Hi, I just want to tell people never to buy anything from B&Q! I ordered a shower in May this year and I have only just receieved it. they told me it was going to be 8 -10 days for delivery so I pulled by bathroom out straight away and it took 5 and a half months, so I was without a bathroom for that long (I finally got the use out of my gym membership)! their customer service is TERRIBLE and they didnt even apologise!

I feel much better for the rant!

This also happend to me with our kitchen from B & Q ordered in jan got the delivery date for march - pulled out the kitchen the weekend before delivery - the kitchen did not arrive.

I got onto B & Q customer service they said that it was out of there hands and down to the delvery dept.

Got a new date for delivery and again the kitchen did not turn up.

My advice is to forget ringing the customer service no and write a letter to the MD, within 2 days I had a call from customer service.

I was told to come into store and settle on compensation.

I walked out of there store with all delvery monies return and £200 worth of goods.

So give it a go.

FAO Chief Executive: Rob Cissell
B&Q Head Office
Portswood House
1 Hampshire Corporate Park
Chandlers Ford
Eastleigh
Hampshire
SO53 3YX

Complaining to the right person is the key - I can't believe you let it go on for 22-odd weeks! That's absurd, I'd have been trying to sort it out way sooner than that.
Best bet now is to try for some compensation - hope you've still got all the paperwork and times/dates/names of conversations you had.

I'll stick up for them.

Where else can you go and get the range of things they stock at the times they are open.

Yes they are expensive on some things (like the £25 multimeter they sell for£53) but you pay for the convenience.

As for waiting that long for a shower, well you must have been complaing to the wrong person or not loudly enough. You can buy showers any where today, and I think I would have told them I was going for one somewhere else and sending them the bill. (assuming you had already paid for the B&Q one).

B&Q are indeed pathetic - we went to a B&Q Warehouse to pick some bedroom handles up where they informed us they didn't stock 'em - they were only stocked in the warehouse. Makes a bit of a mockery of the name but there you go... Anyway we ordered the handles and got a delivery time only to be phoned the day before delivery asking when we would like our kitchen delivered. We explained we had only ordered bedroom handles and we already had a delivery date - ended up having 3 seperate phonecalls about same subject and in the end told 'em to shove their handles and went and got some off the shelf from another of the big sheds.

To be honest all the sheds are pathetic - they're overpriced, haven't got a clue and it takes an age to get served - we only ever use them as a last resort. All the stuff they stock is available in other places usually at better prices so not much reason to go..

i ordered some new worktops from B&Q i did it online because it said on the website that it would be 14 days delivery, "great" i thought so booked the builder to come a fit the new kitchen, 3 days later B&Q phone me up with a delivery date for the worktops, 3rd December, WHAT, my kitchen is being fitted on the 17th of November, on the website it says delivery within 14 days, i was told that the delivery firm were behind with the orders and 3rd December was the first avaliable date.... Went down to the B&Q near to where i live and they had the worktops in stock, so i cancelled the order with B&Q online, went back to my local B&Q and asked how much it was for delivery, i was told by them it would be £40, WHAT, i live less than a mile away. In the end I got my worktops in the back of a MPV with my husband clinging on the inside of the car. I will NEVER EVER order anything from B&Q again.

We ordered our bathroom fittings from B&Q, when we went to collect it (with the plumber) they had only got the sink, the toilet, shower tray and shower screen could not be found.

We kicked-off a bit, not at the sales guy who was as helpfull as he could be, but at the manager.

Their solution ? They gave us someone elses order.

Never had a real problem with them.

I like their approach to the ever-growing DIY enthusiast and trade retail.

They offer refreshments, demonstrations, creative solutions and friendly advice at the Queens Road site.

The store in Hillsborough is not up to the same standard, so I avoid it, simple.

Anybody know what B&Q stands for?

