Login
Start Free Trial Are you a business?? Click Here

Garden Buildings Direct Reviews

1.1 Rating 391 Reviews
3 %
of reviewers recommend Garden Buildings Direct
1.1
Based on 391 reviews
Shipping & Delivery
Delivery Methods
Own Driver, Courier
Average Delivery Time
Over A Month
On-time Delivery
Greater than 35%
Accurate And Undamaged Orders
Greater than 28%
Customer Service
Communication Channels
Telephone, Email, Live Chat
Queries Resolved In
Over A Week
Customer Service
1.1 out of 5
Returns & Refunds
Refunds Process
Difficult
Returns Process
Could Be Better
Read Garden Buildings Direct Reviews

About Garden Buildings Direct:

Garden Buildings Direct manufacture garden sheds, summerhouses, log cabins, playhouses and other garden related products. We import a large number of products from Eastern Europe and Asia on top of the 120 SKU’s we manufacture in house.
Garden Buildings Direct also operates a home delivery service throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

Visit Website

Phone:

0800 169 6016

Email:

Sales@Kybotech.co.uk

Location:

Parry Business Park, Sutton-On-Trent, Newark, Nottinghamshire United Kingdom
Nottinghamshire
NG23 6QX

Write Your review

Garden Buildings Direct 1 star review on 6th December 2024
Laura Barker
Garden Buildings Direct 1 star review on 6th December 2024
Laura Barker
Garden Buildings Direct 1 star review on 22nd November 2024
Allison
Garden Buildings Direct 1 star review on 22nd November 2024
Allison
Garden Buildings Direct 1 star review on 22nd September 2024
Stuart Cavey
Garden Buildings Direct 1 star review on 22nd September 2024
Stuart Cavey
Garden Buildings Direct 1 star review on 22nd September 2024
Stuart Cavey
104
Anonymous
Anonymous  // 01/01/2019
Shocking customer service, missing parts and I was fobbed off for days regarding the factory making the parts. I have now given up after 3 weeks of calling every day. Avoid this company at all costs.
Helpful Report
Posted 9 months ago
Personally, I think this company is a travesty and their operation and processes a farce. I ordered and paid for a shed online on 21 March. It is now 13 May, and we still cannot complete the build because we do not have the hinges for the doors. Today I received an email telling 'they have been requested'! I reported them missing on 29 April! I think the company is now being vindictive because I my bad reviews. The full story: I ordered the shed online on 21 March. I phoned the company on 11 April because we had heard. I was sent an email telling me it would be with me in a couple of days. The email contained a tracking link that was absolutely useless: it showed me (in logistics jargon) where the shed had been, but not where it had yet to go, or when it was likely to arrive. On 15 April, the shed arrived out of the blue - still, we had it. We made arrangements to transport it to the allotment and get it built the next day, it would likely take most of the day. On starting to unpack the shed in preparation for transportation, we found the roofing felt crushed and punctured. So I phoned - a replacement would be sent. Further unpacking revealed a lot of missing parts and the inclusion of an Apex panel from a different shed, ours was a pent. Some 5 calls later it was determined that we were missing two packs. It would have helped if a packing list had been sent out with the shed. Still worse, we were told the packs of 'replacement parts' would take 3-7 WORKING days to arrive! These were 'missing' parts. They had wasted our day, cost us money and now told us we would likely have to wait over a week to get parts that should have been included in the delivery. On 23 April, the packs and replacement roofing felt arrived (out of the blue again). However, due to other committments, we could not start the build until 29 April, so we left them wrapped up. On 29 April, we transported the packs to the allotment and looked forward to, finally, getting the shed built. We should have checked the packs when they arrived - NO door hinges. Another phone call - to speed things up, I was told I could buy some hinges, send them the receipt and they would refund me. Yeh! I had paid for a shed and still did not have it - now they expected me to trust them to promptly give me a refund. SO - another 3-7 days wait. Despite not being able to fit the doors, we decided to build the shed. What a mess: centre frames on every panel in the wrong position vertically, damaged T&G boards, cladding overhanging panels preventing panels abutting, windows too short for the holes in the shed panel and broken windows. Also, the company seems to have an aversion to screws. The customer has to fit the top and bottom frames on each of the shed panels and the door diagonals because they require the insertion of screws. This would not be so bad, but the door diagonals needed trimming because they were too long (and cut at wrong angle), and the incorrectly positioned centre (vertical) frame on each panel resulted in them needing trimming at one end and leaving a gap at the other. I emailed the