This review is mainly based on the Bensons Beds in Gloucester, which is a concession in Debenhams, Kings Square.
For about the last five months I have had my eye on a gorgeous chocolate leather bed in Bensons Beds. Many times I have purposely headed out of my way into the homewares floor ... Read review
Advantages: Reasonable prices, lovely beds Disadvantages: Very, very poor sales technique & customer service
...is mainly based on the Bensons Beds in Gloucester, which is a concession in Debenhams, Kings Square.
For about the last five months I have had my eye on a gorgeous chocolate leather bed in Bensons Beds. Many times I have purposely headed out of my way into the homewares floor just to gawp at it, but as my husband dutifully reminded me, it wasn't cheap at £499 and there is nothing wrong with the bed we have. I was also slightly put ... ...us. She thought the Bensons salesman had probably gone on a break and very helpfully went to try and find him. Ten minutes later she returned, she couldn't find him but asked us to wait. Twenty minutes later and with a very bored four year old wanting to play on the beds we asked her to take our telephone number and ask him to ring us.
When he did call us that evening, he told us he didn't really know what was going on with the bed ... more
This review is mainly based on the Bensons Beds in Gloucester, which is a concession in Debenhams, Kings Square.
For about the last five months I have had my eye on a gorgeous chocolate leather bed in Bensons Beds. Many times I have purposely headed out of my way into the homewares floor just to gawp at it, but as my husband dutifully reminded me, it wasn't cheap at £499 and there is nothing wrong with the bed we have. I was also slightly put off from Bensons due to my mums bad experience with them three years previously. The bed she ordered included free duvet, pillows and linen which sounded like a good deal as they were upgrading my brothers bed from a single to a double. Delivery cost extra, £30, and after three weeks, no-one had been in contact about delivery. Numerous phone calls and visits to the store resulted in the bed finally being delivered nearly five weeks after payment. Only to find the mattress was a kingsize not a double. Three days later the correct mattress arrived - without the duvet & linens!
Any way, I should have been warned, but just after christmas I noticed the bed of my dreams had been reduced by £100. We had also decided to convert our attic into an extra bedroom so I quickly convinced my husband that we needed this bed, it was fate!
As there didn't seem to be anyone on duty, we asked a Debenhams assistant if she could help us. She thought the Bensons salesman had probably gone on a break and very helpfully went to try and find him. Ten minutes later she returned, she couldn't find him but asked us to wait. Twenty minutes later and with a very bored four year old wanting to play on the beds we asked her to take our telephone number and ask him to ring us.
When he did call us that evening, he told us he didn't really know what was going on with the bed as they couldn't sell it until the new stock had arrived. I found this response a little strange, why advertise it at a reduced price and refuse to sell it? Never mind, a week later we tried again, I was getting worried that the bed would be sold to someone else. After waiting around for the salesman again and sending another assistant to find him, he finally agreed to put a reserved sign on the bed and he promised to call when he could take it off shop floor. A fortnight later, we still had not heard from him so we rang again. Now we were told that the bed had a rip in the bottom panel and they had been waiting for a replacement, but as it was being discontinued they couldn't get the part. I was annoyed that we hadn't been kept informed and asked if he could order another bed, but because it had been discontinued he couldn't. Getting slighty frustrated with his lack of enthusiasm I then asked if he could find out if it was still avaliable in another store. He informed me that his area manager would be in to see him in the next couple of days, he should know and they would contact me to keep me up to date.
I suppose you can guess the outcome. Over four weeks later and still no contact from anyone at Bensons Beds. Okay, we have never actually parted with any cash, but we wanted to! Surely any sales person worth their salt would have at least tried to secure a sale, even if was on a different bed?
We have done a little bit of searching since, and I have to admit that Bensons have a good range of beds & mattresses and their prices are very reasonable, they actually state on the website that prices are guaranteed to be the lowest. (I presume on the same style bed.) They also offer 0% finance for 12 months when spending over £200 and delivery is charged at £30, but only avaliable Monday - Friday.
The webiste looks professional and is very helpful. As well as all the beds, accessories and furniture being listed on the left under clearly titled catagories, there is also a title bar with a store locator, bed specifications, list of brands, frequently asked questions, and an 'about us' (which states they have over 50 years heritage, over 220 outlets and are very proud of their hard earned reputation for the best choice, highest quality, best services and lowest prices. I will be leaving a message on their 'contact us' suggesting they ask the Gloucester store to read through the above statement.
After this experience I definitely will never buy anything from Bensons Beds in Gloucester, I refuse to help their sales! However, I would consider purchasing from the internet site.
The website is www.bensonsforbeds.co.uk
Please note, I have rated this satisfactory instead of very poor as I didn't feel it fair to tarnish all Bensons Stores just because of my experience with Gloucester.