I found out recently after many years of wondering. I will tell later if nobody gets it.

big and quick:hihi:

Oh believe me I complained, so much I should have lost my voice! I was given 12 different delivery dates, I ordered the plumber and tiler those twelve times! when I finally got the shower, there was a massive hole in it, I went crazy, they then sent another one within the week (which all seemed very convienient) and the next one they delivered had a hole! it all seems too terrible to be true!

what I do have to say is yes they are good for small things, and their avalaibility is great but they have absoluetely no regard for thier customer, I am only a very small fish and it makes very little difference to them if I stop shopping with them so they dont care!

thanks for the addess I will write.

Originally posted by Mo
Anybody know what B&Q stands for?

I found out recently after many years of wondering. I will tell later if nobody gets it.


Its the intials of the surrnames of the two guys who set up the DIY business. They started out with a small shop down in exeter I believe.

Originally posted by Curly_A
when I finally got the shower, there was a massive hole in it, I went crazy, they then sent another one within the week (which all seemed very convienient) and the next one they delivered had a hole! it all seems too terrible to be true!

That's for the water to run out

Originally posted by Skatiechik
Its the intials of the surrnames of the two guys who set up the DIY business. They started out with a small shop down in exeter I believe.

Exactly.... Richard Block and David Quayle founded the first B&Q in 1969.

KNOXVILLE

Your response is very condescending. Go and be stupid somewhere else (hopefully on your own).

Rich & Dave - the B&Q shelf stackers!

Yeah, Dave'n'Rich - better watch your backs or the big B&Q team leader might set you back to loading customers cars instread of loading the shelves

I've got no choice but to stick up for B&Q because the missus works for them;). It looks as though the main problem is with ordering products rather the actual store itself.

No there's problems with the stores as well - mainly that they never have a clue where anything is that's if they even know what you are on about.

Originally posted by vidster
I've got no choice but to stick up for B&Q because the missus works for them;). It looks as though the main problem is with ordering products rather the actual store itself.

Agreed, except they could open more than 3 out of the 20 checkouts at the weekend.

Originally posted by m1ll1e
KNOXVILLE

Your response is very condescending. Go and be stupid somewhere else (hopefully on your own).

Condescending? I didn't read it as a serious comment. I thought it was quite witty.

Here's a letter I sent to B&Q head office MD.


Dear Sir or Madam.

On 20-01-07 my wife and I purchased a bathroom suite from the B&Q warehouse in Aintree, Liverpool. We were told by the sales person that there would be up to 4 weeks delivery for this suite and so I booked time off work taking into account the time scale being dealt with. At no time did the sales person tell us that this suite would be subject to further delays and so you will appreciate that we are a tad upset that from the time our money was taken up to the now new delivery date as set by the firm you deal with regarding this item will be 3 months. (4th April 2007.)

Having owned numerous homes we have spent a fortune over the years with B&Q and our trust in this company was unquestionable. However, our trust and confidence has now been severely dented given the fact that we were misinformed regarding delivery and also feel that we have been subject to, what we can only describe as, for want of a better term, a scam!

Shortly after making the purchase we received a phone call from the company you deal with regarding this item and were told that there were delays and we would have to wait 7 weeks from the date of purchase. We were annoyed, especially as I couldn’t cancel my booked time off, but understand that these things happen and we were told by this company that we would receive a phone call to arrange a delivery date to suit us.

As no phone call took place I rang them myself on Tuesday 6th March 2007 at 8pm, spoke to “Jane” and was told that it would now be 8 weeks delay and that B&Q are fully aware of this time scale as it is common knowledge. The full order, they said, would be arriving to them on 16th March 2007 and that I was to telephone them during the preceding week to organise a delivery date.
I rang them tonight (13th March 2007), spoke to “Sam” and was told that the earliest delivery date would be 4th April 2007; 3 weeks from now and some 3 months after handing our money over to B&Q.

As I’m sure you will appreciate, this situation is untenable!

