B&Q STORES
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I do not wish to give details of my dispute with BQ, but rather the treatment while trying to resolve it. I experinced many futile phone calls to various departments , including complaints and was exasperated by the manner I was spoken too. One person in complaints told me in a rather bored tone: We already have your information in front of us. When I asked: And what was being done with the information, she didn't see why I was angry!

However, after umpteen calls to various people in various departments, on numerous occassions, including complaints, I was fortunate to be answered by Jackie. She put me in touch with the store manager of my local branch and between her and David my problem was resolved. Albeit not immediately, but after contacting Jackie again, she followed it through to David and he personally delivered the misssing items and resolved the other issues for me. He also arranged for me to be subsidised for inconvenience. So Many Thanks to Jackie in Complaints and David at the Enfield Branch. ...
JParish ... 9 March 2004 (By Email)
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I bought a kitchen from B&Q last year. The guy came and designed it and we placed an order. All the parts arrived on time but a couple of doors were slightly damaged, these were replaced by the luton warehouse store without complaint. I fitted the kitchen myself and found the project very easy with the units being well made and clear instructions. The kitchen looks great and seems to be hardwearing. Alot of the problems regarding kitchens seem to be with bad workmanship or fitters not turning up, my advise is to buy your kitchen and then have it fitted by reputable builders or kitchen fitters, not by the stores own fitters. I have also bought quite a few performance pro power tools (B&Q own brand)and have found these to be superb value for money and utterly reliable so top marks go to B&Q Luton Warehouse
Cameron Robbins... 14 March 2003
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I am writing to complain about the appalling way in which i have been treated in the coatbridge store today. Friday 18th July 2003. I had a kitchen planner out to plan a kichen for me about two years ago and was very happy with the service which was provided. I recently have had my house extended and wanted to extend my kichen and have more units installed so i thought B&Q were the right people for the job. Read More .....
Nicola Miller ... 18 July 2003

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We ordered a new bathroom complete with whirlpool bath etc in June 2003 to be fitted by B&Q hoping to have it done over the summer. The fitter was booked in for 4th August and they rang to tell us the bathroom suite was out of stock !! (even though they had the order over two months ago). We were then put off until 11th August but guess what - no bathroom suite !!

We were then told it would be 1st September before the fitter could come again but I told them swiftly that if there was no fitter or suite before September I would be cancelling my order. We were then told we could be "slotted in" on Monday 18th August (today)at exactly 9am. At 10.30 am there was still no sign of him and when we rang B&Q to find out were he was we were then told he had something wrong with his car (!) and couldn't come until tomorrow.

So here we sit - no fitter, no bathroom suite. hoefully he'll come tomorrow but we're not banking on it !! There seems to be a serious breakdown in communication in departments and one doesn't seem to know what the other is doing - you constantly have to chase things up yourself even though this package is sold to you as "hassle free" !!! Mandy Drage ... 18 August 2003
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I have to say how disgusted I have been with the service I have received from B & Q today. Click here for details ...
SONIA ADAMSON .. 2 September 2003
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I ordered a bathroom suit on the B&Q site
because the contracr stated that they would deliver within 21 days! Almost 3 moths later and nothing!!! They told me I have to wait! I finally cancelled my order with them! In my opnion B&Q is the most uncompetente company in the UK!!! I had absolutly no rights with this company! All they made me to do was to pay in full on time. And no products !!! Shame on them" Luana Bertozzi ... 22 September 2003
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On the30/08/2003 i orded fences gate,
all were in stock. I also ordered a keter jumbo xl shed box 1&2. I was told that i would get all my goods in 7 to 10 days. After 11 days i phoned the Bridge of don store and was told it would be 21 days.

After 31 days i went to the store again. They couldnt tell me why i hadnt got the itams i had paid for £354.86. In fact. given the brush off again. I phoned B&Q and after the run around i was told the shed was being re-orderd. No idea when i would get it but they dont thing they need to inform the costomer of any delays there might be.

