Summer Garden Buildings - www.summergardenbuildings.co.uk

This company is a joke!!!

I purchased a shed from them as it stated the size was 6' x 3', however when it arrived the width was 3" bigger so wouldn't fit in the space I wanted it to go in.

I advised them this was the case and they arranged for the collection of the shed and then charged me once they collected it nearly 25% of the value of the shed.

Shocking experience. Ordered a shed with installation, they failed to meet the delivery date. When I asked for a refund they wouldn’t refund the fitting charge. Whenever I email them they phone back, rather than email - clearly don’t want any of their promises down in writing.

Avoid this company. I purchased a garage kit it is advertised as 'strong' sturdy' and 'heavy duty' on their web site, it is none of these and the Trades Description act wording on Strength (Part 2A) was put to them to ask in light of this how they can justify their claims? They will not answer the question.

The Product they say complies with BS EN1090 yet they can supply no accreditation, it should be CE or UKCA marked and is not, nor is it accredited or specified to this end.

The doors are flimsy and failed, the building leaked and was abandoned for use within 6 months as parts had broken off.

All the time I was interested or looking to buy communications were responded to promptly, as soon as I advised them of product issues, they ignored me for 8 months - they are obliged to comply with the Consumer Rights Act 2015 which they have not.

I have been trying to get a refund for over 2 years now.

They either avoid or do not respond to questions put to them.

Their MD has been written to personally a number of times and not responded once.

Avoid this company, Trading Standards are aware of them.

If this review saves just 1 person from getting tricked by them then it will have been worth writing

- goods not as described.

On the Internet, products appear well built and good quality. Described as strong, durable and quality. Nothing could be further from the truth

- products not fit for purpose.

Flimsy, cheap, knotted wood. Poorly designed products wouldn't survive outside in winter

- dodgy refund process.

Take money off if a flat pack product has been assembled

- evasive customer service.

It is impossible to discuss queries over the phone with a rep or manager. Only directed to send them an email. Refused to let me in the show room to discuss complaints in person

Hopefully trading standards will investigate them.

Gazebo bent at first sign of winds. Not fit for purpose. Excuse after excuse and so many bad reviews I wish I’d checked first. £400 wasted. Trading standards notified. DONT BUY FROM THEM

What ever you do don’t use this company!!! this is an update as the 1st bad review i put on was mild compared to the recent experience with them. they sent through damaged and faulty bin storage. Broken bits and rotten wood which you can see in the pics i have attached. their solution to the broken and faulty part was not to send the panel replacement but to send me the slats. This would mean me almost taking a whole side of it apart to fix it. i asked for replacement panels, but i had to chase. Over 3 weeks in and they still haven’t dealt with it. they take your money quickly but when you have a problem they take ages to get back if at all! I chased them loads calling and emailing and today was told that as i had emailed many times it wasn’t helpful and slowed them down!!! I have an answer to that… deal with the problem. Hilariously he then agreed he would have done the same if it were him?! so apparently the first feedback i gave here was seen by the boss and the guy that occasionally got back to me said that because i wrote this it had put them off dealing with the issue! the words used were “if we have a review that’s useless, we tend to be pretty useless. ” they said they would look at it again if i’d agree to take my honest review off here. That shows exactly who you are dealing with. I have proof of these conversations. the guy then got back to me today and they decided again that they would send just the slats. So that’s me repairing their faults. When i said i wasn’t willing to spend my time repairing their faults departing words were and i quote…. “ i said i’d ring, sorry it wasn’t with better or appropriate news but hey ho”. i agree with his use of the word “appropriate”! when i said i’d complain to trading standards he said it wasn’t relevant. I went on to say ‘perhaps the consumer act’ he said it was probably extinct? i told him i would update this or suggested perhaps his boss  would like to speak to me? Apparently he’s the one who decides the policy but gets others to act it. i’ve spent a fair amount of my hard-earned money with these people and they have been one of the worst companies i have ever come across. please, what ever you do spend your money with another company. There are loads out there. They cannot be worse than this one! Read the other rotten reviews they’ve had. I wish i had too. i may seek legal advice as i feel so strongly about the rotten products and service i have received! What company supplies faulty and damaged goods and expects you to spend your time fixing it for them???

