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Original poster

DIY or magnet or howdens

28 replies

Exqueezeme · 12/06/2019 18:08

I got a design and price from magnet. I had heard they were really expensive so I take my list and pop like for like into DIY. The difference was 1k. I must admit I thought it would be a lot more.
Anyone got any experience of which is the best? I liked the magnet kitchen and they have a very short wait time on ordering etc.

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Original poster
Exqueezeme · 12/06/2019 18:08

Or howdens... which I haven't priced yet.

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WBWIFE · 12/06/2019 22:58

Well depending what you want the lead time for a kitchen from DIY is end of August atm

imabusybee · 12/06/2019 23:02

We used DIY in our old house and sold it after 2 years. Absolutely no complaints in that time and many viewing the house thought the kitchen was brand new. Really recommend DIY

Pipandmum · 12/06/2019 23:05

I’ve used Howdens several times. I won’t use Magnet on principal due to horrific customer service a couple decades ago (not about a kitchen but a conservatory).

Rhica · 13/06/2019 00:41

No experience but in same position as you- surprised by quote from magnet.

Original poster
Exqueezeme · 13/06/2019 06:44

The magnet quote was 6.5k....DIY came in at 5.5k
I was just surprised. Having read lots on here I actually thought DIY would be about 3-4 ie a noticeable difference.
Didn't realise the lead times were so high for DIY. We are slightly pushed on time as the kitchen has to come out very soon due to building work but I still haven't finished a layout/feel ready to order etc

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Katyy · 13/06/2019 06:47

Watching with intetest magnet coming on Friday to give a quote on the luna units.I'm told magnet have better hinges than Howdens.

stillworkingitout · 13/06/2019 06:50

I thought I had decided on DIY for our next kitchen but at the moment it seems like a bad idea. Our neighbor has a fantastic DIY kitchen that was put in about a year ago and all went smoothly but not at the moment for some reason. I’d give Howdens a go, I think that’s where our next one will come from as BIL has a Howdens account. Price wise - does this include appliances? Because as far as I know the main price differences is in the units. Of course, the big kitchen sheds could be trying to get closer to DIY prices and most will price match or at least try

Original poster
Exqueezeme · 13/06/2019 07:22

Included like for like appliances etc

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Equimum · 13/06/2019 08:04

We had a DIY kitchen fitted about 3 years ago. It was much cheaper than the similar Howdens model (they refused to price match as it was so great) and the fitter (who had recommended Howdens) said the quality was superior. Still really happy with it, and would use again. I din’t Know much about Magnet, but I do know that our neighbour’s kitchen from there is not doing as well.

Attache · 13/06/2019 08:15

I'm surprised - ours was £4.4k on DIY and we could have got painted finish for £5.5k whereas Magnet was £7k. We did not include appliances in that - DIY appliances seem really expensive to me.

Prices of particular units seem to vary wildly between suppliers - some charge more of a premium for drawers, pull out units and tall cabinets than others.

haveuheard · 13/06/2019 16:24

What does your fitter/builder think?

I had really bad customer service from Magnet before and so didn't get them to quote this time. Howdens were OK but not really interested in getting my business - had to chase them etc and then they got various things wrong.

There are a number of companies that do the same as DIY kitchens (buy in doors, add to own carcasses and then sell but not design/fit) - if you find one locally then you can visit their showroom.

Original poster
Exqueezeme · 13/06/2019 18:02

None of the builders I spoke to had heard of diy and were very sceptical... howdens all the way for all of them. Ah.

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Allthemistakesmade · 13/06/2019 18:08

Interesting

HumptyNumptyNooNoo · 13/06/2019 18:14

Builders make a buck off Howden's that's why they recommend them

MissSmiley · 13/06/2019 19:56

I'm going with DIY after 6 friends have recently recommended them

WBWIFE · 14/06/2019 19:50

My DIY quote is 3500 for 5 x 3m kitchen and small utility for units and worktops.

I am getting appliances elsewhere as they are expensive from diy for some reason.

Original poster
Exqueezeme · 14/06/2019 20:35

Do you not have a lot of units? I wonder why mine was so expensive.

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MaureenSowerbutts · 14/06/2019 20:37

I had a howdens kitchen fitted less that a year ago. Rubbish designer that my builder had to almost row with to get us what we wanted and the quality really isn't all that.

I wouldn't use them again.

Attache · 14/06/2019 20:52

Similar size kitchen to wbwife's one here but we have quite a lot of units in the utility.

Which range of units are you going for, and are you having a lot of gizmos? In frame tend to be pricey, and it is worth looking at how much individual units cost. Eg at Wickes I saved £700 by switching from 2 x 60cm larder cupboard to 1 x 100cm double larder cupboard. I find that insane.

Maybe you have got a particularly good deal with Magnet. Their pricing is very much inflated "list prices" with the salesperson applying notional "discounts". I thought maybe the salesperson has quite a lot of flex in what discounts they apply - it all felt a bit made up to me.

Original poster
Exqueezeme · 14/06/2019 21:08

We would have...

3 wall cabinets
1 bin unit
1 sink unit
A corner cupboard
Tall larder unit
Tall fridge unit
Oven unit
2 drawer unit
Washing machine/dishwasher doors.
Plus worktops and appliances.

I don't think that sounds a lot

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Original poster
Exqueezeme · 14/06/2019 21:09

Just looking at a slab kitchen

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Limer · 14/06/2019 21:12

Try EH Smith if you're in the Midlands, they have a showroom in Solihull. Great service and prices.

Original poster
Exqueezeme · 14/06/2019 21:22

We are up north but I'll have a look

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MarieG10 · 15/06/2019 11:08

We used DIY. They were brilliant. However they therm won the Which best kitchen award and I suspect demand is through the roof. Our lead time was 4 weeks and I have since seen some concerns about quality so maybe the demand is compromising.

Our builder though has been using them ever since ours was fitted as he said the quality is brilliant so maybe the concerns on here are one offs given the volume they service