Where is the best place to buy tools?

Where is the best place to buy tools?

If you’re looking for the best place to buy tools, you’ve got two main options: in-store or online.

While that may seem obvious, there are plenty of tips and tricks we can share to get you the best value tools for your business.

The benefits of shopping with a DIY retailer

• Check out the various features of a wide range of tools before you buy.
• Buy the product there and then – no waiting for delivery if you’re in a hurry.
• Pick up any other items you might need while in-store – yes to convenience.
• Take advantage of membership discounts – such as the discount Checkatrade members enjoy with TradePoint.

When you shop with a brand such as TradePoint, you know there’s always a store not far away, regardless of where you’re working at any given point.

However, plenty of tradespeople are loyal to their local independent tools supplier and builders merchants too.

Reasons to shop with a local independent tool supplier and builders merchant

• Get in-depth advice from independent merchants.
• Build a rapport and receive expert help and advice where needed.
• Try the products out before you commit to a purchase.
• Source specialist tools and materials.
• You know you’re getting great quality – the owner has handpicked everything for a reason.
• Support a local, independent business. We all know how important that is.
• You’ll often receive discounts for your loyalty too.

Don’t forget, you can claim work tools as a taxable expense.

Where is the best place to buy power tools?

If you’re looking for the cheapest place for power tools in the UK, there are plenty of ways to do this online.

As well as shopping online with DIY retailers such as TradePoint, and builders merchants like Selco (our members get exclusive deals here too!), here are some other tips for getting the best value power tools online.

• Clearance sales – keep an eye out for clearance sales as retailers make room for new stock.
• Hot deals – shop around before you buy for the most competitive prices.
• Ex-display – search online for ex-display and ex-demo tools for heavily discounted items.
• Marketplace – sites such as ebay, gumtree, and enviromate sell ex-display or second-hand power tools.
• Online auction – search for liquidation sales and auctions to source ex-demo and used professional tools.

For more money-saving ideas for business tools check out this post.

Where is the best place to buy building materials?

Whether you’re running an established business or you’ve just launched, the recent surge in prices has seen many tradespeople searching for the same thing: where to buy the cheapest building materials in the UK.

Cheap isn’t necessarily always best, but we’re always chasing the best value – great quality building materials at competitive prices.

And of course, making sure your supplier has a good stock of the items you need is crucial, especially with the current shortage in building materials.

The best place to buy building materials include:

• Builders merchants – remember to apply for a trade card to make some savings, and shop around for the various items you need, as prices can vary from merchant to merchant.
• Specialist merchants – there are companies that specialise in particular areas, e.g. timber merchants or plumbing merchants, catering for your specific needs.
• DIY retailers – many retailers will offer a trade discount.

We’ve partnered with Selco to get Checkatrade members an exclusive discount.

Quick summary

There’s a range of different places to buy tools and building materials, each with its own benefits.

• Shopping in-store allows you to check out the features and specifics of a range of tools and materials before you buy.
• Visiting a local independent tool supplier or builders merchant gives you access to experts who’ll be more than happy to share their product and industry knowledge.
• Both large DIY retailers and local builders merchants offer trade discounts. Checkatrade members get an exclusive discount with several DIY retailers and builders merchants – you really get to take your pick!
• Our top tips for shopping online for power tools include checking out clearance sales, hot deals, ex-display sales, marketplace sites, and online auctions for liquidation sales.
• Remember you can claim the purchase of work tools as a taxable expense, so keep your receipts!

FAQs

Why is there a shortage of building materials?

The UK has seen a shortage of building supplies in 2021 across a range of materials including steel, timber, bricks, roof tiles, cement, paints and sealants, plaster, and plasterboard.

The shortage was largely due to Brexit and then the Covid-19 pandemic. The shortage has caused price rises, forced retailers to limit purchase volume, and caused delays in building jobs up and down the country.