Wickes GP compost 2012

THATS SCANDALOUSLY WOODY !! RIP OFF !!

 

Hi catz - is that the Verve compost you got from B and Q , seems like verve is the new brand name ?

 

I have used the B and Q , Verve seed compost this year . The germination on some of my more fiddly seeds has been poor. Bacopa from seed last year 30 germinated this year 5 ! Wave petunia 15% germination . Thunbergia no germination - never had a problem before . Maybe a bit of bad luck or I have become incompetent over winter

 

Update
I have just had reply to my email; by 'phone' would you believe (excellent customer service ), a very pleasant lady on the phone apologised for the compost and went on to explain that the mix had been intentionally changed for this year. She didn't say why or whether it was by the supplier or Wickes themselves, but she did say such was the high volume of complaints across the Country in the last 6 weeks or so; mine was the 20th complaint in the last week, they are going to revert back to the original mix, unfortunately she didn't know when that would reach the stores. She also said that any bags that I didn't want I could return for a full refund. A positive outcome I think, well done Wickes for listening to customer feedback and their great customer service...

 

Well 10/10 for Wickes , super customer service
Problem is the supply chain pipeline will take several months to clear before the original recipe is back on the shelves . So its B and Q MCP for 2012 , and back to Wickes in 2013.

 

Thank goodness for that. Although I believe Wickes handled the introduction of the new formula compost very badly (as they left the old, outdated information/guidance on the packaging), customer service (in my opinion) is about how how something is dealt with after it goes wrong, and despite dragging their feet have finally agreed to revert to their original formula that was a fantastic product and extensively recommended. It should have got into Which Best Buys, but probably wasn't reviewed because it was sold by 'builders' merchants' rather than garden centres.

Having said that, it was probably also the intense, widespread and sustained criticism on gardening forums (such as this one) that has made them see the error of their ways.

 

Excellent!! It will take some time to come through but someone in here will alert us I'm sure.
I bought 4 bags of the Verve topsoil and I must say that it's LOVELY stuff!!

 

Bilbo, did Wickes say they would change the bags when they change back to the original mix? (otherwise we'd have to keep making trial purchases and keep taking the bags back for refunds until we found the contents have changed).

 

Hi Scrungee, she didn't mention it on the phone, one can only hope that they have the common sense to either put a poster up or as you say change the bags..

 

As they haven't had the common sense so far to:

1) Change the details on the packing when they change the product inside.
2) Put posters up at every location of compost instore explaining it differs from the description on the packaging (not just in the foyer).

I think they might actually need somebody to explain to them that they must change the packaging for use with a completely different product.

 

Sorry I've not replied sooner Harry! It was the B&Q own brand. I bought some of the Verve stuff today but haven't checked it out yet. Will let you all know when I bust it open.

 

Being to bone idle to drive to B and Q for some MCP , I bought a 3 for 2 bags deal at a discount warehouse near to my office. I thought reputable make "Westland MPC with Added JI". It looks exactly like the new Wickes stuff pictured earlier in the thread , lots of little wood shavings. I was sieving it thru a 1/4" sieive to prick out some marigolds the waste was incredible about 50% ( I dug this into a border I am rebuilding ) Loks like B and Q is the only port in this storm !