Builders Warehouse
Reviews and Complaints

I purchased a 9kg gas cylinder for my gas stove after a recent kitchen renovation. I realized that the gas cylinder will not fit into my kitchen cupboard when I reached home. Thus the following evening, I returned to exchange my gas cylinder to a smaller size.in the process of exchanging the gas cylinder, Manager Raphus insisted that the seal is broken, while the gas cylinder seal is flaking off on the side. It is very clear that the tap can not be turn open with the intact seal hence the gas was never used. Instead of trying to assist me with the problem, manager Raphus insulted me and threaten me. Despite being disappointed with his irritational insistent that the gas seal was broken, I was very upset that he shouted at me in front of my six years. Instead of suggesting a solution, assisting me as a client, he said I better leave now or else... at the main entrance with an audiance. He made me feel belittled, and I got a sense that I was treated this way because I am a woman. At the end he left me carryiny my 9kg cylinder back to my car. There are others employee at the same branch who asked me to return when that particular manager is not around. Clearly my unjusted treatment was observed.
I sincerely wish that this is not the general attitude that Builders warehouse adopted and stand by against their female client.

Hi

On January 23, 2018, I went to Builders Atterbury to purchase a "Marlene 900 2 door vanity Cabinet Mahogony [protected])" that was on display for R4300 (see attached photo)
The employee told me they do not have in stock. So I asked him (he did not offer) to phone the other branches to see if they have in stock. In the end, the Gezina branch confirmed they had in stock, but they are unwilling to bring it to the Atterbury branch and I have to go there and collect myself.
I saw the exact vanity at CTM, but their price was R4999. So I decided it's worth it to travel the far distance to Gezina as it was R700 cheaper than CTM.
I sent my husband to go buy it, but did not mention the price. He came back with it and I realised he paid R5499 for it!

How could the price differ by R1200?!

So first of all, why do you have things on display if you don't have stock?
Secondly, why are your branches unwilling to transfer stock to each other?
Thirdly, how can the exact same product differ by such a huge amount?
Fourthly, I feel that the employee should've disclosed that there is a R1200 price difference, before we went all the way to Gezina, because then it would've been better for us to go buy the one at CTM.

I would really appreciate feedback on this, and feel it would be only fair for you to refund me the R1200.

Regards,
Lindy Minty
Cell: [protected]

21.11.2017 at 17:15 I went to Builders warehouse in Gezina, Pretoria.
I needed some timber. At that department there were three ladies sitting behind a counter doing nothing. One unfriendly male assisted me as I was in his face he had no choice. I asked for pine timber of specific lengths and could someone cut it to size. He replied he is not sure what the "guys" in the back will do. He dragged himself away from the counter with a quote type of paper. The "guys" in the back not dressed in Builders work wear were lying up against stacks of timber. With a lot of effort one took the paper told me to pay first. With receipt in hand and a begging attitude I got one off his half sleeping position and he went to look for the stock. ten minutes later returned and said they don't have stock. I paid for stock that was not available. Weird accounting system they have there. I asked the cashier for refund who also found it an effort to do something at that time of the day. NEVER AGAIN BUILDERS WAREHOUSE.

On 25th of August 2017 I bought electricity appliances from Builders Warehouse in Protea Glen in Soweto. The goods I bought cost me R3800 and building material and which I bought for a lot of money. Upon me buying I bought a outside light which costs only R60 I think. On 1st of September 2017 I tried to return the light to which was my regret to even enter that store. Upon entrance I met a consultant who was too busy to help me and when I commanded his attention to assist he gave me answers with attitude in the presence of his employees as if he was showing off. All I needed is to be assisted since I lost my slip and the very guy gave me an option to receive a gift card until the manager by the name of themba sithebe arrived with no intentions of hearing my side . I suspect the consultant who I met at the door happens to be good friends with this themba guy who is throwing his weight around the shop like he is untouchable. That manager has no customer service understanding period. You can see in his face the arrogance he has. However that guy treated me as customer like trash and I just spent my money on your company. I have taken the liberty to record the conversation with the manager. Can someone assist with listening to the voice recording and please tell me is this how builders warehouse speak to their client after spending money. I have spent a lot of money and I had to be treated like a nobody for R60 and that guy insinuated that I have stolen the light, I can't believe such disrespect from a mere manager. For further details I have attached the recording and hope someone will call me.

