Waylander Posted August 19, 2016 Report Share Posted August 19, 2016 FML type post. Siblings were supposed to look to get inspiration for the kitchen refit but have they feck. They external skeleton all built not he's ready to demolish inside to need to take mum to get some ideas (and to buy!) new kitchen cabinets and counters etc Suggestions for sources (in NW) gratefully received Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted August 19, 2016 Report Share Posted August 19, 2016 Benchmarx - trade only version of Travis Perkins. If you know any 'trades' then it's an easy account to open. They do good quality kitchens - 18mm/20mm thick units at reasonable prices. All carcasses, unless handmade/bespoke, are all chipboard in any case. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted August 19, 2016 Report Share Posted August 19, 2016 I tend to get my kitchens from Howdens - once again a trade only outlet similar to Benchmarx Worktops vary depending on the customer requirements. Laminates or wood I'd fit myself. For quartz or granite I use a local specialist. This is one that I've just finished today 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveP Posted August 19, 2016 Report Share Posted August 19, 2016 70% off list is achievable at howdens too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted August 19, 2016 Report Share Posted August 19, 2016 But the list price is a stupid price to start with. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted August 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2016 1 hour ago, DaveP said: 70% off list is achievable at howdens too 1 hour ago, Daz said: But the list price is a stupid price to start with. We have a Howdens near us and I think I know someone with a trade account there. didn't understand what you boys meant here - prices are negotiable?? Daz that looks looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted August 20, 2016 Report Share Posted August 20, 2016 8 hours ago, Waylander said: didn't understand what you boys meant here - prices are negotiable?? Yes, it's negotiable. If you can wait to order until October you'll get a better deal too. If you say that Benchmarx or Magnet are X cheaper then they'll usually match it too. Oh and avoid Wren Kitchens, very very poor customer service. The product is OK if it turns up complete and undamaged - which it won't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted August 20, 2016 Report Share Posted August 20, 2016 Howdens are good, aside the range where you end up with panels between every wall and cabinet set. Howdens always throw more discount near the end of the branch monthly accounting period (more sales brings better staff bonuses). Howdens do offer design services, but do make sure they use the correct design measurements (they seem to believe a wall 2.9m long will take 3.0m of units ). If you know a Howdens approved kitchen fitter most are happy to buy through them which gets extra discount and split the savings. All kitchen suppliers seem to love sending out a sale with either the wrong sized doors, the odd wrong colour door or incomplete orders. The saving grace being they tend to have very good stock levels and cock ups get sorted within 48 hours. The sheds (BnQ and Wickes) products arent bad. The best bit of advice is to get pre built chassis, not flat packs and always go with the 18mm ones for sturdiness. PS Darren one of those handles is set wrong... (Not really)- nice job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted August 20, 2016 Report Share Posted August 20, 2016 Planning to take Mr W on a recce trip to Stax on Sunday morning with a mate who has an account. The question to those in the know here is ... I know Stax is good (or seems to be) for general trade supplies, what I realised I don't really know is how good their range of kitchens and bathrooms is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted August 20, 2016 Report Share Posted August 20, 2016 35 minutes ago, Calm Chris said: PS Darren one of those handles is set wrong... (Not really)- nice job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted August 20, 2016 Report Share Posted August 20, 2016 19 minutes ago, garcon magnifique said: Planning to take Mr W on a recce trip to Stax on Sunday morning with a mate who has an account. The question to those in the know here is ... I know Stax is good (or seems to be) for general trade supplies, what I realised I don't really know is how good their range of kitchens and bathrooms is. Never heard of Stax, they don't have a branch down this way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted August 20, 2016 Report Share Posted August 20, 2016 Looking at the Stax website it looks like they sell Gower Rapide+ kitchens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted August 20, 2016 Report Share Posted August 20, 2016 Seems like Gower are owned by the company that makes Magnet kitchens, so should be OK. It does say flatpacked so check to see if they are or whether they come pre-assembled? Flat packed are OK but you need to factor in the cost of making them, sometimes it can be an advantage if you need to customise the units. This was a little B&Q flat pack kitchen that I fitted last month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted August 20, 2016 Report Share Posted August 20, 2016 I've also heard that this company are very good for kitchens, although not used them myself yet. http://www.diy-kitchens.