Swell Reptiles Reviews 

2,149
TrustScore 2.5 out of 5

2.3

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Evaluating 164 reviews, most reviewers were unhappy with their experience overall. People experienced significant delays with shipping, often waiting weeks without any tracking information or proactive communication from the company. Furthermore, consumers frequently reported receiving damaged goods, such as broken glass tanks and spoiled perishable items left outside. Buyers also struggled to reach support teams or obtain refunds when trying to resolve these frustrating issues. However, some customers also noted that certain products arrived quickly and were packaged securely. A few other people also felt that the support team was knowledgeable and very helpful when addressing specific questions. Reviewers expressed satisfaction with affordable items that met their needs when deliveries went smoothly.

What people talk about most

Order

Reviewers highlight negative aspects of placing an order, frequently reporting severe delays and issues with... See more

Product

Customers had ambiguous experiences with product quality and orders, reporting both satisfaction and severe... See more

Delivery service

Customers consistently note negative experiences with delivery_service, reporting that despite paying extra... See more

Customer service

Consumers find customer service experiences to be mixed, with high disagreement among reviews. While many... See more

Response time

People report profound frustration regarding response times, noting that emails frequently go unanswered and... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Only giving it a two for the staff that handle the phone calls as I’m sure people get pretty aggy with them and I feel bad. I picked next day delivery as a matter of necessity, I was only going to be... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Bought a Viv arrived on the 22nd with a broken part, looked like damaged in transit. Trying to get hold of them is impossible. All their email addresses are either full or it comes up with a unknow... See more

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Paid for a delivery of essential electronics for a vivarium for a rescue animal. I was told it would come next day 100% and that it would be here on time before I have to leave for my holiday. Any gue... See more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Placed a large order, got zero updates. Delivery date passed, no tracking, no response. Their email inbox is full, phones go unanswered, and they ignore all contact attempts. I had to cancel through K... See more


Company details

  1. Pet Store
  2. Reptile Store

Written by the company

Swell Reptiles is one of the UK's leading retailers of reptile supplies, live foods and vivariums. We stock a huge range of products for reptiles, invertebrates and other exotic pets and cater for everyone from the newcomer to reptiles to the avid expert.


Contact info

2.3

Poor

TrustScore 2.5 out of 5

2K reviews

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No recent history of asking for reviews

This company hasn't invited customers recently, so reviews may not be representative

Replied to 0% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 2 weeks

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2.3

All reviews

(2,149)

150 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Don't bother ordering from this place

Don't bother ordering from this place. I ordered on the 8th of November and didn't get my order until the 21st and it had turned into two separate parcels with the other coming on the 26th and they refunded an item without even asking me so I never received it.
The customer service is awful not apologetic at all just sounded annoyed.
Not worth the hassle and lack of communication plus the over 30 minute hold time for any calls to customer service

November 26, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Recent purchase

Recently made a purchase for a glass paludarium which arrived cracked, fault of the delivery company as the box was utterly destroyed. I used the form online to report the damage and then phoned the customer services team (they answered in less than 5 minutes) and a person called Lyndsey was very helpful and reassured me that they will provide a replacement or refund and will let me know. The next day I phoned the team again (waited less than 5 minutes this time too) and a person called Nathan assured me they are handling this request and are going to send me a replacement, with extra protection to hopefully ensure it remains safe. Again, very helpful and straight to the point.

Although my item came damaged, the response and way the team have handled it has been excellent, I have not felt any anxiety or worry, and will order from them again. Don't believe all bad reviews you read online! Thanks Nathan and Lyndsey

November 26, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I called customer services in panik and…

I called customer services in panik and Nathan has reassured me, gave me top tips on what to do before the delivery arrives - very happy! Thank you so much for your friendly and professional approach and support!

November 26, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Customer service is slow and obviously…

Customer service is slow and obviously struggle to read a full conversation. I orders glass for my gecko tank and payed fast delivery, took over a week after pay extra for next day delivery and was told it would arrive by Tuesday. Doesn’t fit would like to return and the customer service is shocking. As I’d have to sort return delivery myself I will only get £10 from the £20 I spent on delivery and glass.

November 20, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Abysmal first customer experience

Abysmal first customer experience. I avoid writing bad reviews unless something is truly awful so as not to unfairly damage companies reputations due to circumstances outside of their control. But this time I felt I had to.

Me and my partner were excited to welcome our first reptiles together and have been planning it for ages. We also were supposed to be collecting them this weekend, which swell messed up ( see below)

Ordered a reptile enclosure last Monday, said it'd be arriving Thursday the same week absolute latest. Wednesday comes, no dispatch email, nothing. Sent an email nothing.
Chased via phone on Thursday and was promised it was going out Friday next day to arrive on Monday.
Friday comes, no dispatch email, nothing so was basically lied to.
This was annoying at best, as we were meant to pick up our new friends on the Sunday. But delayed their collection until Tuesday by taking a day off work.

Finally dispatched today via Yodel 48 which won't be collected until Monday at 5pm and won't arrive until Wednesday/Thursday at the earliest if I'm lucky due to the BF sales period. Can't speak to anyone as they don't work weekends.

So basically screwed. I won't be accepting the parcel, assuming Yodel even deliver it/it's not totally trashed.

I just don't get how a company who are supposed to be big and reptile specialists can be so crap.

November 22, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Placed an order on the 8th for a new…

Placed an order on the 8th for a new enclosure for our reptile. It’s a palletised delivery so I understand it takes between 3-5 working days but not had any communication from them and still says processing.