The people who delivered the building materials.delivered it and they where lobbing, working at a very slow pace.The building sand was not delivered with the delivery and im told only when i try calling them that the sand will be here tommorrw.tmrw again at 2PM?now i have to pay the labourers free wages today and tmrw again because they will be waiting for the building sand?poor service and communication

I went to Builders Warehouse Northriding and obtained a quote for cement and builder's mix. This morning I called Builders Warehouse Northriding to ensure that they had stock and could full my order which they confirmed. I then went and rented a vehicle, and hired construction staff and went to Builders Warehouse Northriding to collect my supplies. I was invoiced and paid for the supplies. When I went to collect the cement and builder's mix I was informed that their Bob Cat was not working and that they couldn't load. So Builders Warehouse Northriding could not load the supplies I had already paid for minutes earlier. How is it possible that the Contractors counter (right next to the loading area) does not know that the only machine that can load sand is not working. I had to apply for a refund which apparently takes at least 48 hours I have paid for a vehicle and staff all wasted because Builders Warehouse Northriding doesn't know what they are doing. These are all expenses that I have now paid and can not recover. I am completely amazed by the complete incompetence, and how unwilling to help the staff were. I asked to speak to a mamager and was told by the refund lady that he wasn't answering his cellphone and there was nothing she could do. So much for customer service.

I went to builders and looked at two samples of wooden flooring, I was told an estimator will call me, they will come do measurements and then installation etc. No one called, so I went back, I was told the "estimator" is off sick, gave it a day or two called again, they then gave me his cell, left a message, called again, then tried the call centre and they referred me to Julius the manager, he was the one who gave me the cell.
I do not understand this, I spend quite a bit at builders but now that I want service, nothing, good products on the shelves but to get this installed I suppose will be a miracle.
I suppose I will go to the Glen, maybe they got estimators who want to work, I hope.

This incident occurred on Sunday, where I picked up a few items to buy, of these items, one was from a bargain bin, which had been marked down. Obviously before I pick up a item and decide to take it, I look at the price to see if it is reasonable, in that way - I knew the price of all items. So I went to the counter, and let them scan the items and the total appeared, which I then paid for, then I thought to myself that the total does not appear to be correct, so I checked the till slip and discovered that 2 of the 4 items (that is 50% of my purchases) had gone through at incorrect prices, after which I told the cashier that it was incorrect, she was rude and did not believe me, and made me go fetch or prove that it was the incorrect price, after I went to the shelves and took the prices from the shelves, to prove the cashier that they were incorrect, she did not even say sorry or look sorry or say anything, the manger came there to assist with the refund vouchers and she did not even say sorry, was blady rude in my eyes, we then waited for about 20 - 30mins to get the refunds. if i did not look at my slip, they would have fraudulently made extra money off me. 3RD WORLD SERVICE.

I am really annoyed about the complete lack of service I received at your Springfield branch, the first time I just let it go but I feel it necessary to write this complaint.

I waited over 15 minutes to have some wood cut, there were no less than 4 staff members busy cutting one piece of wood already, two other staff members also walked out from the back straight past me. Not one single person even acknowledge me standing there, is it too hard for your staff to even ask if I need help or at the very least let me know they will be with me shortly?

After waiting 15 minutes and not even being acknowledge I decided to leave. I will never step foot in your store again!

Recently, we bought an expensive DIY tool at Builders, Centurion. Knowing that we have been overpriced at the till before, we made sure to check each item as it was rung up. True to Builders Warehouse’s nature, they 'invoiced' us R799.99 for a R659.99 item! The manager on duty fixed it but was complaining in some African Language as she was changing the price at the till. How unprofessional! That is R140 which could have gone directly to the company’s pocket. If this were the first incident, I could have viewed it as a mistake, but this happens about 80% of the time we buy something from them. I APPEAL TO YOU DEAR CUSTOMER ... please check your prices. You do not want to make someone else rich on your expense, do you?

We went shopping at Strubensvalley Builders, looking for bathroom fitting. Having decided on our selection from the display boards - some which do not have prices or fitting on - we looked for a sales person to assist.

We waited for 10minutes at the counter, they even paged a person, but no-one came to help. Eventually we were quite a few people waiting. No sales person. We left and I told the 'manager' that their services sucked, she just shrugged and turned around.