company on 1 May to tell them about the broken windows. On 4 May, I got a reply telling me relacements would be sent. I forgot to tell them about the eaves, so I emailed them again on 3 May. It has taken another email today (13 May) to get a response about the hinges. And, as I said above, they have told us that the hinges have been requested. This is rediculous, this company is the same company as BillyOh, the company that builds these sheds. When you email, you get an automated reply stating they will get back to you 'within the next 2-3 working days' (in my experience - 3 working days). When you need missing or replacement parts, they tell you it will take 3-7 working days to arrive (my experience - 8 days). These periods are inside their target times but atrocious when you are trying to get a shed (that has supposedly been delivered) built. Quite why expediated delivery cannot be used for missing and damaged parts is beyond me: they told me they use a number of different couriers, surely some of them have next day or 2 day delivery. On the phone, I get the impression that they are well used to having problems with sheds and just go through the motions. I should point out that the people in customer services are NOT unfriendly or brash; however, after a time, it all starts to sound very disingenuous and you cannot help but feel that they have post-its on their phones and computer monitors (or possibly instructions and a script) reminding them tell the customer "We are truly sorry…" as often as possible when dealing with issues. They are also keen to point out that 'This really is rare for us…', something that is easily disproven by reading the feedback on review sites. Their scores are not good and would be considerably lower if it was based on sheds alone. In my opinion, this company does not care. All the time people keep ordering sheds, they will continue to operate in this appaling manner. After all, they have been in the business for 20+ years and still cannot get it right.
Garden Buildings Direct 1 star review on 13th May 2024 Garden Buildings Direct 1 star review on 13th May 2024 Garden Buildings Direct 1 star review on 13th May 2024 Garden Buildings Direct 1 star review on 13th May 2024 Garden Buildings Direct 1 star review on 13th May 2024 Garden Buildings Direct 1 star review on 13th May 2024
Helpful Report
Posted 9 months ago
Our Experience - 1040576:GBD1995209 We ordered a shed 04/08/2023 and were told 4-6 weeks delivery, when asking for an update 5 weeks later we were told it would be a further 1-2 weeks. After 8 weeks we finally received delivery (With only a days notice it was coming). We treated the shed before assembly, as is recommended by any reputable landscaper, to ensure proper coverage, we did this on the assumption that the shed was fit for purpose. On 08/10/2023, we took stock of the parts and it was at this moment we realised that more than 50% of the fixings were missing and that we didn't even have the hinges! We saw this as human error and planned to purchase them ourselves and email the next working day. Upon attempting to assemble the shed the same day, we noticed the rear left gable was shorter than the right due to a manufacturing fault, we also saw this as human error and decided we would purchase a fascia board to make up for this and also notify them of this. After this, we noticed that the 19mm pressure treated tongue and groove floor we paid additional for was too wide and would have required cutting, it was at this point, where we hadn't gotten past 3/24 pages of the instructions, we decided not to commence with erecting the shed due to the multiple manufacturing faults that we had come across and notify customer services of our request for a return due to totally losing faith in the product and company. We followed up with a phone call and a subsequent email 09/10/2024, where we were told that due to us treating the shed, this was classed as "acceptance" in their T&C's (We checked and couldn't find this) and that we were only entitled to the incorrect parts being replaced and would therefore need to measure every single part (Being the entire floor, the fixings, one half of the left hand side and one half of the rear gable). Upon receiving this email, we sought legal advice and were told that under Consumer Rights 2015, it is on the manufacturer to provide a reasonable solution that is FOC and is at no inconvenience to the customer. We also found out that even if we were to accept the goods, this does not deny us our consumer rights. Following numerous emails to this company where we notified them of this breach and no reply after 9 days we decided to contact our credit card company and commence a chargeback following that same legal advice. (An email later followed on the 23/10/2023 where we were offered £51.30 partial refund AS WELL AS replacement parts, which we denied). Long story short, Garden Buildings Direct waited until the last day to challenge this chargeback, with the reason being that the shed was fit for purpose and IN USE, a