B&Q and Wickes shoppers are being placed in queues lasting more than an HOUR to get onto the DIY retailers’ websites, with more than 160,000 people ahead of them.
It’s a second day of long waits for shoppers looking to spruce up their homes and gardens over the Easter bank holiday weekend after delays yesterday too.
When The Sun tried to get online this morning, we were placed in a queue with an estimated wait time of “more than an hour” on both the B&Q website and Wickes websites to start browsing.
B&Q’s website also told us there were 157,349 people in the queue ahead of us, although some shoppers have reported waits of more than 160,000 people.
Both hardware stores have been allowed to stay open during the coronavirus lockdown as they’re deemed “essential” retailers.
However, they’re both offering an online-only service, leaving shoppers with the choice of home delivery or click and collect.
For click and collect orders, customers are told to go to designated areas outside shops in store car parks where staff will bring their order out to them.
All stores are temporarily shut for browsing.
But shoppers can’t believe the long waits to get online.
One person tweeted this morning: “I know times are difficult at the moment but @BandQ come on.
“I can’t speak to anyone in store and I’m in a queue to get online behind 138,019 other people.
“What a joke #shocking #CustomerService”
Another said: “Seeing as @rennie1811 at work today, thought I’d just quickly order some weedkiller using
Someone else added: “What a joke your website is! Went to check out and been put to the back of the queue! Nice one!”
It comes after the B&Q website went down for two hours last week, leaving shoppers with no way to buy products from the retailer.
Wickes shoppers are equally unimpressed by the wait times to get online.
One person said: “Waited like forever in the q online to order ronseal dark oak one coat 4 in stock at local store but site will not allow me to order, what a waste of time.”
Another added: “Just went to have a look on @Wickes and @BandQ websites for a few bits. Over an hour wait. Really can’t be that many people on… surely.”
For both websites, click and collect orders have been limited to essential products for the repair and maintenance of homes.
B&Q and Wickes don’t charge for click and collect services.
For home delivery, B&Q charges £5 for standard delivery, or it’s free on orders over £50, while Wickes shoppers pay £7.95 for next day-delivery, free on orders over £75.
We’ve asked B&Q and Wickes for comment and we’ll update this story as soon as we get a response.
B&Q told us yesterday: “Demand remains extremely high and we’ve now put a new virtual queuing system in place on diy.com to help customers access the site more easily.”
Screwfix and Homebase are also offering an online-only service.
When we checked this morning, neither retailer had a queue to get onto their site.
B&Q started selling bedding plants and herb bundles this week so you can spruce up your garden.
We’ve also rounded up where you can buy flour from so you can make your own bread.
On the lookout for hand sanitiser, paracetamol or toilet paper? Check out our guides to where they’re still available.
