Greenhouse recomendations

Lotus-eater

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Just don't touch gardenbuildingsdirect as they are owned by Kybotech! I had an horrendous time trying to get my money back off them a few months ago when my greenhouse failed to materialise on a next day delivery. I was fobbed off with all manner of excuses and it took weeks to sort out.

I've also got the Gardman 8x6 and finally got around to building the frame yesterday having put down the base several months ago :rolleyes: You can put it straight on the ground but you need to make sure it's level all round first.

Alan, you might be able to answer this for me ... I'm pretty sure when I built the base that there was a pack of of some sort of metal braces or clips that bolt the frame to the brace. Obviously I can't find them now, or even remember what they look like, and wonder whether I'm imagining they ever existed!

Can you tell me how your frame is anchored to the base please as I daren't go aheard with the glazing until I can secure it as i don't want it to end up down the street on a windy day!


PS I bought mine from here in the end http://www.summergardenbuildings.co.uk/ and he also has a shop on Ebay. Great bloke to deal with and he even put my order through to take advantage of a special offer but delayed delivery until I gave him the ok to process payment once I'd received the refund from Kybotech. Wish I'd bought from him in the first place!

Thats not good, I was about to order a BillyOh greenhouse from these people, or at least from one of the firms which all seem to be the same one.
http://www.gardenbuildingsdirect.co.uk/Metal-Greenhouses/BillyOh-Rosette-Complete-Greenhouse

I'd love any thoughts about the greenhouse, its much cheaper for a larger size than any other one.

ScratchandSniff-->[X]

B&Q used to (an may still do) cheap greenhouses, but as mentioned, unless you're going to build a low wall for it to sit on, add £50 for a base. The base adds rigidity to the entire structure. I think the glass 8x6 went for about £150, no idea about the polycarbonate.

I personally wouldn't put it on grass, partly because you've have to anchor it somehow and I wouldn't trust stakes as you'd really have to set them into concrete to be effective. Also on grass or something less rigid, the frame will flex, particularly the aluminium jobbies and pop the polycarbonate (or break glass). Once there's a panel out, wind will see it as a big sail and pop others out.

My suggestion would be to lift turf and put some more paving slabs down and anchor to that. If at some stage in the future decide you don't want a greenhouse, you just lift the slabs and returf. The slabs will also give you a base inside the greenhouse, although that's not to everyone's taste.

HTH

~Chameleon~

I've put my base on compacted earth (didn't want to lay a concrete base as I want to grow directly in the ground down one side) but I haven't cemented the stakes into the ground. What I'm hoping will be sufficient to stop it taking off anywhere is that the base has an inner lip so I'm going to place a row of slabs down one side to sit over this lip (the side which catches the prevailing winds, although it's also protected by a fence on this side) and then a slab in each of the corners to do the same.

And then cross my fingers and hope it will work!!!!

FBThree

OH made a concrete surround for us to lay the greenhouse on. We got a 10' * 8' free from a sign in the post office - it's already too small! I recommend having a look on freecycle or in the local post office in case people are getting rid of any for free/cheap price.

~Chameleon~

Kybotech wrote: »

Kybotech Limited would like to make comments regarding the following posts from Chameleon:

don't touch gardenbuildingsdirect as they are owned by Kybotech! I had an horrendous time trying to get my money back off them a few months ago when my greenhouse failed to materialise on a next day delivery. I was fobbed off with all manner of excuses and it took weeks to sort out.

www.gardenbuildingsdirect.co.uk is operated by Kybotech Limited, and we do in fact sell Gardman Greenhouses. I suspect that when you purchased yours it was in fact the latter few months of 2007. This would also have been a direct dispatch from Gardman so we could not be held responsible for delays if the goods did not arrive as expected. I believe though from earlier comments you were informed of the delay but chose to wait the first time but when a second, further delay was notified to you you decided to have your money back, which is understandable.

So why were you advertising NEXT DAY DELIVERY on your website for this product then if it was a direct dispatch from manufacturer???? As this is the only reason I chose to order from your company (although I wasn't aware it was owned by Kybotech at the time) over several others so was bitterly disappointed when it failed to materialise.

I was only informed of the delay AFTER I called customer services to find out where my order was when it didn't arrive! I was fobbed off on two occasions with different reasons for the delay, from the container having not yet arrived at the depot to stock being damaged in the rain! Despite yet another delivery date promised I then received an email saying there would be a further 2-3 week delay, which is why I finally called to cancel the order

It then took a further three telephone calls (and all on the expensive rip-off 0870 number) to chase up the refund, again being fobbed with excuses of "system is down" and false promises to do it "immediately" that day when in actual fact nothing at all was done until I demanded to speak to a supervisor/manager. I must say whoever I spoke to wasn't very happy at the way I'd been treated and made it very clear he was dissatisfied at how the company operated - says it all really doesn't it when senior employees are willing to slag off their own employers to the customers! :rolleyes:

And I'm sorry, but nothing you have said in your recent posts will ever convince me to trust Kybotech or any of it's associated companies again.


ETA: I hope you have asked Martin's permission to promote your company here too as advertising in any way shape or form is banned on this website.

emmilou

Hmmm thanks to you all...lots to think about there, haven't got around to ordering yet was going to get it from greenhouse warehouse.com but will check out summergardenbuildings aswell and simply greenhouses. We were going to dig out a trench to put the base into (dads advice) so it doesn't blow away. Will keep on researching...:D

Kybotech

Kybotech would like to reply as follows:

So why were you advertising NEXT DAY DELIVERY on your website for this product then if it was a direct dispatch from manufacturer???? As this is the only reason I chose to order from your company (although I wasn't aware it was owned by Kybotech at the time) over several others so was bitterly disappointed when it failed to materialise.


