Is it just me, or do many Kitchen Co's not follow up their quotes?

HopefulHirer

Recently, I've been trying to arrange the purchase and fitting of a new kitchen,
fairly standard size and shape room and units to be fitted.

I've contacted companies big and small, some didn't even get back to me, and out of those
who did, quite a few did not follow up after visiting to do a quote.

As this has now happened so many times, I am wondering if this a pattern others have found too.

Have other consumers found this problem too?


I would be interested in hearing others' views and experience on this problem.

Davesnave

If you can use a tape measure and produce a reasonably accurate plan of the room, you can take that wherever, rather than getting companies to visit you.

That's what we did, going to places up to 80 miles away. After all, it's where the firms have all their display material and design software.

We don't see ourselves as consumers, but more partners in a job like this, so we didn't get anyone to visit the property until we'd narrowed 10 potential companies down to two. There's no need at the 'weeding-out' stage.

And you'll probably want to weed-out, because human variability means some designers will impress you more than others, never mind what their products are like. We ended-up with a design begun in one place and then tweaked, manufactured & installed by another. It was a combined effort.

Contrast and compare with our experience when getting a bedroom fitted. Two major chain stores insisted on visiting us first, and we saw that reflected in their prices, which meant someone else paid for all that wasted time, because we certainly didn't!

Furts

Much like Davesnave says but also look at matters from the company perspective. You are not getting responses so you have to ask why. Once you have done this, and tried to address this, then matters are likely to be more positive.

For example, companies may be labelling you a time waster, or too fussy, or indecisive, or there may not be enough profit in your work. You can see some of these are easy to rectify by first doing your homework, doing measuring up, getting some graph paper and doing a drawing, selecting ranges. selecting finishes, establishing your budget, picking appliances ... you get the idea.

Basically for the average kitchen in an average house a 16 year old child could competently sort out everything. You might think otherwise but that is only because the kitchen industry has conditioned people to think panels of cheap, recycled, waste, timber (also known as melamine faced chipboard) are somehow magical works of art.

You also have to accept a glaring reality. All these companies want to make as much money out of you as possible but with the minimum of effort, the minimum of visits and the minimum of interaction. To counter this you need to act professionally, speedily and be in in control. If you fail in this then you risk wasting everybody's time (which does include your time!) and you risk be taking advantage of on design, workmanship and price.

Cocorita

I got tired of the known companies, so I measured my room carefully and bought a DIY kitchen.
http://www.diy-kitchens.com/

The cabinets are assembled (doors too) and they have an amazing quality compared with howdens, wren, etc. AND cheaper!

G_M

Is it just me, or do many contractors not follow up their quotes?

Builders, electricians, roofers, kitchen/bathroom companies, you name it!

I'd find a recommended local joiner/carpenter.