Garden Buildings DirectReviews 51

Hi all!
Brought a BillyOh Carmen Log Cabin Summerhouse from this company. I should have sent it back when it got delivered the wood is poor quality the structure of the building is not strong. The roof is so weak it was a nightmare putting the felt on. Only been erected 3 weeks wood is shrinking and splitting the floor shrunk so much it curled so spent more money getting a floor we could walk on. First time it rained today since we erected the wood has shrunk so much rain is coming through the grooves the windows are made of wrought wood the trims were bowing before I put them on. The plastic provided for the windows is so thin it bows. When I called them they said they could replace the damaged woods. But the whole thing needs replacing a cheap garden shed is made better. Because it has been only 3 weeks I'm going to approach outside help as to getting my money back it's all erected and treated the amount of faults with it mainly the poor quality of wood. They should not be able to sell this product it's not fit for purpose £2245 is a lot of money especially when people work so hard for it. Don't buy this log cabin read the other reviews I didn't I was stupid. They all mainly say the same poor quality and the wood is very poor quality!

Utter shambles. Do not buy anything from this company.

I paid £3k for a summerhouse with side shed. It didn't even turn up with the correct technical drawings to start construction. It was missing the main floor bearers to start the build so that should have been the first warning sign. I ordered the following (Order #GBD*******):
• Floor Option: 19mm Tongue and Groove
• Choose your wall thickness: 28mm - Walls
• Roof Option: 11mm Tongue and Groove
• Shelving: Both Sides
• Gutter Option: Premium One Side
• BillyOh Deluxe Padlock and Hasp
• BillyOh Silicone and Gun Set
• BillyOh Value Assembly Kit
• BillyOh Deluxe 50mm Padlock Protector

It was delivered on the Tuesday 4th May.

I started unpacking it on Sunday 9th May to start assembly and that's when I started to have difficulties. There were no instructions or technical details as part of the delivery, only the pdf download from the website which references these important documents. I was trying to align the incomplete picklists with the delivery and found I didn't have the correct floor bearers. These are critical to starting the build which meant I couldn't start assembly until they were finally sent on the 28th May. I had numerous emails with different people and was sent the wrong technical documents and even different versions of the same technical documents. All very frustrating and it's obvious that they have outsourced their customer service which has an impact on the quality of service they provide. There is also little quality control in the warehouse otherwise the order wouldn't have had so many errors.

I then spent the next two weekends trying to follow the terrible instructions. The instructions often suggest you review the technical document for accurate measurements and spacing which don't exist. I'm reasonably competent DIYer so managed to get things to work but someone without the correct tools or experience would really struggle. I finally got the roof on and went to fit the doors. That's when I found out I only had 6 hinges and 2 door handles for a 3-door building!

This was when I noticed the gutter kit was broken and warped. Also, the padlock protector I included in the order at additional cost doesn't fit the door frame. It's too wide to be screwed into the door frame so again further evidence of incompetent design.

The 3ft and 4ft shelves (also purchased at additional cost) aren't suitable for this building. The instructions show you have to fix them to a purlin framing support which are only in the corners on this building. The walls are longer than 3ft and 4ft.

The build quality is terrible and they are selling items which don't fit the building. Very misleading this will be reported to Trading Standards.

I had to plane one of the doors because it was 10mm wider at the top than at the bottom.

Avoid, avoid, avoid.

Ordered Billyoh Tessa Summerhouse Cabin in April with estimated delivery of 7 weeks, 14 weeks later said summerhouse was delivered. I can only describe this as a glorified Wendy house, the big bad wolf would have no trouble blowing this house down! Having spent in excess of 4 grand, I expected a product of reasonable quality, I was sadly mistaken, the 60 year old garage I removed to create space for this summerhouse was better quality and in better condition. Upon checking the terms and conditions, I contacted the telephone number under the returns section which stated returns could be arranged between 8am and 10pm... this is not true... telephone number is a dead line. The only way to contact this company is through the sales telephone number... surprise, surprise! When you do actually speak to a call handler, don't expect to be treated with respect or dignity, instead you should expect to be spoken to someone who accuses you of lying and states "I don't know what your worrying about, you have 14 days to return, call back tomorrow " Good luck with that, 5 phone calls and 4 emails later, I managed to speak to someone who arranged the return of the summerhouse, they also shared the delightful news that I would be charged triple the delivery cost to have the pile of wood kindling removed and refunded... oh joy! My advice to you... stay clear, find another company to purchase your product from!

