Poor service from tile supplier

Innys

Just to warn everyone about this company:

https://www.Wallsandfloors.co.uk

Their service leaves something to be desired. Firstly, they offered me a discount on some tiles I was thinking of ordering and then withdrew it. Then, when I did eventually order them, several tiles arrived damaged.

Others may have had a better experience, but I won't be buying from them again.

You have been warned.

I

keystone

Never, ever buy ceramic tiles over teh interwebz. You can't guarantee that they won't fob you off with a mixture of batches and in some cases you will need to check that dye codes are the same too. There will inevitably be an unacceptable level of breakage.

Cheers

ormus

a few damaged tiles is never a real problem.
after all you have to cut some tiles to fit the job.
ive had many broken tiles/boxes over the years (on various jobs) and never had to return them. or buy more.

sillygoose

I am glad I wasn't tempted. I little while ago I went in Wickes and came our with a sample of the perfect tile for what I want. I went back the other day to buy them and found all the ones in the shop were rubbish, the manufacturer mark on the back looked different and they looked cheap & unfinished - a cynical person may think this not coincidental to being largely reduced currently.

Just glad in a moment of madness I hadn't ordered a load online for delivery (slightly tempted due to having to watch my back).

Funny thing is tiles are not something most of us look for often, now finding there are loads of specialist outlets around, just never took any notice until someone points them out!

cddc

And herein lies a lesson.

1) Don't buy tiles over the net. Samples are often sent from odd boxes of old batches suppliers have left and will not match the shade/calibre you actually receive.

2) Tiles are like wallpaper, manufactured in batches. If you have samples from say, a month ago, there is no guarantee that the batch you order be the same.

3) No need to be too precious about the odd breakage as you will always have cuts, but if you have significant damages get the supplier to replace the broken boxes.

4) The DIY sheds are cheap but regularly change suppliers to get the best deal, so even if the tile name is the same it might not actually be the same tile. Good value in many cases but not always and a very narrow range choice. Staff have little or no product knowledge.

5) Use your local independent retailer. They normally have a far wider choice and far greater knowledge than the multiples, and in most cases, though they are likely to be pricier than the DIY sheds, they will often be cheaper and provide a better quality product for the price than the likes of Topps, Tile Giant etc.

6) Do not be fooled by "price per tile" peddled by Topps and other multiples, always check the sqm price.

7) Always order extra. Keep a spare box. Tile ranges last an average of five years, and as stated above batches change regularly.

And here endeth the lesson.

Happy tile shopping!

Hugbubble

Just to counter others comments, I bought tiles for my bathroom jobs off t'internet. Most direct from Johnson's, some were Johnson's tiles but from wallandfloors.com, and another lot from an independent miles away from I live, where they had to order them direct from Portugal.

No problem with any of them, including service, but not of the tiles were particular cheap.

Only problem was that the delivery driver would only leave them at the bottom of the building (I live in a fourth floor flat) which even in the lift was a struggle for a woman by herself (porcelain tiles- how heavy??). That said, I think that was a policy of the courier not the tile company.

cddc

To be fair, Walls and Floors are a decent supplier and distributor as a rule, but I would always suggest seeing displays and getting samples of current batches before buying as you will get a far better idea of the finished result than from a picture on t'internet.

Colour printing and photos can only give you so much information and often only give you the vaguest impression of how the product will looked when fixed.

Nile

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SuecomplaintaboutToppsTil

Topps Tiles have left me with no bathroom in my new house because of a faulty grout product. They have made three site visits and not solved the problem. The BAL scarlet tile grout bleeds colour everywhere each time it gets wet. Yes it is supposed to be suitable for bathrooms. Does anybody else have this problem? If so how did it get resolved. I have written and telephoned but so far they only want to clean the tiles. No point.

tpt

As a tile retailer i have to jump in here on a few subjects.

First by posting a link to W & F you actually help to promote their site to google, even if you warn off the good people on this forum try putting just the name in!

Secondly the shade thing - samples (from us anyway) are always sent from current stock, it makes no sense not to. however if you do order a sample, make sure you dont place your order 6 months later as it wont be the same shade - if in doubt order another sample just before.
its no different from being passed a sample in store, so i dont understand why this would be different?

Third - delivery, couriers or van delivery drivers (even ones that work for your local independent retailer) wont carry tiles up to a fourth floor flat or bathroom, they simple arent insured to do so.

Fourth - you should should should order online, it is massively cheaper, however you should pick your retailer carefully - ignore the per tile price gimmicks & use the ones with per metre prices and lots of advice. obviously i'd like to get your business if your buying tiles online, but there are other good ones too. i know we are on average 45% cheaper than most bricks and mortar tile shops.

Topps have long been known to show silly high prices and the discount heavily if asked. i once served a customer who was quoted 30% then 20% then 10% discount (yes all 3 one after the other) and were still more expensive than the retail price at the shop i was working at.
A scarlet red grout will be so full of dye that it will do exactly what you describe and in general bathroom doesnt mean shower (crazy i know), it may be worth contacting BAL as get some advice direct they have great support lines - let me know if you need the number.
i realise topps should sort it, but this will get you further, quicker. i'd suggest trying a grout sealer as it may help a bit but check with BAL first.

Walls and Floors are a good supplier in general, broken\chipped tiles do happen and most suppliers advise that they be used for cuts which is usually not a problem. did you give them the chance to send replacements?

lastly you cant compare the tiles that the big sheds sell to a quality tile supplier, in general its cheap stuff imported from india\china and the quality really leaves a lot to be desired. adhesive is awful! ask any tiler, i know they will agree.

garry1978

for what it's worth - we bought our tiles from wallsandfloors. they were very cheap (we bought metro white for walls, and travertine stone for floors). they sent the wrong travertine (450x450mm tiles arrived as 610x400mm). Bit of a nuisance, but they sent the correct ones the next day. All tiles matched the samples we'd order the week before.