Another case of rip off Britain.

[otherclive]

I was looking at the cars nearside rear door internal edge and noticed that there was a hole blanking plug missing in line with the door handle. Similarly there was one missing on the nearside front door, yet both off side doors had the blanking caps fitted. I can't believe that they have been missing for my two years of ownership as I would have noticed by now. I always wipe down that surface after washing the car. Can only surmise that the recent valet did them no favours. Shouldn't be a problem getting replacements I thought. . So I removed one from the offside and it's a 25mm hole, with the blanking cap having a code inside. I searched on Google and got numerous hits for Kia and Hyundai OEM parts. Then I went into shock as prices for one cap were around £8-£10+. Unbelievable given US prices are $1.3-$1.5.

So a further couple of minutes saw me find a pattern part x 5 at £4 inc p&p.

How Kia/Hyundai can support such pricing defeats me.


Blanking cap

 

[borderbilly]

Yes sadly we live in rip off Britain. For instance, Screwfix and B&Q are under the Kingfisher brand, ownership, you would think there prices would be the same, sadly no, its worth comparing the 2 sites before purchasing from them. Example, a Dewalt sander at Screwfix £149, same one at B&Q £127. And i always thought Screwfix were cheap and B&Q were always dearer.

 

[woodsieboy]

I think it is the same should you need to replace a Swift microwave oven, an on line check from a caravan spares website shows the oven which appears to be very similar to a 'Cookworks 'branded oven, the price for the Cookworks one is close to £100 less

 

[RogerL]

Yes sadly we live in rip off Britain. For instance, Screwfix and B&Q are under the Kingfisher brand, ownership, you would think there prices would be the same, sadly no, its worth comparing the 2 sites before purchasing from them. Example, a Dewalt sander at Screwfix £149, same one at B&Q £127. And i always thought Screwfix were cheap and B&Q were always dearer.

Why would a group business have equal pricing at two subsidiaries - might as well close one of them down!

Pricing depends on supply and demand, with consumers able to choose where to buy - that's the whole basis of a free market.

 

[Woodentop]

Yes sadly we live in rip off Britain. For instance, Screwfix and B&Q are under the Kingfisher brand, ownership, you would think there prices would be the same, sadly no, its worth comparing the 2 sites before purchasing from them. Example, a Dewalt sander at Screwfix £149, same one at B&Q £127. And i always thought Screwfix were cheap and B&Q were always dearer.

Point 1: the model numbers between Screwfix and B&Q may not be the same - especially with De Walt.
Point 2: Toolstation (owned by Travis-Perkins) is usually cheaper than either of them!

 

[GaryB]

Screwfix and the like enjoy a constant stream of tradesmen buying from them in the belief they’re getting a good deal while B&Q support the occasional DIY enthusiast, just shows how comparing prices is important! Locally we have Wickes, Screwfix and Toolstation in close proximity and the price differences can be surprising!

 

[Dustydog]

Why would a group business have equal pricing at two subsidiaries - might as well close one of them down!

Pricing depends on supply and demand, with consumers able to choose where to buy - that's the whole basis of a free market.

The major supermarkets are the worst. Mr Cohen not only charges more at his Cirencester store than Swindon ,but sells a lesser quality stock at the latter. Every penny counts😡
They basically price to the area to enlarge their pockets.

 

[Guzzilazz]

The major supermarkets are the worst. Mr Cohen not only charges more at his Cirencester store than Swindon ,but sells a lesser quality stock at the latter. Every penny counts😡
They basically price to the area to enlarge their pockets.

I think you'll find that major supermarkets stock according to what the customer at a specific store buys... e.g. one Tesco in Colchester near University of Essex stocks lots of Oriental foodstuffs, due to the large number of Chinese students....

 

[otherclive]

After placing my order for some pattern blanking caps at 5 for £4 I came across these from Screwfix. Not exact pattern but would have probably done the job. 50 for £2.59 and only 15 minutes walk away.

