Kitchens Direct

[MrsS]

Has anyone got any experience of using this company to supply and fit thier new kitchen. I'm getting them to quote for me but I currently know very litle about them.

Haven't heard of them. But if they were County Kitchens (having changed their name) or have any link with County Kitchens, don't touch them with a bargepole!!

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MrsS - Never ever use a 'direct'company for anything this big - at least if you use Magnet, B&Q or such like you can go stage a sit in in their shop if anything goes wrong - companies like this get away with just not writing back if there is a complaint.

ALso ask around friends who live near you - see if they have any recommendations and then ask if you can view the handywork.

MIL had a quote from Kitchens direct for her tiny, and I really mean TINY, kitchen that was around £9000. The same kitchen through another company, sorry don't know which, cost her about £2500.

We've had to fit a new kitchen in both places we've lived in the last 4 years and both times have used Manorhouse kitchens which come through the Wickes DIY chain. They don't do the fitting part of it but the service and price we've paid have both times been fantastic.

Don't use Magnet - we have had a dreadful experience with the quality of the kitchen units.

The Customer Service experience has been dire as well. Once they have your money, they don't want to know if you have a problem. The branch were really unhelpful and the communication from them has been awful.

It's taken ages to get things sorted out - you could have a baby quicker than get a kitchen ordered, delivered and installed!

Oh it's so true, Mumbojumbo - from first ordering our kitchen to almost getting the problem sorted out (still have the wrong door on one unit and no bloody handle for another !) took well over a year. No customer 'service' to speak of at all. In the end I had to just drop it, I was getting so angry every time I tried to get anywhere with them. And as had a new baby to look after too ... Most of our drawers have fallen off at least once, and the 'veneer' wood effect rubbish on the doors and work surface is peeling off on quite a few units. After less than 3 years. And we thought magnet was a quality outfit. Ha ha ha. Ikea next time (or Smallbone with lottery win !)

Thanks everyone, I already have a quote from Magnet for £21,000 and think this is extortionate. My kitchen is medium sized and I want all new AEG appliances but even so £21k - no chance. I was in Wickes yesterday and some of the showroom kitchens were very nice, I may well go back there.

Kitchens Direct are due here in 5 mins so I'll let you know how we get on

my sister is an architect and for relatively low budget stuff she swears by IKEA units (carcasses) and doors, and gets them fitted by a good and reputable builder. She rarely buys the countertops from IKEA though, which she doesn't rate - she sources them from somewhere else. She reckons by doing it this way you can splash out on granite or very good quality artificial worktops because you'll save so much on the units and doors.
She's done this in my mum's kitchen and it is still going strong about 8 years later - looks great.
Worth a thought?

Just a quick update. The sales rep did not try the hard sell at all and had some good ideas. She has gone away to do some plans and then come back to me with a quote. The samples I saw were very good quality, better than Magnet and much better than the DIY chains I've seen

B&Q Warehouse sell the IT range and I have them and they are excellent, very good quality and have had no problems. My dh has fitted ours but you can get a chippie to fit them for you. I have also heard good stories about Wickes kitchens and fitting too. But....Im sure kitchens direct have been on rogue traders-have they does anyone know??

Yes fio2 I think they have but I can't rememeber when, it was quite recently though I'm sure.

We had the nightmare bloke round too! He stayed for two hours and we sat and had dinner while he rabited on! he then never sent us the plans or quote! I reckon he was hiding from someone.

MrsS - I have no experience with kitchens direct but just thought that you may want to consider getting a quote from John Lewis as a comparator. yes, I am a sad person who thinks that John Lewis = value for money AND aftercare!

We used Kitchen Direct to fit a kitchen in our old house about 6 years ago. The price aspect is a bit frustrating as they are trying to negotiate, so they start off with something unrealistic and you have to haggle down - my least favourite activity! Having said that the quality was reasonable and the installation superb - old kitchen taken out and removed, new fitted and working in 3 days. And we were pleased with the design and layout.

The main downside is trying to contact them afterwards - it was practically impossible to get in contact with the firm - it basically seemed to be just an answerphone for aftersale. We did have a problem as their design had inadequate ventilation for our boiler per British Gas, so that caused us problems. On balance I would consider using them again, but would want some more assurance re aftersales support.

They also sold us finance, and the rep made a big thing about the fact we could pay off the loan whenever we wanted to. However when I res the smallprint of the document it was not as straightforward as that, and there was in fact a penalty for early repyament. The head office told me a way round it, but just be aware that is may not be as straightforward as it sounds.

My brother and SIL have a John Lewis cherry (I think) kitchen and have been v pleased with it. We have an "antique" pine one from a local shop and that has been good too. They also supplied and fitted Siemens oven/hob/extractor, and they were v reasonable, but getting hold of them for corrections after they've been paid is next to impossible.

Just wondered if anyone has used Kitchens Direct since this thread?

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Sorry, No. Not Kitchens Direct but I saw that this was about kitchens and just wanted to say never, ever, ever go to Magnet. They are scumbags and we are still trying to sort out a kitchen installation that started last September and which amongst a catalogue of incompetencies left us with no kitchen sink for 5 weeks and a (then) 8 month old baby in the house.
Terible service and a couldn't care less attitude and our kitchen wasn't a cheap one.
Would cheerfully set my local store alight I am so sick of them....

I think it was kitchens Direct that someone once told me were a complete rip off and something about them once being on rogue traders

Anyone had a schreiber kitchen?

No but, I got quotes from all over the place in the end it was just a local company who quoted the very best price and did a wonderful job. So if you haven't already checked local places out could recommend doing that too. The shop looked posh and the people were rather post but as I said best price in the end!

Grommit I seem to remember this company 'featured' in the consumer pages of the Guardian fairly recently - should be able to search on their archive (sorry can't do web links but www.guardian.co.uk)

Kitchens Direct : another 3 hour sales visit .Pricey and the account they offer is not worth considering as there are so many 0% interest accounts available now BUT the area Manager did call a week later and asked how I had got on . he made it clear he was available for any queries at any time and if he could be of service etc Nice gesture and so they do do aftercare. The rep advised they take care of eveything for you so maybe if you need the package they will be ok.

How odd to resurrect a thread that is SEVEN YEARS old!

Kitchens Direct do not have any showrooms so apart from a brochure all you get is a Sales,sorry Design ,visiit It is basically remote selling: when they have a showroom you can pop in Also they did not really have much in the wayof accessories. The rep did bring in a cabinet to showme and yes they did look sturdy with 15 year guarantee. But if you want to discuss splashbacks or worktops you are possibly not with the co.Always get a brochure first.Oh they did not have reams and reams of kitchens to choose from which I found good: who wants to view 100 plus kitchens ?? They had a good overall selection

Funny how you are resurrecting old kitchen threads. Welcome to MN by the way.

I've heard of Kitchens Direct. They've been on Watchdog. I assume you work for them.