New Kitchen

mobile-bits

Can see a lot of good stuff on this thread about Howdens kitchens

Am hoping to fit my own kitchen and have a couple of questions.

Do they have the fake backs mentioned by someone earlier in the thread to make running pipework etc easier (unlike the IKEA ones mentined i believe)?

Are the units themselves colou co-ordinated so that when doors are closed you don't see the white from the carcaees through the cracks and surrounds?

I presume they have the high quality metal runners etc?

Any other feedback welcomed!

Robert

v2cooper

Hi everyone,

just thought I would post a quick message about this kitchen thread!

I myself work for B&Q on the showroom department in one of the warehouses, and would just like to give you my opinion about a couple of the things said about B&Q on this thread.

Firstly, on one the posts someone said that we (as a big firm), don't care about the customer, I can say that is absolute rubbish, myself and my collegues take great pride in what we do, afterall, the simple fact is, if we didn't we would lose customers, then have no customers, and then no job! With each kitchen lead I process, the customers know that I will take care of them, and in short, ensure that should anything unexpected happen, I will put it right ASAP. I know we don't live in a perfect world, and there are some staff that aren't as committed, but to say we don't care as much as the little man, is rubbish.

Secondly, just a quick word about installation, yes we are not as cheap as someone independent, but, the quality is often better and is under guarantee. So many times have I had to go on home visits because a customer has complained that we have supplied too much or too little and, the independent fitter has simply not followed our plans. There are really good independent fitters but so many customers do get stung by cowboys.

As for built in appliances, the best time to look at those is when there is an offer on, at those times it is harder to find the same cheaper without a doubt.

A quick word about Focus kitchens too, I used to work for Focus and my parents bought a full kitchen from there, the chatsworth kitchen, and the quality is shocking. The 15 year old kitchen they took out was better quality.

I will leave it there because I don't want to take over and rant too much, but if anyone wants to ask me about B&Q kitchens etc, then feel free and I will answer as honestly and professionally as possible.

Happy shopping! :beer:

v2cooper

Oh sorry just one last thing I wanted to say, yes some items do get damaged on delivery or probably sometimes before delivery, but as its packaged, you can't tell, but since I have worked for B&Q, I have not come across one incident of a quality issue other than a worktop that had been fitted for 10 months that cracked, which our supplier replaced. I am sure that overall its not as cut and dried as this, but I think our quality is excellent.

scottyedhow

tightgit wrote:

Companies would not keep duff fitters, because they would cause to many problems. If you do have problems, at least using a larger company there are people that you can complain to other than the fitter. Also if you are not happy with one fitter they will have others that they can use.

Such companies have a very high turnover of fitters as they mess the fitters around. Most good fitters are working for themselves therefore these companies use a lot of unknown newbies. I suppose it depends how high your standards are. Self-employed fitters rely on reccommendation therefore it's important they do a good job. Why use a large company if your expecting to have problems to complain about. Also, they'll never swap your fitter, just get the original one back. Trust me, I know!!!

v2cooper

scottyedhow wrote:

Such companies have a very high turnover of fitters as they mess the fitters around. Most good fitters are working for themselves therefore these companies use a lot of unknown newbies. I suppose it depends how high your standards are. Self-employed fitters rely on reccommendation therefore it's important they do a good job. Why use a large company if your expecting to have problems to complain about. Also, they'll never swap your fitter, just get the original one back. Trust me, I know!!!

Can't say I agree with all of that, we for example have a stringent vetting procedure for new fitters, and if they are rubbish then they won't get employed, the fact that our fitted products carry good guarantees shows our commitment to our products and our installation service. If we don't have high standards we won't get the jobs and it will cost us alot of money. Try getting an independent fitter back, say for instance 18 months down the line, to rectify a problem, it will more than likely cost you. Fair enough independents rely on reccomendation, but if they don't want to do something, they can leave! At least with the large companies you have comeback!

tightgit_2

scottyedhow wrote:

Such companies have a very high turnover of fitters as they mess the fitters around. Most good fitters are working for themselves therefore these companies use a lot of unknown newbies. I suppose it depends how high your standards are. Self-employed fitters rely on reccommendation therefore it's important they do a good job. Why use a large company if your expecting to have problems to complain about. Also, they'll never swap your fitter, just get the original one back. Trust me, I know!!!

Trust me I know - The companies in my area do not have a high turnover of fitters, almost all of the fitters of the companies we fit for have been with them for many years.
Our standards are extremly high and we have many recommendations to prove it.
My point is that if you use a large company their work carries a guarantee and if you do have problems there are people other than the fitter who can solve them and who can take an objective view.
Independant fitters are more likely for various reasons to stop trading.
People fitting for large companies are vetted and their worked is checked. This isn't the case with an independant fitter.
The companies in my area do swap fitters on the rare occasions when a customer is not happy.

I suppose they must just be far more professional in my area.

MaureenHB

Must say I had no complaints about B&Q kitchen.. fitter very competent.. parts WERE missing, but were delivered in time to be fitted. Not particularly cheap, but as I am not able to do it all myself I have to be prepared to pay someone else. Am moving house soon and will definitely use B&Q again.
MM

Mental-Saver!!

Hi

Hubby and brother-in-law are both chippies/builders etc by trade. They install kitchens etc for customers sometimes. They always purchase from Howdens which apparently supply MFI Shreiber and Hygena Units, utilities & worktops all at 70% discount. :eek:
You do need an account wuth them, but if you know someone who has their own business this should not be a problem.
For instance, last year we bought a new kitchen from them, it was in the woodbridge but in howdens its called greenwich beech. We bought several units, I think 7 base units, rotunda, a set of 3 drawers, 2 glass lighted cabinets and several wall units, hob unit, 3 x 3 metres of high gloss black posh worktops, sink and oven, all pelmets, kickboard, shelf ends, hob and filter and it all came to £1085.00 inc VAT. :j You can pick it up and take it away the same day as they hold 95% of items in stock.
I didnt think that was bad :T

I am very lucky that I have several builders to hand...lol.

Mental-Saver!!!
xxx

Dumplin

I am looking fitters.. I am in Harlow, any recommendations. I have 18 howden units to fit

thanks

theadore_2

i'm looking for a new kitchen in the next couple of weeks... me and my girlfriends dad are installing ourselves. After a quick look around B&Qs current 70% offer is the best we've seen so far... does anyone know when this ends or whether there are cheaper places available to us. I don't really know anyone who has a business so places that require this are not much help... thanks in advance to anyone who can help.