Howdens kitchens

angieanguk

We have had a quote for doing our kitchen up from a local 'discount' kitchen supply firm and they have come in at over 13k without plastering and electrical work but including appliances and 21sq metres of floor tiles.


After chatting to a local firm who also do kitchen fitting they have suggested trying Howdens. We just wondered what peoples experience of Howdens is in relation to price and service. TIA

Doozergirl

You should have it provided by a Tradesperson. If you're going that route, I'd try Benchmarx (generaly cheaper) and DIY kitchens.

Quality is perfectly fine from
howdens, service comes through your tradesperson in the main, but items are permanently stocked so turnaround is fast and anything missing or last minute changes can be accommodated swiftly.

Pricing isn't transparent.

Grenage

We used a local tradesman to replace the kitchen cupboard doors and handles before we sold our home; he used Howdens. Price was decent, quality seemed fine.

Manxman_in_exile

As others say Howden's don't supply a service to consumers - they supply equipment to the Trade only so you still need to find someone to fit it.


I managed to get a trade catalogue from our local branch a couple of years ago. The range of equipment seemed much more extensive and impressive than somewhere like B&Q or Homebase etc. Can't remember if it included prices or whether you had to be Trade to get those.

brightontraveller

Howdens stores have a policy of Dealing with Trade and offering much better discounts too them, Some stores stick too it like clue others ( I suspect with higher driven bonus hunting staff ) will discount and sell to anyone the discount will also vary as too how often you buy, how eager they are for your custom, how hard you barter with them?

kitchens are ok no better worse than many of the mass producers.

With kitchens being basically over priced for what they are no matter where you buy get lots of quotes? Play them off against each other even hinges , taps appliances, electrics, plumbing etc Small discounts on each can add up to large discount overall?. If you go into a store let them sell what they want on the first visit you'll defiantly overpay no matter where you go :rotfl:

donmaico

for what its worth they offer 25 warranties on their cabinets and 5 years on their doors

John_Jizzle

as mentioned howdens dont actually do the work and just supply the kitchen to a trades person.

Our joiner uses howdens (as they measure up for you). But depending what you want he gets the same stuff from B&Q where it's sometimes cheaper (but he says very similar quality)

cattie

Doozergirl mentions Benchmarx & that's where my latest kitchen has come from. I've had kitchens from both Howden's & Magnet in the past.

Benchmarx were cheaper than Howden's & Magnet for basically the same range & the service was excellent. When fitters found one of the components faulty, Benchmarx had a driver drop a replacement off shortly after receiving the phone call. I believe Benchmarx are part of the same group as Wickes.

Source & buy your own appliances to ensure you are getting the best deal. Same with sink & taps, shop around.

Dan-1987

Got my kitchen from howdens through a friend with a trade account,was very reasonable after he bartered with them a bit.quality is decent aswell-went for the 18mm prebuilt units in white.pricewise it was just cheaper than b&q and wickes etc-bearing in mind they were only flatpack 15mm units so would've needed building up too,the howdens option was a no brainer

For what it's worth (only small kitchen) it was 6 various wall/base units,wine rack,oven carcass,pan drawer unit ,Lamona built in oven,kickboard and doors(shaker white) and handles/hinges
£800ish inc vat

dirty_magic

We got quotes from Howdens and Benchmarx and compared them to DIY kitchens. Howdens were the highest, Benchmarx and DIY kitchens were about the same.

We preferred the Howdens kitchen because it was a bit nicer than Benchmarx one, but they price matched it. They reduced their price by loads, so don't take the first price they give you.

tinkerbell114

Hi
We have just had a a quote from Benchmarx for a U shaped kitchen 2.7m x 3.2 m - 12 units , no appliances laminate worktop and handles, the Sherwodd range £5300, Somerset £6500.Anyone think I can get it lower, this includes 30% discount through our fitter.

Wickes quoted £4600 for their Tiverton solid oak? Will Benchmark match this?

Many thanks