Swell Reptiles Reviews 

2,140
TrustScore 2.5 out of 5

2.4

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Evaluating 174 reviews, most reviewers were unhappy with their experience overall. Many customers reported significant delays with their orders, often not receiving items on time or getting zero updates. Reviewers frequently experienced a lack of communication and slow response times, making it difficult to resolve issues or get information about purchases. Many customers encountered issues with products arriving damaged or faulty, and found customer service unhelpful or non-existent, particularly for returns or refunds. While some deliveries were problematic, others reported quick and well-packaged arrivals. However, a few people also mentioned receiving good quality products and praised specific customer service for being helpful.

What people talk about most

Order

Clients share negative opinions on order experiences, frequently reporting significant delays in receiving... See more

Product

People report ambiguous experiences with product quality and functionality, with many customers expressing... See more

Delivery service

Customers consistently note ambiguous experiences with delivery service, with many reporting significant... See more

Customer service

Reviewers highlight ambiguous aspects of customer service, with many expressing significant dissatisfaction.... See more

Response time

Customers had negative experiences with response times, frequently reporting a lack of communication 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

2.4

Poor

TrustScore 2.5 out of 5

2K reviews

5-star
4-star
3-star
2-star
1-star

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

How this company uses Trustpilot

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2.4

All reviews

(2,140)

164 reviews in the last 12 months

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Companies on Trustpilot aren't allowed to offer incentives or pay to hide reviews. Reviews are the opinions of individual users and not of Trustpilot. Read more

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Disgraceful company

This company are slow to despatch, they are bad to communicate… don’t have a faulty item, I have requested a return of a faulty thermostat on 25th July, they still haven’t responded.. I have now raised via PayPal .. avoid this company they aren’t worth the little bit of savings they give you

July 25, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I ordered 2 UV bulbs from Swell which…

I ordered 2 UV bulbs from Swell which arrived in good time and well packaged. Unfortunately one of the bulbs only lasted a few minutes, not uncommon with bulbs and heat lamps. I contacted customer services and they have processed a replacement already.
Definitely recommend.

August 1, 2025
Unprompted review
Swell Reptiles logo

Reply from Swell Reptiles

Thank you for your fantastic review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great experience with Swell UK. Whether it's aquatics or reptile supplies, we're passionate about providing high-quality products and excellent service. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to helping you again soon!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Good prices,speedy deliveries and great…

Good prices,speedy deliveries and great customer service. Had a small issue of a viv arriving with a broken part possibly happened in transit while with the courier but after contacting Swell and explaining my issue i was quickly relied to and a replacent was issued swell was even nice enough to throw in a little discount code for my next purchase. All round good experience highly recomend

July 25, 2025
Unprompted review
Swell Reptiles logo

Reply from Swell Reptiles

Thank you for your fantastic review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great experience with Swell UK. Whether it's aquatics or reptile supplies, we're passionate about providing high-quality products and excellent service. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to helping you again soon!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent customer service

I recently bought a vivarium and unfortunately it came damaged I contacted swell reptiles and within a few days they sent me out a new pieces. Excellent service

July 23, 2025
Unprompted review
Swell Reptiles logo

Reply from Swell Reptiles

Thank you for your fantastic review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great experience with Swell UK. Whether it's aquatics or reptile supplies, we're passionate about providing high-quality products and excellent service. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to helping you again soon!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

False advertisement about delivery

False advertisement about delivery.
Made an order before 4pm and paid for express delivery and only received one item. Phoned customer services to be told the rest of my order is still in the warehouse and said they would refund the money for the express delivery. Still not received an email about the other items I order and it been a day since placing the order for next day delivery. Absolutely shocking that they say order before 4pm and get it next day and pay for express delivery but don't receive your order. Thinking about cancelling my order but then I will have to wait about 5 working days for a refund. I was going to be buying again from them in the next few months but think I will pass and go elsewhere and pay the extra.

