Howdens

BadgerMother

Hello! I'm wondering if any of you are tradesmen who have worked with Howdens before? I have just had a kitchen installed with a Howdens kitchen. When I got the quote I hadn't secured a builder yet but they gave me quote on the account of some I was consdiering and I asked if this was the lowest price and if I'd get the same quote with whatever builder I went with and they confirmed yes I would. Anyway, I went with a kitchen installer and there were some items missing from the delivery at the install, so my builder had to go and get them from store. They then erreneously charged these to his account so my builder sent me his copy of the invoice so I could double-check I hadn't been charged twice. However, when I saw his copy of the invoice it was exactly the same as mine with the same items but £300 cheaper - all the items had a discount applied. I queried this with my builder and he said it's because he had a credit on his account and so they discounted it because of his account was in credit. Is this how it usually works or am I having my leg pulled? 

Doozergirl

No one gets the same prices at Howdens.  

It's all a mystery.  We've had an account for 2 decades and I have no idea what or why we get charged what we do.  

BadgerMother

I'm just wondering if the whole "oh yeah I had a credit on my account" is true. If it's actually that he received a discount and decided not to pass it on to me, then I'd rather he'd just tell me. Especially as when he gave me the quote for his work, he said "I've got a long-standing account and can get you a discount"...I thought the price I had was the lowest price I could get :-( 

Doozergirl

I can't see your invoice, but they probably do make a mark up.  It's how people make money.  They probably shouldn't be ashamed of it, the problem with Howdens specifically is that no one really knows what a 'good discount' is on any given day. 

Rosa_Damascena

Howdens saved me the bother of having to analyse cost-effectiveness by providing me with a lousy "plan". I didn't go with them although my builder recommended them. 

TELLIT01

Experience with Howdens does seem to vary, to say the least.  Thankfully my experience was all positive.  On one item the person doing the pricing was convinced the basic price was wrong (too low) but used it anyway and applied the max discount.  The wrong colour doors were delivered but all replaced within 24 hours - you wouldn't get replacements that fast from B&Q!

mailmannz

Im not really a fan of Howdens because they dont actually work for you. You dont see their costs because they send it to the builders, who then tack on their markups and then add on their install costs.

Rosa_Damascena

mailmannz said:

Im not really a fan of Howdens because they dont actually work for you. You dont see their costs because they send it to the builders, who then tack on their markups and then add on their install costs.

Everyone makes a profit, that's par for the course and not a crime. Builders always make money on materials, for example. As long as you are happy with what your money has bought you, that's what matters.

Most people I have spoken to are very happy with the quality of their Howdens kitchen. To me CS is an important part of the process, and Howdens is supposed to be reliable here. I just happened to find the kitchen service from my local branch to be dreadful, but I think that's the exception.