expensive Howdens Quote

[cansu]

I have recently had a quote from Howdens to re-do my small kitchen in Fairford with a laminate worktop and no appliances for 6 thousand. This includes:
a larder cupboard, a drawer stack, a double wall cupboard, a single cupboard, a plate rack, a corner cupboard with carousel thingy, an under sink cupboard, a drawer under the fitted oven and one pull out thingy half cupboard. I was going for laminate worktop and was sourcing my own appliances.

Am I unreasonable or are they taking the piss?

Should also say this does not include fitting which would be another couple of thousand on top.

Try Benchmarx instead.
Although for what you are getting it doesn’t sound too bad.

Absolute frigging rip off

I've had a Howdens kitchen; they're decent enough but the total absence of transparent pricing gives me the rage

Did you get that quote via your fitter? I reckon for what you've listed it should be coming in at between £2-3k

Bloody crooks

I was expecting it to be about 3.5 plus fitting. Yes, it came via the fitter. I will be getting some more quotes from different places.

Weve had 2 howdens kitchens. All i woild say is bargain HARD. never ever accept their first offer. My DH is a master at it and has no shame in bartering hatd but they alwaya give in. Particularly at month end or quieter months.

I cant stand their pricing and the way its all hush hush but have loved the 2 kitchens weve had from them.

I would go back to them and try and get money off. I got the Fairford from them recently and the first quote was £5800 and I ended up getting if for £3200. I was very proud of my bargaining :) Go back and say your maximum price and see what they say.

I agree with littlepooch about the month end thing. The deal I struck with them was based on me taking delivery by month end. They were more prepared to bargain the more time ticked on.

Go to the diy-kitchens website and put the same units to into the basket. Would be interested to know the comparison.

Go to the diy-kitchens website and put the same units to into the basket. Would be interested to know the comparison

I did that and surprisingly DIY kitchens were more expensive. They were very helpful though and I e-mailed my plan to them and they did a quote so the OP could do that.

EmmaC78 Is the price you renegotiated for a similar amount of units? That is a massive reduction and shows that the pricing is bloody bonkers! I am very pissed off as I am very short of energy for shopping around and now it seems I am going to have to. I did ask for price of kitchen to come to me as well as fitter and was ignored. Quote just has cost of labour and basic description of kitchen and has no breakdown of cost of actual units, worktop, sink etc.

I have asked again for full quote with breakdown from Howdens. When I get it I will try putting it into DIY kitchens and get a comparison.

Yes, same amount of units. I changed a few minor things like changed a glass door to a normal unit door and bits and pieces like that but it was mostly the same. I bought worktops and appliances separately but it included the rest.

They are massively taking the piss
Contact an independent carpenter/joiner
Ask them to come over, show them the quote from Howdens
Ask them to source like for like materials and give you a quote for that plus labour
Ask them to do the labour for cash

You will find it likely half the price or better!!!!!

Wildlingofthewest four thousand would be much more palatable. I will get on the phone next week and get some quotes. I just can't get my head round why they would be so blatantly piss taking though!

Get another quote from somewhere else eg magnet trade, they will price match generally. Go back and forward a fair few times. I was proudest of my tap, Howdens wanted £250, I pointed out magnet had similar on offer for £50 and they matched it

A friend of ours a small builder, loves to get the quotes, he then gets bigger discounts for himself. We got a quote as landlords which was fine, he asked us to let him order it for this reason.

They take the piss simply because they can

They bank on people not knowing the real value of the product and they over inflate the cost of labour- it’s how they make money. Same as B&Q, Homebase and all the major kitchen/bathroom fitters

Go and speak to a few independents - get a few quotes and a feel for the person.

I’m saying this as the wife of a chippy 😊

Don't fitters just shove on a few extra grand for themselves above cost?

I got over £1000 off a Howdens kitchen by going back after pricing it elsewhere using their plans.

I paid 8k for a large kitchen with island and a utility room. Kitchen in fairford navy and utility in Greenwich. Utility with wooden worktops and the kitchen I sourced quartz elsewhere. Also included dishwasher and fridge freezer but not sinks or other appliances

Well, went to Benchmarx today, gave Howdens design to them and asked them what they could do to beat Howdens quote. Their price came in at 3,450 for the Turin or 4,000 for solid wood Somerset. So their more expensive option is still 2,000 cheaper. It is a no brainer really, plus Somerset one has a lovely pale green colour that I think I prefer. I am honestly shocked at the difference in price.

I am doing the same as you.
Howdens just turn me off with their pricing . I am not going to Jewson, will send me the design and as they have sale until 30 June, will see what price they come up with.

I know. I now just feel pissed off that they are trying to rip me off.