Howdens Kitchens - www.howdens.com

Howdens Kitchens - www.howdens.com

User reviews
1.8

Value For Money

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Howdens Kitchens - www.howdens.com

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Howdens Kitchens - www.howdens.com
3.73 1,419 user reviews
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1.8

Value For Money

User Reviews

KatieGuest411
1

Value For Money

Shoddy Products And A Lack Of Customer Care

A full kitchen has been purchased and within 4 month the sink has started to corrode, the paint flake and chip away. The “quality” department has stated that this is due to improper care and the use of harsh substances in the sink which is completely untrue.

We have requested a replacement sink which they have refused. After numerous emails, Howdens response has been that “unfortunately there is nothing more we can do for you on this matter” which is simply unacceptable and yet another example of a company avoiding their responsibilities to consumers in order to line their own pockets.

From looking at other reviews I am not the first customer to have a substandard product provided and an unsatisfactory response from Howdens towards making amends. Very disappointed with the service and assumptions made to avoid appropriate action. I have since made contact with the “reviews” team so let’s see if they are able to support in finding an appropriate solution, and getting the sink replaced.

Dde123

Poor,measuring,poor Insight To Customer Needs,high Interest

Kitchen and bathroom fitter for 28 years,I've never seen a more poorly organized,and lacking motivation company in my life,they laugh at you when the wrong kitchen turns up and you complain,all they're interested in is getting it out,(not on time or the correct kitchen)and then making excuses,not enough,handles,not enough hinges,not even enough end panels,stood in depot,I will name, Bourne,lincs, for 25 mins, before someone served me,two women at the back discussing their weekends,I'm seeking a new company to supply,I think howdens have got way too big for their boots,got need for them there's plenty more kitchen company's in a bloody big ocean, company needs a massive shake up,my last customer got quoted,2,800, pounds less, for her kitchen,I can't compete with that so therefore I will not recommend howdens anymore

Reb28
1

Value For Money

Avoid For Your Health, Well Being And Sanity .... Avoid !

Nightmare experience, copious amounts of damaged items, damaged items replaced with more damaged items, one unit even arrived water damaged, very poor quality overall, the fitter blamed Howdens (Torquay) and Howdens blamed the fitter, I was left frustrated, stranded and unsupported in the middle, he was an awful fitter, he didn't give Howdens a chance to replace all the damaged items and went ahead and installed no end of damaged items with chips and dents galore in my new kitchen, there was no pricing transparency, the depot investigated a complaint I raised internally which was not impartial, the business model puts the customer in the middle and unprotected between Howdens and the fitter, fitters with Howdens accounts need monitoring and scrutiny as the one we had was not good for the reasons outlined and because he also took almost three months on our refit, did not complete the work and would not put right the things he did, he showed hostility and annoyance towards me when I was only asking him to put right the poor jobs he did and said nothing was good enough for me disregarding my right for a good quality undamaged new kitchen, it was a very distressing experience, I wouldn't buy a Howdens kitchen again and can not recommend Howdens based on my experience, I suggest buyers please beware, it was a dreadful experience, and I noticed a culture that makes out the customer is being fussy and expecting too much, vast improvements are needed, having a kitchen refit should be pleasurable and existing but that was not the case, it was instead thwart with anguish and heartache, a sorry state of affairs and one I would hope no one else experiences.

1
Reb28

The kitchen fitter was JAKE CORNFORTH CARPENTRY SERVICES ... please beware of Howdens Torquay as well as Jake Cornforth

MichelleGargan
1

Value For Money

Avoid

Where do I start !

Ordered items for a utility room from Howdens in the so called sale .

Firstly the initial order was taken wrong so had to wait for items missed .I had paid in full for what I believed was my entire order only to be charged an extra £300 because Howdens ordered a standard worktop not breakfast bar which was requested and an extra £100 for a base unit that was also missed off . We had to send worktops back as they were the wrong size ! . Now here come the major issue …..

so in total I paid £2550.00 for

5 x base unit (1000,900,600 and 2 x 500)

Sink

1x worktop

1x breakfast bar and backing panel

4x 350 doors

4 end panel and 2 wall panel

2x plinth

2x upstands

However

We returned

Worktop, breakfast bar ,backing panel and 2x up-stands a refund of £527.95

Which means for

Sink

2 plinth

5x base units

4 x 350 doors

4 x end panel and 2 x wall panel we have paid a grand total of £2022.05

In a sale !

