Builders Warehouse Port Elizabeth — Local services in Eastern Cape

I should've known from the start that this particular purchase would be less than pleasant, as it started off with less than stellar service. While browsing the timber section for skirting boards, I failed to find a single assistant. After deciding on the skirting boards that I needed, there was still no assistant in sight. Instead of standing around aimlessly waiting for some kind of assistance, I took a photo of the barcode and product info and took this to the back counter so that I could complete the transaction.

I purchased 18, 3m skirting boards at 12:47 on Wednesday, 10/04/2024. I requested it to be delivered, as the boards were too long for the car. I agreed to the R140.00 delivery fee, even though I only live a block away from the store.

After making payment, I was told that the delivery would take place on Friday, 12/04/2024. If I was told beforehand that the delivery would take two days, I would've made other arrangements. I was curious why the delivery could not be scheduled for the next day, but one glance at the vacant expression on the cashier's face persuaded me that any further inquiry would just be a further waste of time.

By 12:00 on Friday, no delivery had taken place. One would think that if the delivery was scheduled for the Friday, a delivery point 650m away from the store would be one of the first stops. Unfortunately, I'm not privy to the inner-workings of Builder's Warehouse's logistics department. I proceeded to phone the Builder's Warehouse call centre, as it seems that direct numbers to the store are not shared online. A very friendly lady answered and assured me that she would contact the store and phone me back with information regarding the delivery. Which she did. The service from the call centre was excellent. She informed me that the delivery would take place in the afternoon. The order arrived at 14:20. Thanks call centre.

The call centre phoned me back at 12:54. The time that the delivery note was printed was 12:54. Coincidence? Doubtful. I suspect that had I not phoned the call centre, I would still be waiting for the delivery. The scheduled delivery date on the delivery note indicated 08/05/2024...

In the end, it took Builder's Warehouse PE two days to deliver 18 skirting boards to my house which is 650m away from the store. However, this in and of itself is not what has driven me to write this review. From the beginning to the end of this purchase, I had to insert myself into the process, playing the roles of sales assistant and logistics coordinator myself. As I look back on this experience, it appears that at least some portion of their work, I had to fulfil. This is not the level of service that I am paying for.

P.S. It was also a colossal waste of a Friday as I sat waiting the whole day for a delivery that I should've just handled myself. I've learnt my lesson. I should've just carried the skirting boards home. Could've done it in two trips...

One of the worst experiences I've had with a store. Bought an 18000btu air-con unit and ended up requesting their installation service (R2900.) Aircon was bought 17th Feb and the installation date was set on the 20th Feb. Put in leave and they never arrived. Phone call saying the would come the 21st. Put in another days leave... Never arrived. I sent a complaint to using the builders online communication. No communication until I went back to the store the next week Tuesday. Spoke to a manager and He told me he would speak to the installers. Received a sms that an installer would be arriving 9am on Thursday 29th. Put in another day leave. Never arrived. Received another phonecall saying they would be there Friday the 1st of March. Never arrived. Aircon was installed on Saturday the 2nd of March. I ended up having to pay the installers an extra R1800 for a bit of cabling and a breaker. Spoke to another installer who says the whole installation should not have cost any more than R3500 as the unit had it's own piping. Installers used one of our chairs to stand on during the installation without permission which ended up breaking. The indoor unit is also damaged (have photo's taken before installed), but ended up just letting them install it because I did not want to have to go through this whole...

I delivered there and service and assistance is on the ball in the yard at the back however the lady at receiving also at the back had a unfriendly attitude and also disrespectful or undermined me according to procedures to follow when entering the yard and before offloading consultation with respective persons how ever I was alone that day so usually I have an assistant doing this for me as I would wait in the truck for guidance as yo where I should park for the offloading process and it was my first time out if the truck and going to the receiving section or office and the first lady as I looked into the office I was polite and greeted and wanted to know where the person is that usually see to us and her way of talking and and attitude wasn't not nice at all but this happened rhe one time only of all the many other yikes we been there to deliver but like I say I don't usually lease with the staff there I send my assistant in so he knows better where and who to speak or link with ad for me I was abit I the dark and trying to get assistance on to be undermined and treated as I was in a primary or day...