tapware, sinks, basins etc where to buy in MELB

[laynlo]

Hey all,
I am building a new home and would like to know the best place to buy all my fixture and fittings from.
Would like to know where Auctions/Warehouse/Discount stores are in Melbourne or surrouning areas, and maybe a website if there is one....
Any help will be appreciated..


Cheers

[arms]

try ebay ,mainly because everything i want to buy for my projects are either in sydney or melbourne

[laynlo]

yeah i found someone on there that has a warehouse might check it out on the weekend
thanks mate

[jimc]

In Mitcham there is a renovation wharehouse full of plumbing goodies...three or so doors down from Kleenmaid.

Swan St Auctions is another place for the cheap stuff of whatever they have at the time.

You will be suprised that if you negotiate with various suppliers they will give you trade or better.

My advise for what it is worth is if you fit a cheap item ie bath kitchen sink, you will kick yourself later on for not buying better quality.

My last renovations were a 3.6x2.4 bathroom for $10000 and a 6.5x6.0 kitchen/laundry and second bathroom for $36000. and that included the replacement stumps, interneal/external cladding etc.

[totoblue]

I am building a new home and would like to know the best place to buy all my fixture and fittings from.
Would like to know where Auctions/Warehouse/Discount stores are in Melbourne or surrouning areas, and maybe a website if there is one....
Any help will be appreciated..Cheers

Grays auctions have an auction in Cheltenham every few weeks, usually on Tuesday and Saturday. The Tuesday one seems to have more stock. Gets very crowded. I bought a Smeg stove (30% off) and rangehood (50% off) there. There are lots of sinks for sale but most are dented and they don't usually come with basket wastes (unlike when you buy retail). Sometimes they have up to 20 new sinks (end of line I suppose) of some models.

Grays also have bathroom fittings, tiles, building materials, garage doors, granite benchtops, whole kitchens, furniture, white goods etc. You need to know the retail price of goods because not everything is a bargain (sometimes people pay *more* than retail price!) but often it is quite cheap. You also have to inspect the item very well because it may be damaged or missing parts. See www.graysonline.com.au

I went many times to Grays to buy a sink and kitchen tap (pull-out) and ended up buying it at the Blanco sale. (Sink and rangehood was easier to buy at Grays). The Blanco sale seems to be on twice a year (April and October if I remember correctly - it was on Apr and Oct 2006, and I presume it is not just this year) at the Blanco warehouse in Stud Rd. It's advertised on their web site, and on the radio and maybe in the paper. Sinks were a bit dearer than at Grays but they were all new in a box with basket wastes, and many to choose from. Sink and tap were about half retail price. See www.blanco-australia.com

I've been looking on ebay as well and sinks seem to come up quite regularly there and sell for low prices. Flick mixer taps sell often too as do stoves, microwaves, cook tops, ovens and whole kitchens. Don't often see a pull-out flick mixer tap though.

I also saw Franke Onda double bowl sinks for $200 at Mitre-10 Mega in Ringwood about 6 months ago. That's not a laser cut sink (I got a laser cut Blanco sink for $299 in the sale - laser cut makes it lower profile so less dirt accumulates around the edge) but most sinks are not laser cut (brand name laser cut sinks retail at $600+) and it's a good price for a good brand of sink. Mitre-10 Mega also had an unknown brand laser cut double bowl sink for about $150 from memory - it looked good to me, but I wanted brand-names for house resale.

www.prestigeappliances.com.au might be worth looking at. I've never been to the shop though.

[laynlo]

sweet as, thanks heaps for that will check them out for sure... graysonline has an auction this saturday, may as well go to that while im down that way.

cheers guys

[totoblue]

I went many times to Grays to buy a sink and kitchen tap (pull-out) and ended up buying it at the Blanco sale. (Sink and rangehood was easier to buy at Grays).

I meant to say above that the stove and rangehood were easier (than the sink) to buy at Grays. There aren't many sinks in perfect condition at Grays (most are either dented or have extra tap holes that most people don't want - and it costs money to fill in those tap holes e.g. with a soap dispenser). Since I wanted a laser-cut double-bowl right-hand-drainer top-mount sink in perfect condition with one tap hole, there weren't many of those and a lot of competition to buy them. Easier to buy them on ebay (if you're patient). If you're happy with a brand-name sink that isn't laser cut, then Grays sometimes have 20 or so to sell.

Stove and rangehood were easier to buy though, because they seem to be in better average condition, and there are fewer bidders because of the prices involved.

[Damon_11]

try ebay ,mainly because everything i want to buy for my projects are either in sydney or melbourne

Yes, for plumbing bits, http://stores.ebay.com.au/design-ej are good, I have used then to supply some fittings of good quality, they are in Geelong which should suit you. I purchased from them on e-bay for delivery to Perth for less than what I can buy for here.

Cheers..>Damo

[LeoAU]

with grays auction - you can buy some stuff on online auction, as well as Tue or Sat home renovators traditional auction. They are held in Cheltenham every 2-3 weeks.

Lately I found it is somewhat a waste of time - you'd have to spend hours there waiting for the lot you want, and people do stupid things - bid like there is no tomorrow, hence overpay. However, you can pick up a bargain still.
Check the qty available too. I've seen once a lot of door locks - qty was like a 1000. 2 people started bidding like idiots, one gave up eventually at $55. Not only they cost less in the shops, the guy wanted 3. The other guy bought ONE! Had he stopped at $10, we all could get them at that price. Anyone at the auction after the lot has been sold can buy it at the highest price if the qty available.

If it's an online auction - make sure you buy from Melbourne w/h. Check the conditions of the sale - the goods might be in Sydney.

[seriph1]

I agree about Grays - they seem to ooperate with no rhyme or reason ... I have managed to get a couple of bargains but not many. it seems people are willing to pay top-dollar for pretty average stuff. one word of warning to anyone looking for a cheap fridge - a mate of mine who is absolutely in-the-know at Electrolux said that they send the fridges they can't fix to Grays.

No big deal, but if anyone's interested I have a new brushed stainless 2 1/2 bowl sink with basket drains and all waste pipes that I will not be using for our renovation. Cost around $350 from memory - $150 would do me - in Kilmore, near melbourne. We bit the bullet and bought a double fireclay farmer's sink and a fireclay washup sink for the prep island.

have fun

[seriph1]

The places I have found to be most helpful have been E and S trading in Blackburn - think the manager's name is Len (Chinese guy) he is very helpful/knowledgeable. I actually saw a product I hadnt been aware of too - brand is HIGHLAND - Australian made cooktops with a Wok Burner to die for! Full control from 1 to 22 mega joules. Danny at Clive peeters Thomastown really knows his stuff too, especially if you want to haggle the hell out of prices.