Companies in Administration/Bankruptcy Thread

[Kryten]

Originally Posted by Xenole

B&Q in my opinion tend to sell too many major things and not the small bits you need.. THe amount of times we've needed a few pence washer or certain bit for plumbing and all they have in say the full tap for £60.
Some of the smaller shops seem to stock bits.

I did some drilling of holes in my PC case a while ago for a water cooling setup and not one of the chain DIY stores had the auger / drillbit required. Popped along to a small independent shop and they had a wide selection to choose from and I got exactly what I wanted.

Focus seems to be a bit of everything just thrown together with no real thought.

That is where Screwfix are good. They have lots of trade counters you can go to now in most areas and sell things very cheap!

[DJBenson]

It's a shame Focus has gone to the wall - yet another employer in Burnley that will be spewing its staff shortly

We have a Homebase, Focus and within driving distance a B&Q store and of the 3 I preferred Focus, the prices were very reasonable and they usually had what I wanted. Granted it looked like a bit of a junk shop but I rarely left empty-handed.

I despise Homebase, it's overpriced and they don't actually stock things I'd expect to find in a DIY store. Latest example, I wanted 4 long wood screws but could only buy in packs of 50 for over 8 quid! There is a little place in my hometown of Chorley called ASC where you can go in and buy screws by weight on a "pick 'n' mix" basis - that's the way it should be!

[Barnacle]

I've always found Focus more expensive than Homebase and B&Q, plus it had less stock and the staff were not very helpful.

Another for Screwfix, they seem to have everything in stock every time I go in there.

[Kryten]

Originally Posted by Barnacle

Another for Screwfix, they seem to have everything in stock every time I go in there.

This has always impressed me. I have been to buy some completely random stuff out of their catalog at the trade counter and they have always had stock! If they do not they get it to you next day

[jockosjungle]

We did up my house, screwfix had everything in stock. Even really random drill bits or a bendable waste pipe.

Its not really intimidating like a proper trade place can be, more like an Argos

[KennyVader]

Can normal people shop at screwfix trade counters then? I always assumed, partly from the name, and partly from the implication of how their web site used to be worded years ago, that they were only for builders who had a trade account with them, and you had to drive a battered transit, like strong tea, and show them your bum crack to shop there.

[deanos]

Toolstation is cheaper than Screwfix on most items, they seem to be expanding quickly

[Ste7en]

Anyone can shop at Screwfix

[njc]

MESH Computers has gone bust, though bought up:

http://www.channelregister.co.uk/201...ration_buyout/

Aaw I still have a 10 year old Mesh (admittedly the internals have been changed a couple of times ) always seemed to be a well built PC and I had no trouble getting replacements for the Sony DVD writer that failed twice.

[eddieed]

Originally Posted by deanos

Toolstation is cheaper than Screwfix on most items, they seem to be expanding quickly

Set up by the person who founded Screwfix and sold it to Kingfisher Group (B&Q owners). They target areas that have a Screwfix already, they don't have as big a range but their prices are definately cheaper on most items and you only have to spend £10 for free next day delivery as well. Screwfix you have to spend £50. Part owned by Travis Perkins, who own Wickes.

[Ste7en]

Phew! I called into my nearest Focus at the weekend. Nightmare! Proper bun fight and with only 20 - 25 percent off. Looked like half the stock had gone elsewhere already.

Spotted a box of grass seed they were selling for 9.99, I'd bought the same box size at an Asda along the street from them for 4 quid (or 3 for a tenner)

[tizza]

I thought B and Q owned screwfix?

[jockosjungle]

Originally Posted by Ste7en

Phew! I called into my nearest Focus at the weekend. Nightmare! Proper bun fight and with only 20 - 25 percent off. Looked like half the stock had gone elsewhere already.

Spotted a box of grass seed they were selling for 9.99, I'd bought the same box size at an Asda along the street from them for 4 quid (or 3 for a tenner)

A shop closing down brings out the worst sort of people for some reason. It makes me laugh, vultures think they're getting a bargain but when buying a cheap fan in Woolworths because it was closing down, if it'd been marked on the shelf at that price they'd have walked right past

[Kryten]

Originally Posted by tizza

I thought B and Q owned screwfix?

They are owned by the same parent company (Kingfisher).

[Bapapapa]

Originally Posted by eddieed

Set up by the person who founded Screwfix and sold it to Kingfisher Group (B&Q owners). They target areas that have a Screwfix already,

The Croydon branches are literally directly opposite each other in the same yard..

Screwfix is always busy whereas Toolstation has tumbleweeds rolling around inside it..

[jockosjungle]

In Warrington as well, they're on the same industrial unit block

R

[njc]

HMV has postponed the inevitable for a little while longer, they've agreed a refinancing of £220m of loans:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13678497

[Guest 7521]

[QUOTE=DJBenson;9414009]It's a shame Focus has gone to the wall - yet another employer in Burnley that will be spewing its staff shortly
/QUOTE]

I see B&M Bargains have bought the store, so hopefully they can mop up some of the redundancies.

Such a shame.

[njc]

Life & Style in administration, 91 shops, 1000 jobs.