Wickes, Howdens, Magnet? Are these kitchens rubbish?

[2019change]

We need to buy a new kitchen for a small flat. Been to all the usual suspects but kitchen fitter is now saying Wickes carcasses are rubbish and that we must go to Magnet or Howdens. I am looking for opinions on this because each of these companies told us the carcasses come from the same place and it is only the doors which are different. I have an all in price so do you think the kitchen fitter is pointing us in the direction of Howdens because he gets the best discount there or are they really better? Are Wickes kitchens rubbish? Thank you.

We have a wickes kitchen and I'm pleased with the quality. Our builder recommended Howdens but we didn't like anything there. He said that wickes carcass' are better than Howdens- so who knows!

I work at wickes in the kitchen department, I can honestly say wickes are the better kitchen, they come flat packed with is much better then a built up carcass jumping down the motorway dismantling.
Howdens are a trade outlet, your fitter will ask you to go to howdens as it's cheaper for them.
With wickes you get a lift time guarantee with the carcasses 10 years on fascias etc.
Hope this helps 😅

Personal experience....we have literally had a new Wickes Kitchen and Bathroom installed within the last 6 weeks. AVOID. They are not terrible, as in the worst in the world but niggly problems. Broken white goods, and a nightmare to get them replaced. Parts missing from the order. Delivering 30 boxes of tiles and 2 of them are smashed to pieces (obvious to the delivery crew who still left them without saying anything) Silly things tbh but from what our fitter said i would try howdens and avoid wickes.

Also, at our local store 2 of the kitchen / bathroom designers left to go and work for howdens as they were fed up of the problems customers were having. Our fitter was friends with one of the designers from years back and told me all the horror stories. Im not anti-Wickes but i would not buy a kitchen or bathroom from them again any time soon. Everyone has different experiences though.

Our b&q kitchen is coming up to 5years old and still good as new. I would avoid wren kitchens just for being completely overpriced.
No help with the other companies.

Try IKEA. Straightforward pricing and 25 year guarantee. They also have a comprehensive fitting service.

Can’t comment on wickes kitchens but had a bathroom from them installed in feb. Amazing service, the push down plug stopped catching and a replacement sent out straight away. We have fitted bathroom furniture also and so far so good. Avoid wren. Biggest pile of rubbish ever.

We have a Wickes kitchen 2 years old. I'm pleased with the quality of the carcasses (fitter said they're sane as John Lewis), but they did fuck up on delivery (delivered the wrong things twice) and haven't tiled brilliantly, but I guess that was down to the fitter rather than the company.