Home Improvement

Homebase: Harlow has efficient staff and is well laid out.

Advantages: Organised store, helpful staff.
Disadvantages: None.

My review is based on my local B&Q store which is Harlow, Essex. Our B&Q store is located on a large shopping area just on the outskirts of town which contains lots of stores selling similar items such as Homebase & The Range. B&Q sell a whole host of items to help with redecorating the house or just general maintenance tasks such as pipes, fittings, fixtures, shelves, fencing, paint, wallpaper, curtain poles, towel rails etc and they also sell ...
...really can visit the store for pretty much everything in the home. They even sell home furnishings now and some of these items are lovely. The store is laid out very well with bathrooms & kitchens out on display and advisors available to help with measurements and planning your ideal kitchen or bathroom. It's fantastic to be able to explore the kitchens and bathrooms and look at cupboards or sinks and have someone on hand to help you with ideas ...

katyeverett 15.11.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of B & Q (Shop)

Sofas Made for You

Advantages: A large range of suites with helpful and knowledgable staff
Disadvantages: Eight week waiting period

DFS We have had our old three-piece suite for quite a number of years and after having our daughter it had begun to look a little worn so it was about time for a new one. The only problem we had was that new sofa’s did not come cheap and there was no way we could afford to spend out a lump sum in one. Then we saw the adverts for DFS offering 0% interest for payments over four years and nothing to pay for the whole first year. After speaking to a ...
...DEALS FOR SUNDAY DFS officially opened its doors in the 1980’s when Graham Kirkham, a past furtinure sales assistant, brought Direct Furnishing Supplies as it was becoming bankrupt extremely fast with no hope of return, shortening the name to what we now know as DFS and using the initials as part of their well known marketing ‘deals for Sunday’ which sees many sales throughout the stores one after the other. By the 1990’s DFS sales were souring and ...

elfbwillow 21.09.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of DFS Furniture Store (Shop)

Ikea is meatballtastic

Advantages: Good variety of items, good shopping experience
Disadvantages: Can be busy

I had never visited an Ikea until recently, mainly because I have never lived near one. I now live just up the road from the one on Wembley and so decided to take a visit. Ikea is a Swedish store that basically sells everything for the home from furniture to decoration. It is a huge store and is really obvious from the moment you see it due to its blue and yellow colouring on the building, which of course is copying the Swedish flag. Ikea is meant ...
...prices. If you have an Ikea family card you can get free tea and coffee, which is great. The café consists of lots of tables with chairs that are all chairs that are sold in the store so you can even have a look at the chairs whilst in the café. The most famous meal at Ikea is the very Swedish meatballs. You can get these for a really cheap price of 3.25. They also sell other hot meals, puddings and snacks so something for everyone. All of it is ...

wendz86 20.10.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Ikea

good carpets - shame about the salesman!

Advantages: good carpets - reasonable prices - reasonable availability - reasonable timescales and fitting
Disadvantages: horrible horrible horrible sales team

Like every warehouse carpet retailer across the nation, they have a wide selection, plenty available 'on the day' and reasonable lead in times for most product. Free estimation and home measurement, and reasonable - unhidden - costs. However, the '50% off' further 20% off buy today double discount signs get very tiring. Can you actually buy any of this stuff at full price? It is misleading. The salesmen are clearly on commission with probably little ...
...actually choose or enjoy the experience. Despite numerous, and quite firm "we'll come to you in a minute" we were followed round the store by a particularly oily character. We double-stepped an aisle or two and gave our not inconsiderable purchase to another salesman as a result. Good carpets - speedy delivery - well and quickly fitted - nasty taste in the mouth at the end of the day. ...

doctorclifford 04.11.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of CarpetRight (Shop)

Hampen, high pile med/large rug

Advantages: Good value, Hard wearing and soft
Disadvantages: Made of latex so not the best material

...each item at my nearest ikea store before setting off. Armed with my list I felt the individuals rugs as I walked through the various showrooms comparing them as I went along. Although the Hampen is made of polypropylene and was in the lower price range it felt a lot softer and was better value for money than others that cost over £200. So very pleased with the item and they come in various colours so easy to find a colour to match individual taste. ...

dayobuk 14.10.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Ikea (Shop)