kitchen project ;0) Updated 10/03/2011
#46
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For anybody after a new kitchen, avoid B&Q. They planned my kitchen and when it was delivered bits were missing, supplied the wrong sized sink unit so the sink provided wouldn't fit, parts were damaged and the first time we turned the cooker on it literally blew up and smoke started billowing out the top. When we stormed back down there they didn't want to know and tried to blame the oven manufacturer. To be honest it was the manufacturers fault because 2 wires inside that should have been sleeved were actually touching each other and had shorted out but B&Q should have replaced it and returned the faulty one back to Indesit.
Anyway that's my rant over, can thoroughly recommend Wickes though (and no i don't work for them lol).
Anyway that's my rant over, can thoroughly recommend Wickes though (and no i don't work for them lol).
23 May 2008
Ref: B&Q customer order number 33052041.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing this letter of complaint due to the poor service and level of after sales care that I recently experienced after purchasing a special order kitchen from your company.
On 16th February 2008 my partner and I had a kitchen planned by your kitchen designer (Steve Wilson). The following day we ordered and paid for everything that your designer had implemented in his design. At this point we were told that everything was available for delivery on April 18th 2008, except for the sink. We were told that this could be re-ordered within 2 weeks and would then still be delivered with the rest of our order.
• When the delivery was made the driver told us that there were 3 shortages that we had not been told about previously: the taps, the chimney hood and the worktop edging strip. Fortunately the Kettering store had the taps in stock so we were able to collect these. Whilst we were at the store we checked the expected delivery date for the remaining items and were told a second delivery would be made on 21st May 2008 – approximately 5 weeks later. Surely, once our order was placed the items on our order should have been allocated to us and remained in stock until the delivery was made.
• I had taken the week commencing 21st April off from work intending to fit the kitchen myself after being misled by your sales staff, including your kitchen designer and Elaine in your kitchen/bathroom showroom, that B&Q kitchens were very easy and straightforward to fit. Day 1 - on unpacking the first box I realised that the kitchen had been wrongly planned as the kitchen sink that we had been advised on did not fit the planned base unit. The designer had specified a sink that should have been fitted in a 600mm base unit, to be housed in a 500mm base unit, this led to us having to choose a different sink that we are not as happy with due to B&Q’s poor care when planning. Also he hadn’t listed the end panels and door required to house the integrated dishwasher so these had to be sourced from another store. Due to my lack of confidence in the fact that you had supplied no fitting instructions and that it did not appear to be a job suitable for a keen DIYer (even though I had been led to believe that it was), I had to employ a professional carpenter which was an expense I had hoped to avoid, as I could see it was not going to be as straight forward as I was originally told by B&Q staff.
• On Wednesday 23rd April we built and fitted the tall unit that was to house the double oven. When we put the oven unit into the space provided there was a gap of approximately 15-16mm above the cooker unit that allowed you to look inside the cabinet and on to the metal housing of the oven. We also had to cut out the hardboard back panel to allow the unit to slide far enough back into the cabinet. To overcome the problem of the gap I had to go down to B&Q and the sales assistant had to remove a shelf from another pack so that I could use it to fill the gap. When power was applied to the oven unit the house circuit breaker blew when the top oven was turned on. We reset the circuit breaker and again turned on the top oven, which again tripped off the electricity supply and caused thick smoke to billow out of the control panel. For the second time that day, I went to the B&Q store, this time to complain about the problem with the oven. We were told that as there was no replacement oven in the store, another would have to be ordered the following day. Whilst I was in the store I was very annoyed to notice that the B&Q demonstration kitchen had also had to have an additional shelf put in to fill an identical gap above the oven. B&Q are obviously aware of this problem, so why do they not supply an additional shelf instead of leaving it to the customer to come up with a solution?
• On Thursday 24th April it was found that not only was the door supplied for the dishwasher the wrong size – it should have been a 500mm door but I was supplied with a 600mm door - it was also snapped across a corner. There were also no instructions on how you should make a 500mm door fit a 450mm wide dishwasher. Whilst in store complaining about the dishwasher door I was told that the oven would not be replaced as it was now classed as installed so we would have to wait for a visit from an Indesit engineer who would repair it and the soonest he could come out would be 8th May – 2 weeks later. This is absolutely ridiculous as it was not installed and was not even capable of being used, how were we to know that there was a problem with the unit without supplying electricity to it.
