Things to avoid, apart from all the apparent delivery problems.

Assembled 2 wall units & a three drawer base unit yesterday & today (amongst
other things like worktops & sinks).

Customer had bought the 'Select' range of units because she wanted the wood
veneer end panels rather than the 'IT' range which are white.

First thing, they have a new (to me) design of cam dowel & lock. The cam
dowels & locks where already installed in the appropriate panels & the
dowels had rubber sleeves on the ends. The concept seems to be that the
rubber sleeve expands when the cam lock is turned.

No ability to 'close' the join. Had to clamp them together then do up the
cam locks. And what happens in a few years when the rubber perishes?

The base unit for the drawers really confused me. The drawer box
instructions said to use wood screws in the 'pre marked positions' to attach
the drawer runners. No 'pre marked positions' could be found, only holes
for Euro screws.

The Euro screw holes where clearly in the wrong places. Call to the help
line resulted in a clueless **** who offered to send me some Euro screws
(which I carry anyway).

Eventually managed to fettle it & get a good fit. Popped into B&Q on the
way home to find out that the 'Select' range & the 'IT' range use entirely
different - non compatible drawer box systems.

Shame they didn't bother to tell my customer when she ordered a 'Select'
base and 3 'IT' drawer boxes. Shame the 'help line' didn't have a bloody
clue.

Come back Wickes - all is forgiven...


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

"The Medway Handyman" wrote in message
om...
Things to avoid, apart from all the apparent delivery problems.

Assembled 2 wall units & a three drawer base unit yesterday & today
(amongst other things like worktops & sinks).

Customer had bought the 'Select' range of units because she wanted the
wood veneer end panels rather than the 'IT' range which are white.

First thing, they have a new (to me) design of cam dowel & lock. The cam
dowels & locks where already installed in the appropriate panels & the
dowels had rubber sleeves on the ends. The concept seems to be that the
rubber sleeve expands when the cam lock is turned.

No ability to 'close' the join. Had to clamp them together then do up the
cam locks. And what happens in a few years when the rubber perishes?

The base unit for the drawers really confused me. The drawer box
instructions said to use wood screws in the 'pre marked positions' to
attach the drawer runners. No 'pre marked positions' could be found, only
holes for Euro screws.

The Euro screw holes where clearly in the wrong places. Call to the help
line resulted in a clueless **** who offered to send me some Euro screws
(which I carry anyway).

Eventually managed to fettle it & get a good fit. Popped into B&Q on the
way home to find out that the 'Select' range & the 'IT' range use entirely
different - non compatible drawer box systems.

Shame they didn't bother to tell my customer when she ordered a 'Select'
base and 3 'IT' drawer boxes. Shame the 'help line' didn't have a bloody
clue.

Come back Wickes - all is forgiven...


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk



Have you lost your Wickes then ? I have just bought a ****load of kitchen
units from my local Wickes. They came from the 'Take it now' range, and were
on half price offer. I gotta tell you that I thought they were the most
fantastic value for money I have ever seen. All of the carcases are really
solidly made, and everything fitted exactly as it was designed to. There was
a huge surplus of screws and bits and pieces with every unit, and the
instructions were clear, concise, and well printed. The doors, which come
with the units, have a beautiful level of detail and finish, and even have
solid and very elegant metal knobs. Absolutely everything that could be
adjustable - including drawer fronts - is, and those adjustments do exactly
as it says they should in the instructions. I couldn't have bought the doors
or carcases on their own from B&Q for the same price.

Even now they have gone back up to the normal price, they are still offering
33% discount on 200 quid's worth, and 45% on 300. Well done Wickes. I'm well
pleased with mine.

Arfa

The Medway Handyman wrote:
Things to avoid, apart from all the apparent delivery problems.


I bought a couple of their white square edge (IT range) cabinets earlier
in the year. (For use cut down in other locations.) Found the
availability of the bits utterly bizarre. Like a hundred cabinets and no
doors. They clearly were having problems with their suppliers then.

