pick kitchens

jackhua

Hi,

I am looking for a new kitchen to fit in. and got few quotes from different suppliers.

However, i don't have much experence on kitchen stuff and the prices are really differeent.

So, i like to get some advises from you guys.

this might be an old topic. if there are other treads can answer my questions please indicate.

i got quotes from different ketchen suppiers:

1. Cash and Carry Kitchen
2. Kube
3. Lakes (supplied by PJ Omahony)
4. cook and lewis kitchen (supplied by B&Q)
5. Estilo kitchen (supplied by Woodies)

There are all different prices and there is nearly 100%different on prices.
So, my question is which kitchen is reliable to go for.

and if anyone can tell me the different on these kitchens it is even better.

Pinky123

Hiya, it defo not easy to compare kitchens but these are a few questions you can ask that may make it a bit easier.

Firstly, is each company pricing the same layout? 5 different designers will all use various combinations of units to fill your space and this can have a huge impact on their pricing (especially if one company has used curved doors) If you can finalise a layout, get all companies to price based on this and that should bring them more in line

The type of door you have picked in each place will also make a difference
If its a gloss door ask if it is a foil wrap/laminate or painted with a gloss finish. Have they included cornice/pelmet, some companies do not automatically add this when pricing a gloss kitchen as they look good with or without it

If its a solid wood door ask what thickness it is and if any components in the door are veneer. Ask what all the seen gables are made of, ideally you want them to be a veneer as these will colour age with the door ( laminate will not) and if the cornice/pelmet is solid?

What type of worktop has been included?

What are the carcass made of and what thickness are they

Next is the hinges and wirework (if any). Try to have 180 hinges on the base units and 90 on wall units. You should have gas stay hinges on all up lift doors. If wirework ( pull out larder, baskets etc) has been included ask then it itemise these as they vary dramatically in price and quality.

What brand and style of sink, tap and fan has been included as again these vary dramatically. Has lighting been included, cutlery trays bins etc ?

Has fitting been included, if your supplier also fits the kitchen then you can avail of the lower rate of VAT on the whole purchase which can be a big saving. Suppliers that just set up a fitter for you but you pay them directly cannot reduce the VAT rate

Lastly, what type of guarantee does each supplier offer? Ask them for actual details as some "Guarantees" can be quite misleading so you are better of knowing what is really covered.

Each of the companies you have listed offer a variety of kitchen styles so once you get them all quoting a similar kitchen it should help you make your decision. Don't be shy about telling them you are pricing around, if the kitchen you really want is more expensive than the others bring in all your quotes and get them to do a deal with you ( in a nice way, designers are people too )
Remember they all want your business

jackhua

Pinky123 wrote: »

Hiya, it defo not easy to compare kitchens but these are a few questions you can ask that may make it a bit easier.

Firstly, is each company pricing the same layout? 5 different designers will all use various combinations of units to fill your space and this can have a huge impact on their pricing (especially if one company has used curved doors) If you can finalise a layout, get all companies to price based on this and that should bring them more in line

thank you VERY MUCH. you must be very experenced kitchen hunter!!!!

To answer you questions.
Yes, i have the layout all the same.
the door i have picked is solid oak.
thickness 14mm.
Guarantees are more than likely the same.
Hinges, i didn't think much on that.
no lights included.

all the the price is based on the same spec. and they look all similar (it is from my own eyes. you must see differently).
however, some suppliers would say others are bad quality. to me, i don't really know how to identify the quality.only if there is any abvious faults such like big gap on the door to the door fames or bad installation.

Thank you for your help anyway, i think i will go back to some of them any let them know there is a lower price to see if they can mach. :D:D:D:D

littlevillage

I am in the same situation here. Have got a quote from B&Q but would like a few others.

What are peoples experiences with the B&Q 'IT' (cheap) range as compared to their (expensive) Cooke & Lewis range ?

jackhua

littlevillage wrote: »

I am in the same situation here. Have got a quote from B&Q but would like a few others.

What are peoples experiences with the B&Q 'IT' (cheap) range as compared to their (expensive) Cooke & Lewis range ?

Hi littlevillage,

based on my own experience of the last few month. i think B&Q is reasonable (they are on sale at moment, i think it is fiishing soon) and i have decided to go for them. However, thire installation fee is way toooo much. so, in my case i get kitchen from them but install from someone else. it works out better for me.

now, i understood. there is no really "good" or "bad"! anything that suits you will be good! anything that not is bad!

so, make sure what you want and stick with your plan.