clear lie as it was still taking up space in our garden, and contradicting their previous emails where they offered to replace the parts. This led to us needing to pay for an expert to evaluate the shed and provide an independent report on how the shed is not as described or fit for purpose. During this timeframe, which lasted a further 3 months, we were told to notify this company that the goods were ready to collect and were actually told now we were able to take a partial refund OR replacement parts, contradicting their previous email. Following our submittal of this report, 6 months on from ordering the shed, the matter was not taken further. I can't emphasise enough the stress that this put us through, in such a financially difficult time, to have to pay to resolve. It is on this date, a month on from the resolution of this matter, that we can safely submit this honest review and hope it helps others to make a proper decision on whether to use this company.
Helpful Report
Posted 10 months ago
Don' t buy from thrm . It is a fake. They take your money. Someone can tell me where to report this rubbish company?
Helpful Report
Posted 11 months ago
Two years after purchase and shed is still “settling” tried to complain and nothing came of it awful products and service . Save your money Would upload warped wood but picture upload not quite working
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
After having norhing but issues with the summer houses we purchased less than 2 years ago we are having to dismantle and replace with a reputable company. Absolute joke when we spent over 2500 on this. Never ever use this company. They take your money and run. No help and when we wanted a full refund they agreed to only a 10% refund. And this was after months of trying to contact them for answers.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Rubbish company Dire GB would be a better description
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Maybe we should've read the description properly but I'm sure it didn't say 'This shed is made of cardboard walls, cling film window and paper roofing 'felt'!' We even had to cut the base down as it wasn't even the correct size for the shed! And the customer service? Second to none! They even offered another roll of the paper roofing felt as a gesture of goodwill, and they said 'only in an attempt to stop the roof from leaking'. I suppose the felt is meant for that in the first place, so good suggestion! Good firewood but expensive. Useless company, NEVER BUY FROM THEM.
Garden Buildings Direct 1 star review on 18th January 2024 Garden Buildings Direct 1 star review on 18th January 2024 Garden Buildings Direct 1 star review on 18th January 2024 Garden Buildings Direct 1 star review on 18th January 2024 Garden Buildings Direct 1 star review on 18th January 2024
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Shocking service ! Shed turned up broken / paint exploded and with a rude delivery man. Customer service is faceless and they just take your money and then leave you to fend for yourself. Do your self a favour dont use them!
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
The customer service for this company is appalling. There is no way to get in touch with these people to ask any questions when it did eventually arrive. It was literally dumped on my driveway. I employed professional carpenters to put it up. They’ve told me the pieces don’t fit together properly, the windows don’t fit because they’re not cut to the right size. I will never recommend this company. I didn’t actually speak to anybody to get help for this. They are not interested they just take your money. I wish I had read these reviews instead of made up ones on their website. I will never ever recommend these people. They are a disgrace and should be shut down.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Shed was delivered with broken and missing parts and is very much in the budget / cheap category of sheds. I called to ask for the missing parts and it’s been 11 days since the call and they have still not arrived. I currently have a shed built on 3 sides with no roof. I asked if they could make sending out missing parts a priority and was told it had to be made up as normal and delivered as normal. It really wouldnt be difficult for them to make up a piece of wood in 24 hours and then get it out to a courier for next day delivery, this should be a minimum that could be offered for something that is the suppliers fault. Customer service were very unhelpful and rude and when i asked to speak to a manager i was told that i sound like someone who wants a discount and that no one was in to help as it was 2:30pm on a Friday.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Order number GBD1955364 Ordered shed 12’ x 8’ 25th of may delivered 1st June missing parts; both doors and the roof missing, one gable end broken, delivery driver on video call at time of delivery and for whole duration of delivery had no interest in me the customer, I suspect this is why he drove away with some of my order still on his truck. Parts to be delivered couple of weeks later but delivery driver reported that nobody was at address and nowhere safe to leave parts. I have Ring doorbell and my front & rear gardens are enclosed with fences and gates, regards anyone calling at my door Ring recorded nothing other than myself, family members & the postman on that day, so it would be reasonable to say that the delivery driver had not called to attempt delivery at all. Nearly two weeks later missing parts delivered along with gable to replace damaged one, gable end delivered was for wrong side despite having sent pictures to help identify which side needed replacing. One week later correct gable delivered. On starting to build the shed I discovered that I had not been supplied enough rails to finish the panels as had only been sent rails for 8’ x 8’ instead of 12’ x 8’ shed also missing was the gap fill times 2 for rear of shed. As I had started the build I could not wait another two+ weeks for parts to be sent so had to buy four lengths of 27mm x 44mm x 24000 from B & Q. When doing the roof felt I followed instructions as given; measuring shed then adding 140, shed was 3570 + 140 x 3 which leaves the felt short by 130 on the last strip from a 11m roll I also found that four of the six sills were unusable due to being twisted and bent. I contacted Customer services again on 3rd September and was told over the phone that parts were ordered and would be sent within two days. I then received an email requesting pictures which I provided. 11th September I contacted Customer service again as nothing had arrived to discover that none of the items had been ordered at all. Ordered over phone after a lot of debate and received two weeks later. As others have reported build quality is very poor gaps between panels, roof supports not thick enough to support 8 foot roof (sags in middle). Customer service poor. Valued as a customer again poor. As advised on other reviews here, do not buy from this company service & quality is awful.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Absolutely terrible customer service. It’s impossible to get hold of them. My order is really late. I wish very much that I’d read these reviews first. When they finally deliver my shed I’m dreading it being poor quality like their customer service
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
We ordered a Billyoh Peardrop Extra Wendy House, all very efficient with ordering and advice. However I am now one EXTREMELY unhappy customer. The delivery arrived 2 days earlier than advised with no warning and no one at home to receive it. Upon unpacking the myriad of separate pieces - almost 300 bits of wood - there was no sign of instructions. After waiting in a phone Q for 30 mins, instructions were sent by email. After trying to understand them it turned out they were for a different building. A second 30 mins in a phone Q another set of instructions emailed through, They too turned out to be for a different building! Another 30 mins phone Q we were told that the 8'x7' Wendy House was a fairly new addition to the range and assembly instructions had not been produced yet!! We were told a manager would call the same day to resolve this issue. No one called that day or the next, after another time consuming phone Q we were told a manager would indeed phone, needless to say 3 weeks later still no contact. After me sending email outlining the issues GBD replied saying the the Wendy House delivered was correct and the instructions sent were correct [not true] and that they would collect/refund but would charge for the collection! The detail of the assembly problems:- No assembly instructions available The website indicates its easy to assemble, mainly panels- not true, the floor, roof, bunk bed, shutters, flower boxes all need assembling from many individual pieces [273 individual bits of wood, in total -almost 1,000 nails and screws!!] - some floor T&G planks badly damaged - Roof trusses were too short, needed remaking -floor bearers too long, needed cutting down -wall panels different shades -2 edging strips missing -roof T&G, 5 planks damaged -missing facia boards for both sides. This was a special present for my grandaughter so doubly frustrating. All in all I am extremely unhappy as, while I understand mistakes happen - GBD have been dismissive in their response and disinterested in trying to resolve the issues and retain the customers goodwill - they just don't appear to care. We deliberately didn't buy the cheapest option in the market and thought having spent nearly £1000 on a Wendy House it would have been good quality and if any issues they would be addressed and resolved. Had GBD engaged with us to address the issues in a reasonable manner I would have been satisfied and happy to give a generally positive review. Their lack of engagement and apparent dismissive response have left me disappointed, frustrated and prepared to consider legal action under the Consumer Protection Act 1987. I am, however still prepared to engage with GBD if they wish to resolve the issues in a resonable manner.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
