We’ve got kitchen designers coming out tonight to give us a ‘no obligation quote’ with free computer generated design of how our new kitchen will look.
I’ve heard many horror stories about bullying sales people being in the house for hours, not leaving until they get a signature, giving you a ridiculously high price then phoning up their managers to get a ‘great discount’, bad-mouthing other kitchen companies etc etc but I’m ready for them, I’ve got everything prepared, ‘I will not be making a decision tonight’ will be the first words out my mouth. Anyway, I’m keeping an open mind and let’s just see how it goes.
The company we have coming out tonight is Moben kitchens, anyone had any dealings with them? Has anyone had a good experience with a kitchen company?
Tags: fitted kitchen, kitchen, Moben Kitchens
February 26, 2009 at 5:37 pm |
If they gie ye any trouble Lynn set the dug oan them.
February 26, 2009 at 9:38 pm |
Haha good luck.
We had a Scottish Power man oot her the other day.
“But we’re no with Scottish Power anymore..”
“I know! I’m here tae win ye back!”
An hour later we’d a new direct debit set up and he was trying to come tae the pub quiz wi us.
Don’t take their shite.
February 26, 2009 at 11:06 pm |
He’s just left, 23:05. He arrived just before 7pm.
February 26, 2009 at 11:18 pm |
See whit I mean? I think alot of these people are just lonely.
Whit did ye think of their kitchens then?
Trouble is, if ye take them up, yer gonnae get stuck wi the guy until the works done.
Reminds me of this guy that done oor double glazing when I was younger. Irish guy, so my maw starts talking aboot her family. A week later, shes buying him decaff coffee and donuts at Safeway, my da’s giein him a lift tae the Airport and hes bringing roon videos tae watch at the weekend.
Gie them an inch…
February 27, 2009 at 12:19 am |
I don’t know about Moben, but you just prompted me to write a blog about something similar that I’ve not told many people.
http://www.completelackofsurprise.com/2009/02/27/weatherseal/
My advice would be to go on a recomendation from someone you trust. Ideally, you get a trusted joiner to install a kitchen that you choose from Howdens/Magnet/Ikea – they have the biggest choice. I’ve never heard anything good about these big installers.
February 27, 2009 at 11:06 am |
Four hours????? Fucking hell, that’s intense. Did you go for it?
I’ve heard of Moben but don’t know much about them. Our kitchen is bargain-tastic from B&Q; my husband fitted it so we saved a fortune.
February 27, 2009 at 11:53 am |
Ye fell for it. Di’nt ye? You’ve signed up for the kitchen. Weak.
February 27, 2009 at 12:13 pm |
He quoted us £13,200. That was with the 50% discount and free dishwasher.
I think you might be right twoforapound, I think he might be lonely. After the whole thing was finished and he had packed up his stuff, we went to show him to the door (we were absolutely starving and desperate to get him out) and he said ‘So, what are you up to tomorrow? How long have you been self-employed? Aye, well it’s good being your own boss, gives you freedom…etc etc.’ I was thinking ‘GET OUT, GET OUT, GET OUT’ – not really the most appropriate time to make chitchat. I actually danced around the kitchen after he left.
I feel a bit bad as he was a nice man and he worked hard on our layout but after that I was thinking ‘I never want to think about kitchens ever again in my life’.
And no, I won’t be paying 13 bloody grand for a kitchen.
February 27, 2009 at 1:17 pm |
I tried to leave a comment earlier, but I fucked it up. I was going to give you words of wisdom from my experience at the hands of Weatherseal. You inspired me to write this:
http://www.completelackofsurprise.com/2009/02/27/weatherseal/
Get a joiner that is recommended by someone you trust and get him to fit one from Howdens – they are probably the biggest supplier to trade.
February 28, 2009 at 8:27 am |
Don’t do it. These company’s often subcontract out the work to complete cowboys (If anyone looking in works for DM Designs/ Balmoral bathrooms – Kill yourself).
By all means get the kichen design done for free and work from that by getting a decent reliable joiner/plumber/spark/plasterer and tiler if required. I can supply the name and number of a good joiner
£13 Grand. Jesus christ, Dick Turpin wore a mask have these clowns heard of the credit crunch!
February 28, 2009 at 9:31 am |
£13200 – WITH A 50% DISCOUNT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH.MY.GOD.
We designed our kitchen on IKEA’s wee virtual kitchen programme. It then gives you the shopping list for all the bits you need (right down to hinges etc) and we went away up to Braehead in a big van and brought it home. Steve fitted it (except the worktops which need a special jig to cut the mitres) and the whole thing, including oven and hob etc. was under £3500.
I’ve been delighted with our kitchen (except the worktops which are shite – the laminate joins at the front and water got in the bit at the sink) and it takes an awfy beating between the kids and the dog. I know a few folk with IKEA kitchens and I’ve never heard a complaint.
You’d be much cheaper if you got hold of a joiner or kitchen fitter (they’re all desperate for work just now with the current financial shenanigans) and planned the kitchen between you. Do you not have friends or family that could recommend someone?
