Wickes is one of the best known names in the UK for do it yourself and home improvement. It might not be the first place you think of to look for lighting for your home, but that’s not to say that you shouldn’t give it some serious consideration.
Where can I find the website?
The website address is an easy one to remember – www.wickes.co.uk. From here you can check out exactly what is on offer with this company.
How do I find the lighting section of the site?
The ‘browse categories’ section is on the left hand side of the home page. You will see the link to the lighting section about halfway down this column. Once you have clicked on it you will notice that there are four main sections to browse through, with a few additional items listed along the right hand side of the page.
The main URL to reach this lighting page in future is http://www.wickes.co.uk/Shop/Lighting/icat/lighting.
What types and brands of lighting do they offer?
As far as brand names are concerned, you will notice that the Wickes website doesn’t feature many of them. The names of the lights are more usually the model names.
If you pick a section of lighting at random you will see that you can order straight from that page, without having to find out more about the item to do it. This is useful if you know exactly what you want.
Once you select an item in particular you will notice that it has a product description box just underneath it. This will tell you exactly what voltage it is and what light bulbs are needed. Some lights have the bulbs already included, and if this is the case this box will tell you.
Watch out also for the reviews that may be given by customers for any specific product. This can help you make your decision. The other useful thing to note is that as far as light bulbs are concerned, there may be special offers in force. These will appear on the main page, and usually involve buying two or three for a special price. This can save you a lot of money, especially with energy saving ones, so keep an eye out for them.
Are there any buying guides or useful sections of information about lighting?
Once you have arrived on the main lighting page, scroll down and take a look in the right hand column. You will see a box labelled ‘Good Idea Leaflets’ and it is definitely a good idea to take a closer look at these.
There is one on low voltage lighting, for example. When you click on this option you can see what is included in the leaflet, before downloading it to read on your computer. There is actually a complete list of Good Idea leaflets as well as ones that help you to enhance your knowledge of a particular subject. There are plenty in here that will be relevant to lighting, so make sure you explore this section to see what you can find.
Is there anything else I should know?
All of the important information regarding ordering on the website and delivery charges is contained right at the bottom of the web pages.
For example, delivery information is all held in the customer services section of the site. Make sure you read this carefully because the tables include delivery charges and packaging charges, so you need to look at the both of them together in order to work out how much you will have to pay.
There is a low minimum order though, and you might find that if you are ordering a couple of lights for your home, you will easily meet the limit at which no charges at all are made.
It is also advisable to check out their policies on returning or refunding an item, just in case you decide you have picked the wrong light fitting!
In conclusion
Wickes is not known primarily for its lighting section. But that doesn’t mean they don’t offer a great range at terrific prices.
The website itself is easy to use, and the additional information given about lighting will no doubt help you if you want to order some for your home. And of course, you can always browse online and then visit your local Wickes branch to actually buy the items you want.
In short, Wickes should definitely be on your list of places to visit when you have lights to buy.