Wickes costing vs Benchmarx, plus few other queries!

[bobkate]

Not sure if this is the right section to post under, but I got some feedback with my cooker query so I'm back for more advice/ pointers please!
We're having our kitchen redone and got a quote from Wickes for £6159 incl integrated d/w, w/m and fridge ( all Zanussi ) but not incl cooker/hood or worktop. This quote had a 50% discount, then a further 20 I think. This offer is apparently going to run out tomorrow - we only got the qupte on Sunday!
Our builder got a price for the same kitchen from Benchmarx and this time includes d/w, w/m, fridge ( w/m and fridge both Bosch, d/w own brand, non branded hood and worktop for £8300. I thought that Benchmarx was meant to be considerably cheaper so I'm really confused.
Has anyone got any ideas how much an reasonably good quality oak worktop would cost? We've got a galley kitchen, one side is about 3700mm long and the other about 3000mm.

Also has anyone got any recommendations for good online appliance stores that may offer a deal for the 3 integrated items?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

I think the builders probably adding some profit onto the top!.I think oak worktop from Barncrest is about 400 pound per 3 metre uncut.So add on the cost of fitting and cutting and extras like a moisture barrier and such.Cooker hood can be anything from 150 pounds up.Is he including the cost of fitting the kitchen in the price?.I would approach Benchmarx yourself and see if they will deal with you.My builder if he orders anything on my behalf automatically charges 10% on top even though it is all stored in my garage!.However he will get products at a better price and even adding on the 10% it works out as the sam price i would get.Plus the fact is most builders will store items for you [but mine doesn't sadly].

Hmmm.Perhaps Benchmarx have put their prices up,or your builder could have added a rather large cut on top?

We had a Wickes kitchen last year.Our nearest Benchmarx was over 100 miles away and we found that the difference in price wasn't worth the hassle,although they were very helpful when we rag to enquire.We were very pleased with Wickes,got a good price and also got over £200 worth of vouchers back,which is being used to buy tiles for the bathroom.

Sorry,can't advise on wooden worktops,as we didn't have them.Have you tried Howdens?

Thanks for your help. I did wonder if he's added some on top for himself!That wasn't including the labour costs either. He's been brilliant for us in the past, I just really feel with such a large expenditure we must be able to save somehow! Off to do some more research....
Good to hear your happy with your kitchen Mirage. I'm going for the Tiverton Bone, which did you get?

We got our kitchen directly from Benchmarx. It was over a year ago so I can't remember the exact figures but I do know it was less than we were quoted by Wickes.

Benchmarx, Reading, were very good - came and measured up and were very good at suggesting things I hadn't thought of. We aren't trade customers but it didn't seem to bother Benchmarx.

I would be very surprised if when you showed Benchmarx your quote from Wickes they couldn't beat it. We used appliances direct for cooker, dishwasher, fridge freezer etc. We got top brands (bosch, rangemaster) for the same price as Benchmarx and Wickes were quoting for electrolux (or some similar brand. We are very pleased with the kitchen. One year on and there have been no problems - very solid, well made units. Best of luck to you.

Thanks v much. Have had a good price from appliances direct this morning so good to hear you used them. Great to hear you're also happy with your kitchen. I'm finding it a bit stressful at the moment - just a few too many big decisions for my liking!! I think I'll ask him to go back and see if they can't shave a bit more off.
Many thanks again

Hi

Looking at getting quotes on kitchens from both Benchmarx and Howdens.

I see I should be able to get around 75% discount with Howdens.

Should I expect a similar discount at Benchmarx?

Many thanks.