How does Timbo trade pricing work?
Timbo trade (wholesale) pricing is unlocked when a partner accepts the Timbo partner terms. It isn't published on this website and isn't available to homeowners. Once you're a partner, you buy at trade prices, add freight, and set your own retail price for your customers.
The short version:
- Apply to become a partner.
- Accept the partner terms – this unlocks wholesale pricing.
- Order by email purchase order, paid in full upfront unless credit terms are agreed in writing.
- Freight from Melbourne is quoted per order (Australia-wide and New Zealand).
- You set the retail price. Timbo doesn't dictate what partners charge.
Retail benchmarks: what the market charges
To price confidently you need to know what homeowners see elsewhere. These are published market prices, not Timbo prices. All AUD per m² including GST unless stated.
| Product | Supply | Installed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw solid French oak herringbone 710 × 126 × 18mm (Melbourne) | $94.99 | – | SET Timber Supplies, Melbourne Timber Supplies |
| Engineered oak herringbone | about $79–$160 | $160–$320 | Skov, Imperial |
| Herringbone labour only | – | $60–$100 standard; $90–$120+ complex | The Flooring Guys |
| Solid Australian hardwood (spotted gum, blackbutt) | $55–$130 | $120–$367 by city | D&G, HH Timber |
| Sanding and coating | – | $30–$70 | WhatsTheDamage |
| NZ engineered oak (NZD) | $99–$320+ | install $40–$150 | Marchand, Vienna Woods |
The closest like-for-like benchmark for Timbo's 18mm solid herringbone is the raw solid French oak herringbone at $94.99/m² listed by Melbourne retailers. Timbo's 710mm block is 123mm wide rather than 126mm, so compare per m², not per block. See our herringbone flooring cost guide for the full homeowner view.
Margin thinking for retailers
Gross margin is the share of your ex-GST sell price that's left after your landed cost. Work backwards from the price you can realistically charge.
Start with the benchmark: $94.99/m² incl. GST is $86.35/m² ex GST (÷ 1.1). The table shows the most you could pay in landed cost (product + freight + waste) to hit each margin at that sell price. It's an illustration of the maths, not Timbo pricing.
| Target gross margin | Equivalent markup on cost | Max landed cost per m² (ex GST) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | 33.3% | $64.77 |
| 30% | 42.9% | $60.45 |
| 35% | 53.8% | $56.13 |
| 40% | 66.7% | $51.81 |
Things that quietly erode margin on parquet:
- Waste. Herringbone needs a bigger allowance than straight boards. If you sell 50 m² but buy 55 m², your cost per sold m² is 10% higher. See how many boxes of flooring.
- Freight. Spread it across the job's m². Interstate and New Zealand freight matters more on small orders.
- Whole boxes. You buy in boxes (about 1.4 m² for the 710mm herringbone), so part-boxes are a cost unless you can use them on the next job.
- Supply only vs supply and install. On supply-and-install jobs, the margin is in the whole floor: product, preparation, labour and finishing. Don't discount the oak to win the labour.
GST notes for Australia and New Zealand
- Australia: GST is 10%. Divide a GST-inclusive price by 1.1 to get the ex-GST figure. Quote homeowners GST-inclusive and say so.
- New Zealand: GST is 15%. Quote NZ customers in NZD, GST-inclusive, and say so. On goods imported from Melbourne, GST and any other charges apply under normal import rules – your customs broker will advise. See partnering from New Zealand.
- Comparing quotes: always compare on the same GST basis. A price that looks cheaper may simply be ex GST.
What else affects your trade cost
Beyond the price list, your real cost depends on payment terms (upfront unless credit terms are agreed in writing), freight (quoted per order) and claims discipline: report defects within 3 days and damage within 30 days, because orders are otherwise final. A careful receiving routine protects your margin as much as a sharp price does.
Want the numbers? Apply to become a partner and we'll talk you through pricing once you've seen the terms.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't Timbo publish its trade prices?
Because Timbo sells only to the trade. Publishing wholesale prices would undercut the partners who sell to homeowners. Prices are shared once a business accepts the partner terms.
Do Timbo trade prices include GST?
Ask Timbo to confirm GST treatment when you receive your price list. As a rule, always compare prices on the same basis – either all including or all excluding GST.
Are there volume discounts?
Talk to Timbo about your expected volumes. Nothing about volume pricing is promised here, but it's a fair question to ask once you've seen the price list.
What's the difference between margin and markup?
Margin is profit as a share of the sell price; markup is profit as a share of the cost. A 30% margin equals a 42.9% markup. Mixing the two is a common way to under-price flooring.
Does freight change my trade price?
Freight from Melbourne is quoted per order and is separate from the product price, so include it in your landed cost per m², especially for interstate and New Zealand jobs.