Thinking of buying a kitchen from MFI read my story...

Basil1234

went to look at kitchens at MFI one Saturday afternoon (which was on the weekend of the management buyout unknown to me at that time).
So went along had a look around wife saw a kitchen she liked and so did i.
So went got a quote with the measurements came up with price i wanted so paid for deposit on credit card to get it all underway.

come the following Monday see the news on the telly MFI management buyout has happened think to myself, oh poo what have i done here could they be going down the pan here with my money about £450 ish deposit or so.

Get on the web and start looking around bit more deeper into and think to myself well paid on the CC i'm protected if it all goes horribly wrong.
So anyway phone up the store they tell me its all still on target for 21st November 2008 delivery according to there system.
Anyway as a matter of course i keep on top of it with phone calls and the couple of store visits if i'm passing nearby decide stuff it i'll pay balance on last possible day on CC to be safe.

Also my particular store was decided as one of the 100 odd they where shutting down due to rent costs etc etc, but order would be fulfilled to next nearest store so i get the managers number for the next store etc.

same again odd couple of calls and visits right upto the point of 2 days before delivery go in store check computer yes its all coming in 2 days time fine no probs. check the automatic delivery phone line to confirm 1 day before yes ' your delivery slot is between 8.30am and 1.30pm on 21st November' think to myself thank god i'm ok here.

Anyway about 16.50 on the 20th get a call from Jessica from mfi delivery 'hello sir just checking about delivery for tomorrow there is a small problem as some bits are missing!'
think to myself oh here we go so ask here what exactly is missing might just be something silly.

She replys back worktops all of them, wall sides of units and cupboards basically a whole load of stuff making a complete non working kitchen to me anyway.

So i go to her you do realise my kitchen is in pieces atm floor up for concreting etc so could lay me floor on the basis it was coming (lucky for me units still in place and not fully removed or smashed up yet but she did not know that).

reply i got back was well we will order the missing bits, so think to myself for sec come back with ok how long then? reply was delivery for those bits would be 9th jan 2009.

I reply do what you expect me to take a part delivered kitchen wait for nearly 5-6 weeks on the assumption you may deliver all the bits then and mfi has not gone bankrupt possibly?
reply i got was yes.
I then asked cant you bring it forward in anyway? 'no' she said ok i asked who is the exact supplier hygena? i don't know who any of the suppliers are i just have to phone up customers with problems. I think god so basically no one has an info and they are really starting to look like trained monkeys the way mfi the company is operating, i know its not her fault personally but god is not making this process any easier at all.

So ask her if she will phone back in 30 mins whilst i phone the store manager to see what he can do ' ok thats not a problem' i get back.

Anyway straight onto the manager explain the whole situation and tell him its unacceptable he completely agrees and understands i say to him if he cant get it sorted i require a complete refund as what is being asked of me as a customer is unreasonable he says ok i agree with that leave it with me for 5-10 mins i'll see what i can get done.

anyway about 10mins later he says unfortunately its completely out of his control to get it changed and replies back i refund your money to your card tonight for you and i'm sorry about it all. I think to myself what decent manager he did his damnest to make it work and couldn't because the way MFI operates now.

Anyway Jessica phoned back 30 mins later as asked brought her upto speed with what was happening and i would not be requiring the kitchen anymore and off she went.

So the morale of the story never ever not buy without your CC and my personal advice never ever buy from MFI. The only reason i did this time was my mother had one from them a few years ago with zero problems and at a good price then.

So now i have a lovely situation i have to buy a kitchen i'm off upto Croydon Ikea today to see what they can come up with quality and pricewise. I have had some chest of draws this year that where very well designed and built well as well.

Also going to look at wickes and homebase as well. B&Q looked a bit pricey and designs didn't catch my eye either.
magnet over priced for my budget of about £2000 tops

looked at screwfix but they don't offer any planning/ design consultants as such which isn't helpful really. I don't want to particularly design it all with the computer myself its bad enough i goto fit it.

So if anyone has any ideas/thoughts of where to go for right price, service and quality for my budget i would be grateful. either off the shelf or have to wait a little bit but they DO deliver i would be most grateful for anyones input and i'll thank you now

Cheers for reading

Basil

tim441

don't you have the list of bits and plan from MFI?

surely using that you can relatively easily do some like for like comparisons - including Screwfix!

Most of the stores will be looking to do a deal - so negotiate!

TigerTanaka

Yes get your MFI plan and hawk it around the retailers and ask for a price. I would not bother with Screwfix but take it to Wickes, Homebase and B&Q. You could also try blagging it at Howden or Magnet Trade by saying you are a developer and registering as a customer. Both Howden and Magnet Trade do rigid built cabinets and will be only slightly more than the flat pack DIY firms.

Whatevery your choice of retailer, the salesman hates having to go out and do a plan without sitting down and talking about budget/design etc but by simply giving him a copy of your plan from MFI and telling him what extras you are looking for (worktops/sink/applianes etc) he can do a quote. You may be best leaving it with him as kitchens can take a while to price.

Whatever anyone says, this is the best time of year to buy a kitchen or bathroom as it is very quiet, trade is tough at the moment and salespeople will be looking to maximise their earming opportunities before Christmas.

Basil1234

been round most of them lol only one stood above the rest here goes
wickes £2900 was app £4000 for my same mfi kitchen of £1749

howdens £2500 but was rigid woop de do i work in manufacturing building not a prob to me so still £700 over the top.

homebase pain in the bum wanted me to book an appointment to come back bearing in mind went to a big store to get proper look so was 10 miles away far too much hassle also was just normal staff not some that worked perm doing kitchens so really useless.

Ikea hmm now thats where my business will be going 18mm all round units including backs 25yr guarantees on units and work tops and sinks, taps are 10 year guarantee and ceramic disc inside on the one ill be getting, total price including custom made worktops so just a case of drop them on and fit them only cutting out required for sink. All units in stock so will build while waiting for custom worktop takes 6-7 weeks to be made ok live with that. total cost £1725 delivered and the quality was better than all of them to be honest.
also forgot Ikea at mo spend over £1500 get your bill 0% over 12months on there card can't really go wrong.
strange stores but in a good way never been in an Ikea before def an experience
basil :beer:

Scoobs72

Only downside in with ikea kitchens is fitting them - nightmare as they have no voids on the cabinets. A lot of fitters won't touch them

Basil1234

trained as plumber years ago not a prob and the only unit that will be effected is where the sink goes so pipes go straight down and under, as for the rest why would you need a service area at the back it really is just wasted space really.

also all the units have legs so the fitters that won't touch them aren't really much cop at there job because there might be an issue with sorting out a bit of pipe work in a sink unit i mean come on!