Kitchen salesman's dream, or maybe not! (Update)

beyond the blue

beyond the blue

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Neil
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Me and the missus have been doing our homework on a new kitchen. We knew exactly what we wanted and it was time to buy. We arrived at the showroom at 1-30pm last Sunday and was pounced on as soon as we got through the door.

Salesman- Can I help you?
Yes.
Salesman- Do you know what you want?
Yes
Salesman- Have you got your measurements?
Yes
Salesman- Great, if you have time, I can CAD it up and price it now if you like.
Yes, but I have to be home for 4pm
Salesman- No problem sir.

2hrs later after much deliberation.

Salesman- Is that the kitchen you would like sir?
That's exactly what we want, yes.
Salesman-That comes to 6.5K sir, is that ok?
Yes, but I need to get off home soon.
Salesman- I will just print the drawings and the quote for you.
Ok.
Salesman- Sorry but the printer has run out of ink. If you leave me all your details I will call at your house later with everything as it's on my way home and we can double check all the measurements.
OK.

After watching him put all my details into the CAD file and saving it under my name, as yet I have not heard a dicky bird from him. He has my name, address, phone number, e-mail address, I'm very reluctant to chase up a kitchen salesman.:mad:
 
I don't get it. If it's what you want and the price is ok, why are you so reluctant to chase the guy up?
 
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We use Howdens in nearly all our rental properties - they aren't the cheapest but they look good and wear well. They don't provide a fitting service but is easy to get a local chippy to fit it for you (and a good indy will do a damn sight better job than one of the big name fitting services)
 
big soft moose said:
We use Howdens in nearly all our rental properties - they aren't the cheapest but they look good and wear well. They don't provide a fitting service but is easy to get a local chippy to fit it for you (and a good indy will do a damn sight better job than one of the big name fitting services)
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Been thinking of calling there this weekend. I will be doing my own fitting.
 
You're too far south for me :)

I'm fitting a Howden's kitchen for a customer, just about finished and then on to the bathroom.
 
We got a new kitchen from A+S in Chorlton . They quoted £1800 for the units. Its only a small kitchen. A friend who is a joiner and was going to fit it for us. Had a word with then the price was dropped to £1200.
 
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We've just had a Howdens kitchen fitted too and were very impressed by the quality of their units. Also, as the fitter pointed out, it there's anything missing, faulty or wrong you can go straight back and get things sorted out immediately. We had a couple of issues, but everything was resolved the same day. With places like Homebase or B&Q the kitchens are sourced and supplied from abroad and nothing's held in stock...if you have a problem it can take weeks to sort out. The only annoying thing with Howdens is their lack of a proper price list.
 
Note that howdens are trade only ... however their standards of proof are pretty low , so if you claim to be a joiner they'll happily sell you a kitchen ( I suggest leaving the missus at home so she doesn't blow the gaff)
 
they will sell to the general public but only if they come in with a tradesperson (they can also recommend a tradesperson if you don't have on in mind) however if you want to fit your own you stroll in and tell them that you are a tradesperson with a customer who wants to build xyz that'll be fine

as I recall when my mate jon was building his house , he did it like that and they just requested a business letter head as proof (anyone with basic computer skills can make a letterhead) , and if you are fitting it then its not even dishonest as you are a 'fitter' allbeit with only one job in mind.

https://www.howdens.com/advice-inspiration/how-to-buy/
 
kendo1 said:
You're too far south for me :)

I'm fitting a Howden's kitchen for a customer, just about finished and then on to the bathroom.
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TBH I don't care how far south I am.
I've seen one of your kitchens......If I had the moolah I'd have you fit it and put you in a hotel for the duration! :-)
 
big soft moose said:
We use Howdens in nearly all our rental properties - they aren't the cheapest but they look good and wear well. They don't provide a fitting service but is easy to get a local chippy to fit it for you (and a good indy will do a damn sight better job than one of the big name fitting services)
Click to expand...

Our kitchen was from Howdens, beware that they only deal with trade (so they told us), so generally the quote goes to the fitter and then you get a price from the fitter (so it is upto the fitter if they add their cut in addition to fitting charge). Our builders own kitchen fitter fitted ours, and other than a fitting charge, the quote was trade price - he even had the quote sent direct to us.

The quality of the units are very good, and we are very pleased with the result. We also sourced the white goods ourselves which helps
 
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big soft moose said:
We use Howdens in nearly all our rental properties - they aren't the cheapest but they look good and wear well. They don't provide a fitting service but is easy to get a local chippy to fit it for you (and a good indy will do a damn sight better job than one of the big name fitting services)
Click to expand...