UPDATE 1
Emailed customer services again and told them if I didn't receive the email with dispatch and tracking information by the end of the day I would be contacting trading standards and surprise surprise within 10 minutes had the email with dispatch and tracking information. What a joke

UPDATE 2
Finally received parcel

July 24, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Swell are impossible to get hold of and terrible at refunding

Swell are terrible at refunding. I spent £10 returning an item, which has been delivered but I have not received a refund 3 weeks later. I am unable to speak to an adviser, having been on hold for nearly an hour, no one replies to emails or messages on fb. I would steer clear. This is unfortunately why people use Amazon rather than the store itself. I’ve had to raise a dispute with PayPal. Very disappointed

July 25, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Spoke to Nathan on the tech advice line. I needed a new ceramic heat bulb for my gecko, but specifically need one with a short stem, and couldn't work out which I needed on the website.
Nathan was friendly and helpful. He nipped over to the sales guys to make sure I had the correct bulb.
Took 30 minutes or so for the phone to be answered, but I know I'll be getting the right bulb and that has given me peace of mind.

July 24, 2025
Unprompted review
Swell Reptiles logo

Reply from Swell Reptiles

Thank you for your fantastic review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great experience with Swell UK. Whether it's aquatics or reptile supplies, we're passionate about providing high-quality products and excellent service. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to helping you again soon!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Generally good

I bought a pond UV from this company, unfortunately if went faulty in just under 12 months. Swell arranged collection, and once tested agreed to replace it. Hopefully it will be arriving in the next few days.
My only real criticism is not being able to speak to someone, I assume they are either really busy or short staffed as I could never get through on the phone to any department.
Emails were answered within a day or so.

July 23, 2025
Unprompted review
Swell Reptiles logo

Reply from Swell Reptiles

Thank you for your review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great experience with Swell UK. Whether it's aquatics or reptile supplies, we're passionate about providing high-quality products and excellent service. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to helping you again soon!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

AVOID

AVOID. Impossible to reach, paid for next day and still waiting on it to be processed over 24 hours later. I have a rescue animal dependent on this order. On the phone for 30 mins and still waiting to speak to someone. Automated message says experiencing short delay and thanks for patience and understanding. Just answer the bloody phone and cancel my order so I can order from a company that actually cares about the animals who depends on their items!

July 22, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 4 out of 5 stars

I ordered a platinum crested gecko…

I ordered a platinum crested gecko starter kit. It took a while to get tracking information however Holly was exceptional and very helpful with this and rescheduled delivery and needed. It is a wonderful service all I will say is that the delivery aspect is not snappy but outside of that I couldn't fault customer service truly good service from Holly

July 21, 2025
Unprompted review
Swell Reptiles logo

Reply from Swell Reptiles

Thank you for your fantastic review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great experience with Swell UK. Whether it's aquatics or reptile supplies, we're passionate about providing high-quality products and excellent service. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to helping you again soon!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Useless

Order micro climate pro on Thursday paid for next day delivery its now Sunday have received nothing and no reply on email and no phone communications, People order next day service for a reason small reptile lives depend on it, wont use them again

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

Awful delivery and customer service

I ordered from Swell on the 8th July after reading their delivery was 2-3 days, over a week later my package still hadn’t arrived so I sent an email chasing my order with no reply, I eventually rang them and was told that they would tell the warehouse to despatch my item, it eventually reached me on the 19th July and I have today received an email following my original chase advising that my order had been successfully delivered with no apology. Swell have some good offers but I won’t use them again because their delivery is appalling and their customer service even worse.

July 8, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Would not use Swell Reptiles again

Ordered frozen mice on Thursday - website says next day delivery. Email sent to say the package had been dispatched on Thursday. Interestingly did not show a tracking number. No delivery on Friday.

It’s now been three days since this frozen order was supposedly dispatched. If it does turn up, it’s not going to be frozen now.

