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Anyone bought a new kitchen recently?
Just looking for some advice, they all seem to be offering big discounts, unto 80% off/free stuff.
Now got the day off work tomorrow to go and buy one and just wondering what the best tactic is to get the best deal?

Try and do a deal there and then or walk away and decide later, take the plans to other stores.

First appointment is with Magnet, which is the one the wife likes/wants.

Cheers

get it from magnet, keeping the wife happy>>>>>>>>>>saving a few quid  :)

Magnet are a bit more expensive than a lot and all the companies charge a fair bit for installation.  They do do nice stuff though. If you're looking at getting someone else to install it (I think you're quite handy though aren't you?) then I'd get someone local/self employed to give an install quote as it'll more than likely be cheaper.

I probably wouldn't do a deal there and then unless it's better than what you have in mind.   Have a look at getting your appliances online, we saved a bit by doing this and also got better quality than we'd have been able to get by going with the people that the kitchen was from.

It's all a bit of a headache.

We bought one a couple of years ago.  Went through a local firm rather than a big one in the end.  I guess you can get really pushy people whoever you go through.  Can't be any harm in waiting and firing other people's quotes back at Magnet.  You can find some horror stories about them all if you look hard enough.  You'd probably be able to find something like the magnet one everywhere.  I know most of the ones we looked at seemed familiar after a while.

You can also buy the appliances direct and get them fitted in and that can save several hundred vs buying through whoever you choose to install.  

I'd work out what appliances you wanted and try and fit the designs round that rather than the other way. Though you may get some good advice and we ended up with a single oven and combination oven rather than a double and microwave.  

I don't know about giving in to the wife.  Slippery slope that is.  

Magnet service was really bad for us so we opted for a local family run concern. Also saved about 10% on price compared to Magnet.

Try and source appliances yourself, we used appliance online. Big range of choice from cheap to top end.

Best advice I can give is it's all about the fitting. The best kitchen in the world will look rubbish if poorly fitted.

EDIT: what Doobs said:)

Get a few designers in and get the free plans drawn up.  Gives you different options.  You can then source most of the requirements from the internet and get a local tradesman who you trust or can be recomended to install it. 

These companies that provide installation service to my knowledge are overpriced for both parts and labour. 

If you decide to go to one of the kitchen specialists then I would suggest going closer to month end when the salesman is struggling to hit targets for commission, you can normally negotiate a better deal in my experiience.

And if you go for granite work surfaces by extra plates, cups, mugs, bowls etc.

what area do you live in ?

I can beat any written magnet price always !

by all means go in to a local Howdens pick up a couple of books and look at the product range in comparison to magnets if they get funny with you (its trade only) mention you have a fitter and mention ljw carpenter & joiner they will be fine then.

if you need any specific help just ask me on here or pm me

if you email me any plans you get done i can price what i would charge to fit (so you can compare with local tradesmen to see if you are getting a fair price).

I can get the odd some appliance free when u spend so much on a kitchen with howdens its lamona which come with a two year guarantee.

hope this is some help



 

they will try everything to get you to commit there and then ....take plans away and compare ....no matter how good the deal sounds
also DONT let them include fitting in the price

Thanks for all the advice, much appreciated.
The quote From magnet was twice my budget and to be honest was not keen on the way they went about the whole thing, with keep knocking a bit of here and a bit of there but still not anywhere near where my budget was.
There was another kitchen place near by so we thought we would give that a try and we ended up doing a deal with them which I was happy with, right on my target spend and managed to get some extra bits at the end to clinch the deal.
The company was wren, never even heard of them, but the wife liked the kitchen better than magnet and was half the total cost, probably not as good quality but looked good enough for us.

Let's hope it fits,lol.