I purchased a shed and greenhouse from this company solely because their delivery times were less.
The shed was of extremely poor quality and build. The panels were not square, batons overlapping edges, which meant erection was difficult and some wood had to cut away. The plastic windows did not fit into the apertures as the panels were not square. Answer from company was that they could supply new windows but this would not have solved problem. I had to pare down plastic to fit. Very difficult to join sides and roof as poorly constructed panels did not line up. Overall not worth the money.
Construction of the greenhouse was a nightmare. Very very flimsy materials supplied. First problem was that base had legs and not suitable for erection on hard surfaces. Base itself was too flimsy to support sides. It required four people just to hold the various vertical parts in place. Had a problem with pictorial
Instructions. The company had no idea about this product in any respect. I assume they had never seen one erected, just bought in from China and redistributed and unable to offer any clarity or advice. Eventually managed to erect, but on first windy day plastic windows blew out. Very difficult to get back in and involved a lot of deconstructing to do so. My last shed in a previous house lasted 37 years ( with 1 new floor and 2 new roofs) I doubt whether either the shed or the greenhouse will last much longer than 1 year. Finally I would say, do not buy anything from this company. Very poor products and customer service.

Extremely poor quality, flimsy splintered, holes, buckled, all describe the state of the wood.
Worst customer service I have ever experienced.
Emails back and forth, replies look and read like they are written by a robot!
Refuse monetary refund, expect me to, at my own expense, to dismantle the entire shed and pack it up to be retuned.

DO NOT BUY FROM GARDEN BUILDINGS DIRECT.

This company should be considered for shut down by trading standards.
I bought a Billyoh plastic shed from Garden Buildings Direct.
I firstly would not recommend this shed as it is quite flimsy.
We also had issues with parts.
Two were wrong sizes and one without pre drilled holes.
After almost two months of emails going back and forth about the incorrect parts, Garden Buildings Direct are now ignoring emails, despite saying they would provide replacement parts.
I sent photos, videos, part numbers all on their request and they still returned with more questions and asking for more photos. It is clear from our photos and videos that the parts do not fit but still their is no help at all.
I believe they had no intention of replacing these parts and we are now therefore with a shed with no metal internal support.
I would not recommend Garden Buildings Direct to anyone. Their customer service is awful and I have wasted so much time responding to their constant questions.

Where do I start weeks late, shoddy workmanship so tiresome, doors missing as well as nails and screws
Gaps in the build lots of cracks so leaks in water, nails on show on the inside which is not only unsightly it's also dangerous, wood needed to be rubbed down, measurements were all out, when doors did arrive 10 working days later, should have been 3/5 they were bashed and broken, but it didn't matter as they're the wrong ones!
Now can't get hold of anyone, I am losing the will to live, please do not spend your hard earned cash on this company photos on their website are so far from the truth also their speel "we strive to develop quality innovative products our customers will enjoy" and "tongue and groove boards interlock to form a tight seal" misadvertising at its best, wish I'd gone elsewhere, I am taking this further, SOME of photos, I could fill an album they don't give the damage credit, misselling as this company continues to do is criminal

Do not buy anything from these people also known as Kybotech, the quality of product is really bad for the price you pay. They use cheap quality thin wood that is full of holes and splits and they are not interested at all when you complain. I have sent them many photos showing all the problems with splits, holes and water pouring through the summerhouse in many different places, this company think this is all acceptable. I have had to spend money to strengthen the roof and add guttering but the rain comes through every side. You can only complain by email and they just go back and forward and back again to a foreign country in the hope that you will give up. I have had this summerhouse for less than a year and sadly it looks worse then the 15 year old summerhouse it replaced. To verify this is a true review my order number GBD*******

After 6 months, the shed is soaking water up like a sponge resulting in some sort of growth. Firstly they blamed me for insulating the shed, then they said my solid concrete base was the issue, nothing to do with inferior quality wood used on the base. I now have to take it all to pieces, waterproof the base (like they should have done), raise it off the base and reassemble it, all at my expense. DON'T BUY FROM HERE, NOT CHEAP AND NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE!