I spoke to a chap (to see if I could buy a damaged door at knockdown
price - I could and did) and he seemed utterly resigned to stock being
unavailable so obviously not a short term issue. Don't see how they
could ever manage delivery themselves without the product coming in
reliably.

--
Rod

Hypothyroidism is a seriously debilitating condition with an insidious
onset.
Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
www.thyromind.info www.thyroiduk.org www.altsupportthyroid.org

Seems to make the issues with my big Ikea kitchen purchase last year
pale into insignificance....All I had to do was to spend hours while
they brought the wrong things from the warehouse....

On 17 Jul, 00:24, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:

Customer had bought the 'Select' range of units because she wanted the wood
veneer end panels rather than the 'IT' range which are white.

Ah God, the mention of B&Q Select has brought on uncontrollable
twitching of my right eyelid, sweaty palms, accelerated pulse and a
difficult to supress urge to reach for something sharp and end it all.

It started with us knowing which Select range we wanted and a store
that doesn't stock the select range saying "no problem, we can still
design your kitchen and order it for you". On delivery day my kitchen
was gutted out and ready for action. Gut feelings led to calls at 1PM,
3PM, 4PM, 4:30PM, 5PM (get the idea) each resulting in "I have your
details here, it is out for delivery -should be with you any time".
Finally at 5:45, just before the end of the delivery window, I call
and demand answers. 5:59PM - they call back. "Sorry, your units
haven't even been assembled & there is a 2 month backlog".
Due to a substantial proportion being paid in gift vouchers (obtained
at a discounted rate by father-in-law) it was impossible to back out
without being refunded in same vouchers. I could go on, but it was
took 6 months to get 90% of the issues resolved. Countless missed or
incorrect deliveries, dozens of phone calls, dozens of excuses,
different explanations etc. Dozens of doctors visits and anti-
depressants. I HATE B&Q. I have only recently reluctantly started
using them again. A lady asked me at the exit the other day "would
you like to help with a customer satisfaction survey?". I would go
back and apologise for my abusive language but I just can't face it.
Besides she is probably used to it.

Rant over.

AA wrote:

It started with us knowing which Select range we wanted and a store
that doesn't stock the select range saying "no problem, we can still
design your kitchen and order it for you". On delivery day my kitchen
was gutted out and ready for action. Gut feelings led to calls at 1PM,
3PM, 4PM, 4:30PM, 5PM (get the idea) each resulting in "I have your
details here, it is out for delivery -should be with you any time".
Finally at 5:45, just before the end of the delivery window, I call
and demand answers. 5:59PM - they call back. "Sorry, your units
haven't even been assembled & there is a 2 month backlog".
Due to a substantial proportion being paid in gift vouchers (obtained
at a discounted rate by father-in-law) it was impossible to back out
without being refunded in same vouchers. I could go on, but it was
took 6 months to get 90% of the issues resolved. Countless missed or
incorrect deliveries, dozens of phone calls, dozens of excuses,
different explanations etc. Dozens of doctors visits and anti-
depressants. I HATE B&Q. I have only recently reluctantly started
using them again. A lady asked me at the exit the other day "would
you like to help with a customer satisfaction survey?". I would go
back and apologise for my abusive language but I just can't face it.
Besides she is probably used to it.

Rant over.

Rant away, very very similar story to my experience with B&Q deliveries
(completely different item, a air-con extension hose, discussed on this
group a couple of years ago, but I still get the sweaty palms and
twitching eye when i think about it).

I simply have to conclude (after 10 weeks of "it's in the post", "about
the be delivered", "erm, we're waiting for supplies from China") that
B&Q deliveries are simply staffed by a bunch of incompetent, lying *******s.

I'm staggered that they can continue trading as a delivery service.

AA wrote:

Ah God, the mention of B&Q Select has brought on uncontrollable
twitching of my right eyelid, sweaty palms, accelerated pulse and a
difficult to supress urge to reach for something sharp and end it all.

LOL. When I arrived to start the job, the lady explained that the worktops
were being delivered that day by B&Q, between 8 & 12.

My heart sank.

Low & behold they arrived 15 mins later!


--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk