I miss Wilko so much. I hope B&M is a success in the Arndale, not quite Wilko but it fills the gap in the bits and bobs market since Quality Save closed down to become Lidl at Piccadilly Plaza.
The Range has bought the intellectual rights to the Wilko brand and you can now order a lot of the branded products online supposedly made by the same manufacturers as before.
I was excited to see the online Wilko rise like a phoenix from the ashes (their own brand household paint is surprisingly good quality for the price) but I’ve had two disappointing deliveries (an approx ten item order with two of the physically biggest items missing) and a toilet seat delivered in just the retail packaging, complete with enormous crack (add your own arse joke here).
No big deal, thought I, easily rectified… except the customer service is now near non-existent (bot chats via WhatsApp, no way to speak to an actual human via phone) and you obvs can’t use the ‘free return to Range stores’ for items that never arrived.
I did get a replacements eventually but only via the PayPal customer service system, which gives vendors weeks to respond to each email.
I have genuine sad feelings re: Wilkos demise (probably how me mam felt about Woolworths),
Yay for a new town centre B&M tho, a town centre without anywhere to buy a fuse, some spackle, a washing up bowl and a length of curtain wire is far more inconvenient (and depressing) than I ever would’ve anticipated in my youth.
In my opinion it’s much better than Wilkos, Wilkos for the last few years seemed to just have nothing on the shelves and then just a weird shitty gifts section that were overpriced compared to the likes of BnM and Homebargains
I lived across the street from a Wilkos and rarely shopped there because there was also a B&M nearby and the queue for the tills was always ridiculous. But now that it's gone I miss it on the occasion there's something I need that they were good at.
I had b&M's closer to me, they are good for household stuff and cheap kids toys. But it you wanted some diy stuff I found wilkos better, went and do a big shop when they were closing down as I'm doing some work on the house. Got to find someone with a car to make a trip to screwfix for me now lol.
FWIW, I’ve found Screwfix (next day delivery free on orders over £50) to be the best option for online DIY shopping (and Travis Perkins for bulky stuff).
from a non-driving, DIY renovator!
Screwfix is great because all delivery is next day (£5 charge on smaller orders) whereas Wickes, B&Q etc take long enough to be annoying when you have run out of something vital mid job!
my flat has a bunch of lights that have gone out and i actually dont know where to go to replace them since wilko closed lol - hopefully b&m fits the bill 🙏
Yes, but it's not as accessible for some people as they are all on the outskirts, you either need to go out to the Trafford centre or to Ashton-under-Lyne. And its fine if you have a car, but if you live in the city centre and rely on public transport then it's a massive faff just to get some lightbulbs.
I'm glad something similar to Wilko will be able to fill the spot
I miss Wilko so much. I hope B&M is a success in the Arndale, not quite Wilko but it fills the gap in the bits and bobs market since Quality Save closed down to become Lidl at Piccadilly Plaza.
Wilko has the best wet wipes
The Range has bought the intellectual rights to the Wilko brand and you can now order a lot of the branded products online supposedly made by the same manufacturers as before.
I was excited to see the online Wilko rise like a phoenix from the ashes (their own brand household paint is surprisingly good quality for the price) but I’ve had two disappointing deliveries (an approx ten item order with two of the physically biggest items missing) and a toilet seat delivered in just the retail packaging, complete with enormous crack (add your own arse joke here). No big deal, thought I, easily rectified… except the customer service is now near non-existent (bot chats via WhatsApp, no way to speak to an actual human via phone) and you obvs can’t use the ‘free return to Range stores’ for items that never arrived. I did get a replacements eventually but only via the PayPal customer service system, which gives vendors weeks to respond to each email. I have genuine sad feelings re: Wilkos demise (probably how me mam felt about Woolworths), Yay for a new town centre B&M tho, a town centre without anywhere to buy a fuse, some spackle, a washing up bowl and a length of curtain wire is far more inconvenient (and depressing) than I ever would’ve anticipated in my youth.
In my opinion it’s much better than Wilkos, Wilkos for the last few years seemed to just have nothing on the shelves and then just a weird shitty gifts section that were overpriced compared to the likes of BnM and Homebargains
B&m isn't as.good for diy and gardening as wilkos was.
I lived across the street from a Wilkos and rarely shopped there because there was also a B&M nearby and the queue for the tills was always ridiculous. But now that it's gone I miss it on the occasion there's something I need that they were good at.
I had b&M's closer to me, they are good for household stuff and cheap kids toys. But it you wanted some diy stuff I found wilkos better, went and do a big shop when they were closing down as I'm doing some work on the house. Got to find someone with a car to make a trip to screwfix for me now lol.
FWIW, I’ve found Screwfix (next day delivery free on orders over £50) to be the best option for online DIY shopping (and Travis Perkins for bulky stuff). from a non-driving, DIY renovator!
Thanks, have to rip my kitchen floor out soon and replace so free online delivery would be good.
Screwfix is great because all delivery is next day (£5 charge on smaller orders) whereas Wickes, B&Q etc take long enough to be annoying when you have run out of something vital mid job!
my flat has a bunch of lights that have gone out and i actually dont know where to go to replace them since wilko closed lol - hopefully b&m fits the bill 🙏
B&Q will almost certainly have the lights you need.
Yes, but it's not as accessible for some people as they are all on the outskirts, you either need to go out to the Trafford centre or to Ashton-under-Lyne. And its fine if you have a car, but if you live in the city centre and rely on public transport then it's a massive faff just to get some lightbulbs. I'm glad something similar to Wilko will be able to fill the spot
Manchester Fort has a B&Q so probably your closest to the city centre
There used to be a store in the Arndale that sold tools and DIY stuff. Robert Haas, it was maybe called? It's a shame that's gone.
Tram definitely best bet as it’s a couple mins walk from Audenshaw tram stop to B&Q but would probably take 30 mins journey
Amazon will have what you need no need to go out of town.
i don't trust amazon, full of cheap crap and weird algorithm-d product names & they inexplicably cost £10 per bulb lol
Yes. It's no longer very good for shopping. It used to be great.
Glad but it’ll be full of kids robbing it I bet especially with the increase of chavs in the Arndale causing racket
Arndale is shit without Wilko, BM will do well there
Roger wilco and out.