1 word…. AVOID!

Purchased my cabin at the end of June. I also ordered floor insulation & 50mm roof insulation as additional extras.

We originally had a delivery date of end July… which I put back a couple of weeks due to delays in the base and a holiday booked. We was advised 2 men in 2 days to Build…. Booked 2 days from work in order to complete in them 2 days…..

Woke to a text that the cabin would be delivered between 11 & 12 perfect. Got a call about 9 to say they was outside… good job other half was home as the cabin arrived in individual logs and had to be lifted from the lorry to the garden (says that it comes wrapped and ready to crane off!). There was 7 broken pieces which the driver took pictures off and sent to his office… was advised they would be sent out by courier “they never arrived” we did however have a few extra so managed.

Asked driver Where was the insulation…. Oh we don’t deliver that, that comes from somewhere else! Contacted Summer garden buildings and asked where the insulation was… she said she would chase and let us know.

Let the build begin…. Very 1st section… 70mm nails needed…. Erm no 70mm nails included!!!!

2 hours later I called and she said she was waiting on an email response! I asked where it came from and why she couldn’t pick up the phone to ask…. An excuse was made! Following morning sent an email to advise we was a hinge short…. (Never did receive the hinge!) called them again after 10am to asked regarding the insulation and she was still waiting for that email! I wonder if she ever got that reply! I also mentioned the hinge and was told to put that in the email.. which I already had & also the instructions were damaged and could they email new ones over.

In the meantime I thought I would contact my local Travis to see if they had any delivery’s for me “yes a delivery for the following day” great…

3 hours later I called to chase the instructions to which I was told they couldn’t find them on the system and that they had emailed Shires for a new copy! I asked why she can’t pick up the phone… no had to be email!!

So I put the phone down and contacted Shires direct… spoke to a very helpful lady (she could teach the summer gardens people some customer service skills!) who within 2 minutes I had the instructions in my inbox… fantastic.

So the following day (managed to get a 3rd day off work) the insulation was delivered…. No fixings included… Driver said just had insulation on order… so back on the phone to the not so helpful lady at summer garden buildings to ask regarding the the fixings… will put in the post!! So this 2 day 2 men to build is utter rubbish!

It came to the roof…. Insulation should go on the roof under the felt however there wasn’t even enough felt to cover the amount it tells you in the instructions WITHOUT the insulation let alone with it! So we had to then purchase an additional roll of felt….

Day 7 arrived the box of fixings and instructions for the roof insulation…. WHERE WAS THE INSTRUCTIONS AND FIXING FOR THE FLOOR INSULATION??? Yep we purchased that too from you!! Another expense for us to be able to install the floor insulation!!

All in all it’s a cute little cabin but DO NOT purchase via Summer Garden Buildings… the customer service is awful and sorry to say I don’t think they could “arrange a P up in a brewery” we never received the missing hinge or the replacement damaged boards or the floor insulation fixings/ instructions and we are 5 weeks on….

I will definitely not be recommending Summer Garden Buildings in the future!!

All in all, Utter rubbish do not waste your time & money AMD NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE.

Like many on here have who have purchased one of their alloy frame greenhouses only to find they are utter Chinese rubbish. The plans/ instructions are just ridiculous, badly laid out and make no LOGICAL sense. Now, as to the quality they seem to be so proud of, well, all I can say its not far from the truth. The material is very thin and extremely weak; the powder coating is very poor and added to that, there are sharp edges and the fix that can give a nasty injury. After reading the poor install guide, we set about putting it together. Put the front & rear wall in my shed along with the doors & roof vents. During the assembly, I was getting someone concerned if this could put up with a breeze, let alone a light wind; anyway I carried on giving it the benefit of the doubt. OK, it was time to put the whole thing together, and that's when it all went horribly wrong. The day we started to put it up, the weather was ok, sunny day with a very light breeze. Managed to get as far as the back wall, side structures (if you can call it that) roof bar, as I when back to my shed to get the poly plastic glazing, on the way back, we could not believe what we saw in slow motion the complete structure collapsed into a pile of scrap rendering the very the joints ripped, bent and useless. So I send this lot an email, and apparently its my fault. Here is some of the text from their reply.