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted August 20, 2016 Report Share Posted August 20, 2016 (edited) One of my uncles is an exceptionally good chippie, when I asked him about kitchens a little while back he basically said everything that has been said above, with regards to carcasses, he said flat pack are fine, so long as you put them together properly, glue and screw everything and you won't go far wrong, he tends to purchase all the kitchens he isn't hand building from Howdens. Having worked in a trade sales store (albeit electrical) as above, end of trading month gets bigger discounts, manager can discount more heavily than sales/warehouse staff, if you don't ask, you won't get, there are many factors in giving discounts, can be as simple as how much you buy, to how nice you are, have a bit of banter with them and tell them they can do better. If you dangle a carrot in front of them, you'll likely get bigger discounts, tell them you have a few more kitchens coming up, or you are a chippie moving to the area, any story like that will probably get you a bit more discount. Edited August 20, 2016 by Tipex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted August 20, 2016 Report Share Posted August 20, 2016 The other advantage of Howdens (may apply to Benchmarx & Magnet too) is that they have so many branches that if I need something I can pretty much get it that day. I have 6 branches within a 30 minute drive from here, so if 1 hasn't got something one of the others will. Also if something is unfortunately damaged in transit, I can get it swapped out straight away. No waiting for days / weeks like B&Q or Wren. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burble Posted August 20, 2016 Report Share Posted August 20, 2016 Try your local independant place. We had a new kitchen installed (as part of an extension) a few months back. Ignoring the fact that we didn't like any of the Howdens range we went to B&Q, Wickes and a few other places. The local independant place came up with a better design (though we'd already designed it ourselves) and solid oak doors versus veneer. Service was excellent whereas the bigger boys clearly weren't that othered about the business as we were always having to chase them for information. Local guys were cheaper too, not by much but if you consider that we got a better product at a better price you'll see why we're happy people. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-bmw Posted August 20, 2016 Report Share Posted August 20, 2016 As was stated above Benchmarks is Wickes own brand and are made by Magnet, who are owned by Gower, who are owned by Nobia, a Swedish company. Mrs E is HR manager in west Yorkshire, cost price available on everything if you know what you want & can collect. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonC Posted August 20, 2016 Report Share Posted August 20, 2016 (edited) 48 minutes ago, E-bmw said: ...Benchmarks is Wickes own brand and are made by Magnet, who are owned by Gower, who are owned by Nobia, a Swedish company. I'm pretty sure Benchmark is a Travis Perkins owned company, as is Wickes Edited August 20, 2016 by JonC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted August 20, 2016 Report Share Posted August 20, 2016 12 minutes ago, JonC said: I'm pretty sure Benchmark is a Travis Perkins owned company, as is Wickes They are but E-bmw is saying that their units are made by Gower Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian_C Posted August 20, 2016 Report Share Posted August 20, 2016 5 hours ago, Daz said: Seems like Gower are owned by the company that makes Magnet kitchens, so should be OK. It does say flatpacked so check to see if they are or whether they come pre-assembled? Flat packed are OK but you need to factor in the cost of making them, sometimes it can be an advantage if you need to customise the units. This was a little B&Q flat pack kitchen that I fitted last month. That a BTL and / or small flat? The double oven is a fairly expensive extravagance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted August 20, 2016 Report Share Posted August 20, 2016 Small flat, it's what the client wanted. So they could grill and use the oven at the same time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted August 20, 2016 Report Share Posted August 20, 2016 A double oven is an extravagance?? What's having 2 x 55 litre ones then? Shock horror we've never had a dish washer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Posted August 20, 2016 Report Share Posted August 20, 2016 Nah, this is totally extravagant 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylander Posted August 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2016 Oh I suspect mum want's a cooker and oven system like that - gulp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now