Wickes versus MFI

ameliarate

I have appointments at both Wickes and MFI to get kitchen designs on Saturday. Far be it from me to take advantage but, is now a good time to perhaps play one off against the other to get the best possible price, in view of the fact that according to a news article I heard people are just not spending on such things at the moment? Any advice what the best way to try and negotiate discounts is?
Any advice gratefully received.

Jag1978

Not sure about Wickes and MFI but when I bought my kitchen from Homebase I was equipped with a slightly cheaper quote from B&Q which helped in the reduction of my original quote from Homebase... You could probably play them off against each other..

When we got a quote from MFI it was really really expensive. So I said I’d get back to them. During the week I got a call from a manager… twice, who said they were prepared to negotiable.. The kitchen was of good quality but the price was ridiculous at £6000 not including fitting or appliances. We only paid £1700 at Homebase for a like for like. So I’m not sure how far MFI would have negotiated J

We bought from Homebase due to the service and the quality was quite reasonable.. We bought on one of their 10% days and also had a further 15% off through a voucher I picked up in a BBC magazine.

People also recommend Howdens who are very good if you know someone who has a trade account with them, it’s worth a look.

All I will say is, your kitchen is only as good as the fitter fitting it. Make sure you get a quality fitter. Steer clear of MFI own fitters not sure about wickes, you’ve probably read peoples horror stories on here. Instead find your own fitter who’s work you can see before hand or one that is highly recommended via friends and family.. Sometimes fittings can be just as expensive as the cost of the kitchen depending on what you want done.

All the best

Jag

vansboy

Unsure of the quality of the planning service at Wickes, but MFI was only so-so, as was B&Q!

What we did, when we wanted our ideas put onto a proper plan/computer generated design, was visit both B&Q MFI & let them show our 'miststakes' or listen to their suggestions.

Then we downloaded the Ikea kitchen planner from their site, spent ages jiggling things around & have now had 3 kitchens from them, each time getting our own people to install.

You'll find clear prices in Ikea, sometimes interest free credit, but not any price match style guarantees.

There is usually 5% back in vouchers, from your first transaction, if you get Ikea store card.

Also sometimes appliance 'deals', but they only have a limited range, at NOT bargain prices.

Lots Ikea kitchen fans in this forum, if you do a quick search!!

VB

whitts

I went to all of them at the end of last year and we got a fab quote with wickes, all aspect of the service and quality are fab, not sure where you live but i am happy to give you a contact name.
the delivery dates were on time and undamaged, although we have only just had the kitchen fitted i noticed the wicker baskets were not 100% so i rang them and they sent replacements out that day no questions asked.

ameliarate

whitts wrote: »

I went to all of them at the end of last year and we got a fab quote with wickes, all aspect of the service and quality are fab, not sure where you live but i am happy to give you a contact name.
the delivery dates were on time and undamaged, although we have only just had the kitchen fitted i noticed the wicker baskets were not 100% so i rang them and they sent replacements out that day no questions asked.

- thanks, I live in York. I have an appointment to see someone at both Wickes and MFI on Saturday. We have done a basic plan on paper ourselves and have a good friend who is a joiner who will help OH with the fitting. Not sure about Howdens as I doubt we could get the necesary discounts. I forgot about homebase so will try there as well. Then I guess I will just ring each one and see with the prices from the others and see how low they will go.

Coveredinbees!!!!

we got our kitchen from k2go, it was a bit more than MFI but having experienced MFI's (lack off) customer service we thought it was worth it as the carcases came ready made and not flat-pack. I fitted it myself without any trouble.

andrew-b

The quality of wickes kitchens is good, but i'd never use their sub-contracted out installation service ever again even if they paid me to! Most of the plan they did for us was my planning with them simply pointing the mouse to generate a computer model. Even then they got it wrong (or perhaps it was just their computer software that got it wrong) and we ended up with one of their sinks (made by astracast) that was too big for the base unit planned for and the fitters ended up cutting away some of the sides of the base unit. This then had a knock-on effect that when the tap the "carpenter" fitted had to be replaced because it had a casting fault (again astracast made) the whole sink had to come out which they then broke and had to be replaced. The fitter also forgot to screw a wall unit to the wall straight away and then knocked it causing it to come crashing down and damaging the unit as well as taking a big chunk out of the kitchen door and then blamed me for being in the room at the time..too bad if it had been me it fell on!! It was all a very stressful experience not helped by being without a kitchen sink at all for a week. I've got a long list somewhere of all the complaints i had about them. In short, use the Wickes planning service and buy the kitchen from them but double check everything will actually fit and don't use their installation service which will also cost you far more for next to no further benefit. Getting plans drawn up by different companies will help you realise potential problems. And learn from my mistake, get more than one quote preferably from companies recommended to you.


Hope that helps

Andy

MysticNacho

My OH and I have just installed our wickes 'chicago' kitchen. We are really impressed with the quality of the fittings, units and the instructions that came with them. I couldn't rate them highly enough if you want a good quality, reasonably priced kitchen.

ameliarate

Thanks for all the replies - my question really was more about the best way to negotiate a good price. As I said we have a good friend who is a joiner who well help OH fit the kitchen. We have pretty much drawn up the design we want anyway just need a bit of help from them in term of what is actually available in the various kitchens available. In all probability it will end up with me doing the negotiating and it's not something I have really done previously.

andrew-b

Always negotiate! From watching Don't Get Done, Get Dom on TV, the way to do it is not to say "i don't suppose you can do it cheaper" (of course they wont!)..but "I was expecting to pay £xx. Can you do it for £xxx ?". Or "can you include that". See the difference? Be positive and drive a hard bargain! Ask their name, joke with them, make it a game and enjoy it rather than being nervous about it.. Practice on the salesman whose products you are least interested in first. You might not save anything at all but nothing lost by trying!

Doozergirl

You can always haggle with MFI. Whatever price it is, you can knock it down massively. Just tell them it's more than you want to spend and get it knocked down, then when you go to the next appt you are armed with quote.

I used to make H do it all but I LOVE haggling now, it's so much fun I tell him to shut up!