Kitchens: Howdens or Magnet
Discussion
rufusgti said:
If your fitter prefers Magnets it just means he either gets a better discount, or he fancies the token "hot chick" behind the sales desk.
I work for the above and ita the right answer! If it's not down too cost then go with whichever you prefer the look of , we do however have a longer garuntee @ 15 yrs
Howdens pricing strtegy confuses me. You can't buy direct and anyone with an account gets circa 70% off anyway...what's the feckin point of have a large printed book of prices with the full RRP and discounted price if nobody has ever paid the full RRP? In fact isn't that an illegal practice?
Is the only reason for this so Howdens can give the end user a warm glow as they think they have got there kitchen for 70% off list? Is anyone still that stupid? Do people still buy furniture from DFS et al really thinking they got 800 quid off their new faux leather sofa?
To the OP....Have you tried Ikea? We went through all this a few weeks ago and got prices from Howdens, Wickes, Wren and Ikea.
We ended up going for Ikea but tarting it up with granite worktops.
Putting the thing together will be a bit of a ball ache but the saving is so significant we couldn't go any other way. Ikea use blum fittings, same as everyone else so the end product is a wooden box with a fancy door on it, same as everyone else.
Oh and Ikea have a 25yr guarantee on cabinets and 5yrs on appliances.
I'm bigging up Ikea, I know.... I may change my mind when they deliver everything incorrectly and I fvck up installing it
Is the only reason for this so Howdens can give the end user a warm glow as they think they have got there kitchen for 70% off list? Is anyone still that stupid? Do people still buy furniture from DFS et al really thinking they got 800 quid off their new faux leather sofa?
To the OP....Have you tried Ikea? We went through all this a few weeks ago and got prices from Howdens, Wickes, Wren and Ikea.
We ended up going for Ikea but tarting it up with granite worktops.
Putting the thing together will be a bit of a ball ache but the saving is so significant we couldn't go any other way. Ikea use blum fittings, same as everyone else so the end product is a wooden box with a fancy door on it, same as everyone else.
Oh and Ikea have a 25yr guarantee on cabinets and 5yrs on appliances.
I'm bigging up Ikea, I know.... I may change my mind when they deliver everything incorrectly and I fvck up installing it
Edited by dave_s13 on Monday 6th December 08:40
m4ckg said:
furtive said:
Been to the local independents. Their quotes are all £12k more expensive than the Howdens/Magnet quote from my local fitter!
that sounds excesive but you will get a better kitchen.If you have money to burn I suppose.
OP. Try Wren (if there's one near you). There stuff all comes built up and they have some really nice looking designs. They were 2nd on my preferred list but wouldn't budge on price.
Both Wren and Ikea have online design tools that will give youa ball park cost.
m4ckg said:
furtive said:
Better in what way? Carcasses and hinges look identical and I can't see any difference in the quality of the doors.
ok, only giving some helpfull advice, you must be able to see something I can't. I have fitted most makes of kitchen and they are nowhere near the sameWe need some context here. If it's say your "average" kitchen, which should cost about 10-13k then another 12k on top is a FVCKING LOT more to pay for a "better" kitchen.
If you're spunking 75k on one then maybe stretching the extra 12k isn't such a biggy.
It would be interesting hear what the extra 12k gets you, in a bit more detail?
Here is my experience.
Indy 1 - couldn't quote for 3 months!
Indy 2 - didn't quote for 2 months and eventually came in at £10k more
Howdens - great price but I could't find the handleless curved doors
Magnets - good price, guy in the shop worked well with me, they do the style I want.
Kitchen arrives in February when the room should be ready. I'll post pictures and make a final comment after that.
Indy 1 - couldn't quote for 3 months!
Indy 2 - didn't quote for 2 months and eventually came in at £10k more
Howdens - great price but I could't find the handleless curved doors
Magnets - good price, guy in the shop worked well with me, they do the style I want.
Kitchen arrives in February when the room should be ready. I'll post pictures and make a final comment after that.
dave_s13 said:
m4ckg said:
furtive said:
Better in what way? Carcasses and hinges look identical and I can't see any difference in the quality of the doors.
ok, only giving some helpful advice, you must be able to see something I can't. I have fitted most makes of kitchen and they are nowhere near the sameWe need some context here. If it's say your "average" kitchen, which should cost about 10-13k then another 12k on top is a FVCKING LOT more to pay for a "better" kitchen.
If you're spunking 75k on one then maybe stretching the extra 12k isn't such a biggy.
It would be interesting hear what the extra 12k gets you, in a bit more detail?
The kitchen is fully co-ordinated with Blum hinges and drawers and one of the best gloss doors on the market ( no orange peel effect ) If the ops original quote was 2k I am selling expensive kitchens !!
My independent quote was £32k. Fitters quote for the same job is £20k. That's for corian worktops plus woodblock on the island and dresser, appliances, lighting. The fitters quote also included the wet underfloor heating, which the independents didn't
Edited by furtive on Monday 6th December 12:52
m4ckg said:
a De Dietrich 90cm gas on glass hob
Well I had to google that but here's one for £149 
www.premierrange.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product...I'll second Wren Kitchens.
Went to their showroom yesterday to price up for my new kitchen in the extension. Had the sales pitch about 'our units are better than their because...' in the showroom with the competitors units installed side by side, and what they had to say seemed pretty convincing, well thought out designs.
Then after we totted up all I want the price was about 25% less than a very similar offering from Howdens (solid oak doors with modern styling) with trade discount via my builder.
Think it's going to be Wren for me. The nice thing is you can also change the design, styles and fittings online and get instant price updates rather than the phone calls back and forward and job lot pricing from Howdens.
Went to their showroom yesterday to price up for my new kitchen in the extension. Had the sales pitch about 'our units are better than their because...' in the showroom with the competitors units installed side by side, and what they had to say seemed pretty convincing, well thought out designs.
Then after we totted up all I want the price was about 25% less than a very similar offering from Howdens (solid oak doors with modern styling) with trade discount via my builder.
Think it's going to be Wren for me. The nice thing is you can also change the design, styles and fittings online and get instant price updates rather than the phone calls back and forward and job lot pricing from Howdens.
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