For some time now we've been hearing about the different grades of tiles (especially porcelain and stone tiles) and it's part of the reason some people don't like buying before they see.

Whether buying online, or from a tile shop that orders the qty in that you need, there's a risk of getting a bad batch of tiles ONLY IF THE COMPANY YOU'RE BUYING FROM ACCEPTS THOSE TILES FROM THEIR OWN SUPPLIERS.

Here's a company that does accept poor quality stock, and doesn't send it back, they sell it on. Or so it seems when you visit the following website:-

TilesPorcelainRipOff.co.uk - Where not to buy tiles.

What appears to be a disgruntled customer who bought two batches of tiles. One came okay. The other, well, take a look! Shocking stuff.

Do you think those tiles are acceptable? (Please be professional with your responses, I would imagine this is a website they'll want to take offline as soon as they can - and I'd not want the forum or your own businesses dragged in somebody else's issue.)

It's probably worth noting for future reference that tilesporcelain.co.uk and buytiles.com are the same company. So perhaps if they're accepting stock of porcelain so bad, and then selling it on which is shocking, that they'd do it with any tile perhaps?

Worth noting too that the person who built the website has stated they got only 3 days to check the stock to make sure it's all acceptable. Not just broken, which perhaps would be ample time to tell and report back, but actual quality. Which as you lads know, you can't always tell until you're ready to fix them unless you sit and check every tile as they come off the delivery truck which isn't viable at all. It's questionable whether they're actually breaking the law there with that. You get 14 days when buying online as a cooling off period and it's meant to be a no quibble return no matter whether there is an actual problem or not. Providing both parties are in the UK (seller and buyer that is).

I've just done a google search for "Tilesporcelain" and the very next suggested search was "Tilesprocelain feedback" which to me suggests that people are searching for feedback about tilesporcelain as much as they're searching for the company.

So perhaps people with good or bad experiences with this company could let us in on their experience too?

People with low posts will have their tilesporcelain feedback moderated.

Shocking or what?!?! - Note on the website "Surface of the moon? No" haha.

that's pretty yucky... and someone is cheesed off good and proper..

Trav can be so varied in quality it's really important that you're buying good stock. And more to the point, if it is wrong, you've bought from a company big enough to cover ANY costs regarding replacing them. The smaller the firm, the lest chance there is off getting problems sorted very quickly. And clearly in this case it sounds like they've just washed their hands of the stock and the problem. They just don't seem to want to deal with the issue and change the tiles. 3 days is disgusting in my opinion.

Shocking service, 3 days should only be for breakages, not quality.

If that account is true, it shows what contempt tilesporcelain/buytiles hold there customers in.

I hope the unfortunate guy gets resolution from his court case.

That's an absolute disgrace, both for the trav and the service. I also thought that consumer law made it illegal to set time limits on checking your product for suitability and quality, especially with large and heavy items that customers are unable to check themselves......


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Pretty sure he will. It's a clear cut case there. tilesporcelain.co.uk / buytiles.com will probably end up covering court costs for both parties, replacement costs of tiles, removal of old tiles, re-fixing of the new tiles to the half way point if not the full floor, and at the end of it all they'll have a full review of the whole situation online for their future customers to see.

I'd never provide such a poor service for those reasons. It just backfires one day and makes the whole company questionable.

I noticed the lass in the office is meant to have hung up too. That's the moment I'd know it's going to be hard to get the good tiles, or money back. A real shame for the actual customer who's job it is.

Originally Posted by Stewart

That's an absolute disgrace, both for the trav and the service. I also thought that consumer law made it illegal to set time limits on checking your product for suitability and quality, especially with large and heavy items that customers are unable to check themselves......


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It probably is the case to be honest Stew! - Though they're still claiming 3 days as per their terms. Shocking.

I can't find in their terms and conditions on their website anything about 3 days. Very lengthy terms though so perhaps I've not spotted that bit.

Originally Posted by Dan

I can't find in their terms and conditions on their website anything about 3 days. Very lengthy terms though so perhaps I've not spotted that bit.

Found something

Originally Posted by tilesporcelain terms and conditions

All goods must be checked by the customer on receipt of goods - this is imperative. No responsibility for damaged product, shortages or incorrect products can be accepted after 48 hours / two working days (Mon - Fri) of receipt of goods. The company must be notified by e-mail or fax within 48 hours of delivery of any claims by the buyer of any shortage or damage to goods in transit. Risk in respect of the goods passes to the buyer from the moment of delivery. We shall be under no obligation to give you a refund in relation to any Product once the seven day cooling off period has expired (unless the Product is defective and/or your statutory rights apply).

So they're saying unless they're faulty they wouldn't accept them after this period. They are faulty, so they should have done, even by their own (possibly questionable) terms and conditions.

Being a bit naughty there then by the sounds of it.

Can't see that standing up in a court of law and I would take them all the way to get a full refund and costs incurred........


