Wren Kitchens - have they improved?

whatsthenews

We compared Wren (10k) Magnet (12k) 2 local kitchen companies (15-18k) and DIY kitchens
(5k ) before we got our new kitchen in June.
DIY kitchens won hands down on price, quality and number of units available. Our kitchen fitter has been fitting kitchens for 20 years and fits for Magnet and Wren as well as a local kitchen company who fit Second Nature, Burbridge and some of the German kitchens and said the quality of our DIY kitchen was far better than Wren and Magnet and on a par or better than some of the units he fits for the local company.

BillTrac

My loooong Wren kitchen story -

And before my list seems picky I have fitted kitchens previously. In the old days of Schreiber kitchens I was used as an Electrician to fit everything (except doing gas as I refused. Also, I admit I'm crap at plastering :rotfl:)

Kitchen ordered in February 2017 for installation May 2017 as united our time scale. Old kitchen removed and room totally gutted so clean slate. (Also, used Wren installation subbies as salesman told I me that any issues could be addressed within days - big, big lie as still had to stick to 'normal' Wren delivery dates, so no difference at all)

Delivered on day agreed - except delivery team damaged kitchen light fitting and clock. Duly reported but totally ignored by Wren.
Fitting team arrived on due day for four day project. Except only one bloke for two of those days. Could have probably finished in three days otherwise.

Had kitchen which required 25 doors. Only 16 delivered. Was told other doors did not pass inspection but would be delivered as soon as possible. When missing doors delivered still four short! Took six weeks for rest to be delivered, then issues getting install team back.

Several days after fitting, I found some worktops weren't secured correctly (one above corner unit could be lifted off easily, one next to sink sloped, and when I looked under the inset sink the fitter had sliced through the worktop between edge of worktop and sink)

I contacted Wren many times regarding the problems but they are slippery b******s and each time you contact them it's never the same person so you can't keep a continual conversation going and you have to go through the whole story again. They seem happy to send out replacement panels (sink developed weird blemish a week after fitting and one door was crinkled on a corner) but either get the style or size wrong before taking a few attempts to get it right. But the never, ever, ever take the unwanted bits away. I've probably got the best part of another flaming kitchen in my garage!

Would I buy Wren again? The units are good, seem well built and I'm pleased with the final look. But I would never use their over-priced install team as they aren't very good or professional. And their after-sales service is total rubbish.

BillTrac

DoaM wrote: »

We have an order in progress with Wren ... however it's supply-only - we have a builder planned to do other upgrades to the kitchen/dining room and he'll also fit the kitchen. The only fitting Wren will do is the quartz worktop.

keep your eyes on them as I now wouldn't trust them fitting a damn thing correctly. I really doubt they check their install teams quality.

Shaun_of_the_Dead

BillTrac wrote: »

keep your eyes on them as I now wouldn't trust them fitting a damn thing correctly. I really doubt they check their install teams quality.

I wouldn't trust you to watch them.

DoaM wrote: »

We have an order in progress with Wren ... however it's supply-only - we have a builder planned to do other upgrades to the kitchen/dining room and he'll also fit the kitchen. The only fitting Wren will do is the quartz worktop.

BillTrac

Shaun,

I wouldn't trust you to read a thread properly.

Poster said WREN ARE FITTING THEIR WORKTOP............

'The only fitting Wren will do is the quartz worktop.'

Which is what I was commenting on...

nyermen

Personally I've heard too many stories to risk it. I would say though - that all the "sites" that keeping getting shut down - if they were factual, then whats the legal argument to shut them down? So I'd take a pinch of salt with every story, but there's enough out there to warrant concern.

dando852

This is what wren kitchens leave you with after you pay them nearly £7000. Watch our video review on youtube called "An honest Wren Kitchens review"

cwware

WARNING

Wren Kitchen Warranty Not Transferable.

I recently bought a house with a newly Wren Installed Wren Kitchen. The Wren laminate worktops have over the last months de-laminated in various places without any cause. I phoned to check on the Warranty position only to discover the Warranty is not Transferable. I have never known even 'Budget' Worktops de-laminate in the way these have. A Warranty that isn't transferable isn't a good one.

So dear House and Flat Buyers BEWARE.....Emptor Caveat applies to the world of Wren Kitchens and if what should be the most solid and reliable part of a Kitchen, the Worktop, isn't to be trusted what else in it can be. Read the Small Print before signing any Contract.

Sandtree

Many warranties are not transferable, part of the reason that "nearly new" is so much cheaper than "brand new".

cwware said:

what should be the most solid and reliable part of a Kitchen, the Worktop, isn't to be trusted what else in it can be. 

Or to put the other spin on it, laminate worksurfaces are the cheapest option out there and are not solid at all. You have no idea how the previous owner treated it... who knows they could have abused it, done a temporary fix and left it for the next person to deal with.

We have a Wren kitchen put in 8 years ago by the owner before the one we bought from... the design is terrible but obviously have no idea if Wren or the buyer is responsible for that and its not to our style at all but in terms of the units themselves they are all still solid, in good condition and no significant issues... though ours has a quarts work surface which again is ugly but otherwise looks brand new.

gettingtheresometime

Housewife2020 said:

JHoney said:

My Mum is very keen on a Wren Kitchen she's seen in the showroom, but I've read the terrible reviews - and saw the Rogue Traders about them and I'm having terrible misgivings. I'm just wondering, in the 6 months since RT, have they made changes? Has the customer service improved? We have a kitchen fitter lined up that isn't Wren, but there were problems reported with both supply and customer service as well as fitting issues. Any recent experience/feedback would be appreciated.

How wide is your kitchen?

Given the OP was from 2018, I'd have hoped the mum has bought her kitchen by now