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Original poster

Worth trying to get Howdens to price match or just crack on with DIY Kitchens?

63 replies

Eastie77Returns · 09/04/2022 14:53

Our Howdens quote for a Chilcomb, excluding appliances & worktops, is just over £7k.

Like for like DIY Kitchen quote comes to £3.5k, subject to changes but DP (former kitchen fitter) built the plan with their online tool and it looks solid. He is done with Howdens, thinks our designer is incompetent and generally thinks DIY is better quality.

Personally I think quality is probably the same but obviously it makes sense to go with DIY based on price and I really like the Norton range we’ve selected.

Our Howdens rep initially said they do not price match DIY kitchens because the latter is always cheaper as they have fewer overheads. He also send Howdens have unique features such as soft closing cabinets hence the higher priceHmm

My only issue with DIY Kitchens is I want to see the models in person and it’s a 3.5hour trip to their showroom. We have friends in Leeds so can make a weekend of it but I’m a bit nervous about the returns process if any of the pieces arrive damaged etc. Our Howdens designer has now said if we send him the DIY quote he will speak to his manager and “see what he can do” but he is pretty slow at replying.

Has anyone successfully price matched Howdens with DIY Kitchens? I’m not sure if it’s worth going through it all (I can’t see them going down to £3.5) and as we are short of time DP wants us to order the DIY range today!

OP posts:
JosephineDeBeauharnais · 09/04/2022 14:55

We did. No arguing, we took the DIY quote to Howdens and they matched without quibble.

HerLadySheep · 09/04/2022 15:02

DIY Kitchens have soft closing units too 😆
We have a DIY Kitchen and I would use them again and recommend them.
We didn't visit the showroom but we did order door samples which I found helpful.
That's a big price difference!

Original poster
Eastie77Returns · 09/04/2022 15:03

Thank you. I couldn’t understand our rep insisting they never match DIY as I was sure I read on here they do (couldn’t find the thread). He said they only match Wren and Magnet.

OP posts:
fakelondoner · 09/04/2022 15:19

We were due to order our Howdens kitchen in a few weeks, and found out yesterday that their prices are going up after Easter up to 10%. I promptly got a quote from DIY which is about £3k cheaper for a superior product. Now just have to convince my builder….

Original poster
Eastie77Returns · 09/04/2022 15:38

Yes our builder is a ‘Howdens fitter’ and we’ve allegedly got a discount via his trade account (which makes the quote even more outrageous!). I’m hoping he’s amenable to working with DIY. There is surely very little difference when it comes fitting these two brands.

OP posts:
CakeIsMyFavouriteAndBest · 09/04/2022 15:46

We have a diy kitchens kitchen and it is definitely better quality than Howdens. My husband fitted ours (competent diyer not in the trade) and had previously had to help a friend replace howdens panels which were terrible quality.
We had a scratched glass door from diy and had no trouble getting it replaced. I planned the kitchen myself on squared paper and we had no issues with it. Did visit the showroom when on holiday and they have samples of all their competitors cupboards to conpare quality.
Have a utility we fitted 6 years ago and kitchen fitted 4 years ago and love them both, no problems with them at all. Would definitely recommend.

NotMeNoNo · 09/04/2022 16:10

You are better off with DIY kitchens, much better quality than Howdens.

AnnaMagnani · 09/04/2022 16:21

I have a DIY Kitchen and it has soft closing units.

I ended up missing a couple of items, my mistake, and reordering is very easy. Nothing was damaged.

It is worth seeing the showroom, I planned a whole holiday in Leeds around it, but I'd warn you I went in wanting one kitchen and came out ordering a more expensive one.

Houseplantmad · 09/04/2022 16:34

Definitely DIY. They do have soft closing doors! I love my kitchen from them whereas our previous Howdens kitchen was rubbish.

We drove up and back in a day from London. Perfectly doable and was invaluable in terms of their input.

Tutt · 09/04/2022 16:46

DIY kitchens as all the above have stated is so much better quality than Howdens,I wouldn't touch a Howdens kitchen.

Tonsiltrouble · 09/04/2022 16:49

DIY all the way. For reasons I can’t be bothered to go into (but are my fault entirely) we have one Howdens carcass in a DIY kitchen and it is much poorer quality. I really regret making that call, but was desperate to get the kitchen finished and not wait for a DIY replacement.

