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Original poster

Thought Howdens were supposed to be good value...? Getting disheartened :-(

37 replies

mrsbleasdale · 07/09/2011 18:01

I've had 4 quotes for kitchens so far...and Howdens have come out the most expensive WITHOUT fitting, £1000 more than Wickes which incl fitting, £2000 more than 2 independents including fitting and new ceilings, lights and walls. This is using Dad's trade account so i know he's not taking a cut. Am i picking stupidly expensive ranges???? I chose this range

www.howdens.com/product-range/kitchen-collection/classic/haworth-white/

And a painted bone one from wickes, and cream wood shaker from the other companies.

Are the painted wood doors just stupidly expensive? I don;t want vinyl as they can peel/steam off. We don;t have a Benchmarx anywhere near us. which seems to come recommended on here.

Am beginning to loose faith........And we're still being quoted around £2500-£3000 to fit . After advice in here people estimate around £150 a day, so even a 10 day fit which is what wickes amusingly thought would only be £1500.

Getting tempted to stick with the crap kitchen we've got Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
mrsbleasdale · 07/09/2011 18:19

Ok ...have looked at my figures again....they're about the same as Wickes without fitting....so still not what i'd expected...

I haven't gone back to anyone yet to try and get more money off yet.......I have shopped around online for appliances too to try and reduce costs...

OP posts:
Mumsnut · 07/09/2011 18:28

We had some Howdens units for the utility room. Persuaded the fitter who did our kitchen to do it in his off time, and he said he could get the units for us - AT A 90% DISCOUNT. What does that tell you about their non-trade prices?

Iggly · 07/09/2011 18:31

You need to get the units at trade -
dont bother with retail!

Original poster
mrsbleasdale · 07/09/2011 19:52

That was on a trade account. Do they vary thier trade discount? Has dad got a rubbish discount? He;s not in this area, but still has a trade account in another region.

I was really hoping they'd come in a lot lower than all my other quotes so was stunned to see it was the highest!

Looking at £12k without fitting, worktop, lights, flooring etc.

Even their laminate floor quote was £1000 for just the materials, I have been quoted £900 for Amtico fitted by a local flooring company!!!

OP posts:
caughtintheact · 07/09/2011 21:56

hmmm
I haven't used Howdens but I suspect, as you do, they might have different levels of trade discount. They seem to be pricing on the assumption that you will come back and want some off.
My mum has used them once and the designer showed her how he could shave loads off the quote by removing unecessary endpanels etc, she came away thinking she had got a good deal but perhaps they do this deliberately?
For what its worth, I have just had my kitchen done and the labour was £1800 for a straightforward fit with no building work (in a new extension). It took 2 guys 10 days but they were not flat out and were not both there all the time. It was a local independant kitchen fitter, I am in the NW.

YouCantTeuchThis · 07/09/2011 22:03

you need to get someone who can get trade prices - proper joiner or builder who has bought from them before. They are definitely on a par with with 'retail' stores for price but with better quality kitchens IME And that kitchen is nice, but their stornoway one is similar and cheaper (I think!).

YouCantTeuchThis · 07/09/2011 22:04

Caughtintheact...10 days to fit a kitchen???

YouCantTeuchThis · 07/09/2011 22:06

When our quote came through, the discounts on each item varied from 60% on appliances to 90% on cabinets. Mostly it way 75% discount. I mean their retail price for the pull-out larder fitting was something like £900, but came out at £210 on the quote!!

Original poster
mrsbleasdale · 08/09/2011 07:26

Thanks all. I'm yet to meet a fitter they recommended, so will see what sort of price he can g et to. I may go back and look at other doors, see if i can get the same look but a more reasonable price range, I don't think those doors i chose are solid wood.

Caughtintheact ... we're in the NW - I think £1800 for 2 guys over 2 weeks is ok? Although not if they were doing half days Smile

Definitely think Wickes and the others can stick thier £3k fitting quotes! Independent co only priced £600 for walls, ceiling and lights...so £2400 for sticking the kitchen in seems excessive.

No wonder we left this room until last in the house....it's giving me a headache just planning!!!!

OP posts:
Paschaelina · 08/09/2011 07:40

Ok we have a howdens kitchen, my husband has a trade account. They came out pricey for us too so we went to benchmarx who he also has an account with, priced for a similar kitchen, they came out 2 grand cheaper, took that back to howdens and informed them they could match it - and they did!

Maybe because DH knows them quite well but he didn't take the first answer and pushed for what he knew was achieveable.

Sometime you have to be a bastard to get the right price.

Original poster
mrsbleasdale · 08/09/2011 13:11

Why can there not juts be a 'price' instead of these stupid so called sales, discounts etc. It's a nightmare, might head off to more independents who give you a more honest price (or so it appears anyway). 90% discounts are just ridiculous!

