Howdens buy DIY kitchens
Discussion
Spent half a day at the rather fancy Witney show room a couple of weekends back.
Not sure if the ship has already sailed on not changing much - the prices compared to what I recall them being a few years back were in the realms of "how on earth can they justify that"
They are obviously doing very well, and fair enough if the market will tolerate such prices, perhaps I'm just a bit tight - at the end of the day it is just MFC.
Anything with a curve in it, ridiculously priced (just the carcasses - not the slightly more difficult to product doors)
Handmade Kitchens of Christchurch looks a much more appealing offer.
Not sure if the ship has already sailed on not changing much - the prices compared to what I recall them being a few years back were in the realms of "how on earth can they justify that"
They are obviously doing very well, and fair enough if the market will tolerate such prices, perhaps I'm just a bit tight - at the end of the day it is just MFC.
Anything with a curve in it, ridiculously priced (just the carcasses - not the slightly more difficult to product doors)
Handmade Kitchens of Christchurch looks a much more appealing offer.
I think it's at the point where you can get a kitchen made cheaper. We've just had a local cabinet maker/carpenter make our kitchen, everything exactly sized as we wanted basically no compromise and cost wise I was very happy. Local company did all the slate tops, uk made sink etc so could support who we wanted not just imported stuff thrown at us.
I bought my kitchen about 8 years ago now. Better Kitchens was where I bought mine and DIY kitchens was appealing but up north so wasn't able to do a review in person.
Interesting I never knew about Christchurch kitchens, maybe as I've not been looking. They are 20 minutes away to me.
Interesting I never knew about Christchurch kitchens, maybe as I've not been looking. They are 20 minutes away to me.
worldwidewebs said:
Danns said:
Handmade Kitchens of Christchurch looks a much more appealing offer.
That's who are doing our kitchen. Completely different level to DIY Kitchens, Howdens etcI’m not sure it’s fair to say it’s a different level to DIY Kitchens, they’re different products really. It’s not like HKOC are high quality, because they’re not, but you do get totally custom units with the in-frame look for DIY prices. You’ve got ongoing maintenance with the HKOC units because the wood is very soft, so you’ll be painting and filling every couple of years if you’re hard on them.
I think I spent two months painting them as well, so they’re not a great solution for someone who needs their kitchen turning around in a few weeks. We were without the main kitchen for 11 months but I converted another room to a fully functioning kitchen so it wasn’t an issue.
I've only just heard of Howdens buying DIY Kitchens. My experience of Howdens isn't good, I had a trade account and it really wasn't worth having because the 'starting price' for everything was sky-high.
Bought from DIY Kitchens when fitting our Daughter's kitchen. I wanted to modify some units - no problem with DIY, who supplied selected cabinets ready -assembled but unglued, the rest as usual came ready glued/assembled. Such service will. I'm sure. not continue with Howden.
DIY-Kitchens ...... A set price, good, honest price list and no BS. I can see this changing.
I thought I'd found the solution to the " we'll start at 20k for a small kitchen, so you end up paying 8k after we do the hard sell"
Daughters kitchen cost 3.2K from DIY with painted solid ash doors, 18mm carcases, blum fittings etc. Wickes started at 17k and would give her a special deal at 50% off - yeah right, and for foiled doors and self assembly.
I knew sensed someone would buy DIY (I would if I had the cash!), but shudder to think what will happen. I suspect the staff will notice some changes as well
Some will say it's progress.
Bought from DIY Kitchens when fitting our Daughter's kitchen. I wanted to modify some units - no problem with DIY, who supplied selected cabinets ready -assembled but unglued, the rest as usual came ready glued/assembled. Such service will. I'm sure. not continue with Howden.
DIY-Kitchens ...... A set price, good, honest price list and no BS. I can see this changing.
I thought I'd found the solution to the " we'll start at 20k for a small kitchen, so you end up paying 8k after we do the hard sell"
Daughters kitchen cost 3.2K from DIY with painted solid ash doors, 18mm carcases, blum fittings etc. Wickes started at 17k and would give her a special deal at 50% off - yeah right, and for foiled doors and self assembly.
I knew sensed someone would buy DIY (I would if I had the cash!), but shudder to think what will happen. I suspect the staff will notice some changes as well
Some will say it's progress.
My business has an account at Howdens but I didn’t use them for my own kitchen.
As others have said I found a local company who made everything as we wanted for not a lot of money.
The problem I find with Howdens is that on every order there are bits missing and they don’t tell you. It’s only when you call them and they oh yes that will be here next week.
As others have said I found a local company who made everything as we wanted for not a lot of money.
The problem I find with Howdens is that on every order there are bits missing and they don’t tell you. It’s only when you call them and they oh yes that will be here next week.
curvature said:
The problem I find with Howdens is that on every order there are bits missing and they don t tell you. It s only when you call them and they oh yes that will be here next week.
Must be isolated incident then.I have an account with them (2 in fact) and I’m usually in there 2-3 times a week buying materials, I fit anything between 4-14 kitchens a year.
Never any parts missing, only the odd damaged unit, door or panel but I give them a bell and if one isn’t in stock it’s there for me the next day.
From what I’ve been told by the manager, my kitchen designer or the staff on the counter it is staying 2 seperste companies.
Maybe they wanted to take on Wren with their sales to customers and not trade only?
Clues in the name really, DIY kitchens, so aimed at the DIYer not the trade. Time will tell if it stays like that.
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