John Lewis for tradespeople?

PhilE

Anyone used John Lewis for tradespeople?

I've had recurring bad luck with tradesmen, will never be using checkatrade again.

John Lewis claim to provide a solution for customers who've had enough of hit and miss tradesmen.

If anyone has had experience with them, would be good to hear.

Doozergirl

My friend is an employed electrician for John Lewis.

No doubt an expensive option, but they wouldn't be doing it if they weren't confident in their people. I didn't know they did that. Presumed it was all attached to kitchen fits etc.

PhilE

They've started doing it recently, it would most probably cost more.

They claim that if there's a problem with the work, they themselves would sort it out, as opposed to a cheap limited company declaring bankruptcy and getting away with destroying your home.

Doozergirl

PhilE wrote: »

They've started doing it recently, it would most probably cost more.

They claim that if there's a problem with the work, they themselves would sort it out, as opposed to a cheap limited company declaring bankruptcy and getting away with destroying your home.

Mmm, yeah. There's probably another option in between those two.

Furts

Would I have any confidence in John Lewis? - possibly not. It is probably 18 months since I was last in a John Lewis kitchen show area but the experience remains lodged in my memory. Truly awful kitchens, with a poor standard of build quality, poorly fitted and badly adjusted. All glaring, obvious issues yet people were queuing to talk with the sales folks and place orders. Which means the typical John Lewis customer could not give a monkeys about any concept in quality. But it is also means John Lewis are clueless about standards of build, standards of finish and customer after sales procedures.

Coming back to OP's question. Does John Lewis approving trades people mean they will be 100% spot on? Of course not, because what knowledge does John Lewis have about building?

Put matters another way. If I want a good quality basket of groceries do I go and seek a plumber to get this? Of course not.

But no doubt the John Lewis offer will appeal to certain types.

missile

Not sure I would call JL tradesmen "capable". The guys who installed our dishwasher were not the brightest in the toolbox. I asked them to take it out and raise the legs, so it would fit better. There was some BS / H&S reason they could not and I did it myself.

Furts

missile wrote: »

Not sure I would call JL tradesmen "capable". The guys who installed our dishwasher were not the brightest in the toolbox. I asked them to take it out and raise the legs, so it would fit better. There was some BS / H&S reason they could not and I did it myself.

Perhaps all part of the John Lewis illusion. There have been BBC articles about JL using Gig economy workers, zero hours contracts and sub contractors for delivery services. Which might be what you experienced.

missile

Furts wrote: »

Perhaps all part of the John Lewis illusion. There have been BBC articles about JL using Gig economy workers, zero hours contracts and sub contractors for delivery services. Which might be what you experienced.

They certainly were not the best, but not the worst tradesmen I have had the misfortune to encounter :beer:

PhilE

missile wrote: »

Not sure I would call JL tradesmen "capable". The guys who installed our dishwasher were not the brightest in the toolbox. I asked them to take it out and raise the legs, so it would fit better. There was some BS / H&S reason they could not and I did it myself.

I had the same experience with Currys installing a fridge. However, the installation fee was refunded on the spot and I've seen one man bands that are a lot worse.

I'd rather support the small business, the only reason I'd go to a bigger company is for protection should things go wrong.

We dont have much consumer protectin if your house gets destroyed. All a Limited company has to do is declare bankruptcy and change their name, to get away with wrecking your home. Been there. As I dont have much protection as a consumer with Limited companies, I now have to look at the big ones I'd actually rather not support.

Furts

PhilE wrote: »

I had the same experience with Currys installing a fridge. However, the installation fee was refunded on the spot and I've seen one man bands that are a lot worse.

I'd rather support the small business, the only reason I'd go to a bigger company is for protection should things go wrong.

We dont have much consumer protectin if your house gets destroyed. All a Limited company has to do is declare bankruptcy and change their name, to get away with wrecking your home. Been there. As I dont have much protection as a consumer with Limited companies, I now have to look at the big ones I'd actually rather not support.

I suggest you have been unlucky and it is not a situation I have ever come across. However safeguards do exist. My local council hires out their employees on an hourly basis, and probably on job prices. I think the adjacent council does the same. Care and Repair exist to help the older folks and so on with reasonable labour costs and their own contacts. Add to this Tradings Standards schemes, Which? Magazine recommendations, personal recommendations, and so on and there is need to engage dodgy contractors.

PhilE

Furts wrote: »

I suggest you have been unlucky and it is not a situation I have ever come across. However safeguards do exist. My local council hires out their employees on an hourly basis, and probably on job prices. I think the adjacent council does the same. Care and Repair exist to help the older folks and so on with reasonable labour costs and their own contacts. Add to this Tradings Standards schemes, Which? Magazine recommendations, personal recommendations, and so on and there is need to engage dodgy contractors.

I had high content asbestos smashed, broken concret asbestos flue left in my loft. Installer changed his name and avoided any repercussions.

That's all a limited company has to do if they mess up your house. Now I avoid limited companies.