 

[borderbilly]

Point 1: the model numbers between Screwfix and B&Q may not be the same - especially with De Walt.
Point 2: Toolstation (owned by Travis-Perkins) is usually cheaper than either of them!

Model number the same, toolstation price was £150 , so I bought it from B&Q. Yes I did my research.

 

[woodsieboy]

I think Kingfisher see Screwfix as a trade counter, and Band Q as a retail outlet, so less staff at Screwfix and warehouse on industrial estate, and Band Q , more staff and public acess to items on sale closer to retail areas, so costs will be different

 

[Dustydog]

I think Kingfisher see Screwfix as a trade counter, and Band Q as a retail outlet, so less staff at Screwfix and warehouse on industrial estate, and Band Q , more staff and public acess to items on sale closer to retail areas, so costs will be different

Shoplifting from a Screwfix branch is difficult. B&Q? Walk in walk out😢
Not me! Just an observation 😎

 

[borderbilly]

Shoplifting from a Screwfix branch is difficult. B&Q? Walk in walk out😢
Not me! Just an observation 😎

Can i put a order in?

 

[woodsieboy]

When our son was a teenager he worked part time at BandQ, one day a customer arrived at checkout with a watering can, Assistant says 'we haven't got any of those' customer says 'what do you mean, there is a big pile of them' assistant says 'computer says we don't have any' customer says'so I can't be accused of shoplifting, if you don't have any' and walked out with the watering can.

 

[woodsieboy]

This morning an e mail arrived to renew SWMBO car insurance with Halifax, last year was £189 they now asked for £ 250 for renewal. Quick check on the Meerkats came in at £157 with RAC, both Halifax and RAC are brokers and the £157 quote is with the same insurer as Halifax , so same insurer almost £100 less.

 

[Buckman]

This morning an e mail arrived to renew SWMBO car insurance with Halifax, last year was £189 they now asked for £ 250 for renewal. Quick check on the Meerkats came in at £157 with RAC, both Halifax and RAC are brokers and the £157 quote is with the same insurer as Halifax , so same insurer almost £100 less.

We had been with Lloyds for about 3 -4 years, but this year the quote was quite high. We switched to RAC who were a lot cheaper.

 

[Mel]

When we retired we downsized from a car each to one between us. OH was main insured person, I was named driver. At this point I had full NCD. This was 3 years and one week ago. Decided to go back to a car each so purchasing a small second hand EV ( this is part of a cunning longer term plan). Went to insure in my name.
Turns out after 2 years your NCD disappears. I rang my previous insurance provider ( a well known on line one) which is the same one with whom current car is insured and I am named driver with no claims. Told would honour previous NCD if under 3 years ago. How about 3 years and one week? Not a chance! Took my business elsewhere!

 

[Buckman]

When we retired we downsized from a car each to one between us. OH was main insured person, I was named driver. At this point I had full NCD. This was 3 years and one week ago. Decided to go back to a car each so purchasing a small second hand EV ( this is part of a cunning longer term plan). Went to insure in my name.
Turns out after 2 years your NCD disappears. I rang my previous insurance provider ( a well known on line one) which is the same one with whom current car is insured and I am named driver with no claims. Told would honour previous NCD if under 3 years ago. How about 3 years and one week? Not a chance! Took my business elsewhere!

Yep found that out a few years ago and OH had to start from scratch. When querying it was told that it was because she had not done any driving in the past 3 years! OH was a named driver on my policy and used the car frequently.

Another twist! I have the maximum NCD on my policy and earlier this year I decided I would become the main driver for our other car. If I did change, then NCD would start from scratch as it only applied to one vehicle. However if doing a quote Online it accepts the NCD with no mention of any issues so easy to unwittingly fall into that trap!

 

[otherclive]

When we retired we downsized from a car each to one between us. OH was main insured person, I was named driver. At this point I had full NCD. This was 3 years and one week ago. Decided to go back to a car each so purchasing a small second hand EV ( this is part of a cunning longer term plan). Went to insure in my name.
Turns out after 2 years your NCD disappears. I rang my previous insurance provider ( a well known on line one) which is the same one with whom current car is insured and I am named driver with no claims. Told would honour previous NCD if under 3 years ago. How about 3 years and one week? Not a chance! Took my business elsewhere!

