3 hour visit from wardrobe design consultant!

[Dorothyredboots]

Rep came at 19.00, at 21.50 when she was still sitting at the dining table with her laptop DH decided enough was enough and asked her very nicely to leave! Who wants to think about wardrobes at 10pm? Not me anyway. We wasted a whole evening hanging about whilst she tried to draw up the plans. We only want some simple wardrobes ffs. Insistent that we see what it would look like and is coming back on Saturday for another session. We are totally prepared for the hard sell...
It is worse that DH is an architect and would have drawn this up in about five minutes...

[noexcuses]

Cancel the Sat appointment. They do not value your time.

[hippoCritt]

Nooooo! I thought you meant a Gok type fashion adviser, ask them to take measurements tell them what you want and ask them to send possible solutions by email/post

[Ladymuck]

We had wardrobes fitted recently. No 3 hr appointments involved. Probably an hour or less to cover 3 bedrooms (with differing doors, fittings etc).

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

Do you mind if I ask who it was?
That's funny about your DH's job btw - why don't you do that instead and get a carpenter in?

[Dorothyredboots]

Shotgun - it was Hammonds. The consultant seemed to be having great difficulty getting the CAD system to do what she wanted. There was really no reason for her to draw up the whole room though - we can visualise what a wall of white wardrobes will look like .
We will probably end up doing our own thing but we wanted to use Hammonds as a starting point design wise and to see just how eye wateringly expensive they were going to be... I don't think they are going to be able to offer exactly the type of doors we want either. But the process has been interesting in that it has made us think about what we want and the best way to get it.
I sound really fussy I know but we have just moved into a 'forever home' so want things right.
We will let her come back on Saturday and then we will look at the other options (getting our joiner in, or possibly DH might DIY).

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

You sound like you have a similar approach to mine. We've done similar with our kitchen in the past - think it ended up costing about a third of what we'd been quoted.
I think I've come across a company who make timber wardrobe doors to your own spec - will try and find a link.

[ruddynorah]

You got them in even though you think you can do better and for cheaper? So what on earth was the point?

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

Don't know if you're addressing me or the OP, norah, but standard sales practise is to visit prospective clients, and who's to say you wouldn't be so bowled over by their service/designs/prices that you decide to go with them?

This is the company I mentioned, but they don't do timber, it's MDF. But I suspect you probably want lovely white glass or something similar!

[Dorothyredboots]

norah - we are not sure if we can do it better/cheaper. If we like the Hammonds scheme and feel it is value for money we will go with it. We are looking at the options. We have never had a reason to do this before, so why not have a 'professional' look at it. Their product is expensive and i am genuinely interested to see how it looks, performs and what the quality is. I'm also happy to spend time with the consultant but not so happy at her having to use my dining area as an office for a couple of hours.
Shot - you have me to a T - we are thinking frosted white glass, possibly in a timber frame Japanese stylee. I'll have a look at that website though as we are very open minded and I find looking at lots of options helps me decide.

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

Sounds gorgeous!

[PigletJohn]

I would start to think that a company willing to spend so many hours on a sales visit to a prospect, must be paying a very high commission on successful sales, that will be built into the price.

Bit like plastic windows and kitchen fitters.

[runtybunty]

Hammonds/Sharps etc work on commission only as far as I am aware. The sales agent has to produce a drawing of every visit for their company, yes its a selling tactic the idea being that the customer is so impressed by the look of the room that they commit to buying immediately.
The wardrobes will usually be veneered mdf. Hammonds are mostly full carcass, hence more expensive than sharps who do virtually the same thing but front frame.
I would def use the local carpenter option.

[justkeepmoving]

we had some wardrobes last year from a local shop with no pushy salesmen. The ones we have are by Hepplewhite & they told us they are made by Hammonds. we got one of their leaflets come in the door the other week & it had the same bedroom we have in it but its got a different name. Maybe someone near you sells that make.

[SkiBumMum]

The Hammonds via Next Directory service "Space", is cheaper than Hammonds direct. We went with them and are pleased with the result.

[FelicityJane]

We hired a local carpenter who fitted all our wardrobes - marvellous job

My daughter has the ash edged frosted sliding doors in her room and they look super.

My advice would be to ask for recommendations from your friends before contacting any company.