I’ve been back several times to try to understand the pricing of these items and been told different prices for various items as they were bought as a package in the sale ( pot luck on prices there I believe anyway)

900 unit alone has cost me £362.46 +vat

Not sure what Howdens class as a sale but the same item in Benchmarx was £175 + vat

In fact priced items at 3 other companies and same order has come to approx £ 1300.00 inc vat at all 3

Still not resolved and won’t be going back to Howdens anytime soon .

2
MichelleGargan

I still haven’t had a resolution from them and the best joke of all is they don’t have a complaint’s department or anyone that deals with complaints!!!! Says it all really

Trading standards it is then .

Reb28

I second that AVOID is the best advise possible, we had the worst experience ever with Howdens Torquay and a fitter Jake Cornforth Carpentry Services who has a trade account with them

garyp59
1

Value For Money

Howden Kitchen Very Poor Service

Howdens are a complete waste of time with regards their kitche ns...all good until there is a problem....their designer and also the manager who checked over everything failed to make adjustments in a island overhang....ends up costing us an extra £750! completely their fault and yet no help at all. and infact silence from them when asked what are they going to do. I was told only told contact their customer service and that was a complete waste of time. This was in Binley, Coventry.

1
Reb28

I empathise as we also had a nightmare experience with Howdens Torquay and one of their trade only account holders Jake Cornforth Carpentry Services. They are unique but for all the wrong reasons as they have an awful approach to customer care and view the customer as the third party and show them no consideration or respect. I wholeheartedly agree best avoid if you value your health, well being, sanity, and well earned money. I wouldn't wish Torquay Howdens and Jake Cornforth Carpentry Services on my worst enemy.

Wayynnee
1

Value For Money

Poor Build Quality

We’re can I begin , bought a kitchen from howdens Stockport approx £16,000 used a fitter recommend by them at additional £2500 , was fitted in May of this years and already the cupboards are begining to chip ,kick boards chipping very badly , doors dropping inter grated fridge and freezer clips snapped reported this to the manager of the branch Stockport who came out and agreed with me , he then contacted the Q&A department who said it was wear and tear and they wouldn’t do anything after 4 months , I then lodged a complaint and after 2 weeks came back and said then same thing ,

Howdens this isn’t acceptable

HelenFM
4

Value For Money

Howdens Yarm Road Darlington

Have just had a Howdens kitchen fitted ( Fairford Sage Green) . From start to finish the service I received was excellent. The designer was very patient and provided me with lots of options, no pressure regarding timescales and was happy to discuss what I wanted, what I needed and gave me an outstanding design within budget.

Can’t praise the staff enough

Customerjjb
1

Value For Money

A Disgusting Disgraceful Company

They Have put a CCJ on my credit file after paying a bill late after being in contact with them and spending thousands paid up to date as discussed. £170 of additional charges they make up.. no phone call or email just a letter that was missed.

No help just rude when explaining

There employee is a disgrace rude unhelpfull disgusting way to treat a customer will never use again and will take further stay away from these absolute scoundrels

2
Reb28

I couldn't agree more having had the worst experience ever with this company, my advise stay clear as they have no respect for their customers, we had an absolutely awful time with Howdens Torquay and Jake Cornforth Carpentry Services

AHGHUTCHINSON

Such a sweeping damnation is not helpful because no location is given - Customerjib may not have had the same experience from a different depot. Our builder is not using our nearest one because of Howdens pricing policy - he gets a better deal from another one whose manager bent over backwards to resolve a problem which arose once he started.

Proverbs31
5

Value For Money

Bermondsey Branch Service

I simply popped in to look at the design that was generated via Croydon branch (builders location). I am based near Bermondsey local branch . I am compelled to name the staff member because he was patient, extremely helpful and engaged as if it was his kitchen. A small galley kitchen that most would roll their eyes because of the intensity and energy I was exerting. Not him, he remained fully engaged and never lost focus. His attention to detail and design overview was comforting and not 'pushy salesmanship. He was not going to make a sale from me, however, his ideas and enthusiasm caused me to review previous decisions. If you are visiting the Bermondsey branch, a quaint, friendly team, but he was the staff member who deserves to be acknowledged by management. He is my plumb line in terms of customer service and is a credit to Howdens.

