Wickes

Wickes

Being a British staple for a number of decades, Wickes actually has its origins in the US, with the name being founded as a Michigan based lumber business back in 1854. The retail aspect of the business was only put in place during the 1950s and, in 1972, the name came to the UK, opening its first store in Manchester and forever changing the market for tradesmen and the public at large.

Wickes has gone through a number of changes over the years, but one key ideology has always remained. The business focus has always been to provide a full range of top quality supplies and equipment to the building trade for a much better, fixed price and ensuring value for money and close control over product quality whilst keeping prices low; the perfect combination for working tradesmen and hobbyists alike.

Today, Wickes operates from over 200 stores in the UK, nationwide, and boasts an own-brand product range of over 10,000 items, as well as trusted branded products and its own installation services. They are also deeply focused on maintaining a strong retail practice over the wide range of channels that customers can engage with today, including a real-world and online catalogue that contains their entire range, as well as a social media presence that offers great advice and ideas for budding builders.

As part of their focus in becoming a well-known and trusted DIY and building retailer, Wickes have built a reputation by developing their own excellent tools and equipment, meaning that, by the 90s, the company had managed to build a product range of almost entirely own-brand stock. Inspired by a rapidly-growing customer base, the company recently began stocking products from specially selected and trusted partners; such as Bosch, DeWalt, Makita and Stanley, backed up by an in-house quality assurance team that ensure the supplied products meet Wickes' exacting standards.

Departments

Wickes cover a whole range of building and trades needs, as well as providing their own installation services. In their extensive, online catalogue you will find products for:

• Bathrooms
• Decorating & interiors
• Doors & windows
• Electrical & lighting
• Flooring
• Gardens
• Heating & plumbing
• Kitchens
• Materials
• Seals & adhesives
• Tools & workwear

Opening Times

Typically, Wickes stores are open within the following hours:

Mon - Sat: 07:00 - 20:00Sun: 10:00 - 16:00

Of course, each location is different and opening hours may be limited by local conditions. For exact opening times of your local branch, details can be found on Wickes' own website.

Delivery Information

Wickes use a two-tier system for delivery of their own products; ‚Ǩ≈ìstandard‚Ǩù and ‚Ǩ≈ìbig & bulky.‚Ǩù There is a next day delivery service on any purchase made before 6PM within the mainland UK, as well as to the Isle of Wight for standard purchases only. This delivery is free on standard orders over £50 and big & bulky orders over £300, within a certain radius of the nearest Wickes store. Morning and Saturday deliveries can be requested for an extra £5 charge.

Standard deliveries that do not qualify for free delivery cost £5.95. Big & Bulky deliveries are charged based on the distance from the nearest Wickes store, costing £80 for any delivery over 40 miles, £40 between 20-40 miles and £25 for orders under £300 within 20 miles.

Alternatively, the website offers a click & collect service, allowing you to purchase your item online and have it ready to collect in just 3 hours, helping you both make the most of online deals and cut the hassle out of your shopping.

Returns Policy

Wickes offer a useful returns service that allows you to return any unwanted product, with the exception of bespoke or fitted items, to your nearest Wickes store (except for Wickes Kitchen & Bathroom stores) free of charge. To return your product, you must return it within 30 days along with proof of purchase.

Product returns can be made via a courier service provided by Wickes at a cost of at least £22, which may rise depending on location and product.

Security

The Wickes website offers an impressive amount of information regarding the security measures that protect you and your information during a purchase. All details are encrypted upon sign in and during the checkout process and the website will only accept orders placed using a Secure Socket Layer, protecting your information from being revealed by an insecure connection.

Reviews

Below average scores on review sites like Trustpilot and Review Centre suggest that, unfortunately, Wickes has suffered from inconsistencies in its customer service and after sales support. Whilst this may be something to consider, it has to be taken in mind that reviews are more regularly left by customers with bad experiences and, especially with a still respectable number of positive reviews on both sites, the case may be that many, many more customers come away happy than are left disappointed.