kitchens - how to choose supplier?

latecomer · 2 November 2009 at 2:43PM

Hi folks

We are in the middle of renovating an old bungalow and have got to the stage of choosing a kitchen and this is where the problem starts. The builder has said that he deals with Magnet trade, Howdens etc and even mentioned some of new the B&Q ranges are good and we just need to let him know what we want. We are looking for something nice - solid wood doors and either granite or wood worktop. now I'm sure just about every supplier will do something to fit the criteria but is there a hierarchy of of quality between the suppliers - i.e. is howdens better quality then B&Q?

We are also working to a fairly tight timescale so cant wait 8 weeks for delivery. I would like to try some of the local independent kitchen suppliers to see how their prices compare but I realise time is against us for this.

Anyone got any ideas on the qulaity of the various suppliers and whether its really worth trying the independents given our short timescales?

thanks

Meepster · 2 November 2009 at 5:25PM

Well, I'm an independent, and I can deliver a full kitchen in 3 weeks, so it's well worth going exploring.

B&Q make poor kitchens, plain and simple.

Howdens are OK, if you don't mind a limited choice of carcase colours. Magnet kitchens are decent quality, but I don't them due to their whole selling philosophy (quite happy to rip retail customers off)

Shop around the local independents and also get a Magnet trade price (if you must) to compare. Also have a look at Wickes if you have one locally as they or of similar quality (albeit flatpacked)

latecomer · 2 November 2009 at 5:52PM

Thanks for the reply.

We no longer have a local Wickes so its out for that reason. I was hoping to get to both Howdens and Magnet trade on saturday morning and then try and schedule a couple of independent suppliers for later on (presuming they are open on saturday afternoons).

I was surprised by the recommendation for B&Q and wasn't intending on going for one unless I failed to find something elsewhere.

Seeing as you are in the trade, can you answer this query. I presumed that an independent supplier would be a lot more expensive (no economies of scale etc), is that correct and would they generally do discounts for trade customers or just have the one price?

andrew-b · 2 November 2009 at 5:54PM

I'd avoid B&Q..heard too many stories of people waiting yonks for missing parts (though the kitchen man in our local B&Q is helpful enough.

We went with Wickes (to order stuff rather than the takeaway one's) and happy enough with the overall quality of the cabinets and doors (real wood oak doors ours). I would buy again (just not use their install service for reasons posted ad infiniteum by me in the past even if it has changed now).

Only thing i'd say could improve the cabinets really is to add another shelf but i think you'll find this with all the DIY store flat packed kitchens. I added an extra shelf to all our wall units myself - using the wall unit panels that the kitchen fitters had replaced with decorative end panels as the top shelves cut to fit (upturned so as not to show screwholes. They would only have binned them otherwise!).

As your pretty DIY-minded, i'd definitely recommend you installing as much of the kitchen you can yourself. If you buy flat-packed it's hardly rocket science constructing the carcasses so no point paying someone to this for you.

Next time i need a new kitchen i'll be doing most of it myself..except maybe the worktop joining. Would do all the plumbing myself now. Electrics..i'd be obliged to get someone in for (maybe!..or i'd at least do the cable monkey bits) and gas i wouldn't touch!

Andy

Meepster · 2 November 2009 at 6:08PM

latecomer wrote: »

Seeing as you are in the trade, can you answer this query. I presumed that an independent supplier would be a lot more expensive (no economies of scale etc), is that correct and would they generally do discounts for trade customers or just have the one price?

Well, I have one price for a kitchen, trade or retail (unless you are buying a hundred or so kitchens, then it's very different)

Why should I charge joe bloggs more for exactly the same kitchen I am supplying to a fitter? When you get trade discounts, you aren't getting discounts at all, you are simply getting the kitchen at the price it SHOULD be, before putting a silly retail mark-up on it.

latecomer · 3 November 2009 at 10:50AM

mwilletts wrote: »

Why should I charge joe bloggs more for exactly the same kitchen I am supplying to a fitter?

I appreciate what you are saying but of course doing that makes you the exception rather than the rule. Unfortunately lots of supplier are more than happy to fleece retail customers for as much as they can.

latecomer · 3 November 2009 at 10:53AM

andrew-b wrote: »

As your pretty DIY-minded, i'd definitely recommend you installing as much of the kitchen you can yourself. If you buy flat-packed it's hardly rocket science constructing the carcasses so no point paying someone to this for you.

We spoke to the builder about fitting it ourselves as he said its one of the extra jobs and as its all labour (plumbing and electrics are going in as part of the extension) he said it would save us abuot £300 if we wanted to fit it ourselves (based on 2 people for 1.5 days). And for that kind of money I'm happy for them to do it as we'll have plenty of other bits to get done ourselves.

cranford · 3 November 2009 at 6:55PM

If lead time is a problem look at DIY-Kitchens. Today (3/11) they are quoting delivery in week commencing 16/11. This advances by a week every weds. So tomorrow they will be quoting 23/11.
I recently installed a kitchen from them. Compares very well with the best from the DIY sheds on price and quality and it is preassembled with all fittings in place. There is a very wide choice of carcass colours which in my case meant that I did not need the end panels which are normally at full price at the likes of B&Q even when they have a half price sale (£450 saving)!
The only minor problem is that the doors are undrilled but using their hinge jig on wooded doors went without a hitch. (You can pay extra for them to do it). Nothing missing/damaged in my order. The only other consideration is that for the cheapest delivery option they only let you know the day before delivery but they do phone a few hours before on the day.

latecomer · 3 November 2009 at 7:00PM

Thanks for that. i'm at work but I'll check it out when I get home. Thing is if they they have branches then I probably will discount them immediately. I ideally want to be able to go and see the product in the flesh or at least the doors before committing to buying. Its going to be a focal point in the house so its got to be right and I dont see how you can get it without seeing what you are going to buy.

But maybe thats just me/us

cranford · 3 November 2009 at 7:28PM

If you are in West Yorkshire then you can visit DIY Kitchens. Otherwise they send out sample doors next day delivery. About £10 for delivery and £10 for the door but the door is refundable. There also send a sample of the carcass colour. The doors they supply are used by many local Kitchen companies. I think they are made in Italy rather than china. One near me had a showroom but I was happy with the sample so I did not need to be a bit cheeky. They also have a big range of widths and also have reduced depth units.

kitchens - how to choose supplier?

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