B&Q any good/competitive?

AuntyJean

I am considering buying my share of the marital home on divorce and went to visit it yesterday to see what needs to be done.

It needs completely gutting!!!

Am considering getting B&Q to quote for replacement kitchen and bathroom. Has anyone used them? Any good/bad points?

Uncle_Bulgaria

Hi there, B&Q are ok. Good point is the fact that the goods are in stock. Bad points are the cost of installation and the quality isn't really what you expect for the price.
Get a quote from MFI, this will give you the best picture available plus a clear plan for the experts to work from.
Now get yourself at least 5 quotes, independants will give you a very good price. Tell each company the prices you have to play them off one another.
Now see if B&Q or MFI are worth it?

Good luck.

AuntyJean

I thought companies such as B&Q would be cheaper as the cost of the goods would at cost to them therefore you get 'discounted items' but pay it on the labour?

Wouldn't independents have to pay more for the goods? Also, what guarantee would you get?

Uncle_Bulgaria

I deal as best as poss with independants. I like the reliability. One mistake and their reputation can be harmed, so they try harder! Just recently I dealt with a customer who had been to B&Q & MFI. Verona kitchen @ MFI. Cherry Veneer kitchen @ B&Q. Both sit at over £5000 fitted, not inc tiling etc. I used kingswood Bordeaux cherry. Total job £3800 fitted, incl tiling! Quality was superb. On a par with MFI and much better than B&Q.

Baz-Bee

You will pay the retail price for the units whether you get them fitted by an independent or by B&Q or MFI themselves. Use MFI to get a plan of your kitchen prepared. They are very good at that and it will give you a list of all the units, worktops, accessories, etc that you will require. And it is free!!!


You will usually find that the fitters used by MFI and B&Q are only sub-contractors anyway, so you not only pay what they want for the job, but also the mark up and profit that B&Q and MFI want on top of that as well. To be fair this generally applies to all the major retailers. Very few (in fact none to my knowledge) employ their own tradesman, they are all sub-contract.

As stated your best bet is to find the units you want (they may be cheaper from a builders merchants or direct - see other threads on this site for advice) although sometimes you can get a good deal from your MFI or B&Q. Then get quotes from independents for the installation. You will save £££.

I had an MFI Schreiber kitchen fitted by my builder when having an extension built. I had a problem with one unit and insisted that MFI either pay for my man to come back or get their own fitters to sort out. They sent their own fitters. They did a very good job. Chatting with them they said they did a fair bit of work for MFI (60 - 70% of turn over from memory) but also worked on their own. They also said their prices direct to customers were only about 65% of what MFI charge them out at!

Uncle_Bulgaria

I am sorry, I didn't answer your guarantee question.

There should be no reason you don't get the same as MFI or B&Q would give.
Once these things are attached to your wall the guarantee from the shop is virtually worthless because if they are fitted correctly they should give you no trouble. You will have had ample chance to see any damage etc. Obviously I'm not saying your guarantee is over once they are fitted, just that they are unlikely to be needed.

A written 12 month guarantee of work from the fitter is what you need most.
Your statuatory rights from the shop purchase is ample.

angelatgraceland

AuntyJean wrote:

I thought companies such as B&Q would be cheaper as the cost of the goods would at cost to them therefore you get 'discounted items' but pay it on the labour?

Wouldn't independents have to pay more for the goods? Also, what guarantee would you get?

The quality of work from an independant may well be better as they have a reputation to live up to. Big firms usualy contract the work out to an independants anyhow, and take their cut of the money so cut out the middleman if you can. I totaly agree with bazbee. (my brother does this sort of work!)

mrwibble

Completely agree re using independents - friend in London had B&Q in to do his kitchen - sub-contractors made a hash of it and only after some severe hassle (he is South African and not backwards about complaining) did they come back and spend 2 days fixing the mess.

About 7 years ago my MrsWibble (then just GF) and I had Moben into replace the 1960's kitchen in our old flat in Ealing - again sub-contractors - again a pigs ear. They were down from Glasgow and were paid a fixed rate for job. Needless to say they rushed the job so they could get up on the Friday afternoon train. Moben were a story in dragging out a complaint - inspectors came and went - eventually legal action secured remedy.

Pick an independent via recommendation - I'm just about to have some major bathroom work - he has done friend's bathroom, their parents as well as five other friends of theirs - price is probably 30-40% more than cheapest quote but I *know* work will be done to really high standard with any problems worked around or solutions offered by an experienced and honest tradesman.

scuder_2

I found the best deal from mfi they use shriber units which are ready built so alot easier than flat packs (hygena) they have sales on all the time so check this out, they have a 20% sale at the moment but probably be alot better after chrimbo

mfi :j