Howdens Kitchen in Burford Cream - a rip off?

whizzkid001

Hi all,

Bit of a dilemma...

We've decided to have a new kitchen installed and are thinking of going with the Burfood Cream range at Howdens. We have a builder who has said we will get it at cost as he's not charging extra on top of fitting, and today Howdens came round to measure up.

However, they've just emailed us the quote which has come in at a staggering... £5,523.41!

Ok, I know that includes several appliances such as a double oven, touch control hob & integrated fridge, but even when you deduct the (overpriced) cost of all those, it's still a staggering amount (around £4000). I've looked at a few other threads where people have got this range a lot, lot cheaper, and quite honestly, individual prices have been quoted a lot lower than we've just got.

Below is their individual quotes for each itewm, together with the discount applied. I'd be grateful if anyone who has bought this range, or works at Howdens even, can give us any thoughts and perhaps some indication of whether this is overpriced or not. Many thanks.

1 600 CC HL base 70% 83.40
1 600 CC HL base 70% 83.40
1 600 CC HL base 70% 83.40
1 500 cush/cl 4 Drawer Base 70% 296.10
1 931 CC HL Crn Shelf Base 70% 190.20
1 400 CC HL base 70% 73.80
1 931 CC HL Crn Shelf Base 70% 190.20
1 631 CC L Shaped Cnr Wall 70% 169.50
1 300 CC FH wall unit 70% 52.20
1 400 CC FH wall unit 70% 57.60
1 600 CC hob wall unit 70% 49.20
1 800CC dbl FH wall unit 70% 91.80
1 300 CC FH wall unit 70% 52.20
1 631 CC L Shaped Cnr Wall 70% 169.50
1 300 CC FH wall unit 70% 52.20
1 600 70/30 Appl Twr 70% 164.10
2 base decor end 75% 56.50
1 f/h wall decor end 720MM 75% 24.50
2 tower decor end 75% 128.50
5 Square Cornice/Pelmet 75% 118.75
3 continuous plinth 75.00 56.25%
6 Pewter Twist D Handles 55% 15.90
20 Pewter Twist Handle 55.01% 42.20
3 Beech Block Effect 3M 616 38 W/Top 55% 178.20
1 Beech Block Effect 1.4M Edging 55% 3.15
1 Beech Foil W/Top Joint Compound 55% 6.52
6 Zip Bolt 54.92% 14.58
1 Dlx 500 Cutlery Tray 65% 7.59
1 Bosch S/s Dbl BU Fan Oven 60% 878.00
1 Matt Black Hj Branded Trivet 0.00 0.00
1 Touch Control Ceramic Hob 60% 316.40
1 Full Height Integrated Fridge 60% 376.00
1 Lamona Rutland 1.0rev cw Waste 55% 115.65
1 Sgl Bowl Plumbing Kit/App Conn 55% 14.40
1 Chrome Hi-Tech Monobloc Tap 55% 59.40
1 800 2 Drawer Base 70% 171.00
1 Delivery 0.00% 65.00
1 Integrated Extractor 65% 73.50
1 Carbon Filterx2 for Int/Conv 65% 22.05

Total Goods 4602.84
VAT correct at time of printing VAT 920.57
Estimate Total £5,523.41

nickj_2

have a look at what other kitchen firms are going to cost you, at the end of the day if it's what you really want then go for it , if it's not go for something else

Doozergirl

They can do a bit better than that, but this is the full works with worktops, sink, oven etc. and there is a huge amount of the budget allocated to appliances.

What bothers me is how symmetrical your kitchen is when there is one of this, one of that. Has this been designed or thrown together?

Don't even bother buying your appliances from there. There is no choice and they can't discount very much, in fact, they simply aren't competitive on appliances at all - they specialise in things made of wood, after all! I'd use one of the internet companies, but you'd find something you're happier with even if you go into Currys.

McKneff

Forget the discount bit, its really just for show and its irrelevant.

Ive had a look through at some of the things as I have just had a Burford white kitchen installed.
It really isnt too bad, the prices are about the same. the one thing i didnt want was a Lamona fridge, I went for the slightly more roomy Bosch. A little more expensive but then it was bigger.

I'm quite happy with the quality and the price i paid (mine was at cost too) and it was all delivered in one lot.
My own installer liked it.

The one thing I would say is I wish I had chosen the gloss, our worktops are like slate grey, the tiles are 3 diferent colours of grey but matt, the gloss , in my opinion, would have lifted it, even if it was about 30% more.

McKneff

Doozergirl wrote: »

They can do a bit better than that, but this is the full works with worktops, sink, oven etc. and there is a huge amount of the budget allocated to appliances.

What bothers me is how symmetrical your kitchen is when there is one of this, one of that. Has this been designed or thrown together?

Don't even bother buying your appliances from there. There is no choice and they can't discount very much, in fact, they simply aren't competitive on appliances at all - they specialise in things made of wood, after all! I'd use one of the internet companies, but you'd find something you're happier with even if you go into Currys.

