Posted 3 January 2018
Howdens kitchen trade account
Hi
We are looking for new kitchen and to have the design done with Howdens we need a trade account. This need not be final account. As we have not yet finalised the builder yet can someone please help with the howdens account if you have one or is there any other way to proceed with them?
Thanks a lot in advance
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23 Comments
sorted byTheir products are of good quality and as their carcasses come ready built this also cuts down on labour costs which is a win win situation.
if you’re really conscious of keeping costs down and want to fit the kitchen yourself then buy from the B&Q ranges that are in stock off the shelf instore
I would doubt someone would share account details to allow a stranger to purchase from a supplier using there details...
As has been said previously, pop into your local Howdens, they will more than likely have business cards for local joiners/kitchen installers/builders who I'm sure would be more than happy to oblige you with a free quote....
I doubt anyone will share their details with you either as most accounts are credit accounts
They're exactly the same as Booker or Macro, it's trade only.
I found Wren pushy too. Put me right off, lost interest.
We also needed a dishwasher and oven/hob but went for AEG in the end as their own brand Lamona (originally diplomat appliances) are best avoided based on research. Shop about those as some of the appliances were cheaper in curry’s. That’s if you need appliances of course. Be aware of size as well as the design will take into account sizes of certain appliances and not all are the same so if you do purchase them elsewhere your designer will need to know their sizes.
The wood/oak effect interiors of the cupboards etc it so much nicer than plain white and it’s the same price. Our units are gloss white but the wooden interior looks really nice.
got it, thank you!
in which case , I would rather go to B&Q or Wren's kitchen... You (Howden) dont want me, I dont want you (Howden).. its a consumer market, I will go to other shop!
Thanks for your point, it really helped me made my decision to go away from them (Howden)
You've nothing to lose by popping in to your local Howdens, have a look at there units, pick up a business card or 3 and get some free quotes from local tradesman, as has been said, there discounts vary, sometimes considerably.
IF your going down the B&Q,Homebase etc route bear in mind there units are not the same quality as Howdens.
IF you go down the B&Q route, do NOT get them to install, expensive, something goes wrong with 75% of installs (I used to work in B&Q) and they may not use installers local to you.
BUT wherever you decide to purchase from, employ your own joiner/installer/builder, you WILL save money and have more control over the job. (edited)
From what I remember, Wickes carcasses are 3mm thicker than B&Q and many would regard that as a sign of better quality. Not sure about Howdens products but as they are the same as Magnets (but the trade arm) and the carcasses are put together by the manufacturers probably using glued joints etc and the correct specialist tools, again customers regard the build quality better than that of ahome diy-er using a Halfords socket set or equivalent. (edited)
I would still give Howdens a try. I looked at Wrens and the labour costs as with a lot of places were ridiculous. I also know a few people who didn’t have the best experience with Wrens and one was polluted with calls from pushy sales people before getting a Howdens kitchen so perhaps don’t give them your number. Of course there will be people out there who haven’t had a great experience with Howdens but I did. Hope you get it all sorted.
Howdens won't take details from a member of the public unless there looking to create a trade account.
I think the 'standard' decent units across the various suppliers is 18mm, (stay well clear of any that are only 12mm) but as has been said pre-made Howdens carcasses make for a better and quicker install.
That said, if your handy at flat pack, B&Q Cooke & Lewis and Wickes are on a par with Howdens for overall quality, Wickes being the better value for money. (edited)
Howdens only need your address/contact number so they can send a designer out. It was Wrens Kitchen I was referring to who may ask for your details as they did with my friend and they were very pushy. I’m not saying all branches work that way of course.
Will Howdens send a designer to a property without being asked to by a trade account holder...?
No. According to Howdens you have to ask your local trade professional to arrange an appointment.
I refer the OP back to my earlier post then, post #5.
Hi, what happened in our case was the tradesman told us to go to Howdens and ask for a certain person and say he sent us so that’s what we did. She then arranged a date and time with us.
I recently had a kitchen designed, delivered and paid for it without a trade account or consulting any kind of builder at all. A builder friend found this very strange.
When it was delivered, over half of it was missing or damaged, but before calling at the store, my partner rang head office and they were adamant, that without a trade account we should not have been able to purchase it. They checked my details and could find no trace of an account in my name, my payment or anything related to my address. The delivery firm actually had an address a 100yds or so down the road. Yet our address is on all our invoices???
Anyway, we queried how this was possible and were immediately offered a full refund!
Just 4wks before Christmas and currently without a kitchen, my partner said this was unacceptable and we would like the missing items AND it fitted as we had now lost our very busy builder!! The store manager that sold it to us is coming here tomorrow to discuss it.
But I’ve been thinking, and as I don’t have a trade account and Howdens have no record of my transaction, then who did I pay (in store) my £4.5k to???
I suspect, that the very nice designer that sold it to “us” at her first offer price has actually sold it to “Bob the Builder” through his trade account, for maybe £1000+ cheaper and I have then bought it from Bob.
Far fetched? I don’t think so.
Clever? Yes.
Devious? Definitely!!
Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.