howdens appliances how good are they?

eiloveadvice

This is my first post ever on any forum. I am going to buy a Howdens kitchen. The quote includes a Lamona hob and oven. Does anyone know how these compare in quality to Bosch or Neff appliances. What about other Howdens (Lamona) items such as their fridges? I just can't decide whether to get Howdens own brand or to look elsewhere and would so appreciate any advice. It will be SO exciting if I get a reply!

phill99

Lamona are made for Howdens by Beko, which is a value brand. They come with a standard manufacturers 12 month guarantee, as do more expensive makes.

I have done a number of kitchen installs in the last 5 - 6 years using low end appliances and have never had a callback. My own kitchen has a fagor, which is a low end Italian brand. I changed it a couple of years ago after 12 years of dervice for no other reason than I wanted a stainless steel one and it was till going strong.

If you go for a basic oven and hob, there isn't a great deal to go wrong and parts are readily available on the net.

I'm not advocating cheap brands, but I'm not convinced you get twice as much value from a brand that costs twice as much.

Remember you don't have to buy your appliances from Howdens.

You can get some good deals on the web, especially appliance 'packages' so may be worth lookiing into.

Jeannine

I had to make a similar decision, but we have gone for the Howdens oven, hob and extractor as it seemed to be much better value to buy the whole package. (And the more you buy from them, the bigger the discount - I believe?!) We only need a ceramic hob (touch controls) and a single fan oven and integrated extractor, so hope there's not too much to go wrong!!

deanos

Before you buy check out the prices of the same Beko ones elsewhere

Doozergirl

Howdens are not value for moeny on the appliance side.

I didn'tthink they were Beko, I thought they were linked to Hygena and the old MFI side of things. I had heard that they were a nightmare to service as parts are notwidely available.

You can buy branded hob & oven packs from B&Q which are good value - even better on a 15% off weekend. Whirlpool, hotpoint & others - under £300 on the weekends. I have bought countless Howdens kitchens, do check the prices but have never bought appliances from them because there arealways better, cheaper out there.

Ultimately Howdens sell wood. I'll buy wood from people that sell wood. And appliances from people that sell appliances and the appropriate aftercare...

Meepster

There's a reason Lamona appliances are lovingly called Lemon appliances by a lot of people in the business (including some from Howdens)...

Pont_Postie

Don't do it!

We had a new kitchen installed by Howden exactly twelve months and two weeks ago. I'm sitting here on Christmas eve and the fridge has broken down. What timing. Just out of guarantee. Howden's are closed until 4 January and the Lamona contact centre is closed until Sunday.

Given the time to start all over I would avoid the cheap and nasty stuff, go for a known and trusted brand.

:mad:

McKneff

Pont_Postie wrote: »

Don't do it!

We had a new kitchen installed by Howden exactly twelve months and two weeks ago. I'm sitting here on Christmas eve and the fridge has broken down. What timing. Just out of guarantee. Howden's are closed until 4 January and the Lamona contact centre is closed until Sunday.

Given the time to start all over I would avoid the cheap and nasty stuff, go for a known and trusted brand.

:mad:

If your fridge is just out of guarantee fight it, i believe there is something called the EU directive, google this, it just might be to your advantage unless other posters know something about it.
Good luck