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howdens kitchen

are they cheaper than B&Q?
«1

Comments

  • DTDfanBoy
    DTDfanBoy Posts: 1,704 Forumite
    No, they are a better kitchen though.
  • Carrot007
    Carrot007 Posts: 4,534 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    The cost saving is in not having B & Q fit it!
  • steveouk
    steveouk Posts: 355 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    ok many thanks
  • Polly05
    Polly05 Posts: 379 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I think the cabinets may be deeper than b&q ones? Or at least, they used to be...
    Howdens also come already built up, I don't know if B&Q ones do...
  • Gastines3
    Gastines3 Posts: 182 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts
    An advantage is that stock is at hand,exchanges or damage is quickly dealt with and staff always seem to be helpful in my experience of dealing with them.Their only fault being the pricing structure.Luckily I do have a basic account with them.
  • economic
    economic Posts: 3,002 Forumite
    They are not that special. go with a local good quality kitchen supplier. they will be cheaper.
  • Annie1960
    Annie1960 Posts: 3,009 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Howdens doors seem very poor quality, wrapped vinyl (although they claim to be lacquered if you ask or the info).

    Howdens prices are also extremely high, even with their so-called discounts, which bring the price to above the cost of a Homebase one.

    MSE site suggests poople look at DIY-kitchens.com
  • Polly05
    Polly05 Posts: 379 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Annie1960 wrote: »
    Howdens doors seem very poor quality, wrapped vinyl (although they claim to be lacquered if you ask or the info).

    Howdens prices are also extremely high, even with their so-called discounts, which bring the price to above the cost of a Homebase one.

    MSE site suggests poople look at DIY-kitchens.com

    Not according to my quotes... when I was looking, Homebase were much more expensive. Howdens and diy kitchens were about the same price..
  • Annie1960
    Annie1960 Posts: 3,009 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Polly05 wrote: »
    Not according to my quotes... when I was looking, Homebase were much more expensive. Howdens and diy kitchens were about the same price..

    Well that is another aspect of the problem with Howdens as there is no transparency on pricing. They make it up according to what they fancy, and the cut the installer wants (without declaring this).

    If Howdens and DIY were the same price, I would buy the DIY as the doors are better quality. The only disadvantage is the longer wait for DIY to deliver.

    Which? has done a review of Howdens, but I'm not a member so did not read it. However there are plenty of other articles online about their alleged 'discounts' resulting is very high prices.

    In my case, they put a standard tall cabinet for a double oven with an 80% 'discount', and the reduced price was £250! So they were claiming that the true price should have been £1,250. Because they claim they only sell to the trade, they can get away with this, when Homebase and others are regulated in this respect.

    The other factor that flows from their business model is that they are located in trading estates, rather than retail parks. Hence they pay much lower rent and business rates than their High Stree t competitors. This may not bother you, but it did bother me.
  • henry24
    henry24 Posts: 455 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Why would it matter that they are on a trading estate rather than a retail park?
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