I have tried calling around 12 times and cannot get through every time. I’m trying to get through to them whist writing this. I have sent emails but again no response.

Absolutely disgusting service. All I want to know is when my order is getting delivered

Plenty of other shops to get your suppliers from. Honestly think twice before buying from here as you will not be able to speak to anyone if you need to.

November 18, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Absolutely awful company

Absolutely awful company. Thermostat is faulty and heatmat intermittent. I have been trying to speak to someone since Friday with no luck. I called again at 9am this morning just after they opened and was told all there operators were busy. I held on for 15 minutes with no answer. My reptiles are freezing cold and there incompetence is causing them harm. Do not use this company at all costs. Due to there lack of response I will be reporting them to the bank. DISGUSTING!!!! I'd give 0 stars if I could.

November 18, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Horrendous company. AVOID

Horrendous company to deal with. Due to them apparently suffering a system issue their side, they took close to week to dispatch something I paid next day delivery on as I needed it urgently.

Having spent an hour on hold waiting to get through to their customer service, I gave up and used their online support to cancel my order as it was needed urgently and it was radio silence from SwellUK.
However, instead of cancelling my order as i requested, three days after that request, they instead decided to process a refund on my express shipping and gave me a 10% voucher (which im obviously never using) and shipped my items.

I'll now have to pay out of my pocket to return the items because this greedy company decides to make their current system issues even worse with a black Friday sale, and employ Customer Service Reps who cant follow simple requests from their conned customers.

Save yourself a tonne of hassle and shop elsewhere. The reptile branch of SwellUK is an embarrassment.

November 14, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Be Wary

Paid for next day delivery which didnt atrive and no time frame when they look to ship out. Tried calling multiple times waiting 20 mins on 1 call with no answer to any call. Will not ve using this company again

November 10, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Next day delivery is beyond unreliable.

Only giving it a two for the staff that handle the phone calls as I’m sure people get pretty aggy with them and I feel bad. I picked next day delivery as a matter of necessity, I was only going to be home for the first half of the week! Was due Monday or Tuesday, it’s Wednesday and no dispatched update at all even though I called yesterday to chase it. Had to cancel and will be ordering elsewhere from somewhere that actually seems to deliver their items. So much unnecessary stress for what should be a happy time setting up a new animal…

November 12, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Terrible Customer Service Agent

Attempted to order 3 x Tortoise Substrate. Authorised Payment 3 times on Banking App at Checkout, Swell Site did not proceed any further and the ‘Place Order’ button remained greyed out and was unable to proceed. Contacted Customer Service via Telephone and after 20 minutes was answered by a rude, over talking female Agent. More concerted informing me that I could not have the product next day as to busy! That said the Site will still take your money for Next Day Delivery had the order of gone through! Didn’t wait for an explanation re the site not working correctly due to her rudeness, and ordered elsewhere, whereby they are able to manage the Website, and Delivery. This may be one of the biggest Reptile Sites, however plenty of other independent Companies who are waiting to take their business when they are unable to deliver! Will not use again.

November 11, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Orders still not been shipped!

I made an order on Thursday evening for a tank, paid for next day delivery and was advised I would receive it Saturday. Friday 5pm comes and the order still hasn't been dispatched, so I email looking for an update. Saturday rolls around, still not shipped, and no response to my email.

On Sunday, I get an email advising the parcel has been dispatched, however I would not get an update on tracking until the courier picks up the order (so it's not been dispatched, you've packaged it and created a label). It advised on the email that the couriers pick up orders Monday-Friday at 5pm, so I definitely wasn't going to be getting it on Monday. I had also noticed that it was shipped under FedEx Economy, not next day, so I wasn't going to be getting it Tuesday either.

I've checked the tracking this morning, and it's still not been picked up by the couriers! So 3 days after I was supposed to receive it, and it's still not even been sent out. On top of that, I get a generic email response from the company, offering me a 10% discount on my next order! I don't want the discount, I want a refund for the next day shipping I paid for, and I want my order to be sent out!

November 6, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Really helpful

Nathan emailed me back about an issue I had with an order really quickly, fixing the issue promptly. Really appreciate his help.

November 5, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Competitive price

The products are really competitively priced, always as described, and when I've had stuff break during postage it's been replaced. Can't fault them.

November 4, 2025
Unprompted review
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Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Well where do I start delivery was quick

Well where do I start delivery was quick ,, but we ordered a platinum setup for a bearded dragon which we ordered thinking everything we would receive would be perfect so we could buy a bearded dragon,, but oh no they sent wrong thermostat/dimmer , wrong size UVB unit kit ,, no basking light cage , and wrong basking bulb ,, but only found all this out when we went to purchase our bearded dragon so instead of being able to get our new family member, we had to buy all of the things again to be suitable for our vivarium that we got in the supposedly platinum setup,, would never recommend this company

October 10, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Good value and help when needed

I had a wax worm subscription that I was very pleased with. Always arrived on time and with plenty of worms. Good value for money. But I needed to cancel as I no longer had the animal they were being fed to. I couldn’t see how to cancel, but Holly from Swell sorted it out for me very quickly. I’d certainly use Swell again if I had the need to do so.

October 28, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Order was delayed being picked and…

Order was delayed being picked and packed so had to wait longer for it to be delivered.
Tank is a good size and the only downside is the door is a bit difficult to open and the digital thermo hydrometer did not work properly and kept giving false readings so had to buy a new one.

October 13, 2025
Unprompted review

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