B&Q Warehouse

Convenient one stop shop for all your DIY and gardening needs but soooooooooooo expensive. Don’t think people actually realise what they’re paying for goods, once they are sucked into this vast cavernous warehouse that is B&Q Bidston. A few bargains yes; if you’re single-​minded, have done your research and refuse to be distracted. But check out some of the prices, compared to other retail outlets. Lighting in particular is extremely overpriced, let alone those little cellophane packets of hooks, nuts, screws etc. Numerous marketing tricks, such as a big display promoting certain brand at supposed discount price. Dig around the other shelves and you may find a similar product at a lower price. Big ‘Half Price’ promotions for kitchens and bathrooms should also be viewed with caution. Go in here with your eyes wide open and your wits about you !

This place gets the thumbs up for having everything you can think of under one roof, and for maintaining an absolutely no-​quibble returns policy, which means that if you’ve made the wrong choice, or something isn’t quite right with your purchase, they’ll refund your money or exchange the goods — no questions asked. There are plenty of staff floating around to ask for info (although actually pinning them down is another matter; you’ll have to be quick on your feet). Look out for the regular special offer and ‘seconds’ sections (usually on the shelves right at the back of the store) and if you’re into plants and gardening, the outdoor gardens section sells a vast selection of plants off — for pennies — on Saturday mornings. We’ve bought all our plants from this branch, and all have survived and thrived.