Dulux Trade vs Retail

[Mysterae_]

Regular viewers of Skill Builder on Youtube will no doubt be aware of this but for those that don't:

The story goes that a builder buys some Dulux Weathershield masonry paint for £35 for 10 litres at B&Q. He runs out, B&Q don't have any left so goes to a Dulux Decorator Centre instead. He gets them to mix some up for him without asking the price, for which he is then charged £108 for the same paint and quantity. As he bought 30L it cost him £328 instead of £105 if he'd bought it at B&Q!

I'd love to know if the paint is essentially the same thing and we'll know soon enough.

 

[norm]

I've been following this also. I think it's a touch unfair to criticise Dulux when comparing an off the shelf product vs custom mixed paint. Obviously the machine that mixes it costs a lot and needs to be maintained etc. Yes you wouldn't expect to pay as much as he did, but then is the mixing service intended more for people wanting smaller one off unique colours?

I think Dulux's handling of the situation hasn't helped either, trying to justify the cost by simply saying the trade paint is better and that's that.

 

[glenimp617]

The dulux centres are very overpriced, but then pretty much everyone asks for a discount anyway.

Even so, ALWAYS buy online from paintersworld.co.uk as they are tons cheaper. No good if you need it same day though.

Think I paid £65 for diamond matt custom colour which is around £110 from dulux.

Trade paint is good, but you need to slightly water it down, keep the wet edge, and always go in the same direction. If not, you will get horrible flashing. Dulux is not a low sheen paint and will show up your mistakes.

The dulux guarantee is good though. I've had £200 worth of paint vouchers using it.

 

[m1ke]

Bit odd that he didn't check the price beforehand. Thought it was well known that Trade and Retail paints differ in quality?

I've used quite a few different paints in the past, but I always get good results with Dulux Trade stuff. Have succumbed to the temptation of getting cheaper stuff a few times, and always regret it whilst I'm having to apply those extra coats you always need!

 

[rubberduck]

Have met some right chumps who work for AkzoNobel so not surprised their handling of the situation seems to make things worse at every turn.

 

[Mysterae_]

The moral of this is to ask the price before hand. That is some markup though.

 

[pp111]

Rule no.1 with paint has always been "buy too much". It used to be critical to get the same batch number, now it is less so, but certainly I would always advise to get enough even if it is different batches.