AVOID Builders Warehouse Fourways

I recently visited this branch after the previous store I went to—Chamberlains—had limited stock of the item I needed. I truly regret not waiting for stock to become available there. The service at Chamberlains was excellent, while this store offered quite the opposite.

After struggling to find someone to assist me with a charcoal filter for my hob (despite two staff members seeing me and ignoring me), I had to ask directly for help. I then proceeded to the tills to purchase six bags of compost and thought I’d also be able to pick up some rose fertiliser there. When I asked about it, I was abruptly told—with a rude and snotty attitude—that I needed to go to the garden section instead.

Fine—I headed to the garden section. Yet again, not a single staff member in sight. This was now the second time I found myself walking around the store searching for assistance. Thankfully, I did eventually come across a female staff member who was helpful—one of the few bright spots in the experience.

When I returned to the tills to complete my purchase, I asked the cashier where to collect the compost bags. Her response was a shrug and a mumbled, “Out there by the gate,” as if I was being unreasonable for asking. Already frustrated, I went to the collection point—only to find no one there either. The person who should have checked my slip was casually chatting with colleagues and only approached me after a delay. When I mentioned how poor the service was, I was met with a blank stare. I asked again who would help me load the bags—no response. So I loaded all six bags into my car myself. No one checked my slip, no one helped. Lucky for you, I’m honest.

If I can avoid this branch in future, I will. I’d rather drive the extra distance to Chamberlains, where good service is clearly still a priority. This experience was frustrating, disappointing, and largely unacceptable.