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Property/DIY

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Howdens ignoring me...?!

11 replies

ClaireP20 · 27/11/2020 07:41

Hello, we live in a 2 bedroom terrace, and had Howdens round 5 weeks ago for a socially distanced measure up, builder gets very good trade. There were no design appointments face to face at our branch due to lockdown. The lady mocked up our kitchen but it wasn't really what we had asked for and we wanted a few tweaks. Anyway, design appointments can now be carried out in my local branch. So I rang to say could I come in and finalise the kitchen before ordering. She said yes but didn't call me back. I rang again, didn't reply to my message, I emailed, no reply, two more messages left for her (she is the manager, so always busy). Anyway I was patient and always polite in my messages. So I eventually rang another branch and asked to go in for a design appointment - they said that because she had already made me a plan, I couldn't use any other Howdens branch. So now I seem to be stuck! I know we're in lockdown but it's been 5 weeks since they measured up. I was all excited about a new kitchen but now it's all a bit shit.

Am I being paranoid...or have I been blacklisted from Howdens?? Is this fairly standard stuff from them? Xx

OP posts:
Loofah01 · 27/11/2020 08:58

Well how very dare they... If they don;t want your business then about a hundred other places will so move along to magnet, DIY Kitchens etc and get a new plan going

AndIquote · 27/11/2020 09:04

Is it because they only deal with builders and not general public? Me and my work colleague have both tried to purchase kitchens from them and they didn't want to know, they told her she must go through her builder. Can you ask him to submit the changes?

AndIquote · 27/11/2020 09:10

She's probably got the comission now so isn't bothered about continuing and that's why another branch can't step in. Maybe a letter to head office to escalate and in the mean time start looking at other suppliers.

Frollocks · 27/11/2020 09:12

We had local Howdens design our kitchen, employed a builder, discussed changes, he went to his preferred branch and got the job done.
Caused minor ruction with original branch, assume they lost commission, but all good in the end.

gamerchick · 27/11/2020 09:16

@AndIquote

She's probably got the comission now so isn't bothered about continuing and that's why another branch can't step in. Maybe a letter to head office to escalate and in the mean time start looking at other suppliers.
That's not how it works.

Why are you dealing with the manager? It's a designer you should be having conversations with. It's them who gets the sale for their figures.

Ring back, tell her you want to be put through to the designer.

ClaireP20 · 27/11/2020 09:46

Thank you all for replying - much appreciated!! Yes I will phone again today and ask to speak to the design team (the reason I am dealing with the manager is because she deals with my builder alot - be said to deal with her). If I get no joy from the Design team, I'll go to Wren I think x

OP posts:
gamerchick · 27/11/2020 09:50

Yeah there will be a reason for that and it won't be in your favour. The price you pay will be set by your builder, not by howdens. He must be getting good deals if he's in cahoots with the manager.

Murmurur · 27/11/2020 10:08

What does your builder say? You might do better going through them.

It won't be anything about you. Maybe your builder owes them money - wild stab in the dark.

MaMaD1990 · 27/11/2020 10:41

Just to say twitter is a useful tool for scenarios like this...drop them a little tweet about it and you bet, you'll be sorted within the hour.

ClaireP20 · 27/11/2020 13:34

Thanks to everyone for your advice - the designer is coming to me tomorrow! So thank you all x

OP posts:
Smallgoon · 27/11/2020 19:32

Go elsewhere. They were practically biting my hands off for my business (this was during the first lockdown too) so it's odd that they haven't contacted you back.

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