My email to their CEO which runs through my recent issues...
his is the story of my week (and a bit) trying to buy a kitchen from your business.
I went in around a month ago and completed a plan. It wasn't the smoothest experience as despite your online review sand feedback I went ahead as we liked the kitchen.
After much back and forth (often with me chasing as your team don't seem to like responding to emails or calls even back then) we finalised the design.
I went to Home base they matched your price minus 10%. I spoke with Jamie and he agreed to match that price with a £50 clincher to seal the deal. We agreed. I was very clear at EVERY POINT about how we obtained our price.
This past week I needed to get final conformation of the price to go ahead - we are starting the project in 4 weeks time. It’ s been an utter nightmare with unreplied called, emails and rudeness from your staff.
I have sent 7 unanswered emails to the story across the past two weeks chasing design revisions and pricing. I called Thursday and spoke with Alan who informed me that Neil would get back to me that day to confirm the pricing. He didn't. This is on top of leaving messages on your spaces portal which also have been ignored.
I Visited the store today on the off chance this could be resolved face to face as it appeared people didn't like to return emails or call me back. When I arrived Emma was busy but three members of staff talking to each other for over 10 mins, ignoring me standing in front of them. When they finished talking the member of staff just picked up her phone and started calling other customers. Ignoring the fact I was very obviously waiting to speak to her. No one acknowledged me or apologised. One of these members of staff may have been the showroom manager.
I left the store as I had to return to work.
I called the store to complain as quite frankly the service i had received was shoddy. I spoke first with Kevin who was extremely rude to me and refused to transfer me to the store assistant manager. He swore at me on the phone. I latterly called again and he hung straight up on me. Obviously when I passed this story on to the assistant manager later it was me who apparently swore at him. I asked for calls to be checked to prove this and I was told there was no recordings.
Finally I spoke with the assistant manager Dave who was further unhelpful. After explaining the situation in-depth he assured me I would get a cal back by 12. I didn't. I again called back and Dave assured me three members of staff were dealing with the redraft of the plans. Turns out when I spoke to Jamie half an hour later he had only just got in and hadn't even looked at the plans. Another bare faced lie from your staff.
In later conversions with Dave on the 28th at one point he had me on speaker phone with others listening in the background and even though he denies this I could hear them laughing and being rude towards me. He was aggressive in tone, rude and very unhelpful.
As the day went on and I received numerous calls from people trying it seems to make the situation worse it reached it’s zenith around 3pm. To back track when I priced this kitchen originally I informed Jamie that I had gone to Homebase and they had price matched the B&Q price minus 10%. Jamie agreed to match this minus another £50. This was a full discolour offer and at no point did I mislead or misadvise Jamie. I had been totally honest. I was offered a price, in writing.
Today Emma and the staff at Eastbourne are now refusing to honour this price (which SHOULD be £2790 minus 10% minus £50). Even worse when I called the store today I was told the price was even less by Dave at £2380. The issue here is the price seems to change every time i speak to someone and now the branch/store are refusing to offer the prices they have laid out even though I have been honest from the start. This is disgusting. Today I have been told the price is £2760, £2380, £3310… it’s amazing how the staff in the store seem to have no idea and now the store are refusing to honour the price that they had already agreed.
The issue here is I have trades booked to start this job and today should have been a simple case of finish the design and pay.
I have had over 10 conversations with the store today and yes I admit by the end I was no longer polite or courteous as the frustration of being lied, mislead and mocked by members of your team boiled over. I have wasted 2 hours on the phone today and another hour in store and travelling.
To add to what was a very frustrating day I called the 0330 number to register a formal complaint, spoke with a team leader who assured me a call back the same day and hasn't. Today is now Sunday. Not heard a thing. Sadly I didn't take her name,
I am now potentially massively out of pocket as the store are refusing to honour pricing they have already agreed to in writing, and I have had to endure a torrent of abuse, lies, poor service and contempt which seems to be endemic at the heart of the staff. I have wasted 3 hours out of my day today trying to resolve this but no one seems like they want to.
This is poor service at it’s worse. I except a swift response.