B&Q

[ultimatehandyman]

B&Q service

If it’s not bad enough that the B&Q website is probably the worst in the world for finding anything, the stores themselves have to be the most annoying places in the universe.

Last week I needed three sheets of 18mm MDF cutting to size, so I popped out of work at dinner and loaded 3 sheets onto a trolley. I then went to the saw and pressed the assistance button, this rings the store- nobody answered. I am now quickly running out of time as I have to be back at work, so I go and find someone who rings the tannoy from his mobile and asks for a “trained operator to the saw”. I return to the saw and after standing there like a plank for 10 minutes I decide that I am going to be late back to work and exit the store with nothing.
Last night I searched for Hardibacker because I wanted to know what size’s it is available in, firstly I searched for Hardibacker and the only result was Hardibacker screws.

hardibacker.jpg (64.56 KiB) Viewed 3389 times

I then searched for Hardi backer and it showed 3 tubs of tile adhesive

hardi-backer.jpg (96.37 KiB) Viewed 3389 times

Today I thought I’d call in as I needed some timber, sand, chipboard and Hardibacker. I loaded up the trolley with two bags of sand, 10 lengths of 3*2 timber and some flooring grade chipboard. I then went to get the Hardibacker. It was on a pallet in the rack at floor level, but some idiot had not cut the bands that hold the material to the pallet. I tried to lean in and cut them with a saw but could not manage it, so went to find someone. I saw a worker and as soon as I got close to him he said he was busy. At the same time there was a guy waiting at the saw and I was chatting to him, telling him my experiences with the saw. Eventually I gave up and walked out of the store with nothing, the poor guy was still waiting at the saw when I left.

So that was another 10 mile round trip wasted

On the way home I called in Travis Perkins, where I have now opened an account. I got a decent discount on everything and it worked out cheaper than B&Q. I have always avoided Travis Perkins in the past as they spank Joe Public with ridiculous prices, but all the local builders merchants have closed down and so the only places left are B&Q, Travis Perkins or Howarth Timber. Ironically Howarth timber are only about ¼ of a mile away from my house but on the few occasions I have tried them they always seem not to have what I want.

[joinerjohn]

I sympathise with you mate. B&Q website, has to be one of the worst in the world. Even if you know the exact item you want and are specific enough to type in the exact words, it will throw up search results , bearing absolutely no relation to the item your actually looking for.
I reckon B&Q must owe me at least two computers and four hard drives as I've become so frustrated on their website, I've physically kicked the tower the computers been housed in.

[dandan]

B&Q is the closest place to me too so as much as I try to avoid it, I need to pop in sometimes to get last minute things.

I use their (very bad) website to look for something, I find it and check for stock in my local store, it confirms they have stock so I put my roof bars on and do the 10 mile journey only to find when I get there that they don't have it.

Last weekends example was cement, they had none. How can a DIY shop not have basics like cement

[Wes]

I know what you're saying about the website search but I don't think it's just B&Q...I find the standard of most website product searches absolutely bobbins. My own included (Must improve!!)

Random products get brought up that have nothing to do with what's being searched for I've got a hunch it's due to poor categorisation when the products get loaded into the databases. Search engines have still got a long way to go me thinks..

Where's that goat...He should be able to shed some light on this

[ayjay]

The B&Q website is just totally pants - I got tired of trying to search for anything on there, if I do a google search and a result comes up for diy.com I never bother to look at it - I just look elsewhere.

[Puma]

Try Google to search for the item in the B and Q website.

I tried to organize a delivery of a load of stuff - could not do it on the website for some weird reason - had to go in, and I couldn't actually just give the names of the items I actually had to go around to get all of the code numbers which they then (very slowly) typed in.

[scot-canuck]

Screwfix are owned by the same company and their website USUALLY works, albeit 110 plugs are hidden under "extension reels", "industrial range"....
BnPoo's site is crap, their staff are rude, Tradepoint staff have a massive chip on their shoulder, TP card gets you zero discount (so an utter waste of time), tradeuk are also rude on the phone and no one seemingly has a clue......

my 2 main buying destinations lately have been toolstation and screwfix (as I have a TradeUK account). Was going to open an account with some of the wholesalers but can't be bothered haggling over prices....especially when mostly their "best" price isn't much better than electricfix

[Bikergirl]

I'm getting more and more disgruntled by b n poo. I use screwfix, and I've stared using my local Buildbase. It's cheap, has cheerful, helpful staff, no queues at the time I go in... and a chit for a free coffee from the van outside if you ask. And when you want 2m of 9" skirting they not only have it, but they will sell you 2m, not 2m40, or 3m60.

Case in point re b n poo
I needed some drawer runners, and being weekend warrior stuff, I had to go to b n poo. 4.00 for one pair and 4.50 for the other. I get to the tradepoint counter (usually helpful and friendly in my branch) and he says "£10.75, please" I told him the price on the shelf edge, he checked, and he had it correct. So I walked back into the store and went to the normal checkouts and paid £2.25 LESS by being retail instead of trade. What a joke.