Wren kitchen, best time to buy, now or post Xmas sale?

Wren kitchen, best time to buy, now or post Xmas sale?

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anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 12th December 2019
quotequote all
We're having a Howdens kitchen put it at the moment. Echoing what others have said on here my builder fitted a Wren kitchen on his last job and told me it was wasn't very good.

singlecoil

33,315 posts

245 months

Thursday 12th December 2019
quotequote all
Builders really like Howdens a lot.

Hashtaggggg

1,748 posts

68 months

Thursday 12th December 2019
quotequote all
singlecoil said:
Builders really like Howdens a lot.
I wonder why......



singlecoil

33,315 posts

245 months

Thursday 12th December 2019
quotequote all
Hashtaggggg said:
singlecoil said:
Builders really like Howdens a lot.
I wonder why......
smilesmilesmile

I learned some time ago that I was never going to be able to compete with a builder currently working on an extension (which of course triggers the need for a new kitchen) because when the client asked their builder whether the design I'd done was a good one, the builder would just say that they could get them a kitchen just as good for half the price, but the builder would have to buy it because they had an account and the client did not.

So the builder would not only make money on the fitting, but on the markup they would make on the units. The client would assume that the builder's recommendation was a third party endorsement, when of course it was not, and the customer would end up with a cheap kitchen (not good value, just cheap).

Edited by singlecoil on Thursday 12th December 15:14

cbmotorsport

3,065 posts

117 months

Thursday 12th December 2019
quotequote all
I can still never understand where the price tag of a kitchen comes from. They are basically chip board after all.

We've just had a Kuhlmann kitchen fitted. Quality to price ratio is fantastic.


anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 12th December 2019
quotequote all
singlecoil said:
Hashtaggggg said:
singlecoil said:
Builders really like Howdens a lot.
I wonder why......
smilesmilesmile

I learned some time ago that I was never going to be able to compete with a builder currently working on an extension (which of course triggers the need for a new kitchen) because when the client asked their builder whether the design I'd done was a good one, the builder would just say that they could get them a kitchen just as good for half the price, but the builder would have to buy it because they had an account and the client did not.

So the builder would not only make money on the fitting, but on the markup they would make on the units. The client would assume that the builder's recommendation was a third party endorsement, when of course it was not, and the customer would end up with a cheap kitchen (not good value, just cheap).

Edited by singlecoil on Thursday 12th December 15:14
Mine has chosen not to mark anything up as his view is that he already quoted us to install. An honest builder? Who'd of thought it smile

Alucidnation

16,810 posts

169 months

Thursday 12th December 2019
quotequote all
singlecoil said:
Hashtaggggg said:
singlecoil said:
Builders really like Howdens a lot.
I wonder why......
smilesmilesmile

I learned some time ago that I was never going to be able to compete with a builder currently working on an extension (which of course triggers the need for a new kitchen) because when the client asked their builder whether the design I'd done was a good one, the builder would just say that they could get them a kitchen just as good for half the price, but the builder would have to buy it because they had an account and the client did not.

So the builder would not only make money on the fitting, but on the markup they would make on the units. The client would assume that the builder's recommendation was a third party endorsement, when of course it was not, and the customer would end up with a cheap kitchen (not good value, just cheap).

Edited by singlecoil on Thursday 12th December 15:14
Ah, the good old ‘profit is a dirty word’ scenario.

Nothing wrong with a Howdens kitchen if they are fitted properly.

Andyjc86

1,149 posts

148 months

Thursday 12th December 2019
quotequote all
My parents bought a wren kitchen a couple of years ago. They got the units and appliances from them (spent about £10k I think), then my old man fitted it.

They had nothing but issues from the moment they paid. On delivery day, around 75% of the stuff turned up with the rest out of stock, will be a couple of weeks.

And wren also cocked up the design and the hob unit they supplied didn’t fit over the draw unit. However the worktops had been ordered and already cut from elsewhere so that hob had to be used.

In the end he had to bodge the hell out of a few things to make them fit.

singlecoil

33,315 posts

245 months

Thursday 12th December 2019
quotequote all
Alucidnation said:
singlecoil said:
Hashtaggggg said:
singlecoil said:
Builders really like Howdens a lot.
I wonder why......
smilesmilesmile

I learned some time ago that I was never going to be able to compete with a builder currently working on an extension (which of course triggers the need for a new kitchen) because when the client asked their builder whether the design I'd done was a good one, the builder would just say that they could get them a kitchen just as good for half the price, but the builder would have to buy it because they had an account and the client did not.

So the builder would not only make money on the fitting, but on the markup they would make on the units. The client would assume that the builder's recommendation was a third party endorsement, when of course it was not, and the customer would end up with a cheap kitchen (not good value, just cheap).

Edited by singlecoil on Thursday 12th December 15:14
Ah, the good old ‘profit is a dirty word’ scenario.

Nothing wrong with a Howdens kitchen if they are fitted properly.
Nonsense. I didn't say that making profit was bad, just that in many cases the client doesn't realise that the builder is making money on the supply as well as the fitting. Nothing wrong with making money on supply either, as long as the client realises that's what's going on.

And indeed there is nothing wrong with Howdens kitchens, but let's not pretend they are anything more than a budget kitchen.

