Howdens, has anyone got a howdens kitchen or experience with them?

[Lemonmelonsun]

I noticed their cabinets are a which best buy..

I have a Howdens kitchen which is just fine. Suited my budget and requirements. However, I needed some more of the widget thingys that support the glass shelves. I went to Howdens who refused to sell them to me, or even quote me a price for a packet of six. Utterly absurd.

I also asked them to quote for a very small kitchen in my daughters house. Guy came out and quoted almost 3k. I then got a quote from Magnet for pretty much the same units and it came to 1800. I accepted that quote. A week or two later the guy from Howdens rang me up to ask if I’d made a decision. I told him I’d ordered for 1800 from Magnet and he seemed quite peeved and said if I’d come back to him he would have reduced his original quote. Tough!!!

Reading this thread with interest. I hate how duplicitous it all is, one price for one person, a different price for someone else. I cannot haggle and that would put me off for a start. Are DIY kitchens more up front? Their product looks good.

My fitter said they give bigger discounts to those fitters that have worked with them a lot, which kind of makes sense, but I really think the base prices should be transparent.

It's like a pyramid selling scheme.

I've saved hard to buy a kitchen and I don't have money to waste. the fact that they apply different prices to their goods depending on a system only they know about appals me.

I just want to see something and know how much it costs, then buy it. If they are giving bigger discounts to people who bring them trade then they are paying people to promote them, unconscious bias.

So if it goes wrong who's responsible ? The gutter you bought it off or the branch it came from? I don't trust that it's not dodgy. Just a way for traders to make even more off us.

We got our kitchen from howden and still looks great 12 yrs later

@cestunestilo

So if it goes wrong who's responsible ? The gutter you bought it off or the branch it came from? I don't trust that it's not dodgy. Just a way for traders to make even more off us.

Like many similar things, it would depend whether the fault was with the product or the fitting of it.

The pricing and most specifically the "discounts" are ridiculous. We got our dishwasher from them, apparently costing £9. It's actually fine, has lasted us since 2017 anyway. I remember trying to get the oven we wanted through them. Online retail stores were selling it for £900 approx. They wanted more than that but said it was at a 65% discount, suggesting (stupidly) that tradesmen would pay more than an ordinary consumer. Totally bonkers.

@lumpySpacedPrincess we have ordered both our kitchen and utility room from DIY kitchens and have found them both helpful with the planning/ordering and transparent on prices. They aren't delivering until mid September so can't comment further but very positive so far.

[quote MissFritton65]@lumpySpacedPrincess we have ordered both our kitchen and utility room from DIY kitchens and have found them both helpful with the planning/ordering and transparent on prices. They aren't delivering until mid September so can't comment further but very positive so far.[/quote]
Sounds positive, if you get the time could you update when you receive it?

Which one did you go for? Their products look good. I'm leaning towards a sage colour.

@LumpySpacedPrincess we have ordered Luca in Cornflower blue for the kitchen island and a bespoke navy for the main kitchen plus Cornflower blue for the utility. We are buying the worktops separately; oak for the main kitchen and navy quartz for the island as it will be housing the sink and sunken wine chiller.

Beautiful colour choice.

we have a navy living room and I find the colour so soothing. The cornflower blue is fab!

@LumpySpacedPrincess thank you! I love navy; we have ordered a large navy velvet sofa for the kitchen plus navy velvet bar stools for the island. My lovely husband sourced the navy quartz.

It's soothing and serene

@LumpySpacedPrincess

Reading this thread with interest. I hate how duplicitous it all is, one price for one person, a different price for someone else. I cannot haggle and that would put me off for a start. Are DIY kitchens more up front? Their product looks good.

DIY are upfront with pricing. Our builder wanted us to go with Howdens butDIY is a superior product and a better price. Units arrive fully assembled. We have the Helmsley in Hague Blue ( F&B match) and white quartz worktops with a grey vein. We got the worktops from a local supplier. Built in microwave, wine fridge and dishwasher are from DIY, other appliances sourced online. Our fridge and freezer were bargains as the doors were scratched; they are built in so doors are hidden anyway.

We’ve recently had a diy kitchens kitchen installed. I’m so thrilled with it. The price, the delivery, the quality is all brilliant. Would use again without hesitation. Howdens were the most expensive of all the quotes we had.

• lumpy

B and q have a price label on everything so you can immediately see where you stand.
Stear clear of howdens if you want price transparency.. DIY kitchen also give excellent idea of what the kitchen is like worth

My friend just got a Howdens and they price matched her appliances. She wanted a Emile fridge and found it £500 cheaper elsewhere so they reduced their price. I think you have to do your research and be firm.
I also broke a tap a couple years after they supplied it and it was no issue going back and buying a replacement. Maybe it was the branch I used? I don’t know.

I’ve had a Howdens kitchen and was really pleased with it. I originally was going to go with B&Q and I sat through a consultation with them but found them very expensive. So I kept the plan they gave me and found a local builder who used Howdens. I copied the plan and added a few tweaks. I then moved house and the kitchen sold the house.