Cromwell/Zoro

[grim_d]

Hi all,

I was about to to place an order on Cromwell when I came across a website called Zoro which by all accounts is the same website, selling the same products, with a different name and cheaper, much cheaper. About £55 saved on my order.

What's the deal here? Anyone used Zoro?

Also who's got an "professional" sip bench grinder? Decent?

Cheers!

 

[daleyd]

Same company I think. I seem to remember having an email a while back saying this was the new name for their online shop.

 

[Wightsparks]

T+Cs always a give away..
"In these conditions, "the Seller" means Zoro UK or such other company within the Cromwell Group"
www.zoro.co.uk

 

[grim_d]

T+Cs always a give away..
"In these conditions, "the Seller" means Zoro UK or such other company within the Cromwell Group"
www.zoro.co.uk

I had a quick look though their fluff at the bottom but didn't spot that! That answers that then.

 

[zx9]

Probably like CPC and Farnell some items are cheaper on one site, some are cheaper on the other, then there is minimum order size and delivery cost differences between the two sites.

 

[Wightsparks]

^ - Quick check for a Bosch bare 18v grinder £113 Zoro vs £90 at SF or £82 on Amazon

 

[grim_d]

^ - Quick check for a Bosch bare 18v grinder £113 Zoro vs £90 at SF or £82 on Amazon

I'm buying a few Kennedy items so there isn't much of a choice with suppliers!

 

[armalites]

The prices on the sites Cromwell/Zoro recently have been going up and down like a loose pair of pants. I've been looking a Kennedy PRO socket set and in the last 6 months its varied from £179-229. Wish I'd bought it when it was £179 now. It now shows £229 on Zoro and £263 on Cromwell! Makes no sense at all other than to catch people out.

 

[grim_d]

Well placed my order through Zoro.

Used the £55 I saved to buy a Mitutoyo small hole gauge set, so basically they were free.

 

[TechnicAl]

When I was with Lincoln Electric we used to supply Cromwell dribs and drabs. They had deals with a few fabricators to supply all their consumable items, one stop shop it used to be called. Often this included welding consumables where they usually tried to convert them to their cheapest but some wouldnt have it.
One day I got this very officious arrogant lady on the phone.
Her "we will be supplying FABRICATOR X in future so we need to buy some of your MIG wire"
Me "We already supply FABRICATOR X via another Dealer"
Her "In future we will be supplying so we need a better price"
Me "So youve undercut another Dealer and you expect us to reduce our price to accomodate you"
Her "We are a good customer of yours"....(they werent)
Her "We want to pay 36 pence per Kg (we were getting 48p at the time)......it was when there was a serious oversupply in Europe
Me "Im sorry but the best I will do is 52p" (their standard price)
Her "What do I have to buy to get it at 36 pence"
Me " Lincoln Electric"
Her "Let me speak to your Superior"
Me "I dont have one"

I had some strange dealings in those days.....

 

[Ashley Burton]

When I was with Lincoln Electric we used to supply Cromwell dribs and drabs. They had deals with a few fabricators to supply all their consumable items, one stop shop it used to be called. Often this included welding consumables where they usually tried to convert them to their cheapest but some wouldnt have it.
One day I got this very officious arrogant lady on the phone.
Her "we will be supplying FABRICATOR X in future so we need to buy some of your MIG wire"
Me "We already supply FABRICATOR X via another Dealer"
Her "In future we will be supplying so we need a better price"
Me "So youve undercut another Dealer and you expect us to reduce our price to accomodate you"
Her "We are a good customer of yours"....(they werent)
Her "We want to pay 36 pence per Kg (we were getting 48p at the time)......it was when there was a serious oversupply in Europe
Me "Im sorry but the best I will do is 52p" (their standard price)
Her "What do I have to buy to get it at 36 pence"
Me " Lincoln Electric"
Her "Let me speak to your Superior"
Me "I dont have one"

I had some strange dealings in those days.....

I actually hate corporate companies that try to negotiate everyone into the ground!

 

[tlovatt]

To be fair to Cromwell, when you have no redeeming qualities as a supplier you do need to be cheap!

 

[gaz_moose]

funny company is Cromwell, I bought some stuff through them, one item was slightly damaged but still worked so I called up to get a replacement and somehow they ended up sending me my whole order again and refunding me. so I got 2 of everything for nothing.

one thing I have noticed is that the price online is often cheaper than the price 'in store' but they wont price match, so if you need an item urgently you pay more for it from the shop.

 

[daleyd]

They probably had to change their name after last years mis-prices ended up on here!!

 

[Eric the chicken]

Re gaz_moose comment re online prices. Earlier this year I needed a torque wrench in a hurry. I 'phoned my local Cromwell branch who didn't have it in stock. I then phoned the central depot in Leicester?. I asked if they had one in stock, which they did. I then intended to order through my local branch for me to collect next day. However the central depot person told me I could order on line, the cost would be £40 less and it would be delivered the next day to my home address. So a result a cheaper price for the same item delivered to my door.
I also understand that Cromwell have fairly recently been taken over by an American firm.

 

[Burdekin]

Re gaz_moose comment re online prices. Earlier this year I needed a torque wrench in a hurry. I 'phoned my local Cromwell branch who didn't have it in stock. I then phoned the central depot in Leicester?. I asked if they had one in stock, which they did. I then intended to order through my local branch for me to collect next day. However the central depot person told me I could order on line, the cost would be £40 less and it would be delivered the next day to my home address. So a result a cheaper price for the same item delivered to my door.
I also understand that Cromwell have fairly recently been taken over by an American firm.

Halfords is very similar as normally always cheaper online. I've ordered stuff on my phone whilst in the shop or from home before walking over to collect.