DIY Kitchens - anyone used them? Good or bad?

[Sandgroper]

Hi

We are doing large extension and need a new kitchen. So far had a few quotes from Magnet and County Kitchens, both more than DH wants to pay (typical). I really like the colour of the doors at County Kitchens (sort of mushroom).

Friend has ordered a kitchen from DIY Kitchens (yet to be delivered) after doing some research she told me it uses the same factory in Wales as County Kitchens but at a fraction of the price. Not sure if this is true, but it looks the same. Only drawback is you have to design it yourself... Oh and they seem to not have all the stock that County Kitchens does.

Wondering if anyone has used them and are they happy with the product. Did you have any problems with delivery etc? Any advice would be greatly appreciated before I go bonkers!

Thanks

Just an under counter integrated fridge in the kitchen, the fridge/freezer in the utility is just across the room though so don't think it will bother me.

I think what other people have said about struggling to keep up with demand is probably true. The units look sturdy enough but haven't actually got them installed yet because they were delivered very late and so the (very annoyed) fitter won't come back until next week.

We also had one damaged item and they have offered to replace it but didn't seem to care.

How are you all getting on with your kitchens? I'm thinking of buying one from here but your reviews of the customer service is putting me off

Ours is just about finished. No problems with delivery, other than the fact it was about 9pm! We were missing one soft close hinge which we received a day or two after I rang customer services. I rang them quite a few times for advice re what I needed to order and they were very helpful

Our joiner commented on the quality of the units and it seemed easy to fit. It looks good and was much cheaper than a similar kitchen from any of the local showrooms or Wickes, B&Q etc.

I would recommend whole heartedly. Mine is half in and I love it. The customers service has been great. I had one door where a bit of paint had been missed off, they came and fetched it and it was duly returned painted in the expected time frame.

Thank you for the recommendations, did you use the ikea online kitchen planner to plan your kitchens?

Oh don't use the Ikea planner! It's is totally crap. Go to B&Q and get a free plan. Or mark it up on graph paper.

I Planned my own, hexagonal kitchen, and got it from Howdens. I spent about £2500 on the cupboards (6 floor units, one double-oven unit) and about £5000 in total, inc oven, sink, cupboard legs (stainless steel) quartz worktop, and hob.

Only prob with Howdens is they won;t sell to public - which is daft to me; you'd think they would sell to whoever has the money...

I am absolutely flabbergasted by the incredibly bad customer service provided by this company. I was informed three weeks ago that inline-kitchens of Pontefract would be replacing a freezer in a kitchen they had put in. They were to phone me telling me when it would be done. When they hadn't phoned me after one week I went into their shop in Pontefract on Wednesday 11th November. They told me it would be delivered on Friday 13th or at the latest Monday 16th November. It didn't arrive and there was no phone call to explain when it might arrive. I rang again on Wednesday 18th November to be told that they didn't know what was happening but somebody would ring me back straight away to confirm delivery. They didn't ring back so I rang again on the Thursday and spoke to someone else who also said they didn't know what was happening and they would ring me back. When they hadn't rung me back by close of business on Thursday I sent them an e mail. This is now Tuesday 24th November and I have still received neither a phone call or a reply to my e mail. I have just got off the phone with them again and as I was explaining the sequence of events to the gentleman he continually interrupted me and told me it would be at least a further two weeks to be delivered. When I pointed out that AO will deliver the next day he muttered something about prices and then bluntly told me they didn't want the business and that thety would now not be sending a replacement freezer at all. This is a company with a complete and utter lack of concept of what customer service is and obviously they could not care less about the client they supplied with a fitted kitchen once they have been paid and their job as they see it is done. My advice would be to use a different company with a better customer service attitude. .

I am a joiner/ kitchen fitter of over 40 yrs experience and have fitted all aspects of kitchens ranging from £1000 to £40,000 and I think DIY kitchens are the best company ive used by a mile .They have there own factory next to their showroom in Pontefract. everything is quality, end panels are large enough to actually scribe to bad walls all ironmongery is quality units are solid well made etc. My own kitchen is from DIY too dont let the name DIY fool you they are more professional than any other ive used. Probably the only thing they lack is an onsite design service hence the name i guess. mick the joiner.

