Howdens Glendevon White Gloss Kitchen Quote

sugarsugar_2

Hi all

This is the quote that the fitter has passed on to me. I'm not happy with it as it's very confusing- for example, the Lamona wine cooler- I have found the exact same model online for £199. However on this quote, with a 60% discount, they are charging £417.12? (£347.60+VAT)

Also is it odd that the fitter insisted on being present when the Howdens designer came to our home? It made me feel a little uneasy, in a way that they were joining forces to try and fleece me- or perhaps I am supremely paranoid!

1 GLE5090 Gle Wh Nh Edging Strip 75.00 3.85 F
1 GLE5139 Gle Wh Nh 600 CC HL Sink Base 75.00 167.50 F
1 GLE5146 Gle Wh Nh 600 CC 3 Dwr Base 75.00 264.00 F
2 HYH8133 Dlx 600 Cutlery Tray 75.00 15.00
1 GLE5147 Gle Wh Nh 600 CC 2 Dwr Base 75.00 187.00 F
2 ACK1134 Pan Drawer Sides (x2) 75.00 30.00
1 GLE5341 Gle Wh Nh 1000 CC HL Cnr Base 75.00 137.75 F
2 RKC0600 Base Blanking Panel 800/1000 75.01 8.84 F
1 GLE5406 Gle Wh Nh 200 CC Full Ht Wall 75.00 68.00 F
1 GLE5411 Gle Wh Nh 400 CC Full Ht Wall 75.00 76.25 F
1 GLE5416 Gle Wh Nh 450 CC Full Ht Wall 75.00 79.75 F
4 GLE5421 Gle Wh Nh 500 CC Full Ht Wall 75.00 330.00 F
1 GLE5462 Gle Wh Nh 631 CC Full Ht Cnr Wall 75.00 100.50 F
1 GLE5536 Gle Wh Nh 800 Cc Hl Full Ext Cnr 75.00 392.75 F
1 GLE5801 Gle Wh Nh 200 Wine Rack 75.00 226.25 F
2 GLE5904 Gle Nh 600 HL App Door 75.00 134.00 F
4 GLE5919 Gle 30mm Sqr Profile Cornice/Pelmet 85.00 79.20 F
4 GLE5920 Gle Continuous Plinth 85.00 111.00 F
3 GLE5930 Gle Base Decor End 85.00 77.40 F
4 GLE5941 Gle 752 Full Ht Wall Decor End 85.00 83.40 F
2 GLE5947 Gle 900 Extra Tall Wall Decor End 85.00 51.90 F
1 SNK5900 Lamona 1.5 Bowl Undermount Inc 60.00 216.80
1 PLU6000 1.5 Dbl Dlx Plumb Kit/Twin App Conn 60.00 22.80
1 HJA8501 1400rpm Washing Machine 60.00 385.20
1 LAM8601 Lamona 60cm Dishwasher 60.00 376.40
1 ZZD39 Delivery 0.00 60.00
1 ACK3162 Circular Plinth Lights 60.00 52.00
22 HKB1238 Nickel Effect 188mm Handle 59.96 92.40
1 GLE5206 Gle Wh Nh 200 CC HL Base 70.00 81.60 F
1 GLE5232 Gle Wh Nh 600 CC HL Recycle Bin 70.00 329.40 F
1 GLE5438 Gle Wh Nh 600 Cc 900 Tall Wall 70.00 150.60 F
1 GLE5805 Gle Wh Nh Matt 150 Wine Rack 70.00 121.80 F
21 HKB1238 Nickel Effect 188mm Handle 69.97 66.15
1 LAM6911 Lamona 300mm Drink Cooler 60.00 347.60

Total Goods 4927.09
VAT 985.42
Estimate Total 5912.51

My fitter assures me that he wouldn't make any money on the above and that I won't get a kitchen of this quality cheaper elsewhere. I can obviously see for a fact that the appliances are hugely overpriced so will get those elsewhere.

I asked Howdens to quote me using the October sale prices as thats when we intend to purchase- I dread to think what the price would be when it isn't on sale! Considering the above doesn't include worktops (we are getting quartz elsewhere) it seems steep.

I also asked for them to quote me on the greenwhich white gloss for comparison but they haven't sent this to me. But my understanding is that the only thing that differs is the actual cupboard door, as the carcasses are all the same? So perhaps the greenwich wouldn't be much cheaper at all.

Anyway if there are any experts reading I would hugely appreciate your thoughts, thanks in advance!

adamg

You are being done up like a kipper, either Howdens are ripping you off and I would guess that kitchen is making 65% margain or your fitter is pocketing a good £500-700 on this job. What area are you in people may be able to advise a different tradesman.

markg55

I have had a recent Glendevon Gloss quote (it is cream not white) but I am getting 80% discount on most of the units my fitter may be getting a cut also (he says he isn't) but as the previous guy said either you guy is getting the other 5% or Howdens are, my guy isn't particularly big so doubt its down to how much business he puts there way.

Also as others have mentioned in other threads get appliances from elsewhere like ao.com or even Currys / John Lewis are all competitve now and you will get branded appliances for same or less than the re-badged Beko stuff that Howdens Lamona is.

sugarsugar_2

Just wanted to say thanks for your responses, I did read them but couldn't reply as I had no access to a computer and my phone is too fiddly.

You confirmed my suspicions and the fitter's pushy behaviour since my post has been the nail in the coffin! We got a quote from ikea for less than half which included more units and we are very happy with it.

Thanks again for your help.

moromir

You mention an October sale in your first post... any more details on that? I was looking to buy a Howdens kitchen shortly .. I'll wait a bit longer if theres a sale to be had!

MrCardigan

Howdens do offer big discounts.

I would just like to comment about the mark-up issue though please, but please dont shoot me down in flames for my honesty

Are you buying the goods direct from Howdens with your own account or is your fitter getting them? If your fitter is getting them, why shouldn't he make a bit of money on it. It is his trade discount that he has earned through regular repeat purchases from them. He then chooses how much of that discount to pass on to his customers to get the job.

Shops buy their items wholesale at low prices then sell them at retail prices to the public. This is no different - the fitter is the retailer, howdens are the wholesaler.

The fitter would end up having to pay the wholesaler for the kitchen even if the customer ended up as a rogue payer (yes, I'm afraid there are rogue customers out there, just as there are sadly rogue tradesmen). I personally would not take on this business risk if there was no chance of some profit for my company.

However, it sounds like you have done the right thing by not using him. If he can't even be honest about what he is making, then why trust him with the job.

Finally, I personally like to be present when howdens are planning a project, but do not insist on it. This is not for fleecing customers. I prefer to have an idea of what is being ordered and know that everything is there for me. No good turning up to fit it and realising that the units ordered don't fit or do what the customer wants. Two heads are also often better than one and we often come up with better ideas.

Hope this helps

sugarsugar_2

Moromir yes they have their sale every October, as far as I could gather this would mean either a few hundred off the price or a free appliance thrown in.

Mr Cardigan- no shooting from me I promise. I totally agree with you that I'd be happy for the fitter to make a bit on the kitchen. However I don't like the dishonesty- when we first met him he claimed he does not make a single penny on the kitchens and is a real genuine person. Looking at the above quote anyone can see he is a complete liar and then he did get very aggressive about us going ahead with the quote. I'm sure this is not the way you conduct your business :-)

If he'd been honest and upfront from the start, no problem, we would probably have gone with Howdens. It's the total lack of transparancy that put me off.