My MFI Space cream kitchen quote, your thoughts please

poet123

I went back to MFI and without appliances or worktops it comes to £2650. I am waiting for a Howdens quote but the chap said he expects it to be approx £100 dearer than MF but that we should note the units are 18mm and rigid built,so it will save the builder time and they are better quality. I will probably have the Howdens quote by Tuesday so???

Now,the sale at MFI ends on Wed as does the interest free option which is very attractive! I am uncertain what to do......do you think there is a chance MFI will throw in the dishwasher that was on offer last week,apparently the quote has been cut to the bone already?if so when is the best time to go in to push them to the lowest price /freebie?

Thanks in advance for any help

vansboy

We used the free plan/design service of MFI, with intention of checking what we had already designed ourselves, on the IKEA downloadable (again free) planner. & also to get a comparable price.

Our design was fine, MFI wouldn't have improved on it, but were around £500 more expensive (on a £1200 cost for units only!!). The add on costs for installing appliances for the electrician/Corgi was something like £175 EACH one!!

So you'll save by buying the units & appliances & finding a fitter, as mentioned!!

VB

poet123

Thanks we are having our builder fit it,and he has a tame electrician who works with him as required......how can they justfy those electrical fitting prices????
The thing is I really like the space cream kitchen with the square cornicing and Howdens don't do it.......not sure if I have the energy to split the buying to save a small amount.....but as yet I don't know hat the price differences will be.
Any advice on whether to leave it till 7pm on wed ?will the prices come down to secure the order?

shopaholicjules

Hi
I think they will throw in the dishwasher for free as long as they get a sale, there is always some more room to maneouvre, I got them to give me the Bosch dishwasher and not the diplomat that they were giving away so try for that, if that is the only reason they wouldn't get your sale, they will give you it.
The square cornicing was one of the big things that swayed me, also the edgings on the space cream are differnt.
Mine was delivered this week, the only thing that seem to let it down is the flimsy backing for the cupboards.
I got my fridge freezer (integrated), Bosch double oven and Bosch Hob from Empire Electrical and this saved me about 3/4 hundred pounds so was worth it.
The thing I am struggling with is a three holed tap for the bath.
Hope this helps.
Jules

matty_hunt

Check eBay. I got a design done at MFI then went on eBay. Got my solid walnut worktops identical to MFI for £200 each, MFI price was £880!!! Sinks, taps, door handles, all cheaper off ebay. Also intergrated appliances. Got an AEG intergrated washing machine for £200 yippee!! B&Q pirce was £600. AEG intergrated f/f £300, B&Q £650. Its worth a look.
Dont worry about the MFI sale ending soon. There is probably another one next week! Ive been looking at new kitchens for over 18 months now and one thing I have noticed is that MFI always have a sale on. Its either half price plus 12.5% off or half price plus 25% off. but as you have found, you can always haggle. They want your sale at the end of the day.

poet123

Update..... I got a quote from Howdens which was £325 cheaper than MFI and theirs are rigid units. So I contacted MFI and after them saying at the time we got our quote that it was rock bottom...they beat the Howdens quote by £50 and offered an integrated dishwasher!!! BUT when I mentioned this to Howdens and their rep said there was till room for negotiation with his quote. Result!!! So we intend to buy the units from Howdens(after some more negotiation)and the bits such as cornicing and chunky handles from MFI,my builder almost kissed me when I told him the units were factory assembled! I am buying appliances off ebay...to date a designer chimney hood for £85,and a frameless touch control hob £140 all good makes!

Thanks to all for the info it has really saves us lots of money.

vansboy

Let us know what the £$£$ is in the end, please Poet - maybe I need to re-check our buying from Ikea, again, idea!!

VB

catt_2

Hi

I have the Howdens brochure and pricelist from my builder. It's all very expensive compared to IKEA even through the brochure is labelled "Trade only".

What do you think? And did you pay those prices or get a discount?

poet123

I have not seen the brochure prices, but we did receive the trade discount as the rep could clearly see our builders were onsite when he came to measure up. To be honest I am not sure it would have mattered...they do seem sales orientated. Worth a quote though. I actually never considered IKEA as DH goes green at the mention of a trip there.....esp at weekends with kids in tow!! in any event we loved the Space Cream so as Howdens did the same range but in rigid factory built units(which will save money on fitting costs)we are going down this route.

Doozergirl

'trade discount' appears to be entirely at the discretion of the salesperson. Though I think the more 'trade' you bring them, the cheaper the price will be.

What poet123 has done is exactly the right thing. YOu fell far more confident haggling when you already have a cheaper quote from someone else in your hand.