Home Improvement/Furnishings

Not Real Leather

Advantages: None at all
Disadvantages: You can't be sure of what you're getting and the quality is dredfull!

Having purchased a suite (2 x 2 seater + 1 chair) that was supposed to be leather I awaited delivery which was on the day specified and was quick and efficient which I know isn't everybody's experience. The suite looked Ok if not a little cheap. The first sign of things being not as they seem were the supposed wooden feet which I soon found out were not even wood. Obviously it must save them a lot of money to make the legs out of a white plaster/ ...
...and most people won't find out till they hit it with the vacuum cleaner and a chunk falls off leaving a white gouge. This was annoying but after a few more months we started to get cracks in the leather and it started to peel, fair enough i thought I've obviously not looked after it properly but then on looking at what was underneath the shiny elastic brown stuff that was peeling off I found it was stuck to what seemed to be a beige cloth. What I ...

ProcalHarlem 08.08.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Land of Leather

Wilkinsons is a good place to shop for many reasons

Advantages: Huge product range and great prices and friendly and knowledgable staff
Disadvantages: Not keen on the quality of some of the interiors products

I enjoy shopping at Wilkinsons, its full of bargains and a huge range of products. Now that Woolies is gone it's a genuine alternative. I am especially positive about the range of DIY and gardening products. I find the staff extremely helpful, knowledgable and polite. I don't expect them to be knowledgable, but they are, there's always been someone who can advise on a product, and I need that advise, especially in the DIY and electricals sections. ...
...fashioned' products like bicarbonate of soda, which is so effective for so many uses. For household products I go there before anywhere else. It's rare they don't stock what I need. I would like to see them extending their range of sewing and craft products, particularly as people are rediscovering the possiblity of making and mending. ...

alpineflower01 14.11.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Wilkinsons (Shop)

Kitchen Beware

Advantages: Not bad on choice and price
Disadvantages: If you order a kitchen for B&Q to fit, there's no knowing if and when it will turn up

The chronology is as follows: - Ordered and paid for on 22 January 2009 over £8000 including fitting. - Old kitchen stripped out 28 March 2009 in anticipation of fitting date given 30 March 2009 - Fitting date 30 March 2009 given by B&Q sub contractor - did not turn up. - 1 week without any kitchen at all. - Contract fitters and part of the kitchen turned up 6 April (why only part of the kitchen when we were told it was 'all ready'?) Missing hob, ...
...give alternative date for completion despite numerous telephone calls and a written request. - Took it up with Ipswich store direct. They left a message on my wife's answerphone. parts will be all be delivered 12 May, fitting will take place 14 May (Today! I have taken the day off!) contractor to confirm. - Contractor rang after being chased by my wife (who like me is getting stressed by unfulfilled promises from Contractor/B&Q) 6:15 pm 13 May. Contractor ...

peterxg 14.05.2009 · Read full review
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Review of B & Q (Shop)

Bensons - Not too sure of these yet!

Advantages: you can lay on the beds
Disadvantages: customer service

Bensons for Beds calls themselves Britains Biggest bed specialist. Im not sure if this is true or not as the stores, although large, don't tend to have masses of beds on offer. From 'Britains Bed Specialist' I would expect to see at least 100 beds from around 20 different brands. In reality you're lucky if you see 40 beds from 4 different manufacturers. Stores are usually out of the town centre with plenty of free parking. They are usually open 7 ...
...a mattress we like at Bensons but we're still not sure whether we will order from them or try to find it direct on the internet. I guess it will depend on whether we can find it cheaper. Delivery costs £35 which is good but sometimes there can be a huge wait. This, and other peoples poor experiences puts me off. ...

nigelcross 01.08.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Bensons Bed Shop

What is all the fuss for?

Advantages: cheep, but decent furniture
Disadvantages: Long walk, miserable staff, long que to pay

...have only ever been to ikea once and wont be going back! We went one evening to buy a new chest of drawers it must have taken us at least an hour. We found what we were looking for almost straight away and took down the number, but had no choice other than to go through the rest of the showroom, just to get to the part of the shop where we could find the actual box needed. When we got to finding the box we needed, it was also quite difficult as everything ...
...wait. The staff are also really miserable too. I didnt see one member of staff smile and they also looked quite scruffy. In my experience, Ikea are prittey bad. They may sell cheap products, which are of a decent standard, but the experience is rather dreadful. ...

razzer246 06.07.2008 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Ikea (Shop)