Purchased a BillyOh shed from Garden Buildings Direct 4 years ago and from the start it has been shocking. Initially parts were missing on the delivery but these were sent out after just over a week so we got around that issue.

The quality of the materials used for the shed are very poor and in case of the roof not fit for purpose. As you can see from the pictures the roof panels are thin plywood instead of OSB wood which should have been used.

Using the incorrect material for the roof has caused it to bow which prevents rain running off making the issue worse. The standing water on the roof caused by the bowing is responsible for the dampness and mould that is now growing on the inside of the roof which I'm sure is not a good sign.

I have been in contact with Garden Buildings Direct to report the issue and the after sales are just as bad as the quality of their sheds.

After sending multiple pictures of the issue they seem to have a list of new things they need to investigate or reasons why they will not address this issue;

1. 'The shed is less than 2ft from a wall on one side' - I'm not sure how this effects the roof.

2. 'The lifespan of the felt is 5 years so this is wear and tear' - This is not stated on any of the documentation that came with the shed and would not have been an issue if roof was made from OSB panels and not plywood

3. 'How was the shed treated and when?' - I advised it was treated with the product they sold me within the past 12 months but I'm still not sure how this would stop the roof from bowing...

It's quite clear they have no intention of resolving this issue so I will more than likely need to completely replace the roof which will cost around £200 or cut my losses and replace the shed.

When you consider I paid around £650 4 years ago for it that's not good value in anyone's books.

My advise is to avoid this company if you're looking for a shed or garden office as their products are poor and the customer service even worse.

Save yourself a lot of hassle by shopping elsewhere for something that will last more than 4 years.

Having purchased a summerhouse and not kept informed of the manufacturing process as promised, delay of product and most unhelpful customer service team you could ever imagine and it appears to not have a ‘proper' manager, I was sent a summerhouse that was sodden with damp, split, knot hole and holes galore and doors that had to be replaced, I was informed this was all my fault and no refund or compensation given.
NEVER USE THIS COMPANY! Spread the word!

NEVER, EVER USE THIS COMPANY.

I recently bought the BillyOh Mini Master storage shed, and had so many problems with the order, coupled with a business that has no interest in resolving to the customers satisfaction - There is no chance I would ever buy anything from them again.

The Good

The shed was delivered on time

The Bad

The shed base we ordered with the product was 14inches too wide, resulting in the shed not fitting on it properly

There were bits of the roof missing, meaning we couldn't make the shed waterproof whilst we waited for them to send us a replacement shed base.

We were promised a new shed base delivery on a Thursday - didn't come. Then promised for Saturday - didn't come. It was eventually delivered the following Tuesday, meaning we had a shed that wasn't waterproof and was stood on damp ground for 10 days from when we assembled it.

I asked them to send the shed base via courier to get it to me faster. They flat out refused. They will only deliver via their own drivers and WILL NOT send to you any other way, even when at fault

When the replacement arrived, it wasn't a complete shed base but 6 shorter pieces of wood. Meaning they expected us to take apart the previous shed base that was nailed together, and reassemble using the new bits of wood

They have a company policy of no refunds, and DO NOT offer compensation or partial refunds when they are at fault.

Refused to let me speak to a manager/director, got told 'they'll just tell you what i am'.

In order to get a full refund the product HAS to be in the original condition, disassembled before the will collect it. How on earth are you supposed to send it back in the same condition it arrived after realising there were parts missing?

