New kitchens: how do Howdens compare with Magnet for prices? and quality?

[TuttiFrutti]

Has anyone got quotes from both? How did they compare?

I've just had a quote from Magnet, which was surprisingly competitive. Want to see Howdens as well, but my builder is on holiday for 2 weeks and Howdens will only give a price to the builder, they won't deal with me direct (although they're happy to come to the house and do a design).

Can anyone enlighten me?

your information on this page great as i am currently going through the Magnet/Howden dilema.
I'd love to know where you got your knobs from though and does any shape and size fit any kitchen unit?

I was completely disillusioned with the ktchen industry felt so alone till I got onto your blog You are just great! I felt I was with kindred spirits and when I got to the Howdens Versus Maget debate I was thrilled You people have done more for me the consumer than any "kitchen profesional " could ever do. I thank you for your natural openess and honesty _ and I will always respect you for this. Any questions you have please ask. Basically kitchens are a necesiity so that is how the salesmen make a living how these companies survive I think if you go with the biggies they have to sort it out for you in the end but at what cost to your sanity? What concerns me is how the vulnerable like the elderly get by. They must do it with the help of their local trades people as the hard sell would go right over their heads. My story is this: a kitchen salesman sold me half a kitchen and then tried to sell
me other non-kitchen items as well. I complained and the company acted with great honour ; but the guy dealing with the complaint was a well-paid managerand still told me it was a good company You do not know they are good until they do the job. The managers do not actually know what we the clients go through so that is one reason there is so much trouble; they all need training to see the pictureclearly They want you to order a kitchen the next day and hand over the money as it makes life easy for them

One point about Maget; they belong to Trustmark a governing body so they have had to pass objective tests re competency AND customer serviceBut if it is so good why are the biggies not in it? Obviously they do not need to be
Trustmark members claim to sort out your complaints so it does not end up in court which of course is very good but their members still get a good deal as they get good publicity be joining I feel a headache coming on Good night

We bought our kitchen from Magnet. Within a couple of years we had to replace the doors because the paint has cracked (shaker cream). This has been done on a number of occasions. When we had our home extended we discovered that their electrician who they supplied to do the works did not earth our kitchen (lovely combination of water and electricity!). When we challenged Magnet they were rude and dismissive. Only when we threatened to take the matter further did they agree to pay my electrician to do the work. Did we get an apology? No! Did they send anyone out to have a look at what we complained about? No! Makes one wonder if we weren't the only ones who had had a similar experience. Wouldn't touch Magnet with a barge pole.

I wouldn't touch Magnet either - we had a terrible time with our kitchen - they sent out awful fitters - kitchen was very poor quality, the whole experience is a nightmare I'd rather forget - fortunately we were moving so I didn't have to look at it for very long.

Hi tuttifrutti, just a word of warning if the quote omes back as ridiculously high, you can still try to get discount from them by haggling, if they stall at a price and wont budge, go to a different Howdens, I didnt know this until i got my kitchen done but there all in direct competition with each other, your quote from howdens seems really high though -obviously i dont know what youe ordered but to give an example, ours from howdens was just over £2100 plus the £500 fitting from the builder. for exactly the same style of kitchen, no extras at all to howdens, magnet wanted £9400.

To get it this low i had 3 different howdens stores competing, but it worked and only took a few days to get a deal i was happy with.

hi, just a little additional info re: Howdens, only quoting to trade, etc. We are currently beginning the process of selecting a new kitchen, and popped to our local Howdens today. The chap at the centre who helped us out could not have been more friendly or helpful and having been through this process with other suppliers before I am already inclined to just go with them - it's really nice to be treated well by someone interested to help answer your questions even when you are at the 'just looking stage'! Anyway, although Howdens do work directly with trade, we were offered the opportunity to set up a trade account with them, which means that we get the benefit of trade prices and they'll also provide us with prices and quotes directly. This may not be available at every Howdens, and we are in the process of doing up the whole house so it made sense to us to do this as we'll be buying flooring, doors and a host of other things as well as a kitchen, and could benefit from significant savings. It might be worth asking at your local depot, however. It costs nothing to set up an account and once it is set up you are under no obligation to use it, so can't hurt if the option is there.

I just realise how old the original posts are - you'll hopefully already have a kitchen in by now!

I have had 3 quotes for our kitchen....wickes was the highest inlc fitting then howdens not far behind WITHOUT fitting ! I was stunned. Cheapest by several thousands is a local run family firm that has been in the business for years.

I am fitting a new kitchen and would like views on Howdens. I also need to replace the gas hob, oven and extra hood. I have been looking at reviews, but its doing " my head in". Has anyone researched appliances and found good products. I prefer a double fan oven, an extractor hood thats not noisy and a 60cm gas hob that can accommodate large pots. I have looked at some multifunctional ovens as well. Not sure how good they are?