New house - I need everything (recommendations please)

[BookWitch]

I'm moving back to the UK after 15 years overseas.
I am beyond excited, our house purchase is heading to exchange and should complete early July.

I am sending a shipment (sofas, garden furniture, bookshelves, crockery linens, mattresses etc) , but I need new appliances and beds.

I have a reasonable budget, but obviously looking for good value.

Having been out of the UK a while, my instinct is to head straight for Currys/Argos, but are there any online retailers that offer really great customer service. I'll be so busy when I get back I really don't want to end up with a drama with a washing machine.

Any experience with Appliances Direct? BedStore UK?
Budget doesn't quite stretch to getting everything at John Lewis!

ao.com

I'll second Appliances Online - they've been great.

Thanks!

Also don't rule out JL. I got far better prices there than anywhere else - over £300 cheaper for the 4 appliances I wanted combined than anywhere else including ao.

A few years ago I'd say John Lewis, but their deliver service has now been out-sourced, and is no different than any other Dump & Run company.
Before you buy anything, do you have the dimensions of the spaces that the appliances will be placed?

Shop around - find the brands and models you want and take it from there. I've had great deals from Boots Appliances (yes, that Boots - plus you get the Advantage Card points), Co-op Electricals and independent retailers with an online presence.

JL well worth a look - we got a great bed for a spare room from them and a more expensive mattress for our room.

The two things I’d take to my desert island are my boiling water tap (mines a quooker) and my Fischer and paykel double drawer dishwasher.

I just bought my dad a telly from John Lewis that was cheaper than the same one at argos. Paid extra for it to be unboxed, set up/tuned in and the packaging taken away. My dad was over the moon with the service they were brilliant, and kind.

Remember John Lewis also do a price match, so even if something is more expensive with them they will match it for you.

www.johnlewis.com/customer-services/prices-and-payment/never-knowingly-undersold

Do you have children and need beds? I recently bought a bed at JL for £60 - which says it is a children's single bed but I have slept on it and it is just a regular single bed. It's great quality for the price. It is teenager DD's bed.

I also just bought a new fridge freezer and got it from Co-op. Their price was the best for this fridge. Delivery was swift and friendly.

John Lewis will not compare prices with on line only companies. Only ones with shops. So be careful about that. They can be quite good on prices but we have found others better and staff just as helpful.

I’d say try local if you can
My husband and I recently bought a dishwasher and we found one that was perfect for us. We have a small independent electrical appliance store in our town and not only did they pricematch (to an online store that isn’t a big ‘known’ store) they also installed it and removed the existing one for £30. Currys were wanting £90ish for fitting and about £25 to remove it. The guy who fitted it also kindly fixed our washing machine cabinet door 😁

Shop around for the appliances you want. Find the best price for each one and note the website (even if the website looks dodgy). Then PHONE ao.com they'll price match everything but you get it in one handy delivery from a reliable site. They'll try go upsell you on insurance- just say no!!

AO and mason du monte and cox and cox for smaller pretty things.
Welcome back !

I’d avoid AO.com, terrible experiences with them about 3 years ago on a couple of occasions. More with their delivery and fitters. First time there was a part missing and the washing machine guy suggested he’d leave the machine and I get the part myself and fit it, I said no. They were supposed to come back and when they did didn’t have my machine in their van. Two wasted days off work. A friend has had similar problem with fitters for her machine. Just be wary if you use them.
John Lewis has a good range and extended warranties.

I use ao.com for my BTL when an appliance breaks.
They have always been great-I’ve paid for installation and removal of old. Much more convenient for me and tenant. Always been reluable.
I’d use them ourselves but so far not needed to.

I had a new DW last week and they disconnected the old one and took it away and installed the new one. All very easy and the two guys were tidy and polite etc . I'd recommend them too.

I've bought fridge, microwave and cooker all from Appliances Direct at different times. I've found they are generally cheaper than getting the equivalent products elsewhere.

purple I'm intrigued that your dishdrawer is a desert island appliance! We inherited one and are so far not keen... Doesn't clean well, don't find it especially useful space wise etc. Where are we going wrong?

We used AO mostly for the convenience of next day delivery.

Bought three white goods from them in past two years and all been good experiences.

John Lewis price match is only for other places with physical shops, so they won't match prices of online only websites.

TescoDirect is closing down on 9th July and some things have big discounts but is selling fast.

Not immensely helpful but I would avoid Curry’s like the plague!