I asked if they could phone the company they get the sheds from she tried once didnt get through so said she might be able to get back to me by the end of the week. So i called keter sheds and a helpfull woman named Dona said she would help out if i could get the order code for B&Q but she could find no orders at all for the shed from B&Q. How can it be within the letter of the law for a company to take your money and give you nothing in return if you are having trouble with them to do let me know Isobella Gilbert ... 6 October 2003
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I ordered and paid for a P Shape Conservatory
from B&Q Inverness on 4th June 2003 because the rep told us installation would commence within 12 - 14 weeks. Needless to say installation finally started on 13th October 2003!
I have also just discovered that none of the conservatory parts were ordered until the last seven days - dispite the fact they have had my money for over four months!
Watch this space...Douglas Mills...17 October 2003
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When using designers who work for most DIY
companies buyers should be aware a significant proportion of there income comes from the commision received when an order is placed - hence there reluctance to spend there time with you and give you the plans or list of items because if you go into the store and buy them the consultant will receive nothing for the time and effort they have gone to. David Panter...27 October 2003
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I have a B&Q warehouse nearby
and its range of products make it indespensible. But surely any professionally run store should be able to provide a simple carrier bag! B&Q's are tiny and tear through within five minutes even with nothing in but screws. Confucius he say: man without car or bike must bring rucksack. Martin Bucknall...3 November 2003
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I ordered a 6x4 pent Shed, from the Wharehouse,
Farnborough,Hants, on 20th Oct 2003 and was told it would be delivered in 2/3 weeks. On the 10th Nov I was told it would be in on the 12th Nov and I also ordered 46 cement blocks and 10 bags of sand to be delivered with the shed. On the 13th Nov I rang the store and was told the shed was not due in until 21st Nov. I rang the store on 24th Nov and was told by the call centre the sheds were in stock but the store said they are not and will not be in until 2nd Dec.

I wonder if I will get anything this year? Also what is the use of a bag of ballast or sand which is marked 'Large'. No weight or volume is mentioned and the staff get confused between metric and imperial measures when asked and it.B&Q is good if the item is off the shelf (providing they can find the price) but if it has to be ordered or there is a question to be asked - forget it.
StaurtSOssick...24 november 2003
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Eight days ago I went to the B&Q store in the retail park in Altrincham, Cheshire to buy two large size sheets of 12mm MDF and have it cut to size into 4 equal sections on their instore cutting machine. The machine was out of order with an electrical fault and I was told it was being repaired that night and to call back the next day. It still was not repaired and after phoning several times to check it is still not repaired after eight days.I decided to go further to Stockport Super store which says has some of the largest stocks because of its size. After travelling 17 miles to the store the 12mm sheeting MDF was completely out of stock. WHY?17 miles back home and one gallon of petrol down the drain for nothing.

It has become well known the name of this company around our area as B&Q stands for buy and queue, because this is the system that greets you when you get to the checkouts. What shop would handle customer returns at a checkout when there are large queues of customers waiting to pay for goods. Your profit is increased by getting people through the tills as fast as possible and not as I have seen, people dropping their goods by the till because they have waited too long to be served.You may be making profit to your satisfaction, but wake up B&Q AND START LISTENING, ASKING CUSTOMERS WHAT THEY WANT. Thank goodness the MPD was out of stock as I have bought it cheaper from a wood merchant and had it cut to size.Very upset d.i.y. customer.
Roy Harris...3 December 2003
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As a manager for B&Q, I pride myself on customer care. However from time to time things do go wrong, as with any business. In most cases it is our suppliers that let us down. All fitting work contracted out, and we monitor these companies. If we recieve a number of complaints, they are taken off our books.
Frank Lindene.. 10 January 2002
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FAO Frank Lindene.It is a shame that your Head Office do not pride themselves on Customer Care. It is a shambles. We have not shopped at B&Q since September last year, and in that time have bought a new house. B&Q loss! We have had friends cancel a bathroom and a kitchen from your stores. Power to the customer.. Tyrone Reid...27 February 2002
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Reading this and indeed other Websites makes me 100% sure I will not be using B&Q (and, from experience Moben Sharp). Mr Lindene's quote is very telling when he says "things do go wrong....in most cases it is our suppliers that let us down. Oh I see....B & Q aren't responsible for their suppliers ? Like Train companies blaming Railtrack, it's a bad workman (or woman) who blames their tools. The customer has a contract with B & Q and simply ofloading responsibility onto the contractors is absolutely unacceptable. Ric Euteneuer... 11 October 2002
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Please visit http://www.hirethetone.btinternet.co.uk and then click BATHROOM.
If enough people get to know what we have had to put up with concerning B&Q, then maybe B&Q will clean up it's act! Ian Tone.. 26 February 2002
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Greenwich b&q
New shop new promises,
Shame they cant live up to them!