No reply to email and phone was hung up. Appalling service. Will not use this company again.

July 20, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Pleasantly surprised

After reading reviews on here I was very sceptical about receiving my item on time and in one piece! However I was surprised when it was dispatched on a Sunday and arrived on the Monday morning. Really happy with the service received. The only slight nag I have is that dispatch was a little on the slow side (ordered Thursday and as I say dispatched Sunday) but other than that everything else was perfectly fine. UVB bulb arrived unbroken (which I was very worried about initially) although, of course, this always depends on the handling of the parcel in the warehouse and with the courier. It wasn’t packaged super well and could definitely have done with a layer or 2 of bubble wrap inside the box. Overall really happy with my order and probably order from Swell again.

July 14, 2025
Unprompted review
Swell Reptiles logo

Reply from Swell Reptiles

Thank you for your fantastic review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great experience with Swell UK. Whether it's aquatics or reptile supplies, we're passionate about providing high-quality products and excellent service. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to helping you again soon!

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

I have purchased items in the past that…

I have purchased items in the past that have arrived okay, however the service i received regarding an unwanted item that was returned was quite poorly. It was sent back with proof from the Post Office however after emailing already it took almost 4 weeks and several more emails to get refunded for it. On top of this recently i had to purchase a UVB bulb from them which upon arrival was already shattered as it hadn’t been correctly packaged. The products are fine when delivered correctly but i was a little taken aback by the lack of customer service and their unprofessionalism.

June 4, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I did like this website but my last…

I did like this website but my last couple of orders I've payed for next day delivery in which both orders never arrived till around 6 days later so one of the items I had to order elsewhere which still came before swell reptiles order, so I've had to request for a return which I did on the 30th of June and since then I've still been waiting for approval and it's now the 4th of June and no one is getting back to me and my other order when it did arrive it was completely broken into pieces, so I've now had to request another return, so I'm a little worried now that I'm having to pay for items that one is no use to me and the other that is broken. Contacting customer service to this place is terrible, there's a phone number on the website which I've tried to ring but it doesn't even ring, this is not good, think I'm goin stick to amazon from now on.

July 4, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Next day delivery lmao

Next day delivery lmao, my poor Snake has been in the dark all week because this awful company can't keep to their word, don't look to Swell Reptiles if you need something urgently, absolute joke

July 1, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Super quick delivery!

Ordered 3 exo terra dimmers, they arrived super quickly and were very well packaged! :) really great price compared to everywhere else too, plus all are working perfectly!

June 27, 2025
Unprompted review
Swell Reptiles logo

Reply from Swell Reptiles

Thank you for your fantastic review! We're so pleased to hear you had a great experience with Swell UK. Whether it's aquatics or reptile supplies, we're passionate about providing high-quality products and excellent service. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to helping you again soon!

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

ANY IDEAS!!!!!

Terrible customer service & communication.

Ordered an item from the website that was and is still showing in stock, 2 weeks later no item. Emailed the customer services team, received generic reply with a 10% discount code. Finally got the email from Lyndsey with the same spiel that everyone else seems to be getting, warehouse is busy blah blah said she would chase them and let me know and low and behold nothing. Emailed again and got the exact same email as previous email from Lyndsey.

Currently on phone to customer services been 25mins so far and still waiting for it to be answered. lol.

Used Swell several times over the years with no issues but I wont be bothering again this is ridiculous doesnt take 2 weeks to stick your head in the warehouse and ask why delivery has not gone out.

EDIT

Got through to customer services weren't helpful and didn't seem bothered, was told she didn't work in the warehouse so didn't know and would escalate it. This had already been done but apparently there was NOTHING she could do, no attempt to help just tried to rush me off the phone.

EDIT 2

Still wasnt getting anywhere, so cancelled my order in fairness got my refund straight away. order item from another site and came next day. I wont be buying again from Swell which is a shame they used to be good!!!

July 1, 2025
Unprompted review

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