This company doesn't even deserve 1 star! Absolutely awful service. Ordered a play house for my 2 year old for our new garden and I can't explain how AWFUL it is! The delivery time was 1-5 weeks....actually took about 7! Such bad quality.... nothing fits together properly. Every piece of wood is splintered so totally unsafe for children to play in! I contacted garden buildings direct and sent photo evidence and apparently from the photos they can't see an issue with any of it...which is slightly worrying!! Very unhelpful and said we could send back but it would cost 80 something points! My partner is now having to completely re-do the whole thing, covering it with new, decent wood inside and out, which is obviously costing alot of money..but I refuse to let this company have any money for nothing ! Avoid at all costs! Can't get hold of them either, kept on hold for hours.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Avoid at all costs Waited 4 weeks finally gave me a delivery date Waited in all day never arrived phoned GBD waited 25 minutes no answer went on chat line said courier would call never called Delivery never arrived They soon answer the phone when you place an order I requested a call back on email and chat line nobody contacted me whatsoever So requested a refund waited another 2 weeks for refund Don’t waste your time with this company they take your money but then don’t want to know Maybe a little cheaper but go elsewhere for better service and from what I have read better quality items They never called me or emailed me to apologise at any point Was nearly at a point of doing a charge back on my credit card Avoid
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
I have had the worst experience with this summer house, which is something I have saved up for for years, it came with the most flimsy warped wood my husband would have sent it back if he hadn’t put the monstrosity together, gaping holes everywhere, we have spent £100s to make it presentable I am disappointed in myself that I didn’t read the reviews beforehand
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
The issue that I have experienced was: One roof panel of this shed had a massive crack and hole in the panel. After fitting and noticing I first contacted the supplier on the 29th May. It is now the 7th August and after 42 more emails, after 18 phone calls and after 5 "deliveries" that were rearranged and never arrived, I still do not have the item I paid £1,300 for. It occurred on: 2023-05-29 This meant that I have had to take 5 days off from work and seeing my family to wait for deliveries that never arrived. I have had 42 emails. I have called I'm 18 times. I have been promised multiple times that customer support staff would call and email me every day back to keep me informed. I have received nothing back. The hole in the roof damaged over £700 worth of Solid Marine Grade Ply Flooring and also £500 Plasterboard in the shed, all water damaged also. I have also had to spend months travelling 100-110 miles to drive to work as I had to cancel all the contractors as we can't complete this Office shed as the frame is damaged. I want my replacement parts and I want significant compensation for the damages caused over almost three months. Just hearing that as of today 07-08-23 there is no delivery date on your system. I look forward to your prompt response on this matter. As recommended by Trading Standards, I would like to keep a complete record of my case, so please reply to this email address. Yours faithfully, Luke Cornier Order number GBD1889458
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
I'm really disappointed with this company. They delivered some of my shed in wrong size and some was missing. As I called the company about this , they wanted to make picture of it , but how can I make picture, when I don't have it The material and the make from the shed is not worth it , what I paid for it Be careful, when you order something, customer service is very bad . 👎
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Really disappointed with the customer service I am getting from ‘Garden building direct’. Gave plenty of notice of a chosen delivery date and was reassured when buying the product that their would be no issues. I planned my holiday around this, so I am gutted. Now the order was confirmed on a different date than what I requested and have tried to change this 5 times with a telephone call and get told the same story every time. I really would not recommend using this 3 party to buy your garden outbuildings you will be left disappointed and frustrated with endless calls to them to sort an issue - that can be easily fixed ! They will never ring you back or give any guarantees, really don’t waste your time
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Garden Buildings Direct is rated 1.1 based on 391 reviews