Of the four Hardware stores in the survey, Build It emerged as May Cheapest Hardware store in Windhoek.
This is according to The Brief’s survey which is conducted every month, with an aim to assess a basket of similar hardware items that customers would probably purchase in a month. The survey is carried out across four hardware stores namely, Build It, BUCO, Pupkewitz Megabuild and Ark Trading.
The aim of the survey is to provide shoppers with guidance on which hardware offers the cheapest basket of building materials for that particular month. Moreover, an analysis of changes in the basket is carried out in order to provide overall basket and item variations month on month.
The Following items are in the basket:
- Roofing Galvanized IBR
- Copper Tube 460 Class 0
- Aluminium Window (Bronze)
- Aluminium Sliding Door (Bronze)
- Brick 7 MPA
- Brickforce 150 MM 15M ROLL
- Brickforce 75MM 15M ROLL
- Lintel concrete 1200X110X75MM
- Lintel concrete 1800X110X75MM
- Lintel concrete 900X110X75MM
- Ceiling Board 1200X3000X6.4MM
- Door Frame Steel 813X2032X115X1MM
- Lockset 2 lever
- Door Hardboard Interior 813 X 2032 MM
- 32.5 Cement Ohorongo
- 42.5 Cement Ohorongo
- Paint 20 liters
May ‘24 saw Build It emerging as the most economical choice for hardware purchases, with their basket costing N$ 7191.49, down from N$ 7429.13 in April ‘24, marking a 3.2% decrease month-on-month.
Significant price drops were observed in items such as the Aluminium Sliding Door (Bronze) from N$ 2582.10 to N$ 2399.99, Door Hardboard Interior from N$ 318.46 to N$ 299.99, and Copper Tube 460 Class from N$ 621.24 to N$ 599.99.
Pupkewitz followed with a basket increase of 6.45% month-on-month. This rise was driven by increases in items like Roofing Galvanized IBR from N$ 650.95 to N$ 668.99, Aluminium Window (Bronze) from 840.99 to N$ 947.84, and Aluminium Sliding Door from N$ 2343.94 to N$ 2578.99.
Ark Trading ranked third, experiencing a 3.11% decrease in their basket. Notable decreases were seen in items like Paint from N$ 1036.05 to N$ 947.60, Door Frame Steel from N$ 562.94 to N$ 478.38, and Copper Tube 460 Class O from N$ 665.42 to N$ 573.49.
BUCO landed in last place regarding affordability, with their basket costing N$ 8065.26, up from N$ 7985.12, indicating a 1% increase. The price hike was influenced by items like the Aluminium Sliding Door from N$ 2754.18 to N$ 2848.10 and Copper Tube 460 O from N$ 658.99 to N$ 678.99.
Shifting focus to concrete lintels of varying thicknesses, Pupkewitz offered the most competitive prices, averaging N$ 36.49, N$ 44.06, and N$ 63.69 for 0.9mm, 1.2mm, and 1.8mm respectively.
BUCO followed with competitive prices for 0.9mm and 1.8mm lintels but had the third-highest average price for 1.2mm lintels at N$ 48.28.
Ark Trading came in third, with average prices of N$ 37.10 for 0.9mm, N$ 70.20 for 1.8mm, and N$ 46.80 for 1.2mm lintels.
Build It ranked last in average affordability for concrete lintels, with prices averaging N$ 37.50 for 0.9mm, N$ 51.72 for 1.2mm, and N$ 76.19 for 1.8mm.
*Note: The list of products we collect is limited and not intended to be an absolute measure of affordability. We aim for products to be broadly comparable.
In almost all cases it is possible to find any of these products at a cheaper price or to find cheaper alternatives, depending on location or time of month. Our sample is intended to simply reflect the total price of the cart in a single visit on a particular day.