Bart123.
1

Value For Money

Terrible Customer Service

Howdens Erith branch is an absolute joke . Save yourself time and money and avoid

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Q&A

radishot

I want to make a complaint about service I have recieved from a store. Who do I address it too?

juliehughe43

Please can you recommend which brand of appliances are the most reliable in your experience? Thank you

suzianka

Has anyone had the Howdens backboards fitted? I'm looking to have the charcoal gloss and just wondered in there is any feedback out there.

SPC-CARPENTRY

I run SPC CARPENTRY .

I have fitted backboards on a job of mine .

I found them easy to work with and looked amazing when fitted.

You can have a look , if you visit my FACEBOOK PAGE

nakash

How to make complaint about Howdens kitchen if you are not happy about the product?

abywan

agree with other comment go straight to the manager

sidel8

We have a Howden's kitchen pre 2008 which we still love. However I need to remove the 2 soft close drawers from below the cooker hob to inspect something....I'm stumped at how to do this as I don't want to break the sliding mechanisms....any ideas guys?

susan161

I don't have soft close doors from Howdens in my utility room but do have soft close doors in my main kitchen. I have removed these drawers many times using the method described by 'smallworks' so I guess these catches are universal. It is easy to do, once removed they can be put back by clipping on to the runners. If in doubt I suggest you pop into Howdens and ask for a demonstration.

DrJools

Has anyone used their stranded bamboo flooring? Any issues?

PiethefatcatsMum

No I haven't used it - sorry

limassol14

 I have had a Belmont stainless steel sink fitted. Unfortunately there are scratch like marks appearing and are increasing on the draining board. I have a dishwasher and do not use the drainer for dishes etc just the odd plastic container. This is supposed to be a top of the range sink, you cannot feel any scratches it almost looks as though they are appearing under the surface - could this be a manufacturing fault? Having problems with Howdens accepting the problem. Any ideas anyone?

interbrew

I had so many problems getting Howdens accepting the problems. Its made worse because unbeknown to the customer, you pay the fitter Howdens money for the appliances therefore you are at the mercy of the fitter.Trading Standards are very good. Contact them. They will advise you of what to put in writing to Howdens. Please stand you ground and don't be worn down by them. I told them I would stand outside and tell all customers the problem I was having.

Rita7777

We are considering having a Howdens kitchen fitter as our fitters go through them. I have concerns about no prices given. Are there any guarantees? Reviews are so bad would you advise not using Howdens?

CarpenterHovecouk

Howdens do NOT supply fitters. Branches may suggest fitters but they are two diffeent things. You get a choice of fitter at Howdens unlike other retial sheds who select the tradesmen team for you, and still your two contracts are supplier and fitter. Howdens are trade only and few would manage to get a kitchen from them direct unless thay can show they are in the trade. Generally you find your own tradeeman team, they get the kitchen planner to you, you see the plan, fitters get the pricing, then thye give you an all in figure. As such the contract of work as a retail customer is through the fitter and not Howdens itself because the customer if not having a direct account is buying through the fitter. Some branches may suggest fitters, some may have a rack of cards but none of that is any guarantee, get unbiased advice, ask a friend first for reccomendations.

QUOTE: We understand that your local builder is best placed to give you the convenience and experience of a professional installation, that’s why we only sell to trade. If you don’t have a trade professional in mind, then contact your local depot who will help you find one or visit our find a local builder page for more information.

BTW The retail price structure is I would say artificially high, so ignore that, its not comparable to the retail sheds, also account holders get slightly different prices from each other too.

stagsfan48

Has anyone had a problem with the Howdens 20mm granite kitchen worktop? My daughter has had 2 break whilst being fitted by what has turned out to be a poor fitter, not Howdens but 20mm for granite seems to be too small.

stagsfan48

Howdens have started supplying 20mm granite and have provided cutting tools to a few fitters as an incentive for them to recommend the granite to customers. They also provide a short training session to the fitters who they give the tools to.

sportsscreen

I fitted a Gloss Cream Integrated Handle kitchen 6 months ago. Marks started to appear on a few doors and drawer fronts that we now think may be a result of splashed hot food, which is taking the surface off. Local Howdens are unhelpful and consider this normal wear and tear but the finish is not durable in a working kitchen environment. Any recommendations to restore the PET Gloss finish?

naughtysausage

Have you contacted the depot to ask them to send a rep out to look it over? That's the normal procedure and that should have been done by the depot you bought the kitchen from. Once a rep or manager comes out, they can then send their finding to Howdens QA and resolve the issue.

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