Plumber calls on Wolseley to negotiate over prices

Wolseley’s customers are walking away and buying their plumbing and heating goods from rival suppliers who are more willing to negotiate over price, says one London-based plumbing contractor.

Charlie Mullins, managing director of Pimlico Plumbers, an independent plumbing firm operating in London, says: “We have gone elsewhere to buy. Our product spend was 90:10 in Wolseley’s favour but now it’s swung 90:10 against them and we’re buying much more from their rival, Plumb Base.

“I’m surprised that Wolseley didn't put measures in place earlier, as the warning signs have been there for a long time.

“One of the biggest problems with Wolseley has always been their reluctance to be flexible and to negotiate. They have been rigid in their dealings and this has put them at odds with other suppliers.

“In the industry, those struggling now are the companies like Wolseley who are not negotiating as well as others, and those reticent to trim prices.

“I get a quote for a pump from Wolseley and it’s £50 but I can get the same item from a local merchant for £30. That’s why we’ve gone elsewhere.”

Mullins, who built up Pimlico Plumbers from scratch, has an annual spend on builders’ merchants’ products of £7m-£10m a year.

“With Wolseley being hit so hard it really brings home that no-one is safe,” he says. “I predict that this will only be the start for Wolseley and more cut backs are likely to follow.

“They are so dependant on the housing sector, which is unlikely to see recovery for a long time.

“More businesses are likely to go the same way and things won't change over night. This could be just the start.”