The first thing that impressed us about Build it is its strong business credibility and solid track record. They’ve been part of Johannesburg’s leading hardware store franchises in the past 32 years, which we find remarkable.

Both amateurs who are DIY enthusiasts and experienced contractors can find a variety of building supplies, hardware, equipment, and other home renovation products from the store, including a selection of vinyl siding.

Another reason why we included this shop on our list is its competitive prices. We love how Build it offers high-quality vinyl sidings and other building materials at an affordable price.

Build it also has an online store that reflects their onhand stocks of products. This is a big plus for us as it’s convenient for customers who are comparing prices or deciding on what they want.

We also suggest browsing through their catalogue and ordering online instead of spending hours in line at the store, which we heard is a usual sighting, especially on busy days. 

We also appreciate how regularly they update the product stock counts in their online shop as many of their products, particularly commonly used building materials like vinyl sidings can come and go quickly. 

Build it is also commended for its consistent and hands-on customer service. The shop is well-staffed with trained and accommodating personnel who are passionate about assisting customers with their questions and concerns, which we love.

Builders is among South Africa’s largest wholesalers of building supplies and materials for home remodelling. We’re like that they have a strong reputation as a company and has grown impressively over the years.

It’s a plus for us that they have numerous locations across the country, making it more convenient to move and request stocks. Just recently, they expanded the business to include Botswana, Mozambique, and Zambia, which we think is awesome.

Builders Express’s well-stocked and organised online shop is one of our favourite features. Through their website, customers can conveniently place their orders online, pick them up at the nearby store, or have them delivered for an additional fee.

Among the leading distributors in Johannesburg, Builders offers the most choices of vinyl sidings, which is another plus for us.

Past customers have high praises for the shop’s easy transactions. Customers also value the promptness with which Builders fulfils their orders.

But, we do have some reservations regarding their customer service. Several clients have expressed their dissatisfaction with Builders staff for being unresponsive to their inquiries.

It’s disappointing that many consumers found it difficult to get employees to help them. Also, several consumers reportedly encountered staff members who appeared to be clueless and uninterested in interacting with customers.

Cashbuild is a well-known South African retail company that provides their consumers a wide variety of building materials and hardware. They have a strong business reputation, which is one of the reasons why we prefer this shop.

They were established in 1978 and have since expanded to over 300 stores across South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Malawi, and Botswana, which is impressive. 

Cashbuild is more known for selling cement, bricks, and roofing materials, but they also offer a wide variety of other building products like vinyl sidings, paint, tools, plumbing and electrical materials, and more.

One of our favourite features about this shop is their affordable prices for their products. They also regularly promote selected products and give out big discounts, especially for loyal customers, which you should definitely look out for. 

We also like that Cashbuild offers flexible payment terms for big purchases.

If there’s anything we think Cashbuild needs to improve on, it’s their customer service. We’ve received multiple complaints from previous customers about how difficult it is to contact the store through their landline and their email addresses, which is a dismay.

On top of that, there are also grievances about the staff’s poor attitudes when assisting customers. We’re appalled to hear that many of their recent customers left Cashbuild disappointed after dealing with clueless and disinterested sales staff.

Mica is an Africa-based hardware retail chain widely known for their expertise in do-it-yourself projects or DIY. They’re one of the first businesses in the field and are currently one of the biggest hardware groups in the continent.

The business boasts 38 years of experience and has over 160 stores nationwide, which boosts our confidence in their services.

Mica prides itself on being a one-stop shop for all hardware and building material needs. Their product range includes a few options for vinyl sidings, tools, paints, electrical and plumbing supplies, garden and outdoor equipment, and much more.

Another feature we found notable was this store is partnered with several well-known brands, ensuring that customers have access to high-quality products. We were in awe to hear how Mica works with over 400 national supply partners.

Many prefer Mica’s hardware products and services for their affordable prices. They also regularly offer irresistible discount deals, which is awesome.

It’s worth noting, though, that Mica has a small team so it can be challenging for them to accommodate a lot of customers at a time. 

There are also complaints about the very slow service in store. We’re told some of their past customers had to wait half an hour just to be assisted by a staff, which can be irritating for some.

Buco is part of the Iliad Africa group, a leading distributor of building materials in sub-Saharan Africa. They specialise in the sales and distribution of hardware, building materials, and DIY supplies.

The first reason why we chose this shop is for their strong reputation as a company. They’ve been in operation for several decades and have established themself as a reliable supplier in the market.

We also like how Buco has multiple locations in Johannesburg and throughout South Africa, making it easily accessible to customers. This is also great news for consumers as it makes transferring and requesting stocks easier.

One of the standout features of this shop is its extensive catalogue of hardware and building products. 

We admire how the company prides itself on offering high-quality products from reputable suppliers, ensuring customers receive products that meet their needs and expectations.

Buco also has an online store live on its website that allows customers to shop from the comfort of their homes and have their orders delivered to their doorstep. They also have their own courier, ensuring that deliveries arrive on time.

To make sure that customers get the most for their money, Buco is committed to providing top-notch products at affordable prices. They also run frequent promos so make sure to stay on the lookout.

Although, it’s worth noting that there are a few grumbles regarding the discrepancies in the information about product stocks in-store and in their online shop, which often causes confusion and inconvenience.

Lastly, we’re disheartened to hear complaints about the reported poor behaviour of some of Buco’s personnel. A number of the store’s recent customers shared with us their appalling experience with rude and unattentive staff, which is a red flag for us.