Reply to: New fitted kitchen

[NickFitz]

He then came up with some analogy about me not needing to know the cost of the windscreen when buying a BMW.

Send him down to the local BMW dealer to ask for one with the windscreen at the back and the steering wheel in the boot.

(BTW, when it's obviously bullsh1t, you shouldn't let him con you into thinking it's an analogy.)

[blacjac]

Stike off B&Q and go with a local fitter?

That's exactly what B&Q Will do.

One of my neighbours went with a local joiner to fit their new kitchen for all the reasons listed above.

About 6 months later another neighbour wanted a new kitchen, however they wanted to go with a big chain as 'you get what you pay for'.

Imagine their surprise when the same joiner turned up to fit it, apparantly B&Q just outsource the fitting to a local guy (round here anyway).

[tim123]

This guy called up after 2 weeks. I dont know if he was waiting for us to call back to see if we really 'bought' his spiel. That is the first thing that put me off. I'm sure he'd be coming down to something amicable to get the sale.

All i want to know is, if supplier is different to fitter is it easy/difficult to 'manage' the project?. My OH looks after our 1 year old and she'd appreciate if she doesnt have to do more than making tea for the fitters - while i go out to make some dosh.

This is my first major property work and my preference is to do fewer mistakes - though it may be out of my control.
Any pearls of wisdom?

Fitting a kitchen is one of the easier tasks that you can do in a house.

You should easily be able to get a jobbing builder to do it for you. Though as some of the jobs require two people you can either help out yourself or get the builder to bring his unskilled mate with him.

The biggest problem will be getting the electric certification (if you want to change anything) though you should be able to get a sparky in to do this bit for under 500 quid.

tim

[tim123]

We've got kitchen quote from B&Q to supply and fit. The sales guy looked professional, had his own laptop and printer. Impressive design printouts and sales spiel.

For a 22 sqm kitchen he quoted £9700. £2800 for Kitchen with 20 units and £7700 for fitting. There is no unit cost for fitting but kitchen units are fully priced.

He was saying something about new eletrical regs. But surprisingly other local fitters didn't say a word. He left message today to discuss total price.

I suspect he'd be coming back with 'special sale in store tulip' and offer us something lesser.

Anyone paid cash and got it done for less?

Any ideas how to deal with this guy?
or Stike off B&Q and go with a local fitter?

That's a monsterous price for fitting.

When I had an MFI kitchen fitted the units cost 1500 and the fitting a grand. Whe in a previous life I got a quote from "kitches direct" (or one of the other rip off places) they quoted about 6 grand for the units plus fitting and when I mentioned the possibility of fitting it myself 800 quid came off the bill.

tim

[tim123]

Argghhhh

Me: I'd like to know how the pricing is structured for installation please
Salesbloke: It's built into the cost of the units sir
Me: so it's a set cost per unit?
SB: yes sir.
Me: So when I pick a set of taps and a sink, you know what the istallation cost will be?
SB: yes.
Me: Regardless of where the plumbing is?
SB: The cost of installation is included.
Me: So it's the same cost even if it's at the other end of the kitchen to the pipes? How does that work?
SB: The installation covers the best and the worst cost.
Me(incredulous): In one price?
SB: yes
Me: What if I don't need any plumbing?
SB: Then it's included in the price.

When I looked at this sort of thing the contract said something like "fitted to pipework less than a metre away". I wouldn't put it past a salesnumpty to lie about the terms.

tim

[Pondlife]

not for at least 6 months, they love to keep in touch !

Called with my number blocked.

check out places like howdens, then show them your trade card and get 50+% off, the find local builder/chippey/ fitter to sort out the rest.

This is the most likely option TBH.

[Joe Bloque]

You've answered your own question correctly.

This guy called up after 2 weeks. I dont know if he was waiting for us to call back to see if we really 'bought' his spiel. That is the first thing that put me off. I'm sure he'd be coming down to something amicable to get the sale.

All i want to know is, if supplier is different to fitter is it easy/difficult to 'manage' the project?. My OH looks after our 1 year old and she'd appreciate if she doesnt have to do more than making tea for the fitters - while i go out to make some dosh.

This is my first major property work and my preference is to do fewer mistakes - though it may be out of my control.
Any pearls of wisdom?

[MrsGoof]

/Strikes KitchensDirect off the list

not for at least 6 months, they love to keep in touch !

check out places like howdens, then show them your trade card and get 50+% off, the find local builder/chippey/ fitter to sort out the rest.

[TykeMerc]

or Stike off B&Q and go with a local fitter?

You've answered your own question correctly.

[Joe Bloque]

We've got kitchen quote from B&Q to supply and fit. The sales guy looked professional, had his own laptop and printer. Impressive design printouts and sales spiel.

For a 22 sqm kitchen he quoted £9700. £2800 for Kitchen with 20 units and £7700 for fitting. There is no unit cost for fitting but kitchen units are fully priced.

He was saying something about new eletrical regs. But surprisingly other local fitters didn't say a word. He left message today to discuss total price.

I suspect he'd be coming back with 'special sale in store tulip' and offer us something lesser.

Anyone paid cash and got it done for less?

Any ideas how to deal with this guy?
or Stike off B&Q and go with a local fitter?

[orac]

Get your own kitchen

Get your own kitchen and get a local joiner to do it. Even B&Q solid wood better than most companies.

[Wilmslow]

My kitchen itself cost £2K from B&Q and my joiner cost just £10 an hour for fitting.

Including time for plastering, rebuilding a bathroom, the kitchen, and other things his labour was £3K in total for effectively restoring a detached house.

Bargain And very nice veneer wood kitchen. Including appliances.

[Pondlife]

What he means is "we are making so much on this tulip that even if we have to replumb your kitchen we can make a fortune".

Exactly.

/Strikes KitchensDirect off the list

[The Lone Gunman]

Argghhhh

Me: I'd like to know how the pricing is structured for installation please
Salesbloke: It's built into the cost of the units sir
Me: so it's a set cost per unit?
SB: yes sir.
Me: So when I pick a set of taps and a sink, you know what the istallation cost will be?
SB: yes.
Me: Regardless of where the plumbing is?
SB: The cost of installation is included.
Me: So it's the same cost even if it's at the other end of the kitchen to the pipes? How does that work?
SB: The installation covers the best and the worst cost.
Me(incredulous): In one price?
SB: yes
Me: What if I don't need any plumbing?
SB: Then it's included in the price.



He then came up with some analogy about me not needing to know the cost of the windscreen when buying a BMW.

What he means is "we are making so much on this tulip that even if we have to replumb your kitchen we can make a fortune".

[thelace]

Always, but always go local independant.

You'll get bespoke for a better price than one of these sheds will give to ro put their standard stuff in.

You'll get guys who want to do a good job as they've a reputation to keep.

Draw the analogy back to what you do for a living and you won't be far wrong