Becoming more and more amazed at people who, without negotiating prices in any way, go to Byggmax and buy what they need.
I am a small customer, spending about 10,000 SEK/year. I went to the nearest lumber yard/building supply store and set up an account. Got 20% off right away.
Then the prices are a few kronor above Byggmax. When I need more than 5-10 of an item, I ask about the price and they usually lower it by another 20%.
It also includes cutting (if you help lift), loading, coffee, and they know things if you ask. Feel free to pick from the scrap bin if you do it neatly.
For me, it's also closer, but that might vary depending on where you live.
The downside is that they are not open on Sundays and screws are very expensive.
How do you shop for building materials?
I am a small customer, spending about 10,000 SEK/year. I went to the nearest lumber yard/building supply store and set up an account. Got 20% off right away.
Then the prices are a few kronor above Byggmax. When I need more than 5-10 of an item, I ask about the price and they usually lower it by another 20%.
It also includes cutting (if you help lift), loading, coffee, and they know things if you ask. Feel free to pick from the scrap bin if you do it neatly.
For me, it's also closer, but that might vary depending on where you live.
The downside is that they are not open on Sundays and screws are very expensive.
How do you shop for building materials?
Don't shop that much either, and I would have gladly supported the local Beijer merchant since I'm sure they can match the price if you set up an account, etc. But unfortunately, their service is so poor that it's embarrassing on their behalf. For example, yesterday when I stopped by to buy a T-pipe for drainage, they were out of stock. That can happen, but they couldn't even answer whether they had ordered more... 
Yes, if you're lucky enough to have access to a building supply store like the one TS describes, there's no reason not to choose it. But there are also small building supply stores with sky-high prices, lousy service, and snooty staff. Some don't have a small building supply store within a reasonable distance at all.
Then there are customers who appreciate the Byggmax and similar concepts; being able to walk around, feel the material, and ponder in peace and quiet.
Then there are customers who appreciate the Byggmax and similar concepts; being able to walk around, feel the material, and ponder in peace and quiet.
There is a local building supply store 5 minutes away that provides most of the "building materials." They also have an impressive selection of unusual items like inch-threaded screws, etc., nothing has been thrown away over the years. I have bought paint at Swedol, electrical and plumbing items usually come from some online retailer.
In my experience, if you request a quote at the local lumber yard, you often get better or the same prices as, for example, Byggmax. In my case, it's AB Karl Hedin, so it may vary depending on where you live and which companies are available. Then I buy what I need where it fits and is cheapest/best. Sometimes Byggmax has better lengths, meaning less waste, so it's worth it. The local lumber yard can't compete with the opening hours, so if you need to buy something when they're closed, Byggmax is perfect. I have also not experienced Byggmax having lower quality lumber as many claim; wherever you buy it, you need to check that what's currently available is OK and sort out the worst that no one wants.
The convenient thing about the lumber yard is that you can have an account, sometimes get better service/help, and negotiate prices, and if it's big enough, it has a larger selection than, for example, Byggmax. But some things are simply cheaper at Byggmax, and then I buy there. Now I'm building a garden house of 30 sqm, and, for example, coarse concrete, storage doors, and windows are cheaper at Byggmax, and for simple side-hinged double-glazed windows, I have no desire to pay twice as much just because they are painted (and a different brand).
So my suggestion is always to check prices and, where possible, get a quote, then pick the best deals and shop where it fits. Generally condemning or recommending Byggmax or other companies is very difficult depending on what you're looking for and the local market conditions, so check the prices and selection when it's time to build and shop and buy where it's most advantageous is my advice.
The convenient thing about the lumber yard is that you can have an account, sometimes get better service/help, and negotiate prices, and if it's big enough, it has a larger selection than, for example, Byggmax. But some things are simply cheaper at Byggmax, and then I buy there. Now I'm building a garden house of 30 sqm, and, for example, coarse concrete, storage doors, and windows are cheaper at Byggmax, and for simple side-hinged double-glazed windows, I have no desire to pay twice as much just because they are painted (and a different brand).
So my suggestion is always to check prices and, where possible, get a quote, then pick the best deals and shop where it fits. Generally condemning or recommending Byggmax or other companies is very difficult depending on what you're looking for and the local market conditions, so check the prices and selection when it's time to build and shop and buy where it's most advantageous is my advice.
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I don't shop at byggmax because of the disorder, the timber is all over the place, very poor in terms of different lengths, staff who are completely uninterested in helping to load 30 gypsum boards. My construction dealer has almost all lengths in stock at 30 cm intervals, and you don't need two people to load gypsum boards, so if you calculate it, byggmax is not the cheapest.
It is often said that a big advantage of the local trader is that he has a variety of lengths per dimension of lumber, which should make it cheaper due to less waste.
This is certainly true if you're looking for something really unusual, but when it comes to standard studs, battens, etc., the waste always gets used.
One of the beauties of building is minimizing waste.
Personally, I buy as much as I can from discount stores. Despite this, I don't have a large stockpile at home and I practically never discard a piece of wood longer than 1 dm.
This is certainly true if you're looking for something really unusual, but when it comes to standard studs, battens, etc., the waste always gets used.
One of the beauties of building is minimizing waste.
Personally, I buy as much as I can from discount stores. Despite this, I don't have a large stockpile at home and I practically never discard a piece of wood longer than 1 dm.
It seems obvious that there are local differences because I don't find that there's much more disorganization at Byggmax compared to the local lumber yard here, at least. Personally, I prefer to support local/specialized stores better than big chains, but Byggmax staff has always been pleasant, and they have an OK selection, so I have shopped there, but maybe that's because I don't expect the same level of expertise and service from a Byggmax seller as from the equivalent at the lumber yard.verktygsgurun said:
I think you have a slightly better-sorted hardware store than what I have access to, because I have to load myself, and if today I needed 45*120, they would only have 5.4 lengths available. So I totally agree with you that if they load what you need and you can get exactly the lengths you want, then the hardware store is probably cheaper and more convenient in many cases.
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Byggmax can of course be good, but everyone should check prices more.
My hardware store is 300m from me and I live in southern Sthlm. But I guess it's not okay to advertise here.
Maybe it's just me who has been lucky, maybe it's a hated store otherwise. :s
And not 40% discount, I said 20%. 40% max if I buy a lot. It varies of course.
I always pay by card directly when I pick up. That gives the best discount.
My hardware store is 300m from me and I live in southern Sthlm. But I guess it's not okay to advertise here.
Maybe it's just me who has been lucky, maybe it's a hated store otherwise. :s
And not 40% discount, I said 20%. 40% max if I buy a lot. It varies of course.
I always pay by card directly when I pick up. That gives the best discount.
But that's a bit like the business idea of byggmax, cheap goods where the customer picks up themselves, like ikea, nettonet, willys, what you gain in price you have to leave in for something else.
but I miss a real hardware store, there aren't that many left.
but I miss a real hardware store, there aren't that many left.
Exactly, Byggmax can hardly compete with the same selection and perhaps the same wide range and service as a local lumberyard, but if you find what you want and it's cheaper, it matters less. Then you have to decide for yourself what the difference is, but in many cases, I don't feel like I have to compromise on the product when I buy from Byggmax, but maybe there are other things you mean are sacrificed when buying from Byggmax.