Kitchen for extension

[NurseLally]

Coming towards the final stages of an extension and thought we had our kitchen sorted and ordered with Howdens.

They quoted, said it was ordered and this week have emailed to say they will have to adjust the price as a discount applied can no longer be honoured.

Feeling rather frustrated and annoyed at this as services have been put in based on this design (concrete floor).. and was expecting its delivery in the next week. Can they really change the price now? If they do I really do not wish to proceed with the company on principle. Seems like poor business practice!

stressed out now looking for alternatives!

Can't you just design an IKEA or similar kitchen to match the Howdens layout?

It depends on what their terms and conditions said when the order was placed.

There’s probably some small print that allows them to adjust the price if eg their costs go up by more than a certain amount in the time between ordering and delivery.

Have they said why the discount can’t be honoured?

That sounds very unreasonable of them and I can understand how annoyed you must be. I thought once an order was placed then that was the contracted price. However I know that Howdens discount based on how much business a particular fitter/builder puts through them so is it because of something to do with that?

From an "easy for you to say" perspective is it worth taking a deep breath and sucking it up for the sakes of not having months worth more disruption? Is it a kitchen you're really happy with/excited about? I do 100% sympathise but I wonder whether you'd even be able to cancel now without paying a penalty?

They are supposed to have a sale around now….

If you do want to change provider, DIY Kitchens have a 2-3 week lead in time and have just extended their summer sale (10% off units).

Did you order direct with Howdens? If yes, does your builder have an account? If so, can you get your builder to quote on his account? Might be able to access discount that way and howdens less likely to want to upset a regular customer than a one off customer. If not, escalate to the branch manager or find your nearest other howdens...they are often franchised and may be happy to meet the old quote

Thanks all.. went over to DIY a kitchens today, was great, helpful staff and lots of examples set out to see in the showroom.
I submitted our plan earlier in the week and got a quote back within hours, that in itself is amazing! The quality of the units appeared to be good, probably better than Howden's one I have had fitted in my rentals.
Need to finalise worktop but will order from here. Happy to feed back once it arrives and fitted..

Yay, well done OP!!

I was going to suggest DIY Kitchens - quality is supposed to be brill, and I know they can work off Howdens plans.

Would love to hear how you get on when it arrives - we're doing a kitchen refit later in the year and I'm hoping to use DIY Kitchens....

Hope it all goes well.
My DIY Kitchen was fitted about 3 years ago by a fitter who usually does Howdens stuff, he was quite dismissive at first saying "Oh Howdens does it like this" etc, but by the time he'd finished he was very complementary and said he'd be recommending them.
I sourced my worktop from Worktops Expresss or Direct.