We left and decided to spend our R6000 somewhere else. So thanks for nothing Builders. I do not think you will see my again!

The ongoing problem with most of the staff at the builders warehouse group is rediculis. The staff do not help you when asked and even when the manager or supervisor requests them to help the clients they still sit on their backsides and do not respond.When they are confronted and asked a question they respond by turning to the person next to them and continue to talk in their own language. This is a warning to other contractors that if you want service and a better price, buy else where.

On Sat 31009 I had the most unpleasant experience of returning an item to BW- Northgate Island. I purchased a (pricey!) drying rack from BW in the winter of 2008, for which I unfortunately did not keep the receipt. It was only used during extremely wet weather and this winter it simply snapped! A year after purchase!

I explained the predicament and asked for the rack to either be replaced or fixed or failing that, to please assist me in fixing it. I was informed that they would contact the supplier and get back to me on Mon. Needless to say I was NOT contacted. I then phoned on Monday 1210 and after much toing and froing a manager named Arthur proceeded, in a most offensive tone of voice to say there was nothing he could do.He said the last time they had stocked this item was over 2yrs ago- well I was living in the UK up until last year so this is a blatant lie! I was also told they had discontinued this product due to its inferior quality! How then is it possible to acknowledge the inferiority of a product your shop sells but then in the same breath to not honour a customer who comes back with this inferior product? Im most upset at this unprofessional conduct!

I am a volunteer at a Crisis Centre for abused women and children and we have received a donation of money to renovate our creche. We got a quote from Builders warehouse and our donor made the payment on the 16.09.09 from a Nedbank Account into Builders Warehouse Nedbank account. I called yesterday to confirm the payment and faxed thru the confirmation as well. I was not contacted. I called this morning to discover they cannot confirm payment and cannot accept my proof of payment! i called though out the day and was told the same over and over. i asked for their head office no and spoke to a kind lady Buqulwa who confirmed the payment with me and the sales consultant. The sales consultant advised we need to wait for them to fax the confirmation to him! After endless calls to today I eventually got my products. My driver had to wait for 45 minuters before he could take delivery however my money was accepted yesterday? Their manager Johan is incompetent and ubrupt and was not aware of the situation and was not interested either! no wonder his staff is so incompetent! I spent R3137.85 and received no service! Do not buy any products from Builders warehouse parow!

I have two 48 kg gas canisters that I no longer need and want to return. These were previously bought from both Builders Warehouse and Mica - phoned Mica to get an idea of what deposit refund I will get, got through immediately and an immediate answer - phoned Builders Warehouse, had to phone three times (they seemingly simply ignore the phone), when finally through to Joseph, kept me hanging for two minutes while he had to 'check' with whoever, hummed and hawed and finally said he will get Tom to phone me (which, on past experience, is unlikely to happen).

Why is it so difficult to deal with Builders warehouse? Do they deliberately instill poor service behaviour in their staff?

I went to Builders Warehouse Northgate to get some Plascon paint samples, only to be told that they do not have paint samples and that I needed to buy the 1l paint to test. The 1l is R99.99 and that would mean that I would need to pay in excess of R1000.00 to test the paint colour. I think that is very unfortunate, as I would have purchased all the paint from there, but now I will on principle be going elsewhere for the exterior and interior paint for my home.

Will not purchase from again in Birmingham, AL location. Business will not return items in any way, shape or form except for exact item only.

Have purchased many things from them in the past that were needed quickly. ( I work in IT industry, networking, desktop).

A few months ago purchased a Abit motherboard for $50 more than could have gotten at most places online. After spending countless hours over 5 days troubleshooting and on Abit forums, everyone determined that it was defective. I took complete pc system back to CBW to check out. They determined that the motherboard was bad, but that it was my fault because it had a tiny indention by processor because screwdriver slipped and thermal paste residue on some spots. The damage was very negligible and the motherboard had never worked prior to that anyway. They would "try" and RMA it. After i purchased a replacement motherboard and charged $80 for them looking at it, they told me that if it was RMA'd succesfully, to speak with a manager to see about getting store credit in exchange for the new motherboard they received.
This was said to me because i had paid for replacement already and labor.

I was contacted finally that the RMA went through and that they received the replacement, So I went and spoke with manager, and they would not exchange motherboard for anything.

$'s spent: $150 on motherboard, $80 on them working on my pc to determine bad motherboard, $150 on a replacement motherboard.