I dont agree with you about the prices on the appliances. I got the price of £389 from Howdens and went to Currys, they told me if I could get the Bosch fridge at that price then snap their hands off cos Currys couldnt match it at all.

Doozergirl

McKneff wrote: »

I dont agree with you about the prices on the appliances. I got the price of £389 from Howdens and went to Currys, they told me if I could get the Bosch fridge at that price then snap their hands off cos Currys couldnt match it at all.

I said you would find something you would be happier with at Currys, meaning because of the choice. I didn't say that they would necessarily be cheaper.

Howdens are not competitive on appliance, it's a simple fact. Currys aren't either. Occasionally you will find a good deal on something but neither is where I'd be headed for consistently good deals on appliances. I buy appliances from the internet where overheads are lower.

Doozergirl

Howdens Oven £878 in the OPs list. There's only two BU to choose from, one Lamona, one Bosch.
http://www.howdens.com/product-range/appliance-collection/ovens/built-under-double-electric/bosch-double-fan-oven-1/

Stick "Bosch Built Under Double Oven into Google and click the very first link, narrow down the ovens, compare the appearance and it's £676 with £27 in boots points.

Now I know the serial code though...

Currys is £670:
http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/bosch-hbn13b251b-built-in-electric-double-oven-brushed-steel-07618357-pdt.html?srcid=369&xtor=AL-1-[Awin]

Put the code into the Google shopbot and it's £622 delivered.
http://www.365electrical.com/HBN13B251B.html?referrer=GoogleBase
And that's not the only company offering it for that price.

Call Appliance City and they'll beat that price even.

Five minutes work, at least £256 saved.
Nuff Said.

phill99

I buy a lot from Howdens but never encourage my customers to buy their appliances. Even by their own admission, they are expensive. You can also get better deals on sink / taps elsewhere.

I'm sorry to say that your fitter is making something on this - 10 or 11%. Their maximum trade discount is around 80% not 70%.

This item is completely unnecessary: "1 Beech Foil W/Top Joint Compound 55% 6.52".

Additionally, soft closers are a rip off from Howdens. They are charging you £25/drawer. when the mechanism can be bought for £2.50 if you know the right places. And apart from anything, soft closers are a gimmick!

GSDog

I'm about to order a Burford white kitchen and here are a couple of sample prices I've been quoted to give you an idea. I'm not sure if there is a different in price between the Burford cream and Burford white.

2 EA BFW5221 Bfw Wh Nh 500 Hl Base Unit 78.00% 115.72
2 EA BFW5930 Bfw Wh Nh Base Decor End 80.00% 45.20
1 EA BFW5146 Bfw Wh Nh 600 Cu.Cl 3 Drw Bs 78.00% 174.90
1 EA BFW5231 Bfw Wh Nh 600 Cu.Cl Hl Base Unit 78.00% 61.16
1 EA BFW5904 Bfw Wh Nh 600 Hl Appliance Door 78.00% 40.48
2 EA BFW5950 Bfw Wh Nh Tower Decor End 80.00% 102.80
1 EA BFW5584 Bfw Wh Nh 300 Cu.Cl Larder Cabinet 78.00% 105.38
1 EA BFW5581 Bfw Wh Nh 500 Cu.Cl Larder Cabinet 78.00% 105.38
1 EA HYH1325 500 Pull Out Pantry 65.00% 483.35
1 EA BFW5127 Bfw Wh Nh 500 Cu.Cl 4 Dwr Base Unit 78.00% 217.14
2 EA BFW5421 Bfw Wh Nh 500 Cu.Cl Fh Wall Unit 78.00% 87.56
2 EA BFW5411 Bfw Wh Nh 400 Cu.Cl Fh Wall Unit 78.00% 84.48

I would agree that it's probably better to buy the appliances elsewhere. You'll have far more choice and you can usually save some money. Howdens tried to sell me their Lamona 1.5 sink for something like £250 but I managed to find a Franke one which I think looks better on Ebay for £92.99. I also saved over £100 on the kitchen tap. I didn't even bother asking them to quote for the oven, etc.

keystone

Think they may just have sussed that the OP isn't trade. Now theres a surprise.

Cheers

xsezzx

I work at Howdens - 70% is the standard discount you would normally get on a Burford range.

If there is a deal being done then the discount will be higher. I know in my depot, if someone has a measure and buys their kitchen within a week the discount then can go up to 80% off in some cases with free appliances.

If you get LIKE FOR LIKE quotes from other competitors we will beat the price every time, however be wary of this as others will take things off to get the price down, as we are the best priced in the market (regulary beating magnets, benchmarx, wickes etc) So if you do take a price back to us, we will sell you what they have quoted for cheaper, however it may not be identical to the layout you have choosen / liked with us.

Hope this helps, happy kitchen hunting!