Richard_C
Established Member
OK, I know the old cop-chase movies said Wilco not Wilko, but you may have read that Wilko has gone into administration. It might re-emerge, leaving it's debts and obligations behind in the way that lots of pre-pack deals do, bad news for suppliers and often employees plus there is often rates and HMRC bills that go unpaid.
That aside, if it does disappear, with its 400 mostly in-town stores it will be a blow for many. Serious diy-ers probably don't use Wilko much, lots of low cost low quality stuff mixed in with a few brands, but if you have no car and depend on public transport there are very few placed now that will sell you an odd light bulb or a few picture hooks. Dunelm had some overlap but are mostly out of town.
A Wilko aside. I went I to 2 recently, one in Chester to buy a tube of bostik for a repair while I was away for a few days, and one local to me to see if they had any lock lube. In both stores the staff seemed cheerful and actively helpful. In one I overheard a mature lady with a loud posh voice asked for help to find a light bulb, her husband had asked her to get one. The assistant carefully went through the options, what's it for, what's the fitting etc., they got to the point of it being a table lamp, screw or bayonet? It's got a green shade if that helps came the reply. The assistant, still helpful and polite, suggested she phone home for more information or brought the old one in. That was 'over and above' customer service in my view, I would have vented much frustration long before.
Anyway, I went to the shed to get out one of those half litre squirty trigger bottles so useful for all sorts. It was branded "Texas". They went long ago, followed by Focus, Homebase hangs on after zillions of changes of ownership, I'm sure there are more but can't remember any names. I suppose Woolworths had useful range of bits and pieces plus sticky stuff, long gone.
Buy new, don't fix, anthem for the modern age.
That aside, if it does disappear, with its 400 mostly in-town stores it will be a blow for many. Serious diy-ers probably don't use Wilko much, lots of low cost low quality stuff mixed in with a few brands, but if you have no car and depend on public transport there are very few placed now that will sell you an odd light bulb or a few picture hooks. Dunelm had some overlap but are mostly out of town.
A Wilko aside. I went I to 2 recently, one in Chester to buy a tube of bostik for a repair while I was away for a few days, and one local to me to see if they had any lock lube. In both stores the staff seemed cheerful and actively helpful. In one I overheard a mature lady with a loud posh voice asked for help to find a light bulb, her husband had asked her to get one. The assistant carefully went through the options, what's it for, what's the fitting etc., they got to the point of it being a table lamp, screw or bayonet? It's got a green shade if that helps came the reply. The assistant, still helpful and polite, suggested she phone home for more information or brought the old one in. That was 'over and above' customer service in my view, I would have vented much frustration long before.
Anyway, I went to the shed to get out one of those half litre squirty trigger bottles so useful for all sorts. It was branded "Texas". They went long ago, followed by Focus, Homebase hangs on after zillions of changes of ownership, I'm sure there are more but can't remember any names. I suppose Woolworths had useful range of bits and pieces plus sticky stuff, long gone.
Buy new, don't fix, anthem for the modern age.