Easily spent over 2 hours on the phone with them trying to resolve.

The summarise

We spent £450 with them and had a horrific experience

Terrible customer service

Don't care about resolving issues

Company policy of no partial refunds is a joke

I would never, ever use this company again

If you're considering buying anything from this company - don't.

DON'T BUY FROM THIS COMPANY!

Ignore all the fake reviews written to try to dilute their bad scores elsewhere. This company, trading under the umbrella of Kybotech Ltd, supplies poor quality wood and in my case, omitted 4 key parts(and several other pieces) that were integral to the building of my shed. They will not pay for the extra wood and labour it cost to supply and fit these parts ourselves.

They are obviously used to customers complaining because there is a generic reply to fit all scenarios. In fact, their standard reply to a bad review on Trust Pilot is that they'can't find your order number' ie implying that the bad review is fake and that the people complaining didn't buy products from them - don't fall for that misdirection, it's as see-through as my shed.

The BillyOh sheds appear to be the very worst of their products, though there's stiff competition. My builders had a lot of extra work to do, not only with buying and fitting pieces Garden Buildings Direct didn't send but trying to repair and level everything off. Nothing lines up. The windows are so thin and nasty, they're one step up from clingfilm, in fact, clingfilm would have least left it watertight.

We are in troubling times and people are supporting businesses in good faith, expecting decent service and goods fit for purpose in order for them to keep trading. But when you have a company that is so inherently dishonest, you lose all faith in people.

I spent £2,268 so I wasn't looking for a 'udget' shed. But I have wasted my money. I can supply photographs and emails and of course the receipt to back up everything I'm saying.

I read the positive reviews on Google before I purchased, but these are going to be looked into. They are obviously fake.

The message is - do not buy products from Kybotech Ltd or Garden Buildings Direct, you will waste your money, or, in my case, pay out more for goods they didn't supply.

After seeing my reviews(and I urge everyone to leave honest reviews of their experiences everywhere) I was asked to email my phone number with them and they would ring me to ''scuss this further' ie to make them look as if they care.

I emailed my number as requested, but they didn't ring. Margie Fuertes of the Resolutions Team(bet she's kept busy) offered me an insulting £30 on the proviso that this payment would be
'ull and final settlement to put this matter to a close' - Oh Margie, I've only just begun.

£30 wouldn't cover the cost of the wood we've already bought, the wood we have yet to buy for the door frame, the cladding to cover the numerous knot holes, or the 6 days of extra labour - albeit at a reduced rate.

The wood is poor and dirty and some of it is warped which is odd because we paid extra to have it pressure treated. Time will tell if they did treat it, but I'm now doubtful.

SAVE YOUR MONEY AND BUY ELSEWHERE.

Beware of this company. Upon purchase I wanted to cancel within 24 hours and they told me it was too late (even though I received the item at least 24 hours after that call). I then had to send package back using my own courier and money. I have called several times to get a refund, provided tracking numbers and been very patient. I have continually been told someone will look into this and get back to me but no one ever does. It's been over a month now. I am proposing to launch a formal complaint to CMA. If anyone has had a similar experience please get in touch

I work in the military and needed a shed from a trusted resource, I brought a shed for £908 so expected high quality customer service. I received a text at 8am to inform me off delivery for the 8th July, I was asked to call to confirm I spent 45mins going around the phone system to then get a text for the 9th. I spent 45mins to then call again and inform them I booked the 8th off and cannot do the 9th. I then spoke to another person who put me on hold for 20mins to tell me it had to be the 9th. The product was delivered, in bits of poor quality (dads a carpenter) and called to explain that under the 14 day no fuss I would like to return they told me I had to pay £77. There is no mention of this on their website, I am buying online and therefore have not viewed so have the right to return. When I call I was met with "Justin Garden Buildings" I informed I wanted to return, asked why, I said due to the poor customer service and quality of the wood... I was met with silence... I was then told You have to pay £77, I confirmed I would not be paying this due to stress and working and after being £908 out of pocket, this is not the service I would expect to receive, the returns policy has no mention of a charge, no access to complaints, not on companies house and no way to complain online or the phone, I asked for a manager to call back and was told a note would be added! Due to the stress of my job I may pay the £77 which a small price to pay to get rid of an AWFUL Company and customer service. PLEASE DO NOT BUY FOR YOUR OWN SANITY!