Each case is taken on its own merit, you will note that we no longer promote next day delivery as we cannot be held responsible for delays due to direct manufacturer delays or delays with the national carriers we use. This is one of the changes that has taken place over the last 3 months in relation to problems we had over the summer months of 2007.


I was only informed of the delay AFTER I called customer services to find out where my order was when it didn't arrive! I was fobbed off on two occasions with different reasons for the delay, from the container having not yet arrived at the depot to stock being damaged in the rain! Despite yet another delivery date promised I then received an email saying there would be a further 2-3 week delay, which is why I finally called to cancel the order.

You would have normally received an email following your order which would state the estimated delivery time, these are automatically generated so this should have been sent. Once this time was up the system will generate another email if further delays are expected. If you had, as stated above telephoned on two occasions and was 'fobbed off' the order should have been cancelled at that point. If a customer chooses to continue to wait and further delays occur it is unfair that we are slated for this. I can assure people that customers are kept informed of delivery schedules and further improvements have been made to aid this process. As previosly reported in other threads Kybotech did suffer staffing and IT related problems over the mid section of 2007. Following the investment mentioned earlier this has now been rectfied.

It then took a further three telephone calls (and all on the expensive rip-off 0870 number) to chase up the refund, again being fobbed with excuses of "system is down" and false promises to do it "immediately" that day when in actual fact nothing at all was done until I demanded to speak to a supervisor/manager. I must say whoever I spoke to wasn't very happy at the way I'd been treated and made it very clear he was dissatisfied at how the company operated - says it all really doesn't it when senior employees are willing to slag off their own employers to the customers! :rolleyes:

Our 0870 is not a 'rip off number' by suggesting this you are intimating that we are doing something wrong, out of hand. The 0871 number is a national rate number. There are many big name national companies using these numbers also, this is not exclusive to Kybotech. You can choose not to use the telephone service, our email customer service costs nothing so is a valid alternative. I cannot comment what was said top you by a supervisor/manager. All I can do is assure you that the new management structure and full time staff in place have now rectified issues.

And I'm sorry, but nothing you have said in your recent posts will ever convince me to trust Kybotech or any of it's associated companies again.

In am sorry that we cannot convince you that we have changed but as mentioned we do have thousands of satisfied customer who will purchase from us again. For example, an email to me this morning following a purchase from one of our sister sites:

The Service we received for the purchase of the Trampoline was first class. From the moment we ordered, we were kept informed by e-mail of the update of delivery. Delivery was also first class and I look forward to purchasing in the future any other items that we require and will feel confident of the service

Roger H

We do not promote our company in these forums but will reply to any postings made about us. Our phone and contact numbers are used to clarify the correct method of contacting us. For example, many customers reply to our auto generated replies, these of course will not be read and would cause a delay in offering the customer service you require, hence quoting our correct email address for customer service issues. We also quote our telephone number for those customers who wish to use it, and for example yesterday our average call waiting time was 57 secs with the average call lasting 3 minutes for conclusion of the call.

We are not unreasonable and will and can offer the customer care that is required. I can only apologise for the problems you faced with your order, problems will happen, but I can assure you that we do take complaints seriously and will investigate all problems that are reported to us.

Lotus-eater

Kybotech wrote: »

Our 0870 is not a 'rip off number' by suggesting this you are intimating that we are doing something wrong, out of hand. The 0871 number is a national rate number. There are many big name national companies using these numbers also, this is not exclusive to Kybotech.

Yes it is a rip off number, the fact that many other large companies are doing the same thing does not make it right or liked by customers.
You make what? 1 pence to 1.5 pence per minute from the calls from customers? Is it worth it?

Benefits to you are that you can move where the number points easily, also you put people off ringing, which of course is what you want, Cons to you, are that you will have lost business from having the number.

The numbers are national rate numbers, but at BT's national rate, not many people still pay that rate and many get free national calls.

There is no real defence for having these numbers for a company like yourselves, you want someone to pay a few hundred quid to buy a shed or greenhouse and THEN you stiff them for a quid extra to actually talk to you............ doesn't that seem a bit cheap?

Calf_rearer

I too would like to say in the strongest possible way do not use Kybotech, I cancelled a greenhouse after reading tens of complaints on various sites regarding their total lack of concern about customer service.
I sent them 3 emails to the address on their site cancelling the order and asking for confirmation, no answer. I sent them a recorded delivery copy of my emails.....no answer. Each time I rang them, I got through only to be told they were very busy so would not answer the call !
At the end I phoned my local trading standards for advice, also my credit card company who agreed to return my money. About a month later the local trading standards office where Kybotech have their head office rang me to check that I had my money back as they had been in a meeting with Kybotech and were double checking that what they had been told was true.
I ordered in the end from a local firm who were a bit more expensive, but there customer care has been wonderful.
You have been warned :eek:

Kybotech

I am sorry that calf-rearer experienced problems with customer service. From what has been said I would think this was during the mid section up to September 2007 when problems did exist which were widely reported and have since been rectified by sweeping changes that have been made.

Again, in relation to our telephone contact number, if people do not wish to contact us by telephone they can use the email service which is of course free of charge.