We have purchased goods from the retailer B&Q, not the people who they deal with. Our contract of sale, as covered by the sale of goods and services act is with B&Q. It has nothing to do with us how this company conducts its business and we should not have to be telephoning 0845 numbers and be held in queues until the sun burns out and we enter a new ice age!

We feel that we cannot be the only ones in this position (if we are not then there is potentially a lot of money in interest being accrued over the 3 month period of customers not being in receipt of their goods) and so tonight I rang the Aintree branch of B&Q and spoke to the manager of another dept as there was no one else available, asking if the delivery could be brought forward drastically owing to the failure of B&Q to act in a reasonable manner regarding their retailing practices. I was told that I would be telephoned tomorrow by someone who was able to deal with this matter, but we now feel so incensed at this total lack of customer relations and professionalism that it would only be right to bring this to your attention and inform you of our intention.

If owing to the above circumstances a special and satisfactory delivery of our purchase was to be made this coming Saturday 17th March 2007 then we would let the whole matter rest and put it down to experience. If not then we will have no other option in the good interest of not only ourselves, but the general public to highlight this issue in the media and to personally seek compensation through legal representation.

I’m quite certain that someone of your caliber understands the full implications of the law regarding the sale of goods act and also of reasonable behaviour within the market place and that the repercussions of bad press are reciprocal.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Off topic but the security at the Queens road attempted to detain me, after i had paid for my goods and got a reciept i am not normally violent but was ready for dropping the t..t,i have not been in since.

hehe, I thought this was something about Geoffrey :hihi:

All you can do is write to them and explain what happened. I'm sure they won't like to see a dissatisfied customer.

Well we bought and paid for a kitchen at the end of November for delivery in January and so far have had 2 lorry deliveries, 5 courier deliveries and still missing items that mean we cant put the kitchen together. Still waiting to be told when we can get the rest. Its been a right royal pain in the as*.

We havent had any proper kitchen facilities since January and dont know when we will.

B&Q recently featured on the TV programme 'Dont get Done, get Dom' (presented by Domonic Littlewood).

A couple who purchased a new kitchen from B&Q, basically got right shafted by the company, well, that was until Dom arrived on the scene. As soon as B&Q knew the BBC were on to them, they bent over backwards, sent round the top fitters, everything finished, independent survey etc, plus I think they got back the full purchase cost of the kitchen.

The guy from B&Q was very appologetic and assured Dom that the work done wasn't up to their normal high standards (yeah right). I was just thinking what a hypocrite scum bag, they'll be plenty of little old ladies B&Q rip off, and you can bet they won't be so quick to fix their problems.

So, basically, if you have a problem with B&Q, all you need is a Dom Littlewood and the BBC on your side, job sorted!

So glad I have read this thread! I will be ordering my new kitchen in the next two weeks and had just about settled on one I have seen at B & Q. If I am spending a good few grand on a kitchen I want things to run smoothly so back to the drawing board I think.

So glad I have read this thread! I will be ordering my new kitchen in the next two weeks and had just about settled on one I have seen at B & Q. If I am spending a good few grand on a kitchen I want things to run smoothly so back to the drawing board I think.

We got our units and worktop from ikea, very good value and quite happy with them. Got someone else (a friend of mine) to fit them, so overall quite happy.

I think it's good if you get the seperate (materials and labour), you then have more control over who you choose to fit your kitchen.

Does anyone know where I can get tshirts printed up with "Boycott B&Q" for a reasonable price?

Its the intials of the surrnames of the two guys who set up the DIY business. They started out with a small shop down in exeter I believe.

Southampton actually, just down the road from my nans house :thumbsup:

Hi, I just want to tell people never to buy anything from B&Q! I ordered a shower in May this year and I have only just receieved it. they told me it was going to be 8 -10 days for delivery so I pulled by bathroom out straight away and it took 5 and a half months, so I was without a bathroom for that long (I finally got the use out of my gym membership)! their customer service is TERRIBLE and they didnt even apologise!