We have purchased a BillyOh Expert Tongue and Groove apex workshop described as "This all-out storage, workshop, and recreational room is the next-to-home dream of every British family." If only this was true!

As per the other, honest, reviews, the end product is an excellent example of poor quality workmanship. Tongue and groove cladding is a devious appeal to those looking for a quality shed who are only going to be extremely disappointed. The parts seem to be kept in a damp environment and arrive with so much warp you could travel to a distant planet! The panels are so poorly constructed that you do not even know if it is the joist or the cladding that you should square off. Either way the walls and flooring have as many gaps as our 7 year olds teeth. The integrity (both structural and to withstand weather) of floor, walls and roof rely on quality pre-constructed panels. What was sent to us should not have passed any form of quality check.

The difficulty with a product like this is that you invest a lot of time and effort in getting to the stage where you realise that you have made a big mistake. However, by this point you have reached a point of no return, including the well made (solid) base that you have constructed that meets the perfect dimensions of the shed!

We are currently investing in exterior builders caulk to fill the gaps between each panel before applying their stripping. We are reinforcing the frame with 4x2's. We will need to lay a solid plywood floor over the supplied floor. We will replace the windows with thicker perspex. Over time, we may even build a good quality shed, perhaps the doors will be original.

Ordered a shed 8x6 to house my goats £450.

Purchase of the shed was excellent as they want your money.

Shed delivery was 2 weeks delay which was understandable in the climate with Covid 19.

Email received day before Delivery stating social distancing a must and we had to stay in the property while the shed was dropped kerb side.
Fine no problem.

Shed turned up TWO people in the van.
They were not from the same household as the one was being trained.
They were not able to social distance in the cab of the vehicle or when they unloaded the shed. (Which was not their fault)
This company are not following Government Guidelines regarding the Covid 19 virus.

When they unloaded the shed surprise surprise the roof was missing

Rang them they advised they would either deliver the roof the next day (Friday) or the following Tuesday as Monday was a Bank holiday but I would have an email later that day to advise.

NO EMAIL!

Rang them again on the Tuesday, they advised no materials available to make the roofs for particular sheds?

Delay of 10/14 days.

I am still awaiting comments that I asked for in writing with regards to the social distancing of their work force and the concerns I had for the sake of their welfare.

2nd June 2020 my roof has arrived.

We finally finished putting the shed together.

Guess what the doors don't fit

Still waiting for the response to a lengthy email sent

This company is an absolute nightmare.

The product for the money is of a poor standard and the organisation and customer service

Exhausted every avenue with this company about the state and safety of the playhouse I brought for my grandson empty promises of a manager will call me back e mails sent with photos and copied and pasted response from there off shore customer service centre. My grandson has got hurt on the screws supplied as you can see through the photos they are black, they stick though the wood and are sharpe the slide screw holes are larger than the size of the screws so when weight is applied the slide falls down. Handrails are split and sharpe and the metal on the top is very ruff and sharpe. I'm reporting this to trading standards. There normal response to complaints on public pages is we can't find the details of your order. I filled in the review they sent me by e mail but never published it. Blocked me from face book too this company filters it's reviews. Do not buy from them.

Horrendous company! The worst quality I have ever seen, our summer house isn't worth the ground it's built on and it's slowly just rotting despite all our best efforts and throwing money at it to get it sound! You can't polish a turd! Complaint lodged in May 2019 and STILL going back and forth with them, new members of staff picking up the emails and replying with standard scripted responses rather than reading the actual last email, it's a joke and the most ridiculous customer service I've ever received! High and dry after shelling out over £1000! They should be shut down!