Hi all,
Anyone got any tips for sourcing cheap building materials, furnishings, appliances etc? I’ll start with a few I’ve found:http://www.graysonline.com.au – good source of new/reconditioned appliances – a lot of it comes with factory warranty!!!
Local auction houses are also good for a bargain – especially if a retailer in the area goes bust.
Factory seconds dealers – sometimes hard to find but well worth the effort. Again, some of the stuff comes with a manufacturers warranty.
They’re just a few – if you’ve got any more tips/ideas/names of factory seconds dealers, please post them!!
Cheers,
SpankAge doesn’t negate effort – you can never be too young or too old.
there are plenty of second hand building material yards around. you know the ones where you find second hand doors, sinks, wood, etc etc…
i founds some pavers for 1/4 the retail price..
I actually just bought pavers from Blokpave which were factory seconds. Bought them for $8 per m and normally retailed for about $26 per m. These were new and I couldn’t tell the difference from firsts! Back breaking work laying them though!!!
Another big one I almost forgot – CASH IS KING!!!
As I recently found out, even the ‘big, inflexible’ retailers like Harvey Norman etc will cut a portion off the RRP if you offer cash.
You can negotiate the sale price of just about anything (especially if you are spending a relatively large amount), once you feel a fair price has been reached, ask finally, “Could you sweeten it a little more if I were to pay cash?” If they say no – walk out – there’s always another retailer that will bow to your request if you tell them that their largest competitor just refused.
Age doesn’t negate effort – you can never be too young or too old.
another good tip is if your not caught up having this years model – during stocktake sales you can get huge discounts for old models. we bought a bed suite reduced from 4k to $1950. floor stock and last years model….who cares if its floor stock with a scratch ot 2 – after a couple of years it will have plenty of scratches………..
Another thing I have discovered with pavers (and probably a lot of other building materials) – while the more expensive ones look nicer in the display areas, the cheaper ones still look fantastic in their own right once they are laid.
After all – by the time you put the cheap ones down in your backyard, there are no “nicer” (more expensive) ones to compare them with directly.
Age doesn’t negate effort – you can never be too young or too old.
I realise this has been mentioned before in other threads, however I have found some bargains at the auction places such as Ross’s Auctions.
A specific example was timber flooring where I am still kicking myself for not bidding on packs of bamboo flooring. Went for $25 / m2 which is a great price. Ended up going for laminate in the end which worked but the bamboo would have been better.
Only mention it because I had a look at the latest auction catelogue and spotted some more bamboo, so anyone in Perth looking for some, maybe take a look.
cheers
Jan
I work in a brick factory and I see the product that goes out as seconds.
There is a reason why they are sold cheap, and it is not because they are the same as good quality products.
In fact the industry standard in Australia has a very low quality control standard even for the so called “quality products”
Imagine pavers that crack and disintegrate after you walk on them a few times. I shudder to think at the money and back breaking labour wasted in laying some of the seconds that are out there. The good products are of fragile enough build but at least are guaranteed.
No refunds once laid if the seconds are stuffed unlike good quality full price ones.
Make your own mudbricks is my advice if you want to save a buck, or even buy good used ones.
You are taking a gamble that you will end up with some very expensive biscuit dust within seconds when it comes to brick products.
BUT…****HOT TIP**** Try going for the products that are the “wrong colour” rather than seconds that should be coated in chocolate and sold as tim-tams.
Beware, there are many brick and tile products that go out as seconds that an 8 y.o. kid could easily break in half with their hands
I think bargains are great, but as a tradesman I know the devastating effect of using poor quality products in the long run.
oh.. and while i’m raining on this little party, cash only gets you back to a reasonable retail price with Harvey Norman, they over inflate all their prices because of the 18 month interest free thingy. Taking good advantage of people who want the fanciest/shiniest thing they can buy (but can’t really afford).
So just a balanced word of warning for anyone reading this thread with rose coloured glasses:
Cheap poor quality building products can be more expensive in the long run!! just because you paid less to start with doesn’t mean you got a true bargain.
Please continue with the suggestions, I’ll be quiet now.
Live, Learn and GrowLifexperience
lifex – try not to shudder too much – its bad for you…
with regards to 18 months interest free at harvey norman. i think what you will find is that harvey normans prices are quite normal and you should be able to ask for a cash discount. if however you want interest free they will not discount from the reatil price because of the costs involved with hire purchase. they are not ‘overinflated’ to begin with….
Thanks Lifex, ouch!!
I work in the steel industry myself and wouldn’t contemplate seconds if they were available in structual or reinforcing for some similar reasons. Point taken!
The ones I bought were actually seconds due to colour and I did view them before loading on the truck, but in all honesty, didn’t think too much about it!
Live and learn!!!
Hi all,
Thanks for your posts on this topic, yes, even you lifex – good to get alternative views from people who know their industry.I am a firm believer in the idea that “you get what you pay for”, however, I know there are true bargains out there to be had and that you have to go looking for them.
I started the topic to provide a base for people looking for “value for money” to meet and share ideas, but thanks for the “inside” info also.
Good or bad, keep the posts coming, I’m not here for an argument, only to learn.
Cheers and thankyou all for your input.
SpankyAge doesn’t negate effort – you can never be too young or too old.
i buy the crappiest stuff and pray it doesnt break down!!!
the entire family has comprehensive health insurance just incase
Aus,
I tend to shudder with the speed wobbles when I build up momentum, like my old holden I drive.Jhopper,
its funny how the same principles are there in every industry when you look…hmmm.Spanky,
Great attitude. I too find it degrading when a good discussion breaks down to a squabble. We need more like you to keep these boards positive. I have noticed a generally brighter attitude across the board as a whole….Spring is sprung and the flowers and the deer are looking forward to summer fun.
Live, Learn and GrowLifexperience
Thanks for the support lifex. Keep the posts coming…….
Another tip – it can be good to think about property decisions at a time when nobody else is!!! People might accept a slightly lower offer on a property this close to Christmas – after all – who wouldn’t want a nice healthy deposit cheque stapled to an offer for their property at this time of year???
Age doesn’t negate effort – you can never be too young or too old.
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