NICEIC Certification Scheme Tradepoint discount via NICEIC

[Gavin John Hyde]

I have seen on the NICEIC website that if you are signed up on either the DI or AC schemes then you can get a tradepoint card for discount from B&Q. Admittedly some of the stuff is a bit shoddy. Some of the other stuff less so.
My question though is does anybody have the trade point card via NICEIC and is the discount better than the bog standard trade point card anybody can get?
The NICEIC suggest they have negotiated a better discount so am wondering if its all its cracked up to be?
The info from the niceic is in the other services bit when you login...

TradePoint card – exclusive discounted prices on trade essentials

We have partnered with TradePoint and agreed negotiated pricing for all NICEIC members on thousands of key products from the TradePoint catalogue, against the standard trade price.

TradePoint supply products needed day in day out for building and maintenance, with trusted brands at competitive prices all under one roof.

• 12,000 products at low trade prices
• Additional discount on B&Q shop floor items
• 4000+ items picked from behind the TradePoint counter
• Trusted trade brands
• Bulk delivery to site
• Buy in store, online & by phone
• 60 days payment card

For more cards or any questions contact the team on:
Tel: 0131 458 6256
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.tradepoint.co.uk

 

[Pete999]

I have seen on the NICEIC website that if you are signed up on either the DI or AC schemes then you can get a tradepoint card for discount from B&Q. Admittedly some of the stuff is a bit shoddy. Some of the other stuff less so.
My question though is does anybody have the trade point card via NICEIC and is the discount better than the bog standard trade point card anybody can get?
The NICEIC suggest they have negotiated a better discount so am wondering if its all its cracked up to be?
The info from the niceic is in the other services bit when you login...

TradePoint card – exclusive discounted prices on trade essentials

We have partnered with TradePoint and agreed negotiated pricing for all NICEIC members on thousands of key products from the TradePoint catalogue, against the standard trade price.

TradePoint supply products needed day in day out for building and maintenance, with trusted brands at competitive prices all under one roof.

• 12,000 products at low trade prices
• Additional discount on B&Q shop floor items
• 4000+ items picked from behind the TradePoint counter
• Trusted trade brands
• Bulk delivery to site
• Buy in store, online & by phone
• 60 days payment card

For more cards or any questions contact the team on:
Tel: 0131 458 6256
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.tradepoint.co.uk

Just go to the shed, and apply who needs NICEIC not me

 

[ipf]

Another example of sheds undercutting genuine electrical wholesalers, IMO. Money making to$$ers, as far as I'm concerned.
A friend wanted some Masterseal outdoor sockets, so I gave him the price to me......20% cheaper to him at B and Q.......they get them cheaper for buying in bigger bulk.....what is happening to the trade?...and whose side are nici on, these days?

 

[Dave OCD]

Go for BG weatherproof sockets is my advice mate, just as good IMO and you can get them for under £15 for a double.

 

[SparkyChick]

Based on my own experience of Tradepoint... they can keep their discount. The customer service I've received has been appalling. I certainly wouldn't buy any electrical stuff from them unless they were the only place that had it (unlikely) or it was a special request from a customer, I'd much rather give my business to my local wholesalers (especially the one that handed me a crate a Stella when I popped in to pick up a new screwdriver ).

 

[Pete999]

Another example of sheds undercutting genuine electrical wholesalers, IMO. Money making to$$ers, as far as I'm concerned.
A friend wanted some Masterseal outdoor sockets, so I gave him the price to me......20% cheaper to him at B and Q.......they get them cheaper for buying in bigger bulk.....what is happening to the trade?...and whose side are nici on, these days?

Only one side, Mate their own,

 

[mattg4321]

Based on my own experience of Tradepoint... they can keep their discount. The customer service I've received has been appalling. I certainly wouldn't buy any electrical stuff from them unless they were the only place that had it (unlikely) or it was a special request from a customer, I'd much rather give my business to my local wholesalers (especially the one that handed me a crate a Stella when I popped in to pick up a new screwdriver ).

That's more like it.

