New kitchen

prockie_2

Duncan - if you decide to go for 665 deep - ask the supplier if they can cut the back edge off (6mm or so) for you before they bring it out as they may have a cutting shop at the store you get it from. You also need "magic hinges" if you decide to integrate the appliances for the door to fit - hence the need for the end panels and the plinth will need good luck as it just doesn’t work really (having plinth) - and I am a fan of the "check how your neighbours are use the same space" option too.

"I would be very uncomfortable buying a kitchen from my own workings on my PC" - If your fitting then yes you should be careful but if you having a "pal" or fitter who knows the scheme of things get them to help you with layout, end panels and what doors and drawers may clash in corners when opened and such and you should be OK. I think the best way is graph paper and cutting out the units as shapes - don’t be embarrassed as it works and you can easily juggle the room around. Be careful that you can get the worktops round and in the door at full length too - or again ask if the supplier will cut to rough length to help with unloading and storage (get them cut oversized)

You don’t have to go to the sheds for the kitchen and if you pick a range with a genuine discount there are some great savings along with the fact you can put some units together yourself without shortages and missing items. I know this because we sell Chippendale Kitchens and it’s the same product the "smell the coffee" showrooms offer (we used to be a larger kitchens showroom). While we do have a small showroom if people want to pop over, most of our sales are online at this discounted rate and it’s a great range that you can put together yourself with a fitter “fitting” it. If you download the price list you will see the fixed prices and that there is a genuine 50% off the printed price list for September, October and November (supported by the factory) on eight ranges as well as discounts on other ranges of around 20-40%

This is a real money saving deal, with a real discount for September, October and November and loads of other ranges on discount also - and it’s possible with my low overheads and the factory delivering direct for me. Another plus point is the colour coordinated carcases so you use less end panels where you would have seen the carcase. To save even more money you can opt out of the slow closing drawers and the door dampeners so knock the top off the price.

It’s OK to go to the sheds but staff don’t seem to care and the density of the board, the hurried packing of the accessories and bits can be frustrating at 9pm on a Saturday when you want to get the last unit together but don’t have all the bits (and no one to phone and ask questions) You can get it cheaper from others but you do need the deeper worktops for one of them and you may have to go back to the shop a few times – We/I answer the phones 9am – 10pm 7 Days a week diverted to the mobile when I am out of the office or at home, and I really do want to emphasise that this is a real 50% of (and others) off the factory printed price list with damage free delivery and 100% orders. – Its great and so are the reviews about Selffit. – I just wonder if I will be kicked off here or taken for someone letting everyone know about the deal – a real deal.

If anyone needs any help - [EMAIL="andy@selffit.co.uk"]andy@selffit.co.uk[/EMAIL]

socrates

prockie - what you have just done is NOT allowed.

You need to obtain permission first.

Meepster

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

I love that - "genuine 50% off"

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

I love what it says on the website "Chippendale is one of the UK's premium kitchen manufacturers"

Oh is it now? I wouldn't class that product as "premium" at all, I would call it "standard"

prockie - if you want "premium" look here: http://www.stoneham.plc.uk/index.html

Oh yeah and your price list is for June 2008 - you could have at least bothered to update it before trying to recommend your "professional" service. What an amateur mistake to make...

Meepster

Oh I'm having fun here: For a company trying to be "premium". Some extracts from their website -

One fit and able person is required for laminate worktops. Two fit and able persons are required to help the driver for Solid wood. - What? You mean you have to HELP the delivery driver. What kind of a service is that?

Encore solid acrylic worktops - Erm. I think you'll find that Encore worktops are a 5mm acrylic surface, bonded to chipboard. The are NOT solid

Please be advised that we have a duty of care and responsibility to our drivers and cannot deliver above ground floor or more than 50 yards from the vehicle and at least one fit and able person must be on hand to assist all deliveries - Don't you mean duty of care to your DRIVER (singular)

any items over ordered or ordered incorrect cannot be retuned as the manufacturer has dictated that this cannot happen - Actually, you have to take them back, if requested to do so within 7 days of delivery, it's called the Distance Selling Regulations and items can be returned for ANY reason

Ok I'm bored now...

duncan32

Thanks again for all of this advice, it's a massive help.

One more thing, though. I have the cash to pay it all in one go, rather than finance. Does this put me in a stronger position to get an even greater discount with Wickes, or do they prefer to hook people onto the finance anyway?

Cheers!

Duncan

sharkie

Duncan32, one thing no one has said in regard to you kitchen is piping.

Ikea units are flat boxes that go against the wall and all the piping has to be cut into that box. Many other types have a back pannel that is brought further forward giving the ability to cut into the unit (notch a chunk out) keeping the back panel in tact. Obvious other units have less storage that the Ikea ones, but gaping holes, spiders and pipework may detract from what you want.

Meepster

duncan32 wrote: »

Thanks again for all of this advice, it's a massive help.

One more thing, though. I have the cash to pay it all in one go, rather than finance. Does this put me in a stronger position to get an even greater discount with Wickes, or do they prefer to hook people onto the finance anyway?

Cheers!

Duncan

They only like to get you on finance when they make money from it (The DC's get 1% of the total amount financed) IFC is different, as it costs them money to do, so you will be in a better position to negotiate a better discount...

rachelandgromit

I thought I'd give you my view too. I've just ordered my kitchen from Wickes, awaiting delivery on 26th September 2009. I had round B&Q, Wickes, Howdens, Homebase, Focus, Kitchens Direct and three local independent firms as well as doing the Ikea plan thing and sitting down with someone in the showroom. Price was important to me, but I am looking at staying in my house long term. Steer clear from Kitchens Direct - very hard sell and stumbled on these by accident! The independent firms were way, way out on price and if I am honest, the only difference I found was that inside the cupboards were colour matched and not white - for me this was not worth the extra money! Unless someone wants to empty my cupboards of all the things out of them, who cares about the colour inside! Out of the DIY places I found Wickes to be far superior in quality and the units just felt more sturdy and the soft close draws, hinges, etc as standard and believe me I did my homework, even to the point of half climbing in the cupboard in the showroom to look inside:eek:. The guy who came to see me was great and didn't try and fob me off and slate other companies, just gave me honest advice (I'd done my homework anyway). In the end I went for the Aventos (folding up wall cupboards) in the woodgrain gloss and the latte gloss. I did not order my applicances, sink, worktop or handles from them as I sourced these elsewhere. I am planning granite or quartz for the worktop seperate. Lucky my dad is fitting the kitchen for me. I don't work for Wickes, I was just really impressed with the quality. I ordered during the last couple of weeks of the sale so got the sale prices and got the interest free credit thrown in too (took some haggling) for 12 months (if my order had come to over £3000 I could of got 24 months interest free. I had saved the 'sale' brochures from Wickes for 12 months so when I came to order I was able to compare the 'sale' prices from previous months to work out whether the price was a true reflection of the 'sale'.

Good Luck whatever you decide. If you search for 'appliances' you can see how I got mine cheap (I posted on here).

rabbitwarren

I would second everything that the previous poster said. I love my Wickes kitchen, top quality. But source the appliances elsewhere, they are double expensive!

Meepster

See, told you Wickes were good