B&Q click and collect, and home delivery – how does it work?
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue.
SINCE B&Q shut its doors to reduce the spread of coronavirus DIY enthusiasts and gardeners have been at loss as to where to buy their goods to do over their homes.
Luckily, all is not lost, as click and collect is still available for those keen to spend their extra free time over Easter giving their home or garden a makeover. Here's everything we know.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
Does B&Q do click and collect and home delivery?
Yes. Online ordering is the only way to buy from B&Q since it closed stores to the public in late March.
B&Q offers next day delivery, named day delivery and bulk delivery. Since the coronavirus outbreak they now leaving items at customers' front doors to reduce contact.
To keep customers and staff safe B&Q has limited the product range available online for click and collect and home delivery to ensure unnecessary purchases are minimised.
Customers are only able to buy:
- Hardware
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Central heating and boiler parts
- Building supplies
- Tools
- Security
- Light bulbs
"We are enhancing our home delivery service so that we can handle the increased number of customer orders for home delivery and ensure we continue to meet customer needs," B&Q's CEO Graham Bell said.
"We are continuing to review and make changes to the limited list of items we sell to ensure we are able to meet customers’ needs in these challenging times while keeping colleagues and customers safe."
Delivery drivers will knock at your door and step back but wait for you to come and collect the item so they know it is secure.
If you prefer not to open your door, they will take a photo of the delivery at your home as proof of delivery.
They are no longer requiring customer signatures on their hand-held devices.
Next day and named day delivery is free for orders over £50 or £5. If you choose Sunday delivery it is an extra £5.
Large item delivery is free for orders over £250 or £10 and bulk delivery is free for orders over £350 or £30 but you must order at minimum of £100 for bulk delivery.
You can read more on the B&Q website.
How does click and collect work at B&Q?
Visit B&Q's website diy.com and place your order. Once you've done they'll start to get your goods ready, but it could take up to 24 hours.
You will receive an email when your order is ready to pick up.
It is important you do not go to the store until your order is ready to collect.
When you go to the store you have nominated for pick up you need to take:
- A copy of your order confirmation – either on your phone or tablet, or a printed copy of the email
- The payment card that you used to pay for this order or
- A current photographic driver’s licence, passport or a PASS accredited proof of age card.
For PayPal orders, you need a current photographic driver’s licence, passport or proof of age card.
Once you arrive, you will be guided to a collection point in the car park and a staff member will bring your order to the car.
You can send someone else to collect your order, but to protect you from fraud, the person must present a copy of the order confirmation and their photo ID (passport or photo driver’s licence).
If you’ve changed your mind and want to cancel your click and collect order you can call your collection store directly.
They’ll be able to cancel and refund your order. Alternatively, if you don’t collect your order within seven days, they will issue a refund.
When are B&Q click and collect and delivery slots released?
There is no set time when delivery slots are released.
Deliveries are currently running on time in most instances, according to B&Q's website, but this may change and delivery teams will contact customers if they will be affected.
Customers who order by 7pm (4pm on Sunday) can receive next day delivery.
B&Q says it has seen an increase in demand for bulk deliveries over the last few weeks, which means delivery slots for forthcoming weeks may already be booked up.
It is working to improve the availability of bulk delivery slots.
Some bulk buy products are only available from certain stores. You can view the list of stores here.
If you order next day click and collect before 4pm Monday to Friday or 3pm Saturday and Sunday, your order should be available from 1pm the next day in your chosen store, but they can take up to 24 hours to prepare.
Check the website to find what time orders will be available at your closest store.
Are B&Q stores still open for me to browse?
When the government forced all non-essential stores to close from March 23 home and hardware stores like B&Q were allowed to remain open as they considered "essential" but it chose to close it's doors to protect staff and customers.
Yet, they have since opened 14 stores back up, including: Paisley, West Thurrock, Chester, Fareham, Culverhouse Cross (Cardiff), Brandon Road (Coventry), Gillingham, Ipswich, Nursling, Plymouth, Stockport, Watford, Sutton (Ashfield), Hull Road (York).
All of these stores - except from Paisley - have suspended the click and collect system.
Can I still buy paint and plants from B&Q?
Yes, but B&Q has restricted its product ranges.
The plants on offer have been reduced to about 12 plant bundles which are only available for customers to click and collect.
The bundles start from £8 for six assorted bedding plants, going up to £20 for two hanging baskets.
"We know that gardening is important to our customers and their wellbeing. We are also aware of the scale of the challenge Covid-19 presents for the nation’s horticulture industry," its website says.
"We hope the availability of plants using our contact-free Click+Collect service will add a little bit of colour to the gardens of Britain and help our customers and our horticultural partners through this difficult time, while maintaining the safety of our colleagues and customers."
The bundles include shrubs, roses, hanging baskets, herbs and fruit trees. You can see them all here.
Paint is available on the website for home delivery or click and collect but the range has also been reduced and B&Q is unable to mix paint instore.
Customers need to check online to see what is available to order.