• On Friday 25th April the 800mm base unit was assembled and it was discovered that the central cross member that fits from the front to the back of the carcass was not deep enough to carry the soft close drawer sliders and the carpenter had to add his own timber to increase the depth.
• On Thursday 8th May the Indesit engineer came out and diagnosed that the problem was due to a manufacturing error and he claimed it was B&Q’s responsibility to change it as they supplied it.
I am very disappointed with the level of service that we received from B&Q in support of rectifying this problem and feel that all B&Q were interested in doing was passing the responsibility of sorting the problem out to Indesit who said that even though it was B&Q’s responsibility they would change the unit as it was less than 28 days old.
In view of the countless problems, numerous trips I had to make to the B&Q store and the added expense of the carpenter I feel that a refund of 25% of the total purchase price of Ł1944.41 would be a fair level of compensation as a goodwill gesture from B&Q. If I feel that my request has not been given the fair consideration that it deserves I shall consult the Office of Fair Trading and also The Furniture Ombudsman.
Your prompt reply would be appreciated.
A copy of this letter has also been sent to the B&Q Customer Service Manager at B&Q Head Office in Eastleigh, Hampshire.
Yours faithfully,
.... .......
To be honest i now try to avoid using B&Q just on principle as i don't particularly want to give them any more of my money (although i did buy a cartridge of fire cement from them recently lol).
Sorry 3drstretch, not trying to hijack your thread, i will now get my coat. Good work by the way, kitchen is taking shape.
Last edited by STAFFY OWNER; 20-01-2011 at 10:10 PM.
#53
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Actually prefer flat packed as you can move them round as and when you need them instead of ready built cabinets
Had a few hours on it yesterday and today progress going well
Had a few hours on it yesterday and today progress going well
#56
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Taking shape mate, looking good .
#57
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Starting to look like a kitchen again
This is wot i found behind a 2 gang spur socket surely that aint legal ??? I noticed numbers on them when i ripped it out but couldnt see them properly when fitted. Has been there circa 16 years at least though
Didnt stop me changing it though
This is wot i found behind a 2 gang spur socket surely that aint legal ??? I noticed numbers on them when i ripped it out but couldnt see them properly when fitted. Has been there circa 16 years at least though
Didnt stop me changing it though
#58
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Todays update
Carousel in
Fridge in. Door still need adjusting once fridge is levelled with units
And remember my modified base cupboard.
Drawer should be on the top but mounted the brackets lower down and slipped it underneath . Top part is where my microwave will be hidden
Also put 170 degree hinges on to aid moving hot stuff from microwave to worktop
Carousel in
Fridge in. Door still need adjusting once fridge is levelled with units
And remember my modified base cupboard.
Drawer should be on the top but mounted the brackets lower down and slipped it underneath . Top part is where my microwave will be hidden
Also put 170 degree hinges on to aid moving hot stuff from microwave to worktop
Last edited by 3drstretch; 09-02-2011 at 08:06 PM.
#67
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well had a busy few days and no one to help with the worktops but mum to the rescue lol Looking good if i do say so myself
Freezer in and sides made door on just need to cut worktop to cover now
Architrave on around stairs cupboards
Worktops all cut
Freezer in and sides made door on just need to cut worktop to cover now
Architrave on around stairs cupboards
Worktops all cut
Last edited by 3drstretch; 15-02-2011 at 05:02 PM.
#69
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Great work mate.
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well had another productive day
Upstand on and sink all plumbed in
Hob in but gas man didnt turn up to plumb in So oven is still upstairs waiting its new home lol
Shelf unit built to fill void under stairs
Posh taps lol
Upstand on and sink all plumbed in
Hob in but gas man didnt turn up to plumb in So oven is still upstairs waiting its new home lol
Shelf unit built to fill void under stairs
Posh taps lol
#80
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That isnt how mine are
http://www.bathstore.com/_applicatio...2115.html?pg=0
Mine are the same as the link above