bearing in mind, it was a very light breeze the way they see it was a force seven gale... So I sent them a local weather report for that day, and they also know my garden by looking at google maps saying I live next to the creek. corrected them on that one too.

Anyway, read on........

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We can see from the photographs you supplied that the damage has been caused by some extreme external force. You have described the weather conditions at the time as "a very light breeze". However, this is not the case. Although it is too early for Met Office or weather station data, according to World Weather Online, wind speeds of 35kmph were recorded in your area on 19th March, wind speeds of 48kmph were recorded in your area on 18th March, and wind speeds of 50kmph were recorded in your area on 17th March. The Beaufort Scale is used by the Royal Meteorological Society to classify wind speeds from force 1 to force 12, with force 12 being the strongest. Wind speeds of 35kmph are classed as a force 5 wind, wind speeds of 48kmph are classed as a force 6 wind and wind speeds of 50kmph are classed as a force 7 wind. This is not "a very light breeze".

On the very first page of the instruction manual, you are advised, "DO NOT INSTALL THE GREENHOUSE ON A WINDY DAY OR IN AN AREA SUBJECT TO HIGH WINDS. Although this greenhouse is designed to withstand greater wind loads than many other greenhouses, do not install it on a windy day or in an area that is subject to high winds. A partially completed greenhouse may be seriously damaged if it is left in this state. It is your responsibility to safely and securely anchor the greenhouse having regard to wind conditions in your area". It is clear from your own emails that you have disregarded this advice.

Furthermore, we have viewed your property using satellite imagery. The property is located within just a few yards of Althorne Creek to the south. In addition, there are fields and open countryside within a few yards to the west, north and east. Your property is located close to a river estuary and is surrounded by open fields and countryside. The property is in an exposed location where careful consideration should be taken in the siting of garden buildings. The product description for the greenhouse at the time of order included the following text: “A sheltered position is best otherwise, additional screening may be advisable. Polycarbonate glazing is not recommended at exposed sites.” This text is in a prominent place on the greenhouse product page, and it is difficult to see how this advice could be misinterpreted or not read before the greenhouse was purchased. It is clear that you have disregarded this advice as your property is on an extremely exposed site.

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So not only do they think I am stupid enough to put up this (wendy-house as I like to call it) in those conditions and taking it for granted where I live and seem to have full knowledge of my garden too!

All I can say they are trying every excuse to get out of refunding my money. So folks if you want a greenhouse DO NOT BUY FROM THIS COMPANY.

If you are having the same trouble then we need to make a joint complaint to the trading standards of drop a line to the BBC watchdog.

Bought 2 triple him shelters. They broke within the week. They blamed us saying we built them wrong. Typical no acceptance of liability. Terrible customer service.

What a terrible company to deal with. They were very quick to take my order and my money, and to be fair quick to deliver my new greenhouse, but from there on they were awful.

The quality of the greenhouse is pretty good but it arrived with lots of damaged parts. I followed their procedures to report the problems and they responded saying that their after sales team would be in touch. I heard nothing from them so kept on chasing until someone rang me. However, this person was extremely rude and patronising. He basically told me that all of the damages were within industry standards and that the plants grow in the greenhouse wouldn't be bothered by the damages. He told me that they would not replace any of the damaged parts and told me to send the greenhouse back if I wasn't happy.

He did say that he would send me some accessories as a goodwill gift but nothing ever arrived.

I decided to keep the greenhouse. I straightened and painted the damaged parts and it's now erected and in use.