New kitchens - howdens, wren or benchmarx?

helen_roberts_2

I've narrowed new kitchen down to howdens, wren or benhmarx... I think..

Just looking to find out what people think of these companies - quality of kitchens, price, is one superior to other, etc

Good or bad, all info welcomed

Cheers

MoneySavingExpert.com Insert:

You might also like to check out the latest on our DIY Deals page

aah

I would never use howdens.

They can give you a price all they say is that they are a wholesale carpentry (joke!) and that their installers will quote.

Now the installers get a discount depending on how much howdens like them so you never get to know the true price which is probably peanuts

And they have a lousy range of cabinet sizes.

And when we asked them to quote they measured it up wrong - 1 metre out. We decided to go with another company but our fitter recommended that we give howdens another try - we did. Their expert designer stayed in the shop but decided that our own design "just wouldnt work" They sent out an expert measurer - who got it wrong again, but to be fair, only by 10cm this time.

Shoddy and amateurish. Our fitter - who arrived swearing by howdens - said how much he loved fitting our ikea kitchen, even building the units which he normally hated.

Bargepole job.

lagaaa

I have no experience of the others but have just had a howdens kitcehn and love it - early days though!

marmitepotato

I have a Howdens kitchen and I love it.

gamston

i've got a howdens kitchen,
fitted by a friend
been in about 6-7 yrs, still looks as good as new

helen_roberts_2

Howdens seem to be popular. Hubby's is going to apply for a trade account, til then I have no idea what their prices are. We've had wren come out to measure too so waiting on their quote and I believe benchmarx are wickes kitchens a trade prices so am getting wicks out next week and again hubby will apply for trade account

wii_man1

helen_roberts wrote: »

Howdens seem to be popular. Hubby's is going to apply for a trade account, til then I have no idea what their prices are. We've had wren come out to measure too so waiting on their quote and I believe benchmarx are wickes kitchens a trade prices so am getting wicks out next week and again hubby will apply for trade account

just had a high gloss benchmarx kitchen fitted , they are wickes units or gower units really.

decent price soft close as standard stay away from howdens magical discounts.

ottie73

I have to say I would NEVER NEVER NEVER recommend Wren kitchens to my worst enemy.

I have ordered through wren, their customer services leaves a lot to be desired. Trying to find the same person to speak to about your issues is also a no go, they all seem to "no longer work for the company".

The Manager ordered the wron sized units, (they were too tall) didn't order enough end panels, the sink 1/2 I ordered didn't have a plug for the 1/2 sink. They told me I wasn't due a refund on the new units and were quite rude about it, as the prices had gone up. I only got a refund as I pushed the issue, which they then told me I was due £4, again that was revised because I pushed the issue. It took them over two weeks to send the check and 3 more calls from me to get it.

The store I ordered through, didn't want to know about the issues, and when asked by customer service to ring me, to help with my queries they gave the information back to customer service to ring me instead. Trying to get the units to be swopped at my house was another issue, they gave them the wrong postcode, the 1st time, second time they didn't even bother to ring me to arrange a date they just rand me on the day, and asked when you home, when I told them it wasn't a convenient day, they got quite shirty with me. Told them what day would be, they didn't even bother to find out if the delivery guys could do it, but told me it was fine.

I could go on and on and on, about the issues I have had with them.

I have yet to speak to someone who has had a good experience with them.

CyCo_2

Of the 3 the OP has mentioned, Benchmarx would be the best option, by a long shot!

cobster

I have just had a Howdens kitchen installed. Units are fab - finish by the fitter/builder is disasterous. Just about to write to Howdens to give feedback from an end-user on their products. Currently I would not recommend Howdens unless you have a good fitter who has attention to detail.

muskoka

I vote for Howdens too. Well fitted kitchen in previous house cos hubby fitted it. Hes a chippy