Advice on buying an MFI kitchen, please

Bean_Counter

Hi,

I am in the process of buying a new kitchen. The one that we like the best so far is a high gloss one from MFI. So, we had the chap out yesterday, he took some measurements, we told him what we want, including all new integrated appliances and he quickly said that will be between £10,000 - £11,000.

He then said that MFI would not measure up and give an exact quote until we had made a commitment to buy from them. Is this normal practice as I wouldn't want to commit until I had a detailed quote.

In addition, how much scope do you think there would be for negotiating the price down? It is part of a new range and hence not part of their sale. Do you think that I could get the price down to £9,000? This is over my previous budget but worth it as we really like the kitchen.

I should also add that I am useless at DIY and so would not want to do anything myself and really just want someone to come and do the work from start to finish.

Thanks in advance.

Dick_here

Bean_Counter wrote: »

Hi,
He then said that MFI would not measure up and give an exact quote until we had made a commitment to buy from them. Is this normal practice as I wouldn't want to commit until I had a detailed quote.

Not unless they've changed their approach recently. We went to them last summer. A guy came out, took measurements etc, and an idea of the style we wanted (cheap !), and he went away and came up with something on the computer a few days later. It was all fully costed.

I can imagine people using them like that and then hawking their details around looking for "this, but for less", so maybe they have changed their approach now !

zebidee1

They have. Apparently they have implemented this policy since they were taken over some time last year.

As soon as the sales assistant instore told me I had to sign up first, before they would even give me a rough quote, I walked out.

It's hardly good common sense to commit to buy something when you dont actually know the cost or whether the kitchen or the design will suit you. Most people like to mull things over and show friends or family to get opinions before agreeing to shell out thousands of pounds. You can't do that now.

I know our branch of MFI has lost lots of trade over this. My son is friends with one of the sales team and he spoke to him about our experience. The salesman says he has more people laughing at them and walking out now than actually buying from them. (I liked an MFI Schreiber kitchen but refused to buy it because of their new policy.)

I went to Wickes instead where the sales lady there bent over backwards to help me and put up with the many 'change of mind' times I had. She did countless plans for me without ever putting on any pressure or even knowing at that point whether I was serious about buying or not.

She said they are really busy now because of the extra trade they are getting from people who were originally going to shop at MFI.

In answer to your question....you probably could get the price down. MFI say they wont be beaten on price (although since they've become so difficult to deal with, it might be harder to compare like for like kitchens. )

welshblob

I guess if the policy isn't working then they will change it although that doesn't help you in the short term.

You could try and check out Howdens as they are the trade arm of MFI (not sure if that is still the case). They generally can supply the same kitchen with prebuilt carcases. Not sure they offer a design service though and some people say only trade can buy from them but its worth a try.

Rob

hollydays

Sorry,are you saying it was another company,not MFI who stated this?

Bean_Counter

welshblob wrote: »

I guess if the policy isn't working then they will change it although that doesn't help you in the short term.

You could try and check out Howdens as they are the trade arm of MFI (not sure if that is still the case). They generally can supply the same kitchen with prebuilt carcases. Not sure they offer a design service though and some people say only trade can buy from them but its worth a try.

Rob

Hi,

I wasn't aware that Howdens and MFI were connected. We actually had both out to the house yesterday, and whilst we would probably prefer to deal with Howdens due to better recommendations, MFI had the nicer kitchen that we like.

Bean_Counter

hollydays wrote: »

Sorry,are you saying it was another company,not MFI who stated this?

No, it was MFI who stated this. They were in our house yesterday for a visit when they said this.

AJS33

Howdens is the trade version of MFI - get a price list from MFI - then call howdens who do send a guy out to measure up and plan the layout for you - once you get the price from Howdens - then use the price list from MFI to negotiate the prices - my kitchen with all major appliances started out at £5000 and playing the two companies off - i paid £3000

welshblob

AJS33 wrote: »

Howdens is the trade version of MFI - get a price list from MFI - then call howdens who do send a guy out to measure up and plan the layout for you - once you get the price from Howdens - then use the price list from MFI to negotiate the prices - my kitchen with all major appliances started out at £5000 and playing the two companies off - i paid £3000

And they will deal with the public directly? I'm sure I've seen on here some people have had issues doing that. Also do you know if they stock exactly the same ranges?

Rob

Bean_Counter

welshblob wrote: »

And they will deal with the public directly? I'm sure I've seen on here some people have had issues doing that. Also do you know if they stock exactly the same ranges?

Rob

We have had both Howdens and MFI out. Howdens came out because we had a trade fitter lined up who Howdens will give the quote to. However Howdens did not seem to have anywhere near the same range as MFI as he could not give us the kitchen we liked in MFI (although did not specifically name MFI.)

Squiffy

zebidee1 wrote: »

They have. Apparently they have implemented this policy since they were taken over some time last year.

As soon as the sales assistant instore told me I had to sign up first, before they would even give me a rough quote, I walked out.

Our local branch did NOT do this.

We went in, gave a rough idea of kitchen size and what we wanted and they gave us a rough estimate. We then agreed for a home visit to get accurate measurements, following which we had a detailed consultation to agree exact layout and fittings, and got a final cost.

All with no obligation.

I don't believe that there is any such 'policy', just maybe an over-zealous assistant in your local store.