Hillarys Blinds - Recommendations or Horror Stories?

Kavanne

My mum had her blinds done by Hillarys and from what she says it was an all round good experience... Has anyone else had good or bad experiences? Just filled out the form on their site so hopefully will get a call from them on Tuesday to arrange a quote...

Any experiences haggling with them? (Obviously I will not accept their first quote!!)

What's a ballpark figure for supplying and fitting blinds in 3 large bay windows?

dreamypuma

Kavanne wrote: »

My mum had her blinds done by Hillarys and from what she says it was an all round good experience... Has anyone else had good or bad experiences? Just filled out the form on their site so hopefully will get a call from them on Tuesday to arrange a quote...

Any experiences haggling with them? (Obviously I will not accept their first quote!!)

What's a ballpark figure for supplying and fitting blinds in 3 large bay windows?

Don't do it!!!!! :eek:

Hillary's Blinds as a company are fine. Parents used to use them before the days of the internet. Are you any good with a drill, tape measure and a screwdriver?

If so there is no need for you to use Hillary's. They have on-line subsidiaries that provide the same products for you to install at a fraction of the cost. Blinds are really not rocket science.

Check out these prices:

http://www.web-blinds.com/
http://www.blinds-supermarket.co.uk/

All three companies supply exactly the same product. The two online ones will send you free samples for you to look at. I can honestly say that I wouldn't use Hillary's again since using there on-line subsidiaries, it's just not worth paying the premium (around double)

The blinds all come with good thorough instruction and are delivered in about a week. There are also some very good cash back deals if you go through Quidco which will save you even more.

gordonstights

Personally I think you will get a better deal from a smaller local company or the other online company that the other poster has mentioned. What type of blinds are you looking for the bay windows? Verticals, Venetians, Rollers, Romans, Panels? What sizes are they (and please don't say 'normal size bays' as there is no such thing )

peediedj

i have used web blinds for 5 blinds,cheap,but good quality and easy to fit

poodlehorse

I have just done a quick quote from web-blinds for the venetians we bought from Hillary's last month and to be honest there isn't much in it and mine were fitted for me. I think it depends on your rep basically. Ours is really good and gives honest advice and both me and my MIL felt we weren't being ripped off. He did his best with the prices and pointed out where things were on offer which when you are toying with a few pretty much identical blinds is helpful. It took 3 weeks for him to come back and fit them and they were done in no time. I would certainly recommend my local rep to anyone and I am confident that we didn't pay over the odds and it was worth it to have them fitted as our DIY list is ridiculously long considering my DH works away most of the year. The experience was a positive one and the products are good, I have used Hillary's before at an old house and I don't remember them being over the odds with price there either. However I would do your sums on the web-blinds and bear in mind you would expect to pay a wee bit more for them fitting it and then you know where you are starting from.

Kavanne

I am NO good with DIY. I could NOT fit them myself unless I wanted a shoddy job and them to break next year!!

I will get measurements/quotes off hilarys then compare it to the 2 websites listed above. Thanks!

I've not had a chance to measure the windows myself, we should be getting the keys tomorrow. http://www.web-blinds.com/howToMeasureAndFit/ Anyone got any ideas how to measure a bay? We want vertical so I understand it'll be 3 separate runners.. I will have to make rough measurements and get a quote off that site I think.

beefster

I used a local company in East London ( Peter the Pleater) and they where very good and cheaper than Hilary's by a long way.

http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/directory/1102/15220.php

They have a web site too... but i cant remember the name sorry.... its not Peter the pleater!

Coupon-mad

Kavanne wrote: »

I am NO good with DIY. I could NOT fit them myself unless I wanted a shoddy job and them to break next year!!

I will get measurements/quotes off hilarys then compare it to the 2 websites listed above. Thanks!

I've not had a chance to measure the windows myself, we should be getting the keys tomorrow. http://www.web-blinds.com/howToMeasureAndFit/ Anyone got any ideas how to measure a bay? We want vertical so I understand it'll be 3 separate runners.. I will have to make rough measurements and get a quote off that site I think.

Don't forget to check the cashback available before contacting Hillarys and Webblinds, you'll be wasting money if you contact them direct to make your appointment:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/cashback-sites-comparison/

I am with Greasy Palm and I see Hillarys offer £10 just to click via the GP website through to the Hillarys site and make a valid appointment (no conditions). Webblinds are on there too, separately with a different cashback offer, and it says they are part of the Hillarys group.

I guess it's possible you could qualify for the £10 for the Hillarys appointment (without telling their rep about any other companies you are looking into) but in fact use Webblinds for the purchase, getting cashback for that too (if they both track OK).

Maybe these companies are on Quidco too, and others, it's worth doing a comparison with the link above.

HTH

gordonstights

Kavanne wrote: »

Anyone got any ideas how to measure a bay? We want vertical so I understand it'll be 3 separate runners..

You can have a curved vertical blind on a bay window! Will cost around £100 more than having separate blinds though, but overall will have a much better effect.

Kavanne

Oooh.. I will talk to them about it...

tcrosscross

Very mixed reviews. There is a discount code on this Hillarys Blinds Site, but I don’t know if it is current or not