Howdens pricing is shambolic, I had quotes from 3 different branches with an identical order that varied massively.

tryingtocatchthewind · 09/04/2022 17:53

I bought my kitchen 6 weeks ago and was pretty much the same pricing as yours. I managed to get them to knock the chilcomb quote down to £5,500 from £7k but that was still £2k more than the Norton and this was without any corner features or internal drawers in the larder unit. I made the 2 and a half hour trip to DIY and it is definitely worth it, especially to see the colours in real life and see the different cabinet insides.
My fitter has just about finished the kitchen and has stroked it more than once commenting on how good it is and how easy it is to fit

RampantIvy · 09/04/2022 17:58

We ave just had a new kitchen fitted (not Howdens or DIY) and our fitter really rated Howdens, not just for quality, but for service. Which? have recently reviewed kitchen brands and rate both Howdens and DIY kitchens as best buys, so take your pick.

Tonsiltrouble · 09/04/2022 18:03

@RampantIvy most fitters rate Howdens because their opaque pricing model means tradesmen often get a cut of the price. Which is fine. It’s fairly standard for trades to add a margin to pretty much everything they supply, but it does mean that their assertion that Howdens is better is not necessarily to be taken at face value

ClaryFairchild · 09/04/2022 18:05

Howdens will provide your kitchen fitter with a range of quotes so that he doesn't need to disclose to you what HE is being charged, very dishonest practice.

Isseywith3witchycats · 09/04/2022 18:07

we also went for DIY kitchen my fitter who fits Howdens kitchens as they are popular where we live said ours were superior to Howdens and hes going to recommend them to future clients, we live near to the showroom so went down twice first time to look at the kitchens as they have mini kitchens set up, went home finalised the plan we wanted and second time went through the order to make sure we hadnt forgotten anything the staff are really good delivery we paid extra to reserve a specific day for delivery and it all came on the day we picked all wrapped up well and no damage and Diy units come ready assembled much easier to put in situ 2 years later my kitchen still looks as good as the day it was put in

ginislife · 09/04/2022 18:12

Howdens wanted £12k for the kitchen design - and didn't have any colours I liked. DIY kitchens (with soft close drawers) was £5.5k - and the colour I wanted ! Fitter replanned it's using the best of Magnet & Howdens plans and said DIY was brilliant. I ordered door samples - which you can return for refund. Nothing missing. All came on time. I'd highly recommend.

LaLaFlottes · 09/04/2022 22:08

We are considering DIY Kitchens but I’m worried about doing the plans ourselves! How easy is it please?

EisforEmergency · 09/04/2022 22:14

@LaLaFlottes it’s dead easy. We did it. I actually made the 8 hr round trip to the show room as I wanted to see the product. Easy to design, easy to order and the fitter also said very high quality .

Original poster
Eastie77Returns · 09/04/2022 22:14

Thank you for all the comments. It sounds as if DP is right (which is annoying!) and I think we will go with DIY Kitchens. I can’t ignore the massive price difference and Howdens shady pricing strategy just seems bonkers. Different quotes for the same kitchen depending on the branch you visit?!

We will be travelling up North next week to visit DIY’s showroom. I’m looking forward to actually seeing kitchens as our local Howdens had limited stock to view and lots of restrictions. When I asked to view their larder I was told they no longer have them on display anywhere in the U.K.Confused

OP posts:
Popsicle30 · 09/04/2022 22:26

We went with DIY kitchens. Howdens was £4K more expensive like for like. I mentioned this to Howdens and explained we were still undecided where to go. Gave them the option to come back and I got no comment back so went with DIY kitchens.

@LaLaFlottes once you have the room measurements all planned out it is really easy to use, also quite fun. I got my joiner to have a look over it and DIY kitchens also do a sense check and are available if you have any questions. I also asked a number of questions when we went to see the showroom.

Interestingly, the Howdens planner told me it was fine to box in my American fridge freezer with one side next to a wall, even though I’d queried about the door angle twice. DIY kitchens and another kitchen fitter said we’d never get the drawers open…which was right! I’d have been so annoyed if we’d gone with their plan and I couldn’t use the freezer correctly.

LaLaFlottes · 09/04/2022 22:57

@EisforEmergency. @Popsicle30 thank you! I will have a look tomorrow as the feedback seems fantastic!

Tonsiltrouble · 10/04/2022 06:18

Just to say, we didn’t visit the DIY showroom as we are at the other end of the country, but we were still very happy. I did know someone else who had used them though so had a good idea of the quality.

It’s worth knowing that DIY is the customer facing arm of a company called Ultima. It’s possible to go to an independent kitchen retailer and buy the exact same Ultima kitchen at a markup. It’s an excellent product at an excellent price point.

Wallywobbles · 10/04/2022 06:25

We flew over from France to go to DIY kitchens and had ours shipped. I'm so glad we did.

I had a plan done by a fantastic exMNer. Look on piniterst for OnePlan She's really excellent. She does a plan based on whatever kitchen supplier you want and does you a parts list.

Our surfaces came from a local firm. No regrets.

Wallywobbles · 10/04/2022 06:27

Oh and my handles are not from DIY someone on here also gave me a lead for them.