A Great Screw! (screwfix.com)

Member Name: andy0304

Product:	screwfix.com
Date:	25/10/04 (2112 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent Service , Fast and Free Delviery, Gerat Prices

Disadvantages: None i think!

I had always heard of the company called Screwfix but never really thought much about them, let alone using them. But out of pure curiosity one day I decided to request a catalogue from them via their website.

Within a couple of days the catalogue arrived and was full to the brim of bits for the DIY or Trade person. The prices in there are at trade prices and therefore a lot cheaper than you find in your local DIY stores.

I needed to get myself a new electric consumer unit for the flat I had as the one there was faulty and needed to be replaced. But not only did I need to get a consumer unit I also needed the Mini Circuit Breakers to go in them. I had looked around in various places such as DIY stores and local wholesale outlets but could not really find anywhere that was as cheap as the ones in the Screwfix catalogue.

Due to the prices I found I decided to go ahead with the order and providing that the order is placed with them before 6pm they will give you a next day delivery. Subject to Availability that is. But it gets better than that, delivery is free for orders over £45 but below that then delivery is only £5.95 anyway. These charges apply to their standard next day service only though.

If you want a more specific delivery then you can pay for a faster service. Add £4.00 to the delivery charge then you can have your delivery before midday, but pay an extra £9.00 then delivery is guaranteed before 10.00am, how quick is that! All of thee charges however apply to weekdays, but a Saturday delivery is available but will cost you £4.00 for the privilege, which for a Saturday delivery aint really that bad.

Some of the items that you can order from their website can take slightly longer. This is because they are supplied directly from the manufacturer. In these cases delivery can take either 7, 14, or 21 days, however they are clearly marked in their catalogue where it is applicable so that you know in advance how long you can expect to have to wait.

If for what ever reason that you need to return any of the products that you have ordered with them they have no problem with this. To make returns all you have to do is email them or call them with your details and you order number and they will arrange a courier to come and collect the products for you. All they ask for this service is that the product is in the original packaging and the condition it was sold in. However, if you do have to make a return, then do your self a favour and obtain a proof of delivery. Although I have never had a problem it is your proof should anything with your return go wrong.

Because Screwfix are only operated via their catalogue or via their website they have no stores that you can place orders in and therefore this reduces costs. But because you can order online it allows you to track your order with them 24/7. All you have to do is make sure that you re registered fully with their website. If you register with them and wish to track an order what they will do is direct you through to the website of their courier and then you will be able to enter the item number and track your delivery. The only orders that they cannot track for you via their website is the orders that are coming direct from the manufacturers.

At present they currently offer over 9000 lines from stock as well as hundreds of other lines available direct from manufacturers bringing it up to over 10,000 lines that they can offer.

Once on their website you can choose various ways of searching for the products you want. The first is by department which from the homepage are listed down the left hand side including the likes of Abrasive, Automotive, Ironmongery, Lighting, Nails, Paint, Electrical, Security and work wear, in fact the list goes onto include 25 different department. Move your mouse over any of the headings and you are presented with the list of subheadings for that department allowing you to be more specific with what you require.

The next way to search, which can sometimes be better if searching for a power tool, is by brand. On the right hand side of the homepage is a list of the brands that they offer and this includes all of the top names. This includes Bosch, Dewalt, Makita, Stanley and MK etc. To choose one of the brand just click on the one you require and you will be redirected to all of that brands products.

The next way to order is at the top of the homepage where you can enter the product that you are looking for. Once you have done this and clicked the go button you will be presented with a list of results to the search. In this place you can also enter a catalogue number if you have already found what you want in their catalogue.

One of the great things about their website is that on the left side are three further links, the first to New Products, and the second to Stock Clearance and the third to Latest Catalogue Prices. What this allows you to do is to view some of the new, clearance and special offers quicker without just coming across them when looking for other products. Seeing as they are always adding to their range the new link can be very useful.

Because Screwfix don’t have any outlets they rely purely on people ordering through their website or catalogue a lot of their advertising comes via word of mouth. This is why if you recommend a friend to Screwfix and they place their first order to the value of £50 or more they send you £10, simple as that.

They actually have two catalogues to offer you, one being the main Screwfix catalogue offering all of the stuff you would expect to find from Screwfix. The second is a catalogue they call Big Stuff. This contains all the larger items that you might to expect to find from such a company.

When it comes to the ordering of your products it works like any other online shopping site where you add the products you want to your trolley before proceeding to the checkout. At this point you have three payment options available to you; the first is Screwfix vouchers, these are what they seem, Screwfix Gift Vouchers available to order from them. The next way you can pay is by the usual credit or debit cards or by setting yourself up with a Credit Account direct with Screwfix. The credit account gives you the benefit of ordering what you want and paying for the goods after you receive your regular invoice.


Due to the type of products that Screwfix offer a lot of the products contain Health and Safety instructions due to the ingredients in them. Because of this Screwfix have included a Health and Safety page on their website which gives you literally everything you need to know as far as health and safety goes. This includes all the risk phrases, safety phrases and codes, as well as all the Hazard Classifications. So if you intend to use any products that contain any of these in your home then it is worth taking a look at this page first.

Another thing that their website has is the talk tab at the top of the page. What this service allows you to do is to chat to other customers of Screwfix. This can be about various things, be feedback on Screwfix or help on DIY tasks you may be completing.

Although they operate from a main distribution centre in Somerset they also have two smaller distribution centres located in other part of the country. These can be found in Highbridge and Leicester; these are there to aid the company in ensuring that their next day service reaches as many parts of the country as possible.

Screwfix direct have been in business for over 30 years now and have plenty of experience in dealing with the trade people and public. They recently became part of the Kingfisher group, the company which currently is the third largest home improvement retailer owning the likes of B&Q as well.

Overall if you are looking to purchase a quantity of DIY equipment or work in that trade then I suggest you either request a catalogue or alternatively view their website before buying the goods elsewhere.

The opening hours of their phone lines are:

Monday to Friday 7.00am till 10.00pm
Saturday and Sunday 8.00am till 8.00pm.

They can be contacted on a free phone number 0500 41 41 41

Alternatively via post (free again):

Screwfix Direct
FREEPOST
Yeovil
BA22 8BF

You can also fax them free:

0800 056 22 56

Or email them at:

online@screwfix.com

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