Having fun!!

littlevillage

Thanks Jackua,

I have now got two quotes.

- B&Q (IT range)
- Cash & Carry kitchens

I will be getting one more quote tomorrow from a small independent carpenter/cabinet maker.

So far there is probably about 15% difference (C&C are more expensive).... the C&C kitchen is somewhere closer to the higher level Cooke & Lewis quality range from B&Q. So really its about same price.

I do get the feeling that C&C really know their business though ...they even gave me the name of the guy who will be measuring my house and installing the kitchen.

B&Q are not sending anybody out to my house for measurements beforehand (not a big deal, I can use a measuring tape myself, but still)

The reason B&Q look expensive with installation is because they do not "discount" the installation by changing the vat rate like C&C do. (mentioned above by another poster) and the kitchens arrive at your house flat packed.... so there is more work for the installer to do.

I will wait for the 3rd quote and then decide.. but so far I think C&C, because I like the fact that if I have any problem I go back to them. With B&Q its unclear exactly who I would have to go to.

paddy147

In House...aka The Paneling Centre


Go to trade counter...ask for best price.

Job Done.:)

littlevillage

Thanks Paddy,

Will try "In House" see they have a place in Oranmore.

littlevillage

Anybody any experience with Rite Price Kitchens (by Cherrymore).

They are currently giving me a nice quote .. but I have not heard anything .. good or bad about them :-/

littlevillage

Hi 'Paddy147' tried In-House kitchens .. firstly, there opening hours are ridiculous for this day and age ...and secondly I found them to be a bit rude, frankly ...I didn't even stick around for a consultation.

littlevillage

This is my summary .. Got 4 Kitchen quotes.

B&Q IT range - best range, great price (with 20% discount this week)..but its busy and difficult to get an appointment, not flexible and installation cost is insane.

Cash & Carry kitchens - Great service, fair range, fair price, installation price really cheap ... but just not as flexible as you might expect

Rite Price Kitchens - Excellent service, limited range, good price and fair installation price too and very flexible sizes

Small Carpentry place in Galway - Great Service, fair range, very flexible... but price was too high and they couldn't give me a reference site

The winner - Rite Price Kitchens !!!

Have ordered my kitchen from Rite Price Kitchens....so Fingers crossed. Will update in 3 weeks time when it arrives.

miezekatze

I have ordered my kitchen from Cash & Carry, they were the cheapest and the quality and service seem quite good and their delivery times aren't too long either. Can't wait for it to arrive! I also got a quote from Kube, but the focus there seems to be on the look of your kitchen rather than practicality and the price they quoted me was very high. I also checked out Ikea, but that would've worked out more expensive too and I'm not sure about the quality of their kitchens.

littlevillage

Thank "miezekatze" probably Cash & Carry would have been my 2nd choice.

I'm nit-picking now, but there were three things about them that relegated them to 2nd place behind Rite Price. Firstly every day I went into C&C (3 times) there was a different person there, (annoying when you have to practically start over) and no continuity. The two other things I didn't like were that their floor cabinet corner units only came in one fixed size .. 900 x 900mm .. which didn't suit me ...also I don't like their double door on a single hinge arrangement for corner units doors (despite the re-assurances they give, I have practical experience of those single hinge double doors having a very short life-span)

All that having being said .. Cash & Carry have got glowing reports here for their overall quality and service, from other posters.

littlevillage

Finally got my Rite Price Kitchen in ... :-(

Where do I begin ??

Kitchen took a lot longer to arrive than I was originally quoted ...5 -6 weeks as opposed to original quote of 3-4 weeks and even when it arrived a few bits were missing which "promptly" arrived another week later.

The Kitchen itself is beautiful, Shaker Oak and at first glance the whole things looks to be put in ok.

But the installation has been a nightmare.

The fitter was a kind of a free-lance chap ... who seems like he would rather be doing just about anything else in the world bar fitting kitchens. Signs by .. he made a bit of a pigs ear of it .. There isn't a straight door in the place and work tops etc are all over the shop...and he didn't even have the good manners to be punctual !! he basically came and went to suit himself.

My advice.
============
By all means buy a kitchen from Rite Price, their sales staff are excellent and the quality of their stuff is really good, but for heavens sake get your own installer!! very sorry I didn't spend the extra few 100 now and gone with Cash & Carry.

aparnajohn22

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