Ours is a howdens kitchen and I can confirm they really are solid units
 
The last Howden's kitchen I fitted (finished last week) I supplied at cost. I was just trying to keep the price down for a really nice, young couple and
to make sure I got the job :)

Unfortunately, I found damp caused by failed pointing on the outside wall, so the inner wall had to be replaced.
I rebuilt the inner wall, fitted the kitchen, fitted new wiring/sockets, changed the plumbing/waste. tiled the walls and floor.
I work on my own. Worst bit was working with the 3m oak worktops.
001 by Ken, on Flickr
003 by Ken, on Flickr

Looking the other way:
010 by Ken, on Flickr

007 by Ken, on Flickr
 
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Daz B said:
Our kitchen was from Howdens, beware that they only deal with trade (so they told us), so generally the quote goes to the fitter and then you get a price from the fitter (so it is upto the fitter if they add their cut in addition to fitting charge). Our builders own kitchen fitter fitted ours, and other than a fitting charge, the quote was trade price - he even had the quote sent direct to us.

The quality of the units are very good, and we are very pleased with the result. We also sourced the white goods ourselves which helps
Click to expand...

I wouldn't touch Howden's own white goods (CDA?)... nasty stuff that gets mostly terrible reviews. We bought our own white goods and everything fitted perfectly, except for the integrated fridge-freezer which needed a bit of tinkering with the carcass to get it to fit.
 
FZ7A2225.jpg


FZ7A2243.jpg



This is our Howden's kitchen.
 
Just thought I'd update this thread in case it might help others. Reluctantly I emailed the store manager a couple of days ago to ask if they were interested in making this sale or not. I never received a reply. Time to name and shame.......

WREN KITCHENS.
 
beyond the blue said:
Just thought I'd update this thread in case it might help others. Reluctantly I emailed the store manager a couple of days ago to ask if they were interested in making this sale or not. I never received a reply. Time to name and shame.......

WREN KITCHENS.
Click to expand...
Are you surprised you didn't hear a dickie bird back from them? :D
 
beyond the blue said:
Just thought I'd update this thread in case it might help others. Reluctantly I emailed the store manager a couple of days ago to ask if they were interested in making this sale or not. I never received a reply. .
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Neil

If it's of any help, my next door neighbour fits kitchens for a living and my best mate is a joiner, who also fits kitchens.

You're only down the road, do you want me to enquire for you if they'd like a job ???
 
You dodged a bullet. Wren are frequently awful! Just in the process of sorting out a new kitchen myself.
 
If you ask a kitchen fitter for their preferred kitchen they'll say Howdens.
I'll be fitting one to my own kitchen next year.

I've never had a problem, or had one reported, with Howdens' own brand appliances (Lamona).
I'd prefer Bosch if I could afford them!

I've just finished another Howdens' kitchen today and started on the bathroom.
 
beyond the blue said:
Just thought I'd update this thread in case it might help others. Reluctantly I emailed the store manager a couple of days ago to ask if they were interested in making this sale or not. I never received a reply. Time to name and shame.......

WREN KITCHENS.
Click to expand...
can't believe no-one has made a comment about how cheep they were..


I am not a kitchen fitter but have an account with Howdens, despite going in with my wife when we did ours. They are good solid units, and if you need a fitter then there will always be one or two in any branch, and staff seem fairly happy to recommend one of the good ones..
Got to say that what I've seen of kendo1's work on here looks good !
 
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What i do is photograph the before -during and finish of a room project. it is so easy to forget what a room looked like beforehand. I did this with the main bathroom where I am now and I can't believe how bad it was looking back on the photos, I did the same with an old outside log store and replaced with a greenhouse.
 
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beyond the blue said:
Finished up ordering one from J&J Ormerod, Rossendale. We bought our last kitchen from them 20 years ago and made a bit of a saving from what Wren quoted.
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Is that part of Rossendale Interiors? If so our SIL works there.
 
kendo1 said:
If you ask a kitchen fitter for their preferred kitchen they'll say Howdens.
I'll be fitting one to my own kitchen next year.

I've never had a problem, or had one reported, with Howdens' own brand appliances (Lamona).
I'd prefer Bosch if I could afford them!

I've just finished another Howdens' kitchen today and started on the bathroom.
Click to expand...

Is there a Howdens equivalent for bathrooms. Ours is in dire need of being done!
 
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BigJohn said:
I'd read it as " Son In Law." :confused: lol .
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All these acronyms mark the mumsnetification of the web :confused:

I've found social media much more interesting since interpreting them in my own way, "dd" as "dearly departed", etc.. :D
 
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