I remember a lot of stuff about Moben on ‘Watchdog’ a while ago. I feel sorry for the salesman cos there probably won’t be any orders coming in just now, but staying at your house till after 11.00 is scandalous. You and Brian should have went away and put your pyjamas on while he was blethering, maybe that would have given him a wee hint.
£13200. Jesus….
February 28, 2009 at 10:42 am |
Are you declining my comments? Eh? FFS
February 28, 2009 at 11:22 am |
Aye FionaF, I really like Ikea kitchens and they’re great value but we have a really strange shaped kitchen and I just couldn’t think of the best layout for it so I wanted a professional designer. Now he’s done the technical drawing though I could go to Ikea with that and just get a decent joiner to help fit it, what’s Steve doing next weekend?
Del, your posts were in the spam bit.
February 28, 2009 at 12:00 pm |
Lynn, I think that’s a good idea (except I wouldny recommend Steve – too crabbit and picky
– PLUS he’s no actually a joiner, just one of those smarty-pants men that can do stuff, LOL!).
I really am happy with my kitchen. Ikea have loads of different shaped units and stuff so you should be able to get a layout that will suit. We’re about to change the horrible laminate worktops for solid wooden ones. My pal Ali has wooden worktops and I got the worktop envy, haha. My other bit of kitchen advice would be avoid those glossy-type doors at all costs. We have glossy units in our bathroom and they show up EVERY wee water spot and mark. I’m never done polishing them – they drive me mental! We chose solid birch doors for our kitchen units cos the pale wood looks nice and it’s easy to live with dirt-wise (muddy dog feet and chocolate fingers are cleverly disguised).
February 28, 2009 at 1:13 pm |
Somebody do a photies of kitchens thread! Hehe
I’m just about to head up to B&Q to get some tiles to finish off our kitchen. Nice black brick ones. Our budget for a kitchen was £1000, as we had to renovate the whole house. It was a wee old lady in here before us and the place needed gutted. I’d say we’ve spent about £2000, but that includes new washing machine, fridge freezer, cooker, microwave; absolutely everything was brand new. It’s not state of the art, and we haven’t many cupboards, but I like it. My husband did a grand job himself – he even gave the plumbing a go as we moved the sink to under the window, and it was dead easy to do. Many many hours spent in B&Q though….
Dont. Even. Speak. To. Me. About. Weatherseal. I have just – 30 minutes ago – hung up on one of their cheeky bastard appointment makers. They were meant to be here at 12pm today to give us a quote for a new front door. She eventually phoned at 12.30 and was so fucking rude! I got into an argument with her and ended up having to hang up as she was being such a nightmare. And that says a lot as I never get angry with people about daft stuff like that.
Phew. Fucking long rambling post!
February 28, 2009 at 11:49 pm |
Just remember tae have the ‘magic triangle’
Cooker, sink and fridge must be put in a triangle layout if possible. I had a galley kitchen when I was 18 and I hated it.
£13,200 is abit much tae be honest. Ye could spend half that and get tradesmen to do it, they’d be happier wi the cash in their pocket than going to a big company. As long as ye can get someone with a good reputation. Having a half finished kitchen isnae ideal.
My kitchens fucking horrible, grey tiles and this weird turquoise/duck egg paint. Oven’s fucked and we’re always burning things so the walls are slowly turning black. So pick something that’s still gonnae look half decent when you’ve been using it for a few months.
March 1, 2009 at 3:19 am |
Got my kitchen from Howdens (sell to trade only?) 4 years ago and got it fitted by an experienced joiner that had done loads of work for my family, bought the appliances online. Not a bit of bother with it and its still looks crackin’.
March 1, 2009 at 3:22 am |
Oh aye Howdens will do a free design for you.
March 1, 2009 at 4:34 pm |
I’ve just found this post, not read any comments however hope all went well. the last thing you want is a half arsed job done by dodgy tradesmen and bits of cupboards missing and chipped tiles.
http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/cbo/lowres/cbon123l.jpg
March 1, 2009 at 7:17 pm |
i used to work in telesales for a kitchen company called ’space kitchens’. Complete scam, we’d go through hundreds of numbers through our shift like 789800 789801 789802, just changing the last 2 digits. that way we could get the phone numbers that werent even in the phone book or had been added to sales call protection programs. We’d then say that they’d won a £60K feature home giveaway and if they took the bait then they’d be given a call back by a superviser who was normally well good at convincing them they needed a visit. If they took the visit, half the time it was game over for them cause the people who went out to visit them were pushy fucking bastards.
The branch i was with were on watchdog a year after i left for doing half a kitchen and then abandoning it!
March 2, 2009 at 8:23 pm |
Thanks for the advice everyone!
March 2, 2009 at 8:27 pm |
Mattius J, who’s the good joiner you could recommend, are they Glasgow based? I would probably need a plumber too.
March 2, 2009 at 8:30 pm |
Made a decision yet?