I feel much better for the rant!

Why did you let them get away with it for 5 months?

I think the B&Q stores are great, but have fallen foul myself of there terribly poor delivery system. Would never never never buy anything from them that needed delivering. A complete shambles.

I haven't been in B & Q since the unfortunate incident when I told one of the assistants I wanted decking.

So, does Boycott work there, or is he actually the owner?

On behalf of all staff at B&Q I would just like to apologise for the fact that the majority of customers who shop there don't know their arse from their elbow and seem to assume that every member of B&Q staff is a dedicated professional DIY expert who could build a house single handedly naming exactly what tool is required for every aspect of every job, guessing quantities of supplies without having ever seen the building plan, and knowing exactly how you want every room decorated by seeing a minute picture you've taken on your mobile phone.

Ordered some bedroom furniture online at the end of Jan & was given a delivery date of Apr 3rd , I advised B&Q customer call center that it could only be delivered after 2pm on that date ( as I'm on shifts), told that they had no control over am or pm delivery times 2 days before delivery date I was contacted by a call center to Tell me that the delivery would be a AM delivery & that if no one was available to give a signiture for the goods the then no delivery would take place, I managed to get a next door neighbour to stay in all morning for the goods, I recieved a voice mail message on my mobile from another call center at 10:30 to say that the goods would not be delivered today due to the fact that the goods were not loaded on to the lorry & they would try to deliver again in a months time !!! I then rang the call centre to find out where my goods were as I would pick them up myself ,, arrived at the given depot (just of the A1) to be told my goods were probably at Derby centre !! after an hours wait I was told that the goods " could not be found either at Derby, Barnsley , or Doncaster Delivery centers !!!!!!!!!!!!! & could I go to the Barnsley DC to pick the goods up from there the next day.
I'll let you know tommorow IF I manage to get my hands on my furniture !!

So, basically, if you have a problem with B&Q, all you need is a Dom Littlewood and the BBC on your side, job sorted!


Maybe send head office a link to this ever growing list of complaints...

With more than 30,000 members & even more readers, B&Q should be very worried :thumbsup:

Maybe send head office a link to this ever growing list of complaints...

With more than 30,000 members & even more readers, B&Q should be very worried :thumbsup:

Don, who should be more worried is you my friend - giving a toss about such a subject.

B&Q rules.........(and secretly you all know it...)

Best company I've ever worked for certainly.

Don, who should be more worried is you my friend - giving a toss about such a subject.

B&Q rules.........(and secretly you all know it...)

Best company I've ever worked for certainly.

If people didn't give a toss about others - we'd still be living in Thatchers Britain (to a greater extent)...
It's one thing working for b&q - it's another being their ransome puppet stuck at home waiting for a second rate service that would not be tollerated in mainland Europe.

Corr Blimey (*indeed) You must have worked for some rate cowboys then? :o :thumbsup:

:D :hihi:

......went back to my local B&Q and asked how much it was for delivery, i was told by them it would be £40

Delivery charge is £20, you might have misheard them :thumbsup:

On behalf of all staff at B&Q I would just like to apologise for the fact that the majority of customers who shop there don't know their arse from their elbow and seem to assume that every member of B&Q staff is a dedicated professional DIY expert who could build a house single handedly naming exactly what tool is required for every aspect of every job, guessing quantities of supplies without having ever seen the building plan, and knowing exactly how you want every room decorated by seeing a minute picture you've taken on your mobile phone.

about time we had an apology. :hihi:

I applied for a job at B&Q Penistone Road years ago, they never even acknowledged reciept of my application! :rant:

I officially give up, my quests to shut the Daily Mail readers up always seem to fail it seems, equal opportunities for the disabled? Yeah right, equal opps my arse! :rant:

I applied for a job at B&Q Penistone Road years ago, they never even acknowledged reciept of my application! :rant:

I officially give up, my quests to shut the Daily Mail readers up always seem to fail it seems, equal opportunities for the disabled? Yeah right, equal opps my arse! :rant:


How do you manage to get out of the house with that huge chip on your shoulder?