Round here there seems to be a strange phenomenon of wholesalers receiving presents from their customers. What for I'm not entirely sure. I think it should be the other way round personally! Especially if you've spent 10's of thousands with them since last Christmas

 

[Octopus]

Go for BG weatherproof sockets is my advice mate, just as good IMO and you can get them for under £15 for a double.

Less than that at screwfix ATM

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

I think with a lot of these things and much like cashback sites, somebody is making money for getting you to shop there, i wouldn't be at all surprised if the niceic get a nice bit of money as commission for every person they get signed up and shopping there.

 

[buzzlightyear]

I have had mine for months , I only go there for non electrical stuff .

 

[NDG Elecs]

NAPIT had a similar scheme with tradepoint a couple of years ago. But the savings were pointless imo. Coupled with the fact that going anywhere near a tradepoint counter is likely to be a hideous time consuming one, I would say don't bother! In their earlier days I visited them, but the awful stock control, waiting around for 30 minutes and often nil discounts made me see sense. How kingfisher can get Screwfix sort of reasonably well ran but bq so badly ran says to me they see bq as a DIY shop.

AVOID PLAGUE, like the....!

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

It is a bit ironic when you think about @NDG Elecs . As its a bit like that with Travis Perkins who own wickes and toolstation. It seems left and hand right hand dont know what the other is doing. surely any business should see what works well and what doesnt. But its as if the different stores are on different planets.

 

[ipf]

Go for BG weatherproof sockets is my advice mate, just as good IMO and you can get them for under £15 for a double.

Not my job and done about 9 months back. What he wanted, he got. Just making a point.

 

[Leesparkykent]

The discount you get is pathetic. You would be better off getting someone over 60 to sign up to the B and Q club and send them in there with a shopping list on a Wednesday to get 10% off.

 

[pirate]

How true! I have both the tradepoint and OAP cards...never really use them as SF has better prices on (almost) everything and some stuff you see in bq is clearly rebadged stuff shipped in from SF but with a price hike. However, I recently got a Stanley toolbag for £9 in bq, less my wednesday discount, but not available in SF. Strangely, I also bought a bigger Stanley one a month ago which was £19.99 in SF (discounted from £29.99) which is currently £30 in bq...seems a mess to me. I do some plumbing stuff from time to time, and it's the same story. bq so expensive for basic connectors etc but yesterday I got an emergency pipe repair clamp from bq for £10 (choice of 15mm or 22mm) but at sf it was 15mm only, and £15...which I think is about 50% dearer, (maths at this time on a friday..not my best thing!)
BTW, these pipe clamps are a real lifesaver in an emergency if you have a burst this winter
Kibosh Emergency Pipe Repair - Fix leaking or burst pipes in seconds - http://kiboshpiperepair.com/
add a couple of them, and some push-fit stop ends to your kit, so if you are faced with a screw or nail through a pipe (maybe a plumber, eh?) you can fix the water leak before you set out on drying out the electrics.

 

[Toneyz]

It's another way of getting the professional trade,it is one thing that I have disagreed with the NICEIC doing of late going down the selling of tools test equipment promoting products eats away of impartialness.On the subject of MK Marstershield, switched double sockets asked for price(inc vat) from Edmundson's £70 Denmans £55looked in Toolstation £39 I think these days you have to shop around (yes I know wholesalers deliver f.o.c.)

 

[pirate]

It is a bit ironic when you think about @NDG Elecs . As its a bit like that with Travis Perkins who own wickes and toolstation. It seems left and hand right hand dont know what the other is doing. surely any business should see what works well and what doesnt. But its as if the different stores are on different planets.

I agree, ironic...
but I probably won't be phoning Alanis Morissette...
she just wouldn't understand

 

[pirate]

on the other hand...fixing the plumbers' mistakes would be ironic...and we could be heroes...just for one day

 

[I2C]

I've got a trade-point card. They simply ask you to prove you're in the trade. I simply showed my qualifications and gave them a website-address & email for my business (sole-trader, self employed) which checked out ok.

