Wren Kitchens - My Review

grandadof4

Seems there are a few more positive comments than I first read.

Another point when you buy a kitchen from a showroom (wren, B&Q, Wickes etc. etc. they are selling you the units and appliances. Fitting is always extra and so are alterations to electric, water, gas supplies. Always remember to compare like with like when it comes to prices but also take account of the fact that Wren units are assembled and not flat pack so fitting costs should be less.

If a firm give an all in quote ask for a breakdown so you can compare unit/appliance costs and fitting costs.

annberlin

Petit_pois wrote: »

Hi all
Sorry for the delay in our progress with the wren kitchen we ordered. So far so good, the kitchen arrived, everything was present and correct and in good condition. Our kitchen fitter is currently busy putting it altogether so can't say what the finished product looks like just yet. We sourced our own worktops, sink, tap, appliances (apart from Bosch dishwasher as this came with the kitchen for £75) and as I've said got our own fitter.
We went for cream handleless gloss, 2 tower units, 1 1000mm base, 2 corner 1000mm bases, 1 drawer unit and a unit for housing dishwasher as all appliances are integrated, and it all came to £3350 roughly very reasonable we thought. So far I can't complain, eager to see the end result in a weeks time!!

Please let me know how your kitchen looks after using it for a while because after much research do like the look of the handle less white gloss kitchen. Thanks

rabthejab

well I had a lot of problems 2 worktops scratched, 2 wrong size worktops, dish washer crumpled, missing plinth plus damaged plinth two doors, Had a lot of help from sales people but one in particular is just a waste of space and is very uneasy with people always interested in an arguement, dont get me wrong the kitchen looks great but I would like to be able to take out a drawer which seems impossible and I would also like to fit the dish washer door which also appears impossible, there are no instructions at all to fit the door you get a large chart which is no help at all It points to where to drill but no measurements, there are plastic plugs to go in the door where is the question there are 10 screws when it shows 12 and the screws have different numbers but are the same horrendous.
anyone with any info to help please reply. as I have tried all the info on wren and there is no info for theser two items apart from the drawer which is released from the front I would love to know where exactly.
any help greatly appreciated

captdigby1

the large chart is normally the template, tape it to the door and it shows where to screw the brackets. once done rip it off and its ready to be installed onto the dishwasher..

Regards

bigjon

Just a bit of inside info on Wren. When you visit the showroom be aware that you won't be getting the solid backs that they have on the displays, they've changed to flimsey ones now in a bid to save money (apparently over £1m per year). It looks like the Healey family is getting ready to yet again sell Wren.

Look forward to other cost cutting in both product and service. If you struggle to get through to a branch it's because the people trying to design the kitchens also have to answer all the phone calls at the same time as well as sort all the complaints, order the actual kitchens, order replacement parts, deliver them, deal with people coming into the showroom, measure customers kitchens, survey them, organise fitters, complete huge amounts of never ending paperwork & reports, clean and maintain the showroom. If you're lucky you'll get an answer but what ever happens don't expect someone to ring you back, especially the management.

Don't get me wrong the staff on the work floor try their best but as I say if you see what is expected of them you'd understand. Just look at a previous post from a member of the production team, it's true they rule with fear from the top (Armando Sanchez, ex-American police officer) who nobody will ever say boo to.

In summing up just read all the reviews, the ones on their own site are all genuine but remember you won't find any bad ones there.

te2008

BobAJob wrote: »

Very true. I was a product manager and was fired from Wren early in the year for no reason. I was bullied and humiliated and finally dismissed for no valid reason. This happened to others too. It's little surprise the customer service is so poor as this type of management style leads to disillusioned staff.

I bet you got bullied for not doing their childish roll play

brandnewkitchen

Hi
I put a deposit down on a cream handless gloss kitchen back in January this year, I am about to put the order through at the beckton branch, london. So far everything is ok, The main reason why i chose Wren was because of the 0% finance package, i expect i am paying slighlty more, but with a new extension to pay for at the same time it makes sense. On the whole other reviews are not great, but i am hoping it will go ok. will let you know how I progress

VWood

I also ordered from Wren specifically for the 0% deal.
All was well until today. When the kitchen was delivered my carpenter noticed that when the dishwasher was opened, it wouldn't be possible to walk around the door as it was too close to the island. No problem, we weren't too concerned we just shifted the dishwasher along the line a bit and moved the pipes.
But then I realised the draining board for the sink was now on the wrong side. Both my builder & I have tried to get help from the Cardiff store where we bought the kitchen. All we have requested is a straight swap of a Left handed sink for a right.
They have been beyond unhelpful and are trying to charge me for another sink. The designer told me that if we had paid Wren to fit the kitchen they would have done a proper survey, noticed the problem with the dishwasher and therefore would have rectified it. Apparently it is my fault for having my own fitter rather than something the designer should have been aware of!!
I am so very cross it's unreal. I wish I had seen this forum before I ordered and I would have thought twice.
I asked the Cardiff store for Mr Sanchez's number and unsurprisingly they gave me an incorrect one. Thankfully I found it on here and have left him a message.
So now we wait and see if he will help me. Watch this space!!

VWood

Well, credit where credit is due.
The Area Manager, Gavin, has just called me back and all is sorted. He was very helpful and professional and my sink will be exchanged asap!

Irritated1

I was in Wren Kitchens on Sunday. I wasn't getting served so sat at an order station, waiting until someone was available. What I got was a staff member who told me "wrong desk love". ie go away. No offer of help or finding a salesman who was available.

Reception was not much better. I asked for ideas and prices. Asked for a kitchen similar to that currently advertised in the paper but was told it did not come with the cupboards I wanted. This is okay as I had Plan B with me, the Wren online planning sheet in my bag with measurements, specs, sizes etc. So I asked the salesman to "sell me something". Suprisingly this did not work either. I was told they have other kitchens! In a kitchen showroom??? Quelle suprise!

I am not sure if it was because I was an unaccompanied female (they were very eager to sell to my partner when we went in to view a fortnight ago), whether they judged me by my appearance (summer dress equals no brains???) or were just incompetent, but I got the message. "Wrong desk" clearly meant "wrong store". So, if you are a single female think twice about going to Stevenage Wrens. You may not get a good experience. Or even a kitchen! Shame on you Wrens. I expected better.