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“Can be pricey and after sales service not great”

written by JohnnyCyprus on 02/12/2013

I have bought many items from the Screwfix website over a few years, mainly because it saves me from having to drive around looking for various things that I need for my DIY activity. They do have a reasonable range for most of my requirements, so it is mainly about convenience.

However I have found lately that the competition often better now, with more choice and better prices.

The last item I purchases was a professional battery operated vacuum cleaner for cleaning up after jobs. It arrived pretty quickly, but it had obviously been used by someone before. The inside was half full of dust and so forth from it's last use. It was supposed to be a new device.

I called the customer service line and they told me that it was probably returned by another customer. The agent informed me that they do not check returns and rely on the customers assurance that they have not used or damaged the item. They just ship them out to fulfil the next order.

I am not impressed by that policy.

Until recently I had taken it that Screwfix prices were pretty competitive, but lately I have changed my mind.

For instance a Vent Axia in-line extractor fan was was priced at $144 by Screwfix, but the same item was available from another on-line retailer at £112.

I don't think that I will be buying much more from Screwfix. I think that their package has gone downhill in recent times and I see that quite a few other people here are not impressed.