TOOLS WITH A FRIENDLY SERVICE. (axminster.co.uk)

Member Name: thingywhatsit

Product:	axminster.co.uk
Date:	08/08/06 (304 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A village store friendliness with expertise available.

Disadvantages: None.

Do you remember the old style hardware stores that villages used to have, with seemingly endless stock, and rooms that ran one into the other, showing you a huge range of different items that were available. Axminster's offline shop is a bit like that, but their online shop is very similar in many ways. I have used this site consistently for about three and a half years, and it is in my favourites as opposed to other tool shops, simply because of the mentality of the staff, and the flexibility of service offered to its' customers.

Always greeted by a bright red site, Axminster's range of goods is neatly detailed on the left hand side of the page, but you are always greeted on the front page with special offers. They sell power tools, hand tools, instruction videos and dvd's, and the feedback I get from the staff is really amazing. A while ago, we needed to kit out a woodworkers workshop. We needed large tools, although our knowledge of setting them up was pretty limited. There are many makes in stock, and we were a little baffled by the differences in price between this and Machine Mart, though Machine Mart never answered any emails, which seemed apathetic considering we were about to spend thousands.

Axminster emailed straight away, didn't mind how many questions we asked, and answered them comprehensively and helpfully. They also gave us a telephone contact, and as there is no allowance for any kind of discount for buying on the site itself, we talked to the Manager about what kind of deal he could give us if we bought all of our equipment from him. Leaving him to think about it, that night, we received an email giving us a deal we could not refuse, throwing in many smaller items and showing their price to compete well with most other tool suppliers that we had tried online.

Delivery was good as well. Since our items were to be shipped over to France with a friend, we stressed the importance of the tools arriving at a certain destination in the UK on time, and had no need to worry, since the timescale was met. An item that was out of stock and relatively small was posted here free of charge, and we were very pleased indeed.

In all of our dealings with the site, I have enjoyed feeling like I am on a site where the customer counts. I have an account, am recognised when I log in, and have ordered many smaller items from the site such as chisels, painting tools and wood finishes. They always confirm the price of postage to me by email asking for confirmation, and there is never undue delay with the delivery.

They also supply a catalogue and here, this gives us a chance to put together the items that we want by item number, and use the search box at the top of the site to make our order very simple, without having to go through page after page of alternatives. The catalogue is free, and will be sent out with an order if requested. Shopping by Brand is also simple, and if you want to look at what the alternatives in tools are in one brand, and compare size and price, this is a very simple procedure.

Many of the items that we have bought have been Axminster's own make, and the quality of the metal is a lot better on the blades than we can get here in France. They also have a very handy area where you can download instruction leaflets for tools that you possess and that perhaps maybe you lost, and this is essential for breakdowns of tools, showing the parts with corresponding numbers, so that spares can be bought. We even had one instance where a rubber grommet hardened on a tool, and seeing that it was not available alone as a spare part, emailed Axminster to find out how we could get another. The email that we received was a very friendly one saying that they had found one in the shop that we could have and it arrived a couple of days later. Now that's what I call service.

For anyone thinking of buying tools, this site really is good. If decorating for example, the range of brushes available is first rate. They even have a gardening area, so it's a site that shouldn't be neglected by any gardener or avid DIY enthusiast, as well as the more professional workshop needs. The selection is first rate, the advice given by the staff is excellent and the after sales amazing. The site is secure, and I have only experienced one refusal of my card, which was rectified by telephone, and was a bank error easily resolved. The point is , how many sites care enough about their business to actually telephone you and tell you that your payment didn't work ? I don't know one other site that does.

The staff are a pleasure to deal with and we shall continue to purchase from them, happy in the knowledge that our business is appreciated and in good hands.

Rachel

Summary: Superb service.