German kitchens

littlerock

My Magnet kitchen was installed 30 years ago and is still going strong. (It was top of the range painted wood but still.....) the appliances have been replaced but not the units

Davesnave

Kitchenbloke_Leeds wrote: »

. I'm considering buying a new car. I'm really torn...... I've been looking around at what's out there but I don't want to get ripped off. I've been looking at a Dacia Sandero, a VW Golf, a Mercedes S Class and a Bentley Bentayga..... The Dacia is about £6000 and the Bentley is £160,000. I can't really tell the difference.
I do want it to last and I'm used to buying the best that I can afford, I'm quite particular and appreciate detail, good design and even though I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering I don't have the time nor inclination to tinker with repairs. .

Best avoid the Bentley, then:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/11537964/Bentleys-are-the-least-reliable-cars-says-survey.html

.

leveller2911

Kitchenbloke_Leeds wrote: »

Since we seem to be getting along better now we've got that out of the way I'd like to ask you some advice.

My last post was the first time I've replied to you and hadn't realised we weren't "getting on" as you call it.

I'm considering buying a new car. I'm really torn. Money isn't really an issue because of course as you and Furts or you as Furts would probably suggest.................. what do you think ?

Sorry kitchenbloke but I know next to naff all about cars and I'm not sure why you would address the question to me.I tend not to post on subjects I know nothing about, its just a rule I have as it stops me looking stupid when someone who does have the knowledge corrects me.

Having said that I do know a bit about making kitchens as opposed to selling kitchens.There's quite a bit of difference between the two,I'm sure you would agree so any questions regarding how to make units,worktops,curved units,islands,integrated etc etc etc then I'm happy to give my input ,also costs of materials and quality of materials.

Happy to answer any questions and give advice/input you may have about General Joinery so anything from windows,doors,kitchens,staircases,wardrobes,coffins etc etc etc but sadly not cars I'm afraid.



I'm sure you're a busy man and appreciate the time it must have taken to post your "car " analogy but you didn't actually answer my question about "superior Quality" Blum hinges that cost £10-00 a pair and are far better than the usual Blum hinges.

I'm genuinely interested in your views and as you said I have an open mind so how about you educate me with some facts about the quality of materials used in German kitchens.

I'm sure you know your onions and not just another "salesman" trying to give the impression you're different to all the rest and not trying to sell an overpriced product to naive clients.

PS: You could try the Motoring section of the forum..

adamg

oh the banter today....

Furts

adamg wrote: »

oh the banter today....

Just in case anyone had not spotted a point. In#51 Kitchenbloke is saying Leveller and I are the same person. We are not, and we both have entirely different jobs and roles. All we have in common, from what I have observed, is an interest in decent standards of construction. To this one can add consumer advice, and seeking value for money which is why we are posting on a money saving Forum.

When this is considered one can see Kitchenblokes earlier comment that I preach "cheapest is bestest" is not correct. I have never stated this. What I do believe is quality and value are good parameters to have.

Kitchenbloke did not come back on any of the technicalities raised in levellers posts, or my posts. However Kitchenbloke refers to superior Blum hinges at £10, suggesting this warrants a reason to buy an expensive German kitchen. Fine by me if that is what people seek. But equally my contract built, low cost, UK kitchen came with these hinges as standard, complete with soft closers.

There is a tremendous amount of sales puff surrounding kitchens at independent retailers. As always it is down to the consumer to cut through the fact from fiction when listening to sales people on any product, be that a kitchen, a bathroom, double glazing, new fascias or whatever.

donmaico

Trouble with these arguments between kitchen experts is that for someone who knows absolutely sod all about them but would like well made to last kitchen at a reasonable price, ends up getting confused.
The used expression : "row of chipboard boxes on plastic legs" would seem to apply to just about every kitchen made bar the bespoke ones.One assumes that some MFC boxes are better than others.If such boxers are made from Egger boards the question then is which manufacturers use them? I notice this online store supplies cabinets made from it but I know nothing about them but am suspicious of the fact they sell a cabinet for £10???? Surely the materials used would come to more than that http://www.diyluxurykitchens.co.uk/Kitchen-Units/Highline-Base-Units/Double-Highline/700mm.html?cPath=196_252_266

leveller2911

donmaico wrote: »

I notice this online store supplies cabinets made from it but I know nothing about them but am suspicious of the fact they sell a cabinet for £10???? Surely the materials used would come to more than that http://www.diyluxurykitchens.co.uk/Kitchen-Units/Highline-Base-Units/Double-Highline/700mm.html?cPath=196_252_266

Just had a quick lok at the site and if click the tab for "units" and search for ny type of unit and there aren't actually any prices for the units which is not a great start. They have prices for the doors,taps etc so my guess is they advertise 1 unit for £10 and they make the money back on selling a complete kitchen. Bit like 2 for 1 offers in the super market. No one buys a single unit or 10 units all the same size etc.Its just marketing, same as "buy a kitchen and we'll throw in laminate worktops" when in fact the worktops are priced into the kitchen price.