To be honest, the staff are very keen to meet their targets for trade-point sign-ups and they'll do whatever they can to help you, so don't be afraid to chat with them and ask questions (they want it as much as you).

 

[NDG Elecs]

I didn't realise TP was same owner as Wickes. That's definitely another example, and Gavin is spot on there.

Our local bq used to be ok when it was one of their massive stores. I say ok only because it stocked absolutely everything, which could be occasionally handy. But that store has been chopped in half and is now as bad as homebase. @I2C I have been collared a couple of times dressed in my work gear but using the normal checkouts by staff asking why don't I sign up for the tradepoint. They generally look bemused when I show them I am! I tell them that there is virtually no point in me using the tradepoint counter as prices are often the same (or sometimes actually more expensive!), and the time it takes to get served is often ridiculous.

 

[I2C]

I didn't realise TP was same owner as Wickes. That's definitely another example, and Gavin is spot on there.

Our local bq used to be ok when it was one of their massive stores. I say ok only because it stocked absolutely everything, which could be occasionally handy. But that store has been chopped in half and is now as bad as homebase. @I2C I have been collared a couple of times dressed in my work gear but using the normal checkouts by staff asking why don't I sign up for the tradepoint. They generally look bemused when I show them I am! I tell them that there is virtually no point in me using the tradepoint counter as prices are often the same (or sometimes actually more expensive!), and the time it takes to get served is often ridiculous.

Funny enough, I used to work for one of the companies TP ownes, they include:- Benchmarks, Wickes, Tile Giant, BSS, PTS, City Plumbing, Tool-Station, Rudridge, Keyline, CCF, Installation Giant, Sustainable Building Solutions, The Underfloor Heating Store, DHS, City Heating Spares, Solfex, Birchwood Tools, F&P, Connections, Primaflow, Plumb-Nation, Scruffs, Iflo,Trade, Holdon, Bullet, Neue, Sektor, Defender, BOSS, Tradeline, Vanvault, Pro, Fresssh, Punk, AEC, NHance, Warm, Prowarm, etc....

 

[Midwest]

I use me tradepoint card every time I go in B&Q, & not to get much electrical stuff or credit. Just get a discount off what your buying (not every time), then you just pay as normal. Can't see the issue, if it saves you some dosh.

Ditch me other dirty/old tradepoint card in favour of the Certsure one, haven't got a Scooby if it makes a difference in price. But if I can save 20p, 'it's one less thing'

 

[NDG Elecs]

I use me tradepoint card every time I go in B&Q, & not to get much electrical stuff or credit. Just get a discount off what your buying (not every time), then you just pay as normal. Can't see the issue, if it saves you some dosh.

Ditch me other dirty/old tradepoint card in favour of the Certsure one, haven't got a Scooby if it makes a difference in price. But if I can save 20p, 'it's one less thing'

That's my point though Mid, often it doesn't save you a penny and you normally have to wait much longer for the privilege! And as I say, sometimes the TP prices are more expensive than the prices on the shelves for Joe public. I compared it a few times before I came to this conclusion.
The NAPIT scheme as per the original post was/is pointless. I looked at it and you saved around 1p per backbox, so something in the region of £3.00 saving per year. If it's a convenient place to go then fair enough, but I could probably go around three wholesalers in the time it takes to get served at TP. Standing around like a plum!

 

[Midwest]

As I say, only use the card when I need to go in there. Use it only to get discount, like a loyalty card, and only at the B&Q till. Takes seconds just to scan it, sometimes you win, sometimes you don't.

 

[MisterE]

I have a Trade Direct Insurance version of the Trade Point card, although there isn't a lot of discount (if any) on electrical items a lot of other single purchase items are sold at the multi-pack price.
You can use your Trade Point card at any till (and the self service tills) but it's often a ---- up as to if you buy with the Trade Point card or go for the "Joe Public" discounted price.
I've sometimes split the trolley and paid separately to get the best price.
It'll be better next year when I hit the magic 6-0 and get the OAP discount .... I'll be joining the Wednesday rush

 

[Toneyz]

The Tradepoint in B & Q is just a rebadged set up of Screwfix/Toolstation.