Homebase/B&Q/Wickes kitchens

CKdesigner

mwilletts wrote: »

The reason they do it, is because everyone else does, may it be a kitchen, bathroom, or a sofa or blinds.

Also, with Wickes, when the products aren't in a sale, they have Spend and Save, which can actually work out cheaper than at sale time if you are buying a lot of appliances (ok, the appliances are massively overpriced in the first place, but some people just prefer buying everything from one place).

Hi Mr Willetts, Yes - I can't understand why people would think they are better off buying all the different parts of their new kitchen from different suppliers. I find it quite amazing when we get people coming into our shop wanting me to price for worktops when they have purchased the cabinetry elsewhere - surely if the 'kitchen specialist' doesn't do the worktops the customer wants then why buy the cabinetry there?

We really only do the complete package, cabinetry, worktop, appliances and quality service. I generally think people buy a new kitchen from us because of who we are and the service we give rather than the make of kitchens we do. The only exception is that we are the main supplier of Miele built in appliances in Hertfordshire and sometimes people come to us because of the Miele connection.

74jax

I have haggled money off a B & Q kitchen twise. I also got Wickes to lower their price but didn't go for it in the end.

It all depends if you want to or not. I don't mind asking for something cheaper. I do it all the time - when I got my conservatory, windows, car etc.

If they want your money - and are able to - they will reduce. If they simply can not reduce, don't take offence, you certainly won't be the first person to ask.

I would always ask. There is nothing to loose.

Claire_xx

The independants do a fantastic job down here. Its a sad fact the the bigger shops like us do damage to the small independants by having such low prices. Where I live we are always cheaper as we have hugh buying power BUT we have a few local independants that we recommend if its a product or a service we dont offer. Everyone wants different things at the end of the day. Some people want something really bespok and the independant retailers are excellent for this. x

The reason we have to offer under the counter offers is because people are clued up now and they ask for it. There is an expectation from customers that we can just knock a bit off. Sadly we battle against B&Q and Homebase and drive each others prices down.

Its worth remembering that some stores will be able to do you a deal on tiles, flooring, lighting etc if you are getting it all in one place!

Good Luck guys and happy haggling!!

CKdesigner

Claire_xx wrote: »

The independants do a fantastic job down here. Its a sad fact the the bigger shops like us do damage to the small independants by having such low prices. Where I live we are always cheaper as we have hugh buying power BUT we have a few local independants that we recommend if its a product or a service we dont offer. Everyone wants different things at the end of the day. Some people want something really bespok and the independant retailers are excellent for this. x

Hi Claire,

As an independent specialist I am glad we don't compete on price with the likes of B&Q and Wickes. To be fair I don't think that the DIY stores are cheaper because of their buying power, I think its because it is a cheaper product. For instance have you seen the John Lewis own brand range of kitchens? These have rigid glue and dowel colour matched to the door carcases made of 19mm MFC with Blum softclose drawers with drawer management systems and softclose doors as standard. There is a much larger range of unit sizes available and they have a 10 year guarantee. The John Lewis range of kitchens is made for them by Mereway in Birmingham. Mereway is widely regarded in the industry as the best mass produced manufacturer of kitchens in the UK. As an independent we sell 2 different manufacturers of kitchens of which Mereway is our cheaper range and we can sell this quite a bit cheaper than John Lewis as we don't have the same overheads.

Also as an indepent kitchen specialist we specialise in Miele appliances and as company they would not supply the DIY stores as they would not be able to meet the criteria for having a Miele account.

I think over all its just different markets and you really do get what you pay for.

Meepster

How would a DIY store not meet the crtiteria for having an account with Miele? I'm pretty sure Miele would LOVE to have an account with, for example, Wickes. You honestly think anyone would be stupid enough to turn down a contract, which would be worth in excess of £10 million per year and that they only had to deliver to a single location? Why do you think Electrolux use distributors instead of selling direct? They are too busy dealing with the big players and raking in a lot of money for not doing a lot.

The company I used to work for had a Miele account, and they only ordered around 60 units per year and they had to be delivered to 7 different sites.

There is only one reason the DIY stores don't supply Miele and that is because they are A LOT more expensive than the appliances they currently sell, and in the constant battle to be price competative with each other, it would be feasible.

Magnet sell Miele applainces, as they are aiming at the independants at a very different price point.