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Likewise matey. Like I said, I feel sorry for the customer who's now got to start all over again. It's always the customers that get the bad quality service and / or products in the end and it's normally something they've been saving for for some time. Very shady.

I certainly wouldn't touch buytiles.com or tilesporcelain.co.uk with a barge pole.

Just as a side-discussion. I know a lot of you guys have good relationships with your suppliers.
​What would your supplier do if they sold you poor quality tiles and you pointed it out to them? - Answers in replies please. You're welcome to state your supplier.

Thats shocking. Fair play to the fella though for setting up the website, he's like a dog with a bone lol
And with Dans seo skills, this thread will prob be top of the list if a potential customer looks up the company

Can I say though, I think I would have checked both pallets before starting, with a view to laying them mixed from both pallets

I have personally used Travertine from them.. and IMO it is what you get for that sort of money.. 14 quid does not buy quality stone and the sooner customers realise this instead of thinking they are getting a bargain then the better.

You cannot get quality stone for cheaper than cheap prices..

I would also suggest that the advertising standards agency look at the way this company advertises .. You cannot say you own quarries in Turkey and actually own plants to manufacture your own porcelain tiles when it is not true.. that is false advertising IMO..

Anybody else here heard the buytiles.com radio adverts where they state this..?

I've heard the wireless ad about their own quarries!!!!!!!!!!

With regard to another company on the same subject - I was asked by my London client to go with him to inspect some opus travertine, it and every other stone on display were marked 'grade A' quality. When I asked to see some from stock, the salesman showed me a unopened 'set' which looked like they had been collected from every corner of the quarry over a period of years and collated to make a pattern. He explained to me that after sealing they would look the same as the tiles displayed and which had been there for at least 2 years . At £27/metre they were the leftovers.

I see the web page has been took down ..

in china they make 5 grades of tiles you can buy rubbish or you can buy the best in the world the eu put a30% duty on tiles from china british duty+6%+ 20% vat looks like these people have have decided to by the latter no pride in there product only in proffit always by tiles from a person in a shop would be my advice

jeezo, nearly bought some tiles from this mob! thanks! could anyone suggest a good online supplier?

I did buy tiles from them. Am going to court over the isuue. Also if you have a problem with them please go to Trading standards at durham

Originally Posted by Ryan45

I did buy tiles from them. Am going to court over the isuue. Also if you have a problem with them please go to Trading standards at durham

could you give a brief outline on your situation as to why you are going to court

Originally Posted by charlie1

jeezo, nearly bought some tiles from this mob! thanks! could anyone suggest a good online supplier?

don't know what you are looking for but i bought some 600x600 slate from mrs stone tiles last year, good stuff for £12.50 m2,im only saying i laid some from topps not long after,the customer paid something like £50m2,and it was rubbish

Originally Posted by widler

don't know what you are looking for but i bought some 600x600 slate from mrs stone tiles last year, good stuff for £12.50 m2,im only saying i laid some from topps not long after,the customer paid something like £50m2,and it was crap

not sure if i can post the website,but just google it,it comes up

I nearly purchased 13m2 quartz from them! Thank's TF again! Thanks wilder

Originally Posted by Ryan45

I did buy tiles from them. Am going to court over the isuue. Also if you have a problem with them please go to Trading standards at durham

Hi Ryan,

Which tiles did you buy? I have bought so-called granite tiles from Tiles Porcelain and they have started to crack. Around 30% of the tiles on the floor have hairline cracks. I complained to them and they said that since I did not buy adhesive from them and they didn't lay the tiles, there is not much they can do. What rubbish!

People should use shops they know as much as possible !
Usually when something sounds too good to be true... it is !

I have bought marble, travertine and granite online through ebay before for cheaper prices than Tiles Porcelain and have been delighted with the products. That is why I am shocked at how bad these tiles are. With the big stores i guess you feel a bit more confident but then the prices are sky-high for natural stone. Not everyone can afford that. We shouldn't be put off by a few rogue traders....!

Good point queen, i was even fitting 60x60 porcelain from last week and i wasn't impressed with it myself.
There is a lot of crap about for sure.

Originally Posted by tilequeen

Hi Ryan,

Which tiles did you buy? I have bought so-called granite tiles from Tiles Porcelain and they have started to crack. Around 30% of the tiles on the floor have hairline cracks. I complained to them and they said that since I did not buy adhesive from them and they didn't lay the tiles, there is not much they can do. What rubbish!

I bought 60 x 60 porcelain tiles which arrived damaged. I rejected the batch but they were not willing. I lodged a complaint and Durham Trading Standards is compiling a case against them
i sued them in the small claims court and they did send someone to represent them. it tokk 6 months for the case but i won and also got costs. the co had to collect the tiles and did actually pay the ccj about five minutes b efroe deadline. My advice is persistant and polite and do not let them flag you with rules that are counter to the SOG act etc. The judge actuially told them they cannot breach rights etc and aadvised them where they were wrong. It was worth it in the end. I got my money back

Report them to Durham Trading Standards. they are compiling a case. Thye have had loads of complaints