OP posts:
Labradorlover · 08/09/2011 13:28

Are Howdens and Benchmarx similar in quality and price?

Paschaelina · 08/09/2011 16:07

Howdens are better quality I think, mainly because it's fully assembled not flatpack.

said · 08/09/2011 17:42

Completely agree about what a complete PITA it is messing about with prices and "discounts". Just give me a fucking price? Howdens "discount" was 71% and googling this seems a very common figure for such an odd random figure. A 1000 cm 3 drawer base unit, after "discount" was £491.55 plus VAT! You have to be kdding me? We just used some of their ideas and got it from IKEA. Buying kitchens is a very tedious experience.

PinkOlives · 09/09/2011 10:16

Benchmarx are good quality and Not flat packed, they are fully assembled (mine has just come through the door as we speak). I much preferred their designs to howdens and they supply cheaper wickes kitchens.
Not sure if it's comparable but a 900 3 drawer base unit of one of their expensive ranges was £260 approx plus vat. Ikea is straightforward if you want straight prices. I didn't like anything is howdens and was put off by their trade faffing about. Very happy with benchmark service. They have many timber kitchens above the wickes range

Original poster
mrsbleasdale · 09/09/2011 11:24

Please stop telling me how good benchmarx is 2hours away Sad

OP posts:
Labradorlover · 09/09/2011 11:35

So do you not get the trade price faffing with Benchmarx?

Labradorlover · 09/09/2011 11:38

PS I have a Howdens and Benchmarx about 10 mins away from my house.
Sorry mrsbleasdale

PinkOlives · 09/09/2011 12:28

Me too! Sorry mrsbleasdale.
Mostly you need a account I tried two branches and one didn't let me buy and the other which is a showroom only was happy to sell. I didn't have any faffing they do have a strict pricing system so the sales guy can't fiddle with it anyway. Wth two branches I got the same quote.

Order a catalogue from their website if you like what you see then it's worth the two hours for you go in get a quote and have a plan drawn up, it's worth calling first to make sure they are happy for you to come in (there are a few who are strict about trade only) then order and they have next day delivery. Or get a quote and then have time to mull over then order on the phone. I suppose it would be a 4 hour round trip though depends on how passionate you are Grin
Although I think prices have gone up so I would get a wicks quote keep it in your head so you can compare.

Original poster
mrsbleasdale · 09/09/2011 12:52

I'm off to other showrooms i think...these big chains are annoying me Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
mrsbleasdale · 09/09/2011 12:56

Ha ha ....Howdens have just emailed me, saying they'll send prices for other ranges of kitchens they do...and the October Sale Price list Grin

All because I said they'd been the most expensive quote we'd received....

OP posts:
Original poster
mrsbleasdale · 09/09/2011 13:00

I've just looked at the estimate and was quoted £613 plus VAT for a 1000 3 drawer base unit Shock after a 75% discount!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OP posts:
PinkOlives · 09/09/2011 22:50

Is it timber? Apparently local small kichen companies are very good value and good service, don't discount them you never know you may be pleasantly surprised.

TheTamingOfTheShrew · 10/09/2011 00:35

Our Howden's kitchen was flat packed. Praps it was the cheaper version.

workshy · 10/09/2011 22:35

hi

the haworth is one of their premimum kitchens and is venered in the centre panel, not a solid wood door
most fitters will charge you less to fit a preassembled kitchen as the fidly bit is putting together flatpack, downsides are you have to store a full kitchen between delivery and fitting, and if any of the units need adjusting to fit then the first thing the fitter will have to do is dismantle it!

you will pay more for fitting from the big companies, B&Q, Homebase, Wickes etc because they subcontract to fitters so you are not paying the fitter directly, and also they offer a project managed service with guarantees and insurance (most offer 3 year workmanship guarantee). Plus if something is damaged etc during fit, a fitter working for the company will be able to get a replacement part much quicker than an independant will -ther are big benefits to paying the extra to fit the kitchen -usual fit time is 3-5 days

never go with someone who charges by the day -they should charge for the job
always use someone who is willing to give you the name of at least 2 people they have worked for, and go and visit those jobs

all companies will tell you that their kitchen is the best but.....

Ikea don't have service gaps at the back of their units so it there any pipes etc to go along the back then holes have to be cut into the unit
B&Q It range don't have full depth shelves so you lose storage
B&Q Cooke & Lewis have patterned insides of the cracass and this wears off with use
Homebase charge extra for soft close
Howdens cannot be adjusted if your walls aren't square

etc etc

but actually these differences are minimal so my advice is pick a design you like and take notice of the service you recieve instore -good service instore means you are likely to get good aftersales, and don't be pushed by a sales person telling you the offer ends in ten minutes etc etc -they will ALWAYS extend the price to close the sale

hope I haven't put you off totally lol