Advantages: Lovely beds Disadvantages: Rude staff, terrible customer service
...we duly trundled off to Bensons Beds in Coventry in November 2002. Bensons have stores all over the country, 220 of them to be precise, and pride themselves on being the largest bed retailer in the country. Details of your nearest store, should you ever be unfortunate enough to want to buy a bed from them, can be found on their website.
The shop is very brightly lit, and has a comprehensive range of beds, both wooden and metal, old fashioned and ... ...As well as the beds, Bensons also sell soft furnishings such as curtains and cushions. The bed section took over the top floor of the shop, and the other items were housed on the ground floor.
The shop also sells ornaments for the home, as well as bedside tables, and small tables suitable for use in the front room.
After some deliberation, we chose our dream bed, a wrought iron king size. Bensons were kind enough to throw a duvet and pillow set ...
Lizard_Lover 26.03.2003 (11.10.2003)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Bensons Bed Shop
Advantages: Great Product, Customer Services, Delivery Disadvantages: Not experienced any.
...pleasure to walk in to Bensons and receive a good level of customer service from the staff.
She was considerate, well-informed and a good humoured. She gave us enough space to look around, but let us know that she was there if we needed her, which is a welcome change after feeling pressured by sales people in other well known bed stores. When we found the divan set we wanted - which consisted of a 4 drawer base and a high quality mattress with a ... ...a new sofa bed with Bensons to go in our spare room.
I have to say the divan set was of extremely high quality and it has been a joy to sleep on since we purchased it, it was however a considerable purchase and I would encourage people to take time when choosing a bed and ensure they get it right - you can't compromise when it comes to a good nights sleep! ...
Sierra_Fans 15.12.2006
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Bensons Bed Shop
Advantages: good deals, good quality Disadvantages: little contact from the delivery depot
I ordered a bed from Bensons in Horwich back in February of this year, when I initially placed the order I was living in Harrogate in staff accomodation, I had spoken to my temp manager and she was OK with me having my own bed and as my room was large enough for a double I decided thats what I would go for. But due to the leave dates for the job I had the earliest I could get it delivered was going to be the 19th March almost 6 weeks away. But the ... ...that I called in to Bensons to find out where it was and why it had not been delivered. The Manager was very helpful and agreed to get in touch with the depot and call me back, which he did within an hour, only to tell me that the item hadn't been delivered by their supplier so they were unable to deliver it on the agreed date, he offered no apology for them not getting in touch with me to let me know of this change. Understandably I was quite angry ...
scuba_angel 03.05.2007 (02.05.2007)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Bensons Bed Shop
Advantages: none at all Disadvantages: uxbridge staff have a limited grasp of the english language, they are unhelpful, never return calls on time, do not stick to delivery dates.
...as we walked passed the Bensons for Beds in Uxbridge precinct. At the front window were two cabin beds reduced down to £299.00. My boys were promised they would have new beds but I wasn't expecting to buy from this company at the spur of the moment.
However, I did purchase the two beds and was promised a delivery date of 18.2.04.
The night before I dismantled my boys beds and took them to the refuse centre. On the delivery morning I received a ... ...Friday night.
On the Friday, bensons phoned to say they could now give me one bed on Wednesday and the other one would be here in two weeks!
I cannot print my comments that I made as they were not too polite to say the least.
It was even more pathetic when this little sales rep phoned me again to ask how to perform a credit on my mastercard! Oh please.
Fortunatley Goldfish were informed of this and put a block on the transaction. Bensons tried ...
debbie_marway 26.03.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Bensons Bed Shop
Advantages: none Disadvantages: Too many to mention. Pass the buck!
...email that was sent to Bensons Beds regarding a faulty bed! A total sham!
Dear Sirs,
A few months ago, I purchased a Minster bedstead and mattress for £249.95, from your branch in Glasgow. On 17 August 2004, I contacted the Manager (Jeanette) to report a fault with the bed. She was unwilling to listen to my complaint and instead told me to contact Customer Services Department (CSD). On the same day, I telephoned the CSD, based in Scotland to report ... ...I was advised that they could only offer me a replacement bed, as they had no authority to offer refunds. However, in order for me to claim a refund, I would have to go back to the store where I purchased the bed originally. After speaking to their manager, the CSD were willing to offer a replacement bed and to have it built by themselves, once delivered. They arranged for delivery on Monday 23 August 2004. I was forced to agree in accepting this ...
city27 25.08.2004
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Bensons Bed Shop
![Absolute Benson [ECD] - George Benson](http://imagesa.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/032/Absolute_Benson_ECD_George_Benson__6006032.jpg)
![George Benson Anthology, The [Digipak] - George Benson](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/787/George_Benson_Anthology_The_Digipak_George_Benson__6022787.jpg)
