Kent Building Supplies: A Shopper’s Guide
Why You Should Visit
- Extensive Product Selection: You’ll find a wide variety of products, including lawn care equipment (gas mowers, push mowers, self-propelled mowers), building supplies, perennials, and annuals in their garden center.
- Helpful and Knowledgeable Staff (Mostly): Many staff members are described as friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable, especially in areas like root propagation and lawn care. The project desk staff receives high praise for their insights and support.
- Dog-Friendly Environment: Shopping with your canine companion is welcome, making errands more convenient.
- Spacious Layout: The store is well-organized, offering ample space to maneuver, even with large items.
- Competitive Pricing (Sometimes): I’ve experienced very good prices on certain items, like self-propelled mowers.
Why You Might Consider Alternatives
- Inconsistent Staff Performance: While many staff members are praised, some experiences have been negative. There are reports of unhelpful, rude, or even unprofessional behavior from certain employees, including an assistant manager.
- Pricing Inaccuracies: Be aware that pricing discrepancies are a significant issue. Items may be mislabeled, leading to unexpected charges at checkout. The scanning code of practice is not consistently followed.
- Unreliable Order Fulfillment: Ordering items, particularly windows and doors, can be a frustrating experience. There have been reports of orders not being placed, long delays, and difficulty obtaining order confirmations.
- Inconsistent Stock Availability: The store sometimes runs out of stock or unexpectedly closes early for inventory, even on Saturdays, without adequate notice.
- Warranty Issues: While customer service is generally excellent, the warranty process may be problematic. Replacing warranted items might require dealing with a third-party, rather than receiving immediate replacement in store.
- Online Order Issues: There are reports of significant discrepancies between the amount charged online and the amount actually due, resulting in considerable financial losses with little recourse.
