New blinds

[ethelina]

Totally fed up with Hillarys blinds as they cancelled our first appointment last week and did not turn up to the rebooked one yesterday, with no apology or explanation. Have already spoken to head office about poor customer service this morning and told them I will not now be using them, nor would I recommend anyone else to.

Still need new blinds though. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good blinds company in Kent?

I have ordered some on line yesterday from 247 blinds yesterday
will see how they turn out.

Hillarys were really expensive when we had a quote.

We ahd a local company come round and measure but they weren't much cheaper. I ended up using their measurements to order online and we fit them ourselves.

We have had blinds from 24/7 blinds recently for our new downstairs kitchen/family room, and also in new bedroom.

All have been super quality, made to measure and delivered quickly. We got a reliable decorator/ handyman we know to fit them and he found them very straightforward.

Much cheaper than Hillary's and similar companies and probably better quality. there are too many of these kind of companies charging over the odds for the supposed advantage of a full service. The fitters are usually not very good and the overall quality of service poor. (another case in point are Dolphin bathrooms, notorious in the plumbing trade for poor value). it really is not difficult to fit blinds, a competent DIYer could easily do it, but if you don't really feel up to it any good handyman could do it easily.

Well thanks a lot people. 2 votes for the same company sounds hopeful, will look into them online.

I agree about Dolphin bathrooms, DH is in same line of business & he says he can always do a better job for less money. I would say always use the local craftsman who comes recommended if you can, its usually cheaper and better quality.

I absolutely agree, ethelina.

A lot of these expensive companies play on peoples concerns about bad quality tradesmen by stressing they "take care of all the details".

Yes they do, but at a vastly inflated price and often using poor quality workmen. (the good ones tend to work for themselves, not for these companies).

Always better to go for a good tradesman with a personal recommendation

ps good luck with the blinds. I think you should be pleased.

Quick update: DH spoke to the local Hillarys agent a couple of hours ago, he tried to say it was head offices fault they hadn't rung to cancel yesterdays appointment as it was their job to do it and not his! DH asked why had he cancelled the first one himself last week then? He tried to make out he had not!!! FFS what does he take us for?

No explanation btw as to why a second appointment would have been cancelled.

At least no money was ever paid out.

Anyway this is just to underline how utterly shite they are and DO NOT EVER make the mistake of using them...

I have used both blinds 24/7 and blinds2go, both provide samples and I have found them both fantastic companies and the products were really good quality.

UPDATE: If anyone's looking for blinds in Kent, I found a brilliant Blinds service in Ashford, Kent called Kingfisher Blinds,they are a local company who deliver to Kent and London. Brilliant quick service, friendly personal service. And value for money. I'm so pleased. Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone.

Glad you found something,
We were away for a few days, came back tonight to find our blinds had been delivered and a neighbour taken them in. They look good, but I ordered the wrong colour for dd's bedroom. I let her choose and she went for a maple venetian and I totally forgot that the wood in her room was was a very light ash
Thankfully the wood will fit in our kitchen, so need to order some more for dd's room

Well the new blinds we ordered 10 days ago were fitted today and I'm so pleased we went with this local company. Feel we've dodged a bullet with Hillarys. Don't think they could hav beaten the price, speed or service. Hooray