Howdens Kitchen Discount

newsaver16

I suspected as much! Thank you for your advice, think I'm going to go with Howdens!

TELLIT01

My experience with Howdens was positive. Any problems fixed quickly but, as has been said, their pricing is opaque to say the least. I've just looked at my quote and the biggest discount is 84% on the microwave, with very little showing a discount of less than 75%. When we were going through the figures in the showroom the sales person noticed that an top-end upgrade to the pullout larder had been costed as the mid-range one. They said they would leave the price as it was what I had been quoted:-)
I have been in to get various bits and pieces since and they have asked me who did the installation. I have then got those items at what seems to be trade price.

MarcTJTD

newsaver16 wrote: »

Hello, Thank you

Quantity Name Disc Price(Net)
2 400mm CC Drawline Base 85% £299.40
3 800mm Highline base 85% £479.25
2 1000mm Fullheight wall 85% £312
1 1000mm FF Bridging Unit 85% £159
1 600 Appliance Door 85% £72.25
5 3mm Cornice 85% £179.25
2 3mm Plinth 85% £87.30
3 Base Decor End 85% £187.20
4 Full height wall decor end 85% £142.80
2 Tower Decor End £227.40

Net : £2146.05
Gross : £2575.26

This is all with Tewksbury Dove Grey doors, which I believe is their 'top of the range'

Tewkesbury is a 5-piece shaker door with a 20.5mm ash frame and an 8.8mm veneered centre panel; it's Howdens top of the range door. Be aware that their cabinetry is universal.

Just to give you an idea of how silly their pricing is; those 800mm Highline Base are setting you back £159.75 ex VAT (£191.70 inc VAT) each.

If you were to believe that you're getting an 85% discount on list price, those cabinets would be "worth" £1065 ex VAT (£1278 inc VAT) each. A 3m plinth would be worth £291 ex VAT (£349.20 inc VAT). That's ludicrous.

As a comparison; an 800 Highline Base with DIY Kitchens' Clayton door (22mm 5-piece shaker) on their cabinets work out £125,15 ex VAT (£150.18 inc VAT) each on their website.

I'd suggest getting a comparison quote from DIY Kitchens, taking it back to Howdens and asking them to beat the price "because you've heard that DIY Kitchens have better cabinets".

newsaver16

TELLIT01 wrote: »

My experience with Howdens was positive. Any problems fixed quickly but, as has been said, their pricing is opaque to say the least. I've just looked at my quote and the biggest discount is 84% on the microwave, with very little showing a discount of less than 75%. When we were going through the figures in the showroom the sales person noticed that an top-end upgrade to the pullout larder had been costed as the mid-range one. They said they would leave the price as it was what I had been quoted:-)
I have been in to get various bits and pieces since and they have asked me who did the installation. I have then got those items at what seems to be trade price.

Asking you who did the installation, and basing pricing on that seems very sneaky! Not sure why they're so cloak and dagger with their pricing, must work for them! But seems to put a lot of people off

dunroving

newsaver16 wrote: »

Asking you who did the installation, and basing pricing on that seems very sneaky! Not sure why they're so cloak and dagger with their pricing, must work for them! But seems to put a lot of people off

I've had a few conversations with my current kitchen fitter over the past few days about the Howdens process. It's not sneaky or cloak and dagger if you understand how it works going into the transaction.

Problems and hard feelings occur when you find out after the fact that you could have got a better deal quite simply.

I know some people say that if you were happy with your new kitchen for the price you paid, shut the heck up. But, considering this is a MSE forum, it's entirely understandable that on such a huge purchase, that puts a big crimp in the home budget of many people, knowing that you paid £2k more than the bloke next door must rankle for many people.

Thank God for forums like this, that give people the power of information!

TELLIT01

newsaver16 wrote: »

Asking you who did the installation, and basing pricing on that seems very sneaky! Not sure why they're so cloak and dagger with their pricing, must work for them! But seems to put a lot of people off

I was asked who did the installation because they deal with trade and I was after extra components. The price I was charged was the same as that on the original invoice. Nothing sneaky at all.


I also had trouble with the original oven and Howdens could not have been more helpful. Engineer out to investigate the following day and a replace oven delivered a couple of days later.

newsaver16

TELLIT01 wrote: »

My experience with Howdens was positive. Any problems fixed quickly but, as has been said, their pricing is opaque to say the least. I've just looked at my quote and the biggest discount is 84% on the microwave, with very little showing a discount of less than 75%. When we were going through the figures in the showroom the sales person noticed that an top-end upgrade to the pullout larder had been costed as the mid-range one. They said they would leave the price as it was what I had been quoted:-)
I have been in to get various bits and pieces since and they have asked me who did the installation. I have then got those items at what seems to be trade price.

MarcTJTD wrote: »

Tewkesbury is a 5-piece shaker door with a 20.5mm ash frame and an 8.8mm veneered centre panel; it's Howdens top of the range door. Be aware that their cabinetry is universal.

Just to give you an idea of how silly their pricing is; those 800mm Highline Base are setting you back £159.75 ex VAT (£191.70 inc VAT) each.

If you were to believe that you're getting an 85% discount on list price, those cabinets would be "worth" £1065 ex VAT (£1278 inc VAT) each. A 3m plinth would be worth £291 ex VAT (£349.20 inc VAT). That's ludicrous.

As a comparison; an 800 Highline Base with DIY Kitchens' Clayton door (22mm 5-piece shaker) on their cabinets work out £125,15 ex VAT (£150.18 inc VAT) each on their website.

I'd suggest getting a comparison quote from DIY Kitchens, taking it back to Howdens and asking them to beat the price "because you've heard that DIY Kitchens have better cabinets".

It's crazy when you factor in what the real price 'should' be, based on 'discount' levels! Just muddies the water so much.


Would be so much easier if they were just honest with their pricing. Even if they still offered a small discount to trade, or to compete


I really like what DIY offer, just concerns me if something were to go wrong, it would be a pain. But will definately following up your suggestion to push the price further if possible, every little helps!


Thank you


Jon

MarcTJTD

newsaver16 wrote: »

Would be so much easier if they were just honest with their pricing. Even if they still offered a small discount to trade, or to compete

Very true; it's also helpful to know that Howdens aims for a 48-50% profit margin on their kitchen sales (most retailers go for 30-40%) so they can absolutely go lower than they have.

TELLIT01

Maybe the inflated starting prices are to discourage retail customers. If a potential customer is daft enough to consider paying those prices I'm sure any company would be happy to take their money.

MarcTJTD

TELLIT01 wrote: »

Maybe the inflated starting prices are to discourage retail customers. If a potential customer is daft enough to consider paying those prices I'm sure any company would be happy to take their money.

Nah; Howdens is happy to encourage retail customers despite their marketing as a trade brand. Every kitchen designer (myself included) would much rather sit down with a retail customer and discuss their dream kitchen than sit down with a tradesman and discuss how cheap they can get the gear for.

It's more profitable (more likely to be able to upsell accessories) and a more enjoyable experience for the salesman to sit down with excited and engaged retail customers rather than jaded tradesmen who are primarily looking at the £, not the project.

The inflated RRP is purely so that they can claim to offer huge discounts. People do tend to fall for the illusion that big numbers = big deal, even if intellectually they realise that it's not the case.