Alton Garden Centre Reviews Summary

Customer Service

Pros:

• "The members of staff obviously enjoy their work. They are friendly and informative."
• "Staff all very helpful. Will definitely visit again."
• "Canteen staff very helpful and friendly too."
• "They also assemble the tools for you and the service is brilliant."
• "They are all such lovely, helpful, friendly people & they give the best customer service of any establishment I’ve been to."
• "The staff member was patient, understanding, and truly committed to providing excellent customer service."
• "The staff was very helpful and giving great advice."

Cons:

• "We were made clear that we were not welcome into the store ever and that they did not have time for people returning items that were not damaged."
• "Poor service, mediocre food, and serving staff that didn't really care made us feel awful."
• "There was a completely different guy by the counter... couldn't be more disinterested."
• "So I asked a member of staff to help me return the trolley to trolley parking space. I was told that I had to put it there myself as it was in the way."
• "Altons' door staff were extremely rude and demanded I wear a lanyard or the like even though this is not the government's expectation."
• "An employee walked up and aggressively asked where's your mask."
• "Very disappointed. I'm disabled and was having problems pushing the large trolley."

Product and Pricing

Pros:

• "A good quality shovel is what's needed for metal detecting! I've had this shovel around 2 years now, it's absolutely perfect in every way."
• "Priced are very affordable and acceptable."
• "Always the best garden centre around, can be a little more pricey but you pay for what you get!"
• "I found the Alton Garden Centre on Amazon whilst searching for Artificial Christmas Trees... Lucky they were almost local (15 miles) so we could pop in, see the trees and leave with one."
• "Prices can be on the high side but you have to take into account the quality of the products they're selling, it's all good stuff with reliable guarantees."
• "Great service and a good price, I’d highly recommend them."
• "Ordered a Traeger grill at 10 am and it arrived within 3 hours, complete with the accessories I'd ordered."

Cons:

• "STIHL tools are sold at manufacture's RRP here. They can be found cheaper nearly everywhere else."
• "Seller states that has no more in stock."
• "No more attempts to communicate after my 2 emails with suggestions how to resolve."
• "Wanted a pond pump they had listed as 'in stock' sent 2 email questions (both ignored) so I phoned, got the answer I wanted and ordered it. Next day received phone call saying they were out of stock."
• "Failed to supply good tracking number. I waited extra 3 weeks from stated delivery date."
• "Ordered a BBQ cover and grill plate online with next day delivery, 2 weeks later still no delivery."
• "Disappointed that some of the products sold other Christmases are not available this year."

Facilities and Atmosphere

Pros:

• "Been here a few times and always had a great visit to the garden centre."
• "This is a well established business, it is well run and has extensive parking but can get busy."
• "A large garden centre with plenty of parking. In addition to the usual garden stuff there are books, and kids toys."
• "It really comes alive at Christmas with a massive selection of decorations."
• "It's a magical place to visit."
• "Lovely time Santa was great and not rushed. The whole place looked very festive."
• "The place is great, a massive garden centre with anything you can imagine. Great place to take a young child, Christmas decorations were top notch."

Cons:

• "Very disappointed with the wait we had just to get some lunch it was over half an hour & with a very hungry 5yr old it made the time seem even longer."
• "Cars had to stop in the a127 and wait to get into the car park."
• "The breakfast is disgusting and other food not served till after 12 even a burger."
• "The reason for two stars in these times, no sanitation for trollies or carts!"
• "Terrible cooked breakfast, cold beans, under cooked mushrooms, over cooked sausage, cold fried tomato, worst fried egg I've ever eaten."
• "What arrived was a plain omelette with a handful of raw onion."
• "Whilst shopping at Altons Garden Centre I tripped over a hose in the shop that was just lying there with no warning and got soaked the staff didn't even have the decency to apologise to me for the incident."

Accessibility and Convenience

Pros:

• "They have a well organised system here to make sure that customers and staff remain save in these difficult times."
• "Shop equipped with hand sanitizer on entrance."
• "Thank you for a speedy efficient service it is very much appreciated."
• "Clean and nice atmosphere."
• "Visited today after surgery that puts me in a kneeling scooter while I heal. Good designated parking easy access to store."
• "First place we've visited and felt really safe walking round."
• "Restaurant is closed for the time being garden centre looks nice seasonal plants in bloom social distance is used."

Cons:

• "I found Alton somewhat low on stock (I went on December 8th, 2021)."
• "only bad this is this year 2022 we went to go to see santa as did last year and got a really decent present but this year was a vr ride and thought it was quite expensive for £25 per child."
• "One of the most un-user friendly set ups I've ever encountered and won't be back."
• "Love Altons, but went today, queuing system fine, went in far too many people, no social distancing at all."
• "Be mindful of updating your website and Google opening hours. Almost got hit on A127 pulling into your turning at speed to find your gates shut early according to Google."
• "Lovely Christmas display same they are allowing dogs into the display some people are freighted of dogs or allergic to them now we can't take our grandchildren anymore because of this."
• "Though it still had a good range of items, it seems more has been crammed in. So is harder to navigate around and to find what you are looking for."