Tekplas Avis 

After leaving 3 phone messages and an email, Naomi contacted me so I could eventually place an order. Advice offered was good. Order placed, I was charged the higher rate delivery despite my item being categorised as a “small” gate.

Delivery was supposed to be up to 12 weeks, but after approx 14 days I received a call saying the item was ready! The item was well packaged. On inspection, one of the post “stops” was missing, no “free bolt” was included and the screws supplied were the wrong length. On contacting the company on jan 26 I was told the wrong instructions had been sent out; the screws were actually the correct length, the bolt was not required by my gate and a post end stop would be sent on next day delivery. Naomi’s attitude regarding these errors was very “laissez faire”, as though it really wasn’t significant that things weren’t correct or that the instructions supplied were for a different gate. I asked for the correct ones to be emailed/posted to me asap.

The gate was fitted, although we were still awaiting omitted parts. Screws supplied to fit the latch were countersunk, the pre drilled holes were not, so screw heads sit proud on the latch surface. It turned out that the wrong screws had been supplied for the latch too! On Feb 2nd I contacted Naomi again saying I was still awaiting the omitted and replacement parts. The parts finally arrived on the 7th Feb. I have NOT received the correct instructions. Despite leaving numerous voicemail messages on the office number and mobile phone, and sending emails between 2nd -7th Feb to contact me, I am still awaiting a return call as of 19 Feb.

Naomi admitted early on that the wrong instructions had been sent to us. This caused confusion and complication with fitting. Naomi said “her technical department said that any good fitter could fit the gate” and then tried to apportion blame on the fitter for any would be errors. A very arrogant attitude!

My gate looks good thanks only to my fitter, although I would honestly say that it is flimsy and cheaply manufactured. Once Tekplas had my money, their after sales service provided was dreadful.

My recommendation - go elsewhere.

I placed an order for a baby play area with Tekplas as they are the best around. Every other option was cheap Chinese stuff, and I looked around a long time. I found Tekplas by chance and I am not disappointed.

It wasn't cheap, nearly £500 for a 1.9mx1.7m area, but some of the cheaper stuff goes anywhere between £150 to £300 (depending where you buy them from).

Communication was a little slow, although great, I allow it as it was during the December period and the delivery was bang on the estimated date. They worked out my surface area wrong so I ended up with extra floor mats which caused me to buy additional (and pay for postage) to double the padding... which by the way I highly recommend for babies and early toddlers. The floor mats are around 1.5cm thick, having 3cm makes a huge difference if they fall and to the warmth of the floor.

The product is sturdy and should last a long time, maybe we can use it for pets at a later stage. We also had ours custom build due to area constraints. Delivery damaged one side, but Tekplas provided a replacement section straight away.

My criticisms are:
3) The gate, it feels a little flimsy and I would like to suggest that they provide customers with an options of having 2 locks (top and bottom at extra cost if necessary). It seems that after a while the gate does drop a little (especially if your little one starts hanging on to it or trying to open it), the 2nd lock would stop that from happening.

2) I would also do something with the top parts (covers/shields) that connect to each connecting pillar, these come off very easily, your little one will definitely starts pulling them out and they have sharp bits. I used PVC glue to get them to stay in place, that way they won't stick too hard so I can remove them if needed. Superglue/Glue Gun would work better:)) and bare in mind that you should still be able to remove the pillars (when needed) even if you superglue the top covers.

3) Instructions. I have no idea what to do with the floor sticky bits, not clear how/where to put them. The instructions are plain writing, no images. Took me a while to work out how to assemble it, mainly because I couldn't work out which panels where going where to make up the area needed.
An IKEA drawing would help tremendously. This should be easily achieved by using Illustrator (or another application) to trace photos of the assembly. Then use those technical drawings to create the instructions that can be used by customers.
** I can do that for you, just give me a nice discount when I need to expand or buy additional floor mats:))

The great thing about their system is that it is expandable, so if you moved to a bigger place, you could get additional panels/pillars and extend the area. Something we may need to do in a few months.

I would give them 5* if it wasn't for the few bits I mentioned. I am definitely recommending Tekplas, almost the Bentley of Play Pens and the cost does reflects that:) But seriously you do get what you pay for and it is a UK company.

Really good quality baby fencing and made to order in the UK. Found the customer service to be first rate when I was consider exchanging to get a different height. Would really recommend for anyone needing a baby safe area. 13 month old daughter loves it