I fully get the marketing ethos and making yourselves stand out from the crown but the term "luxury kitchens" is bit of a stretch..

Personally that alone would make me walk way. No different in quality than B@Q etc but small companies tend to go pop more often than the large ,cheap end of the market suppliers like Howdens,B&Q etc so warranty would be my worry unless its insurance backed..

I'm all for small businesses btw..............:)

donmaico

leveller2911 wrote: »

Just had a quick lok at the site and if click the tab for "units" and search for ny type of unit and there aren't actually any prices for the units which is not a great start. They have prices for the doors,taps etc so my guess is they advertise 1 unit for £10 and they make the money back on selling a complete kitchen. Bit like 2 for 1 offers in the super market. No one buys a single unit or 10 units all the same size etc.Its just marketing, same as "buy a kitchen and we'll throw in laminate worktops" when in fact the worktops are priced into the kitchen price.

I fully get the marketing ethos and making yourselves stand out from the crown but the term "luxury kitchens" is bit of a stretch..

Personally that alone would make me walk way. No different in quality than B@Q etc but small companies tend to go pop more often than the large ,cheap end of the market suppliers like Howdens,B&Q etc so warranty would be my worry unless its insurance backed..

I'm all for small businesses btw..............:)

so am i,although I did buy my current kitchen 6 years ago from one of the big fellows Benchmarx who seemed to have followed Howdens lead by only selling to the trade fitters.I knew nothing then and although I know a little bit more now making the right choice is not easy.My priority in future would be to buy the best cabinets I could find in terms of construction then think of the frontages next because the way I see it, they can always be replaced as in a refurbishment.The tendency today to only think in terms of what a kitchen looks like and its features without giving a hoot about the carcases seems all wrong to me:)

leveller2911

donmaico wrote: »

so am i,although I did buy my current kitchen 6 years ago from one of the big fellows Benchmarx who seemed to have followed Howdens lead by only selling to the trade fitters.I knew nothing then and although I know a little bit more now making the right choice is not easy.My priority in future would be to buy the best cabinets I could find in terms of construction then think of the frontages next because the way I see it, they can always be replaced as in a refurbishment.The tendency today to only think in terms of what a kitchen looks like and its features without giving a hoot about the carcases seems all wrong to me:)

I agree, When I have time I'm going to make a kitchen for my home ,at the moment we have the cheapest Howdens 600 kitchen (already installed when we moved in) which is still serviceable after 23 years but it does show its age.

I think people who genuinely appreciate good workmanship will look beyong the "fluffy" bits of a kitchen (or any furniture for that matter) and look to see how something is constructed. I'm alway crawling under peoples dining tables (with permission) to see how they are constructed .

The problem is we are a throw away society so the things we tend to buy we don't need to last a long time so we don't really care if the quality is good or not. As I've always said if a cheap kitchen is looked after it will last 25yrs or more and the vast majority of people replace a kitchen because fashions change rather than it falling apart.

donmaico

leveller2911 wrote: »

I agree, When I have time I'm going to make a kitchen for my home ,at the moment we have the cheapest Howdens 600 kitchen (already installed when we moved in) which is still serviceable after 23 years but it does show its age.

I think people who genuinely appreciate good workmanship will look beyong the "fluffy" bits of a kitchen (or any furniture for that matter) and look to see how something is constructed. I'm alway crawling under peoples dining tables (with permission) to see how they are constructed .

The problem is we are a throw away society so the things we tend to buy we don't need to last a long time so we don't really care if the quality is good or not. As I've always said if a cheap kitchen is looked after it will last 25yrs or more and the vast majority of people replace a kitchen because fashions change rather than it falling apart.

That's good to know, but having read alarming comments about the commonly used foil/vinyl wrapped options I am already looking for signs of it peeling off my cabinets
Another thing that has irritated me is the fact some of my blum hinges have come apart in two of the corner units.In one case it came off the cabinet altogether so I had to use longer screws to reattach it and the others either the part that makes the door soft close came off or the two halves that make the hinge itself separated and it was heck of a job to put back together again because of confined space and lack of light.I think soft closing is a feature that is overrated.I think I would prefer conventional butt hinges on a frame attached to the carcases