Doozergirl

CKdesigner wrote: »

Hi Claire,

As an independent specialist I am glad we don't compete on price with the likes of B&Q and Wickes. To be fair I don't think that the DIY stores are cheaper because of their buying power, I think its because it is a cheaper product. For instance have you seen the John Lewis own brand range of kitchens? These have rigid glue and dowel colour matched to the door carcases made of 19mm MFC with Blum softclose drawers with drawer management systems and softclose doors as standard. There is a much larger range of unit sizes available and they have a 10 year guarantee. The John Lewis range of kitchens is made for them by Mereway in Birmingham. Mereway is widely regarded in the industry as the best mass produced manufacturer of kitchens in the UK. As an independent we sell 2 different manufacturers of kitchens of which Mereway is our cheaper range and we can sell this quite a bit cheaper than John Lewis as we don't have the same overheads.

Oh! Can you sell me four doors please!? I want to change four of my doors! They're John Lewis but they're definately Cucina Colore. The woman in John Lewis was so rude to me :mad:

CKdesigner

Doozergirl wrote: »

Oh! Can you sell me four doors please!? I want to change four of my doors! They're John Lewis but they're definately Cucina Colore. The woman in John Lewis was so rude to me :mad:

Hi Doozergirl,

Please send me a PM and I will be glad to help, I will need the sizes, colour etc. and should be able to get them sent direct to you in about a week.

Thanks.

CKdesigner

mwilletts wrote: »

How would a DIY store not meet the crtiteria for having an account with Miele? I'm pretty sure Miele would LOVE to have an account with, for example, Wickes. You honestly think anyone would be stupid enough to turn down a contract, which would be worth in excess of £10 million per year and that they only had to deliver to a single location? Why do you think Electrolux use distributors instead of selling direct? They are too busy dealing with the big players and raking in a lot of money for not doing a lot.

The company I used to work for had a Miele account, and they only ordered around 60 units per year and they had to be delivered to 7 different sites.

There is only one reason the DIY stores don't supply Miele and that is because they are A LOT more expensive than the appliances they currently sell, and in the constant battle to be price competative with each other, it would be feasible.

Magnet sell Miele applainces, as they are aiming at the independants at a very different price point.

Hi Mr Willetts,

I don't mean to offend but to be a Miele dealer you have to sign an agreement that contains some requirments that DIY stores wouldn't or wouldn't want to achieve. The requirements are things like a minimum display commitment, send all the sales staff on regular training days at Miele's head office etc. With regard to turnover - there is no way that Miele would be seduced by the expectation of £10m of sales from one DIY store because this would jeopardise the over £160m turnover they get from their independent dealers and John Lewis. Ultimately Miele understand that in the upper end of the market it is the independents that drive the market and with them they get the steady growth they require.

You are right Miele do supply Magnet but only with a very limited range in a limited number of stores to see how and whether the 2 companies can work.

Miele is not about price, Miele is about quality and that is reflected in their route to market.

Meepster

CKdesigner wrote: »

Hi Mr Willetts,

I don't mean to offend but to be a Miele dealer you have to sign an agreement that contains some requirments that DIY stores wouldn't or wouldn't want to achieve. The requirements are things like a minimum display commitment, send all the sales staff on regular training days at Miele's head office etc.

No offence taken (I'm not easily offended )

BUT...to have a direct account with Miele, you do not need to do any of the things you've said. The independant I used to work for, AshleyAnn, have a direct Miele account. They have no Miele appliances on display (although they were talking about putting 1 appliance in two of their 7 showrooms as I left) and no Miele training was ever given. AshleyAnn are a Neff masterpartner, but Miele also wanted some of their business, hence the direct account...

CKdesigner

mwilletts wrote: »

No offence taken (I'm not easily offended )

BUT...to have a direct account with Miele, you do not need to do any of the things you've said. The independant I used to work for, AshleyAnn, have a direct Miele account. They have no Miele appliances on display (although they were talking about putting 1 appliance in two of their 7 showrooms as I left) and no Miele training was ever given. AshleyAnn are a Neff masterpartner, but Miele also wanted some of their business, hence the direct account...

Glad your not easily offended, its not worth it is it!

It must have been a while ago that you worked for AshleyAnn as Miele have had these stockists agreements with lots of criteria for the last 7 years. You have to display a minimum of 5 built in peices in every shop if a built in dealer, and a minimum of 7 peices if free standing and the more you display the better your trade terms are (only slightly though). If a retailer doesn't or can't meet all the criteria then they are reffered to Maurice Lay as the official Miele distributor in the UK.

It is all quite stringent but as a Miele dealer it is worth it as you can make reasonable profit with them and you get excellent support.