How do you manage to get out of the house with that huge chip on your shoulder?

Um, I do not have a chip on my shoulder.

I am just tired of people constantly telling me "Get a job" yet whenever I try to do so, the fact I'm disabled proves to be an impregnable barrier...

But that's all in teh past, I've now got a placement at Meadowhall through the supported employment scheme at The Source, which could eventually lead to paid work after a 3 month "trial" period.

might have a really big door

Um, I do not have a chip on my shoulder.

I am just tired of people constantly telling me "Get a job" yet whenever I try to do so, the fact I'm disabled proves to be an impregnable barrier...



I must have imagined all the disabled people I've worked with in Sheffield over the years then.

Um, I do not have a chip on my shoulder.

I am just tired of people constantly telling me "Get a job" yet whenever I try to do so, the fact I'm disabled proves to be an impregnable barrier...

But that's all in teh past, I've now got a placement at Meadowhall through the supported employment scheme at The Source, which could eventually lead to paid work after a 3 month "trial" period.

As a matter of interest, how do you know that your being disabled is the reason why you can't get work? As far as I know, employers can't give disablement as a reason unless the job applied for is totally unsuitable.

Could it be, Rich, that you go to the interview with this attitude that you constantly display on SF, and that's the reason you don't get the job.

Stop blaming everyone else and start taking responsibility for your actions.

I applied for a job at B&Q Penistone Road years ago, they never even acknowledged reciept of my application! :rant:


Did they recieve it, when you posted it did you, DIY:hihi:

On behalf of all staff at B&Q I would just like to apologise for the fact that the majority of customers who shop there don't know their arse from their elbow and seem to assume that every member of B&Q staff is a dedicated professional DIY expert who could build a house single handedly naming exactly what tool is required for every aspect of every job, guessing quantities of supplies without having ever seen the building plan, and knowing exactly how you want every room decorated by seeing a minute picture you've taken on your mobile phone.

The problem is now that not only do they need to apologise for the service, they need to apologise for sarcastic staff posting online.
Has anyone ever been sacked from B&Q for a post? It's happened at other companies.

The problem is now that not only do they need to apologise for the service, they need to apologise for sarcastic staff posting online.
Has anyone ever been sacked from B&Q for a post? It's happened at other companies.


interesting question :huh:

as a loyal b and q'er i agree in some ways with cor blimey.....
although not quite as bluntly....:o

sometimes it is difficult to help a customer when they assume that you know EVERYTHING there is to know about d i y, in all its forms.
personally i always try my best to help in areas other than my own, :thumbsup:
but the customer doesnt always accept that i dont know everything, oh i have bitten my tongue on many occasions :heyhey:

RippedOff: The forum works fine, but we don't allow post count bumping posts. So make some meaningful posts and we'll let you keep them

At least im not the only one with problems with B&Q

I ordered a new bathroom suite on the 16th Jan and im still waiting for it to be delivered. Upon placing the order we were told it would be delivered in around 4 weeks. 4 weeks came and went so we phoned, the answer was 'within the next 7 days' Waited 7 days and phoned again, answer again was 'within the next 7 days' This happened 5 times in a row. We are now being told by the end of April 'due to demand'. Whats more annoying is that the money was taken straight away.

Im very reluctant to cancel the order as we will have to wait even longer but im seriously considering not buying anything more from there and complaining about the lack of customer service and knowledge of their outstanding orders

B&Q are no different in my opinion than most of the other high street giants and this current trend of taking your money and then ordering your stuff from another source with no real guarantee of when you will get it is quite frankly disgusting and was once only used with the likes of mail order companies who funded their current purchases with the money up frontfrom customers who had to wait.