I got a thing throught the post the day fae IKEA aboot kitchens, if you’ve no looked intae it maybe gie them a visit. They do that room designer layoot thing anaw and think you can get discounts if ye have one of they orange IKEA loyalty cards.
Be sure you like the kitchen first. As with every trip to IKEA, you end up buying stuff you don’t really need or like. Last thing ye want is a shite kitchen lying aboot the hoose.
March 3, 2009 at 7:15 am |
I was thiking of getting this style of kitchen.What do you think?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3054/2626688746_1d762b99ea.jpg?v=0
March 3, 2009 at 9:02 am |
Sorry … I’m just an interloper here. I keep an eye out for kitchen discussions because … well … because I’m obsessed with kitchens! I design kitchens for a living but I’m independent, not tied to any kitchen suppplier.
I wouldn’t advise going for any of the direct sales companies … they’re usually much more keen to sell you a kitchen than to design you one … and they all have artificially inflated list prices. Were you happy with the plan Lynn? Direct salepeople aren’t renowned for their design skills … although some of them are ok. I’d get another plan done – just to compare.
You can get a decent kitchen using IKEA or Howdens units (you need someone with a trade account to buy the latter – but if you go into your local Howdens they may be happy to recommend a fitter who has one). Their big disadvantage is that neither do a very wide range of unit sizes – which can make it difficult to come up with a really good plan. IKEA units are also non-standard sizes and they don’t have any recess at the back – so all pipes and stuff have to be at plinth level.
Personally, I’d try to find a local independent kitchen showroom which buys in kitchens from a number of different suppliers. They’re likely to be able to give you a good choice – with kitchen brands like Crown Imperial or Colonial or Omega (which aren’t too pricey) – or their own make where just the doors are bought in (like Second Nature). If you use one which has a deposit guarantee scheme, then your deposit is safe – and try to pay cash for the kitchen on the day of delivery (you can’t be too careful these days – when any businesses linked to housebuilding may be struggling).
bingabinga … I don’t want to be rude … but that style of kitchen screams 1980’s to me. Are you into French retro? Don’t let me put you off if you love it, though … fashion isn’t everything!
March 3, 2009 at 8:27 pm |
Majjie, no his kitchen plan wasn’t very good. It was basically the same layout we have now which isn’t a great layout. He seemed a bit stuck because of the strange layout of our kitchen plus the boiler and pipes are in an odd position.
Thanks for the advice Majjie, very helpful indeed, just taking a look at your website…
March 3, 2009 at 11:27 pm |
Fire me an email and I will send you his details. He also has a plumber
March 3, 2009 at 11:28 pm |
Majjie that kitchen is all the rage.
March 4, 2009 at 10:24 am |
All the rage where exactly? Outer Mongolia?
Sorry, bingabinga – you go for it, if you like it.
March 5, 2009 at 8:11 pm |
A wee bit hurtful there majjie.I mean I know your the kitchen guru but I think it looks alright.
March 5, 2009 at 8:13 pm |
Sorry,You’re the kitchen guru.
March 10, 2009 at 4:27 pm |
Lynn, how’s progress on the kitchen front? I gather you’re having great fun with Ikea’s planner thing?
What style of doors do you like?
BTW – Peter, that kitchen is a shocker. Sorry
March 11, 2009 at 9:36 am |
FionaF, I’ve designed a kitchen on Ikea now that I’m quite happy with. I’m just going to go for the cheapy white doors, I like the high gloss but after your advice I decided not to go for them and they’re pricey anyway.
March 11, 2009 at 10:08 am |
I think white doors on IKEA cabinets is a good choice (the cabinets are always white … so go with the flow and you don’t have to worry about seeing the carcasses between the doors).
Also you can do so much with white – make it look cool – or warm and bright – depending on the accessories.
I’m not a guru bingabinga. I just live, eat and breathe kitchens. I should get out more. The kitchen you like isn’t fashionable. Doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have one like it.
March 11, 2009 at 10:36 am |
Lynn, I like a white kitchen but in THIS house that would be craziness. What kind of worktops will you get? Glad you decided against the gloss anyway, it really is a nightmare to live with.
Peter, I’ve decided that you were being funny. Oh God, I hope so…
March 11, 2009 at 7:53 pm |
If kitchens can be graded in terms of fashion, mine must fall in somewhere between cartoon denim jaikets and kleim trackies.
March 12, 2009 at 9:33 pm |
Lynn, and everyone else, if you want to know more about Moben and the other Homeform companies (Kitchens Direct, Dolphin, Sharps) then pop along to my Kitchenhell website. Homeform has changed hands since my kitchen was installed but the new owners have continued to offer a level of service which results in plenty of dissatisfied customers getting in touch with me.
March 12, 2009 at 11:45 pm |
I was joking do you think my wife would let anything like that near our house.She is all about kitchens like this,
http://www.imagecows.com/uploads/a257-neff-kitchens-ash-kitchen.jpg
April 9, 2009 at 11:40 pm |
Any developments?