Could I ask what EV are you looking to buy?

 

[Mel]

Could I ask what EV are you looking to buy?

Corsa e.
Here is the cunning plan.
1. We are piling the miles on our diesel tow car and most of those are not towing.
2. Using an EV instead for running about ( which is the vast majority of mileage) will add at least 5 years of life to the tow car.
3. The fuel saving cost will mean that a cheap and cheerful used EV ( hence the Corsa e) will pay back the purchase cost in 5 years.
4. It will be an introduction to EVs and will provide good learning to a plan beyond 5 years.

It works on paper. Will soon see if it works in real life. Every day is a school day 😀
Mel

 

[JTQ]

In my deliberations I have never found cost to change being covered by fuel savings, but saving from dumping a vehicle that is a bundle of trouble can.
Then we don't do multiple tens of thousands of miles per year.

 

[otherclive]

Corsa e.
Here is the cunning plan.
1. We are piling the miles on our diesel tow car and most of those are not towing.
2. Using an EV instead for running about ( which is the vast majority of mileage) will add at least 5 years of life to the tow car.
3. The fuel saving cost will mean that a cheap and cheerful used EV ( hence the Corsa e) will pay back the purchase cost in 5 years.
4. It will be an introduction to EVs and will provide good learning to a plan beyond 5 years.

It works on paper. Will soon see if it works in real life. Every day is a school day 😀
Mel

I think Tobes daughter has a Corsa E principally for her commute to work and one of his posts gave details of the cost breakdown. It was almost self funding cf to the ICE equivalent. But all users have different driving profiles and funding arrangements. It will give you flexibility too.
Good luck with it.

 

[otherclive]

Corsa e.
Here is the cunning plan.
1. We are piling the miles on our diesel tow car and most of those are not towing.
2. Using an EV instead for running about ( which is the vast majority of mileage) will add at least 5 years of life to the tow car.
3. The fuel saving cost will mean that a cheap and cheerful used EV ( hence the Corsa e) will pay back the purchase cost in 5 years.
4. It will be an introduction to EVs and will provide good learning to a plan beyond 5 years.

It works on paper. Will soon see if it works in real life. Every day is a school day 😀
Mel

My daughters nhs lease Corolla ends in January and she’s probably going to go for a private PCP as it works out much cheaper than any alternative via NHS even on a like fir like car. Here preferred car ( financially) is a MG ZS where currently the company are offering £10000 discounts across a lot of models in the MG range. So £30k nhs base cost for lease becomes £20k personal pcp cost. With £8000 to buy in 4 years if required and 7 year warranty.
The offer stays valid until 311 December from a Salisbury dealership.
The world of cars has gone barmy. 😱

 

[Buckman]

My daughters nhs lease Corolla ends in January and she’s probably going to go for a private PCP as it works out much cheaper than any alternative via NHS even on a like fir like car. Here preferred car ( financially) is a MG ZS where currently the company are offering £10000 discounts across a lot of models in the MG range. So £30k nhs base cost for lease becomes £20k personal pcp cost. With £8000 to buy in 4 years if required and 7 year warranty.
The offer stays valid until 311 December from a Salisbury dealership.
The world of cars has gone barmy. 😱

Offering huge discounts like that would make me wonder why and a little bit suspicious?

 

[RogerL]

Offering huge discounts like that would make me wonder why and a little bit suspicious?

Pricing of EVs has yet to settle down - list price is irrelevant* for new leased company cars as the leasing companies get healthy discounts anyway - few new EVs are being sold to private buyers at list price so there are lots of nearly new demonstrators being sold with huge discounts, new cars in reality - the prices of used EVs has yet to settle down.

* list price affects the value that BIK % is applied to for the employee.