Barrel Store Reviews 

Absolute joke of a company. Arrogant owner, full of excuses but no customer service ability. Avoid like the plague

Chose this company as family run and we found a barrel that was exactly what we need. Communication from them was almost zero, just confirmation of order & advised delivery 3-7 working days. No information offered as when delivery would be. After 9 days we sent e-mail requesting delivery information, reply 2 days later, to be told delivery would be later that day. This was not true - no delivery came. 8 phone calls made, they do not answer the phone! text message sent (as requested on answer-phone message) no reply! Several e-mails sent with no reply! The barrel arrived by their own courier on day 16, with no notification at all. Lucky we were at home! When ordering products on-line delivery information or tracking is essential. No problems with the product, but unfortunately we would not use this company again.

Excellent company - highly recommend.

I ordered a large half barrel to plant a palm tree in over the bank holiday weekend, the barrel arrived within 10 calendar days noting 2 weekends and bank holiday in the middle. Barrel delivered directly by company and not via a courier, and barrel was exactly as ordered - drilled drainage and metal support bands. All in all very happy with purchase and given the company delivers directly the delivery charge is very fair. Would recommend and would use again. Great experience.

The reason for the barrel?, my mature Wisteria had been growing happily up an old plum tree, until high winds brought the tree down. As the Wisteria was already in bud I had to act fast. I ordered a beautiful metal support frame from Country Charm (see review) and took the opportunity to move the Wisteria into an extra large 90cm half barrel.

I decided on the Barrel Store because they are a family business, and their claims regarding quality etc. I ordered a very expensive extra large barrel for £100 including delivery. Six days after ordering the barrel I had not received any notification regarding delivery. When I enquired, I was told "Saturday" no time slot, no AM/PM. When I asked for one, I was told "Sorry, we deliver all our orders in-house". I suggested that they must have an approximate time, no answer. I followed up the next day and was told "late afternoon, early evening"

The barrel turned up at 8pm, the top metal band was completely off the barrel. The second metal band was loose, there were splits and gouges everywhere, and the barrel had been cut unevenly. I was shocked at the quality. You could argue that maybe the band came off in transit, but the shoddy workmanship in cutting the barrel, and the splits and gouges? Someone made the decision to send that barrel out looking like that.

I reported the issues, and provided photos of the barrel. I didn't even get an apology, or any recognition on their part for the poor quality. I was offered a replacement barrel. I explained that I had already waited 8 days for the barrel to plant the Wisteria, another 8 days or more wasn't an option.

Two days later, I hadn't heard anything and asked for a response. I was offered a swap or refund, I explained that was not an option and that they should at least offer me a discount. That was 11 days ago, they never responded.

I have a total of 9 barrels in my garden, 8 large barrels from B&M @£24 each. All of them are far superior quality than the £100 barrel from the The Barrel Store. All in all, a very disappointing experience, proof that you don't always get what you pay for.And the realisation that "small family business" isn't any indication or guarantee of quality!