Franke Sink - why such big price difference?

Annie1960

There is a Franke sink here:

https://www.johnlewis.com/franke-ascona-asx-651-1-5-kitchen-sink-with-reversible-bowl-silk-steel/p231335486


What appears to be the same sink is also on sale here:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/franke-ascona-inset-sink-s-steel-1-bowl-1000-x-510mm/37197

Is it really the same sink? Am I missing something, or why is there such a large price difference?

POPPYOSCAR

Do you really need to ask?

You are talking about John Lewis here.

Most of their customers have probably never even heard of Screwfix!

Doozergirl

The model numbers are the same.

The Screwfix one is reduced by £50 and they probably sell a lot more than JL. JL is not a discount retailer nor the first place I'd think to look for a sink.

LandyAndy

The JL link isn't working for me

Annie1960

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

Do you really need to ask?

You are talking about John Lewis here.

Most of their customers have probably never even heard of Screwfix!

I'm a customer of both. JL prices are usually competitive on branded products. I'm trying to work out if the sinks are identical, or am I missing something different about them?

Annie1960

LandyAndy wrote: »

The JL link isn't working for me

Go to the JL website and type 'Franke asconda' into the search box. It is the 1.5 bowl sink (it comes up as the second item on my JL search).

theonlywayisup

They both have the same model number. I would expect they are the same. Perhaps the only difference is the guarantee. Screwfix say 1 year JL say 50.

You could ask JL to price match and take the 50 year guarantee.

https://www.johnlewis.com/inspiration-and-advice/never-knowingly-undersold-policy

POPPYOSCAR

Annie1960 wrote: »

I'm a customer of both. JL prices are usually competitive on branded products. I'm trying to work out if the sinks are identical, or am I missing something different about them?

I have never found them to be competitive TBH.

The likes of Screwfix, Toolstation and even B&Q will usually be cheaper for things like this.

They are the same sink.

Annie1960

theonlywayisup wrote: »

They both have the same model number. I would expect they are the same. Perhaps the only difference is the guarantee. Screwfix say 1 year JL say 50.

You could ask JL to price match and take the 50 year guarantee.

https://www.johnlewis.com/inspiration-and-advice/never-knowingly-undersold-policy

Yes I've asked JL to price match before, they are good at that.

I think the 50 year guarantee is from the manufacturer, and should be the same wherever I buy it from.

Thanks for confirming they are the same sink. I wasn't sure if I was missing something.

I'm also considering this one, but some reviews says it's difficult to keep looking clean. I like the simple lines.

https://www.johnlewis.com/franke-maris-mrx-211-right-hand-single-bowl-kitchen-sink-stainless-steel/p1781478

POPPYOSCAR

Annie1960 wrote: »

Yes I've asked JL to price match before, they are good at that.

I think the 50 year guarantee is from the manufacturer, and should be the same wherever I buy it from.

Thanks for confirming they are the same sink. I wasn't sure if I was missing something.

I'm also considering this one, but some reviews says it's difficult to keep looking clean. I like the simple lines.

https://www.johnlewis.com/franke-maris-mrx-211-right-hand-single-bowl-kitchen-sink-stainless-steel/p1781478

Yes I always thought Franke sinks had a lifetime warranty.

Furts

In my opinion Franke are a typical corporate company out to take retail customers for as much as they can get away with. They get very stroppy because the internet has killed some of their rip off ways.


There are Franke sinks out there sourced from outside the UK, which can be cheaper than those coming through Franke UK. Obviously Franke UK do not like this but there is nowt they can do about it. There is a likelihood JL will be sourcing through Franke UK whilst Screwfix will be more commercial and savvy.