Absolutely delighted with my new kitchen from DIY Kitchens. Good value for money, great quality and it looks fantastic. It was easy to fit and clean and is now been up and running since the summer. I had to get another door because I wasnt sure how I got a mark on it. The customer service was second to none- thank you so much Beth. Door arrived two days later free of charge. It is the mark of a company who looks after their customers. Massive thumbs up to DIY kitchens

We bought our kitchen units from them about 4 years ago. No problem at all ordering. A couple of doors arrived chipped, which were quickly replaced without any fuss or delay. Good communication and no delivery issues.

Kitchen still going strong now, despite 2 small children. Based on our experience then I would happily buy from them again, and I have recommended them to friends.

Oops. Just spotted all the other replies bar the last two are 2015. In which case we bought around then too and the OP has probably long since bought their kitchen 🙈

DIY kitchens are they cheaper than wren, Bowden’s, Homebase, magnet, Ikea. I want The Hague blue island units and light grey and my back units. Just a rough idea will do pls. The showroom is so far away! So I’d like to know from others who have carried out extensive research. Thanks

You can check the prices online. I found them cheaper than others for the same quality but the delivery was shite and customer service didn't care.

We used DIY about 5 years ago. Imo the quality is much better than the other usual kitchen places. Our previous kitchen was from Magnet and it was ok but not as good quality and less choice of sizes.

We visited the showroom but they can post you door samples. We had no problems with the customer service, you do need to be able to plan the kitchen yourself though.

Also where did u get ur quartz worktop from I would like white? Cheapest place pls

Our kitchen showed up friday night at 9.30pm - rude delivery men and 50% of what we ordered damaged. NO after sales care (we bought due to glowing reviews everywhere online....) it takes 2-3 days to read the complaint email and a further 7-10 days for replacement bits to arrive. the company does not not ring you back with the updates as promised. Shocking service. Pay the extra dollar, go to Howdens or similar where replacements are literally next day - this hassle, upset, laying off the fitter (at our own cost) and needing to re-book (another 10/14 days without a kitchen) is just ridiculous, the cost of all the labour etc takes it up to what we've 'saved' by using them instead of a high street shop. My advise is go else where. We were duped by online glowing reports - my experience, just this week is a very different matter and I'd strongly suggest looking elsewhere.

That’s worrying NB20157. I have units ordered with them, intending to get delivery in a couple of months. Too late to back out now but I could change for an earlier delivery in case bits are missing/damaged.

Any other recent reviews ?

That does not sound good NB20157. Have you still not heard from them? I had a damaged unit and had to send it back as it was on the front, not the side and would have been very visible but I got a new unit 2 days later.

NB. It sounds really awful service but I do think that occasionally the best suppliers can let you down. We used DIY and the service was exceptional. I've known people since use them with similar excellent service. In fact the architect we used, advised some future clients about DIY and when the pictures were posted on their website generated loads of comments and they published DIY as the supplier.

I would ring and complain as my experience is that they are really bothered about getting it right

For those with a good experience, what delivery option did you choose? Am wondering if there is something related to the different packages that means a worse experience for some people. Watching this with interest as we’re going to be ordering soon.

I had the highest package..can't remember the colour but unless,you want to wait around all day and u load it yourself there isn't much choice. Just built it into the kitchen cost

We bought our kitchen from DIY kitchens over 10 years ago. It was exactly the same (oak doors) kitchen that we were quoted for at a local independent kitchen showroom but less than 1/3 the price. I found them v helpful over the phone and kitchen is still in great condition. My DH fitted and painted it with F and B paint. Although more recently I have heard good and bad reviews of them so not sure if customer service is as good as it was before.

I've just fitted a DIY kitchen in my self build.

I think it's brilliant and much better quality than some I've seen. I only live 20 minutes away from the factory and showroom so called in a couple of times before I ordered. (Free coffee/tea and home made cakes - and if people visit from a long distance they will happily pick up from the train station).
There was only one unit with a problem, I emailed customer support with pictures showing damage and they replaced in about a week.
There is an online design tool and I played around with different options for months before I was sure what I wanted. My joiner works for a landlord who swears by Howdens but he said the Howden ones aren't a patch on mine.
Strangely you can't get to the planner through the website - I guess it is hosted separately. planner.diy-kitchens.com/plan/range/ is the address for the planner.

This is my kitchen.
DIY kitchens also seem to be favourite on the self build forum I use for those buying readymade as opposed to bespoke that cost over £20 thousand

We had one fitted last year and absolutely love it. We had an issue with a couple of crucial things missing from the order, but they got one of their employees to drive them all the way to London so it didn't delay our builder! He hadn't fitted a DIY K one before and was so impressed by how well made they were that he now recommends them to everyone.