We bought a new kitchen from them in the winter of 2001
In January 2002 we had to take 2 doors back as they would not close properly they were warped and buckled and would not close .It is now March 2002, and we still have no new doors, but they have called us back to the shop 3 times telling us that our doors have now come in. When we went back the 3rd time we asked to speak to the manager but he refused to speak to us, he said he was to busy so he sent a young girl down to speak to us, she checked our order on the computer and promised our order would be in at the end of the week, as no one phoned us we phoned them, guess what- no new doors. This is not funny we had to save up very hard to get the money for this kitchen, I'm starting to fill like b&q have mugged us of our savings. G Withers, plumstead London...16 March 2002
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B&Q is a joke - and a very bad one at that. B&Q it? Buy and REGRET IT morelike. J Pritchard.. 22 March 2002
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I am currently looking for a new bathroom and kitchen and have decided against B & Q, What a horror story. No thanks. Mrs Ward...15 September 2002
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B&Q is the worst store I've ever shopped in. details
Sanj...30 October 2001

"B&Q are always so rubbish."
Paul, West London, 24 September 2001

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"I have had bad service before with B&Q, I have had a kitchen fitted which was incomplete, and took three months to be 100%, and now it is coming apart. Do not part with your money at B&Q."
James Price, Peterfield. 25 September 2001

"I cancelled a bathroom last month as the service was so bad.
I did not complain but I will never use the shop again."
Peter Steinsfeldt, West Cliff On Sea, 26 September 2001

I bought a B&Q bathroom last year, it took 3 month to have the work complete.
At last someone who stands up to these companies. Profit on the parts and even more profit on labour.
Graham Lunn 4 October 2001
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I wouldn't know where to start with the amount of hassle I have endured through B&Q over the past few months. Late deliveries, deliveries being made to the wrong address, deliveries not even turning up, phone calls not being returned or in some stores not even answered, rudeness bystaff, delay in response to written complaints...need I go on?? If you must shop here make sure you pick your goods up in store, do not shop on line or rely on delivery being straightforward. Clare... 13 November 2001
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Service at B&Q is so bad.
I do not understand why they are so busy. When will someone challenge them and give the customers some service.
Roger Mills...22 November 2001
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B&Q Chelmsford is very busy.
But like the people who wrote this letter I have also had poor service while the store was closed. B&Q I hope you are taking note. I will not shop at you stores anymore.
John Robstone...22 November 2001
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B&Q - Just do not go there, they are so bad!
Steve Budd.... 5 December 2001

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I WORK 4 B&Q AND CAN CONFIRM THAT THEY ARE TOTALLY "messed up" IN ALL DEPARTMENTS. I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY MANAGE TO MAKE MONEY BUT THEY CONTINUE TO BREAK RECORDS WITH NO STAFF, NO STOCK OR ANY FORM OF CUSTOMER ORIENTATION WHAT SO EVER. I THINK THEY DO IT ON THERE ALREADY BUILT UP REPUTATION AND HAVE BECOME TOO BIG HEADED AND COMPLACENT TO GIVE A **** ANY MORE!!!!
JO DHAKI, EAST LON... 19 December 2001
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Is this the same Tyrone Reid who also bought a kitchen from Moben in the first half of 2002? (see http://www.clik2complaints.co.uk/Ori-others/moben34.htm) maybe he likes buying kitchens.
johnbridger...19 January 2003
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