Howden's trade "discount"

kathy_b_2

Hi everyone.
My kitchen fitter has told me that he gets a 30% discount at Howdens. I've heard that trade discount at Howdens is more like 75%. (info from a trade webite) Do all kitchen fitters do this?
How do I find out how much they are actually charging him? It's so secretive I feel like there's a conspiracy going on.
I went on the screwfix forum (they obviously don't realize it's open to the public) and there were comments on there positively encouraging lying to customers. Suggesting that fitters who get 75% discount tell customers that they get 35% and pocket the difference and the customer will be grateful for the deal!
I'm not naive I know they've got to make a living but this seems underhand.
Is there a way of me getting hold of a Howdens discounted kitchen and giving it to my fitter without the 45% surcharge my he has kindly added?
Any comments?

rosekitten

I will send you a pm

Doozergirl

Has he given you an itemised quote for it? I've saved someone over £1000 this week based on their own builder's quote. I'll look any quote he gives you over and give it to our guy to beat (wouldn't be hard if he's telling you 30%!!)

Howdens give different discounts to different traders. The better your relationship (ie the more you spend) the better the discount you get so even tradespeople don't pay the same. But a 30% discount (off an imaginary price - who do they actually sell to at full price if the only sell to trade at a dicount!) really isn't right - the discounts vary on every single different product but 75% would be quite normal.

clairehi

kathy_b wrote: »

Hi everyone.
My kitchen fitter has told me that he gets a 30% discount at Howdens. I've heard that trade discount at Howdens is more like 75%. (info from a trade webite) Do all kitchen fitters do this?
How do I find out how much they are actually charging him? It's so secretive I feel like there's a conspiracy going on.
I went on the screwfix forum (they obviously don't realize it's open to the public) and there were comments on there positively encouraging lying to customers. Suggesting that fitters who get 75% discount tell customers that they get 35% and pocket the difference and the customer will be grateful for the deal!
I'm not naive I know they've got to make a living but this seems underhand.
Is there a way of me getting hold of a Howdens discounted kitchen and giving it to my fitter without the 45% surcharge my he has kindly added?
Any comments?

He may be telling the truth, but it may still not be the best deal that you can get if you shop around.

I had a quote from a local builder to supply and fit a Howdens kitchen, but this was beaten by a local independent kitchen company and it is a better quality kitchen I am getting for the money.

suisidevw

RoseKitten. Please PM me this info please. Many thanks

My father has an account with Howdens (developer) so planning to use this discount for some internal doors etc. Assume there will be no probs with this?

poet123

Howdens will deal with you as a customer if they know you are using a tradesman.

I bought all my kitchen units from them and they were happy to give the same discount they would have given to my builder direct, in fact I suspect that as it was near the end of the month for their figures, and I haggled shamelessly, and got a rapport gOing with the saleman, I got a better discount than my builder would have achieved.

rosekitten

So glad you mentioned this because I made a really
good saving on my oak internal doors.The quality is
lovely and they looked far better in reality than
on the pics.Also they had mine in a metric size
which is virtualy impossible to find unless you
you are prepared to have the white painted sort
or the kind that are used in factories & offices
The joiners just got to put the handle on this one
I am going to coat them in Osmo oil.Still a way to
go as they are still finishing off my bathroom

Doozergirl

rosekitten wrote: »

So glad you mentioned this because I made a really
good saving on my oak internal doors.

We've just fitted those same doors in our barn - two coats of Danish Oil we used. They are really gorgeous - you have good taste!

Get a first coat of that oil on immediately - even just dirty fingers will start ruining it very quickly!

suisidevw

I can't see the above pics but i went into their warehouse on Saturday and saw the 3 different wood 'qualities', some cheap one, pine and oak. The oak looked LOVELY. What do you guys above have?

Doozergirl

suisidevw wrote: »

I can't see the above pics but i went into their warehouse on Saturday and saw the 3 different wood 'qualities', some cheap one, pine and oak. The oak looked LOVELY. What do you guys above have?

These ones:
http://www.howdens.com/product-range/doors-joinery-collection/internal-doors/hardwood-doors/dordogne-oak/

rosekitten

suisidevw wrote: »

I can't see the above pics but i went into their warehouse on Saturday and saw the 3 different wood 'qualities', some cheap one, pine and oak. The oak looked LOVELY. What do you guys above have?

I got the oak,that one I got is
called dordoigne,the mans just
fitting the handles as I type.
They also do a matching
front door and a top opening
barn door.

doozergirl its a nice design as I think
it would look nice in a modern or traditional
setting.The joiners just been saying the
same about finger marks I will get going
with the oil once he has finished.