 everywhere else were 30 .
they will only be on my emergancy list like band q ,woodies etc. total rip off

The one in Nenagh is savage: Timber in Staklums in Thurles: 22, Chadwicks 40

I showed them the docket from Staklums, no interest

cheif kaiser

https://www.lenehans.ie/ is great for all those bits and bobs, varnish, paint, fixtures and fittings, Hand Tools, gardening, etc, etc.

Delivery is free when you spend over €50 and is very fast so a win, win.

Payton

I don't have a favourite but I will drive the bit extra for stuff if I know I'll get a saving.
Recently I was putting down fence posts, Kilsarin Post 10 mix in Chadwicks was 11.25 per bag I think i bought 9 bags, ran short of the evening I was putting the posts down and went to woodies and it's 7.50 for the same!!
I pass Goodwins most days, very helpful staff and reasonably priced for most things.
My local hardware Guest in Tallaght is quiet good if I need anything asap.
Electrical cable or switches/sockets etc I'd use Emerald in Perrystown or Kellerhers.
I work with a guy who lives in Belfast, so if I see items in B+Q etc that we can't get here I'll ask him to pick it up for me.

lgk

Lumen wrote: »

powertoolworld.co.uk for power tools

First place I often look at too, my only gripe is they list a lot of stuff that is never in stock. I set up stock alerts for a few things like the Bosch GST 160 jigsaw about 6 months ago, and I haven't got notified on any of them coming into stock.