FWIW

3,042 posts

96 months

Thursday 12th December 2019
quotequote all
Another ‘run a mile’ from me. I’ve been in battle with them for nearly 6 years. The product is definitely not OK - does vary with range though.

Alucidnation

16,810 posts

169 months

Thursday 12th December 2019
quotequote all
singlecoil said:
Nonsense. I didn't say that making profit was bad, just that in many cases the client doesn't realise that the builder is making money on the supply as well as the fitting. Nothing wrong with making money on supply either, as long as the client realises that's what's going on.

And indeed there is nothing wrong with Howdens kitchens, but let's not pretend they are anything more than a budget kitchen.
If they are happy with the price etc, it’s got nothing to do with the builder making money.

Most people do not and will not pay for ‘designer’, and most of time, over priced kitchens.



singlecoil

33,315 posts

245 months

Thursday 12th December 2019
quotequote all
Alucidnation said:
singlecoil said:
Nonsense. I didn't say that making profit was bad, just that in many cases the client doesn't realise that the builder is making money on the supply as well as the fitting. Nothing wrong with making money on supply either, as long as the client realises that's what's going on.

And indeed there is nothing wrong with Howdens kitchens, but let's not pretend they are anything more than a budget kitchen.
If they are happy with the price etc, it’s got nothing to do with the builder making money.

Most people do not and will not pay for ‘designer’, and most of time, over priced kitchens.
I'll see if I can make my point clearer. It's not making money that I object to, it's the fact that in some cases the client doesn't realise that the reason the builder is pushing the Howdens kitchen because he is going to make money from it. Let me repeat that, the client doesn't realise that there's a profit motive in the builder recommending Howdens. The client thinks the builder is going to make the same amount of money whichever type of kitchen he fits but that isn't true.

It isn't only 'designer' kitchens which are better and more expensive that Howdens. Howdens have not discovered a hidden trick that nobody else knows about how to make good stuff at low prices, they make adequate stuff at comparatively low prices. Some other firms make better stuff at higher prices. The better stuff tends to last longer and look nicer.

Plenty of other business work on the same principle, car companies too, and yet people still buy BMWs.

wombleh

1,778 posts

121 months

Thursday 12th December 2019
quotequote all
We got a quote from Howdens, kitchen price was ok. Ended up with kitchen depot who were similar price, but more because they seemed really on the ball and had decent fitters.

I heard from our fitter the inside story on most of the suppliers as he’d worked for most over the years. Wren sounds even worse from the employees POV.

Andeh1

7,107 posts

205 months

Thursday 12th December 2019
quotequote all
We obviously got lucky, wren kitchen & are happy with it.

Few issues soon after delivery, deputy manager resolved all swiftly. 4 years later it is lasting well,no signs of issues.

Quartz worktop adds a real premium finish.

FWIW

3,042 posts

96 months

Friday 13th December 2019
quotequote all
Looks like Wren have been successful in bullying their way into another Facebook page closure. Number 3 is it?
The chap who originally opened the latest page is on the hook for £150k after Decree in Absence.


Edited by FWIW on Saturday 14th December 00:07

jamiem555

750 posts

210 months

Saturday 14th December 2019
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Trustmeimadoctor said:
when they designed us a kitchen they were quite happy giving us a gap between a wall and hob of about 600mm! not exactly very safe or easy to navigate through
This was our experience. Hard sales, beautiful showroom. This was Wren Dundee. They would‘t let us take the drawings home until we’d paid 10% deposit. We drew the layout on the floor and you wouldn’t be able to open the dishwasher. They were desperate to put a island in. We ended up doing our own design and going to Howden’s. Between us and Howden’s we ended up with the design we’ve got now and we’re very happy with it.

Chris355

790 posts

195 months

Saturday 14th December 2019
quotequote all
A couple of friends have wren units and doors and they seem fine.

Their fitting charges are ridiculously overpriced. Find a local fitter.

All their sold worktops (granite, quartz, Corian) are way overpriced. Again shop around.

Unitsonline.co.uk are great for price and quality units and doors. They do worktops too.

If you are looking at quartz, then take a look at Dekton. It is a bit more money but is far superior in my opinion.

Pheo

3,324 posts

201 months

Saturday 14th December 2019
quotequote all
A lot of builders goto howdens because you can just walk in and get the stuff on the whole; no waiting around. Which when you have guys on the job saves you money, and is a damn sight more convenient when something goes wrong.

However if fitting yourself, DIY Kitchens stuff I think is better quality for equivalent price generally speaking; but no good for most builders nor if you need it in a hurry. And if you muck something up, you have to order it in, queue a 2 week wait (e.g. I missed an end panel, was custom painted - but they turned it around within I think a week and a half which I appreciated).

NB: I've just fitted Howdens to the utility, and a DIY one in the main kitchen, so feel I have some experience.

Roo

11,503 posts

206 months

Saturday 14th December 2019
quotequote all
My sister in law has had a few Howden supplied bits done recently, new internal doors and some new units in a new boot room extension.

See what you like and get told to ask your fitter/builder how much they'll be as a fitted cost as they don't give supply only prices to members of the public.

FWIW

3,042 posts

96 months

Sunday 15th December 2019
quotequote all
FWIW said:
Looks like Wren have been successful in bullying their way into another Facebook page closure. Number 3 is it?
The chap who originally opened the latest page is on the hook for £150k after Decree in Absence.
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New Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/582577862555232/?r...