Daley Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 I am totally shocked at the prices in French shops, DIY in particular. I am not even taking into consideration the fall in Sterling against the Euro. What is the secret of getting materials at a reasonable price, am I missing something here? I am considering asking the in-laws to bring items with them from the UK or travelling over the border to Germany. How do the French afford to shop in Bricorama etc?ThanksDale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybanana Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 Trade discounts are very generous but the bricoleur pays through the nose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 Try a Brico Depot (I think thats the correct name). The prices don't seem to be as bad as some of the other DIY stores: Mr Bricolage for example. Keep an eye out for the special offers. Some of the stuff is lowish quality but there are some bargains. I would agree prices do seem expensive in France. For example, I managed to pick up 150 sheets of 50mm high quality insulation for £15 a sheet in the UK, the best price I could get on the equivalent insulation in France was 45 euro a sheet. Round that to a 150 x 30 euro discount and its a big saving buying in the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 Brico Depot prices can be found HERE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG MAC Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 Discounts are obtainable from local merchants usually.It's not they are mega dear they are differently structured.It's a bit like shopping at Marks and Sparks or ASDAM&S equivalent are the twee Bricos who concentrate on tiles lighting and decorations with a bit of gardening chucked in.Leroy Merlin are I guess more atthe ASDA end does what it should at reasonable costLocal merchants are like some independent merchants here.. prepared to haggle.I went into our locally for a load of roofing materials to be priced (Took a list as my French isn't good) asked the guy to price my list then I wrote alongside what I thought was a fair price...Much laughing and mangled French / Franglais later we shook hands. Any time I go in there I seem to get fair prices (Not as cheap as Leroys a lot of the time) but fair because the merchants is ten minutes from my house and will drop stuff in whereas Leroys is about an hour and a half away.You pays your money etc........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJSLIV Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 It can't be fundamentally that much more expensive. Its not that long ago that the weekend press was full of articles showing how much could be saved by a day ferry trip to LeroyMerlin in Calais Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooby Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 Do you have a Point P near you? May be worth checking out the prices there as that seems to be where most of the local trades people get their stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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