Howdens vs Wren vs Magnet

3 years ago

Hello Hive Mind!
Your thoughts on the above please. Ready to buy our new kitchen, we have quotes from all three (all within budget) all similar spec and look, all with equally as good per sales and design recommendations.

I now need to make a decision!

Howdens - (at cost) offer no interest free crust that could be an appealing option but not a must. Builder has experience with them

Wren- built in option costed, everything including price looks great, but I cannot see the quality of units until the 12th. They are the best priced option

Magnet - built in option costed and agin price is within budget. Perceived best quality of the bunch. Sample of door to be viewed on Thursday.

Does anyone have any experience of the quality and post sales snagging they can share? I don’t want referrals to other companies and the design and costing part is sorted thank you.

Are my perceptions correct about quality in order being Magnet then Howdens then Wren?

Thanks all!

Wren

Howdens

Magnet

Featured Answer

PRO

Your Space Living

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

Hi Nicola,

I have just written a blog post that is somewhat related to this question. All three of these companies are volume retailers. That means they are in business to sell as many kitchens as possible and, statistically, they are all successful in that regard. Their quality will be on par with each other and their products will be priced accordingly. You'll find a range of opinions from previous customers. Some will be happy with their experience, others won't. People's expectations and experiences do vary.

As a professional, my advice would be to focus on the person you are working with, rather than the brand name of the company. Buying a kitchen is a big investment. Not just financially but also emotionally. It's worth making absolutely sure that the designer is the right person for you. You aren't just buying products, you are also buying expertise and service. It is worth asking if it's possible to have a genuine design service when the business model requires a high turnover of quick sales?

I'm sure, if you'd met the right designer, you wouldn't feel the need to run this pole.

There are some fabulous designers out there but there are also lots of sales people posing as designers. When you go to the volume retailers, you are playing the "designer lottery". You never know what you're gonna get. As @Daisy England has already mentioned, it's worth looking at the independents before making a final decision. The chances are the price won't differ much and if it is slightly more, the difference will be in the service you can expect to receive.

If you get a minute, please read my blog post. In it, I suggest five simple questions that will help you find the right designer. If you take the time to absolutely nail the design and line up a brilliant installation team, you'll have all the confidence you need to make the right choice for your new kitchen project.

Best wishes :)

5 questions to ask your kitchen designer (yourspaceliving.com)

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Comments (33)

Nicola Jong
Original Author
3 years ago
Please vote for your preference
Ruth House
3 years ago
I only have experience of Wren but we were very happy with the service and product and are considering using them again. We did have snag with product several years down the line and they resolved it no questions asked. They no longer market that version of our product so I believe it was a problem with that specific range.
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Had a quick look on their website and they look very good but it all comes down to cost, So if you're comparing between howdens (mfi schreiber back in the day) vs jonas & james if they're a comparable price then they are a superior product. Comparing the cabinets, having an 18mm solid back on the base helps to stabalise and strengthen the cabinet, keeps it square and can take the weight of heavy worktops, 3mm hardboard backs in this day is pretty rubbish. 1-2mm cabinet edging is what you need but what you don't want is paper/thin pvc 0.4mm edging as you can make out the chipboard underneath. Cabinet colours though with only 5 is ok, but if you're paying a lot of money, an independant who supplies egger board cabinets would have a lot more colours and woodgrains to choose from and you can source these doors seperately. Flat pack cabinets are fine (they have a bit of a bad reputation) and they're easy to store and move about and with the fittings pre inserted they're easy and quick to put together. The only downside though is with the wall units and you may see (in a large room and sitting down) the metal cams in the wall unit base panel, to get round this I suggest to customers having a decor panel underneath. For the doors, again far superior, the J profile handleless door for example is 22mm painted, the howdens door is a foil wrapped 19mm cut and edge (badly) door and to thin. Their 5 piece foil wrapped door is also good quality and available in made to measure option. Their painted matt doors also have a wider range of colours to choose from. The guarantee isn't something I'd worry about TBH, if there's a fault you're going to see this on installation and these companies that offer a 25 year guarentee are a joke as the chance that they'll have the item that you want in 20 years time is about zero, with some companies they discontinue the door 6 months after you buy the kitchen and have no back up stock in my experience, so they offer a door that doesn't match. I also have an account with this manufacturer and I think they're good quality, they're a large manufacturer in the uk kitchen company and been going for years. All you have to do is make sure the design works for you, the plan all fits and when you buy it that everything on the invoice matches what you need on the plan. I tend to start in the corner and mark out on the worktop or wall where everything is going - good luck with your first kitchen.
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TBH, most kitchens from independants are better than Howdens, Magnet, Wren and the sheds etc in my opinion and i've been in the kitchen industry for over 25 years. Also independants are usually better designers, have more choice and better product knowledge. Things I'd look for in a cabinet are how thick are the panels - 18mm is standard, how thick is the back panel - i prefer 18mm as this means the cabinet is square, won't flex and strong enough to take heavy worktops, how many colours is the cabinet available in - who wants a white cabinet with dark doors, cabinet edging - minimum of 1mm. hinges and drawers - look for quality brands like blum, hettich, grass make sure its soft close, big wide drawers need to take a lot of weight, wall cabinets - to have hidden suspension brackets and check the depth is it deep enough for plates, rigid vs flat pack - a good quality flat pack cabinet i think is better than a cheaply made rigid cabinet, flat pack is easier to store if space is at a premium and its not that they're hard to assemble. As for doors it really depends on style and budget but a few pointers, check the door thickness as they seem to be getting thinner and for J profile you really need 22mm, vinyl wrapped doors have had a bad reputation as they were delaminating but that has been resolved for most manufacturers but check guarentees, timber shaker doors are usually about 20mm thick made from oak if stained and ash/oak if painted and have a veneered centre panel (usually) a V groove on the joints is usually a cheaper made door.
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Daisy England
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Both Wren and Howdens have a complaint FB page. Maybe Magnet to do.

Personally wouldn‘t touch either of them with a bargepole. Why aren’t you looking at independent business?
Nicola Jong
Original Author
3 years ago
Hi Daisy, too expensive and short lead times
lesleycurrant
3 years ago
Not Wren!! They’re a nightmare to deal with if you run into any problems, and their laminated unit doors are totally hit and miss! We had 53 separate issues with our kitchen, which took over 6 months to fix and 23 separate re-deliveries! Our fitter was amazing, otherwise we would have demanded they rip the kitchen out again and give us a full refund. I wouldn’t trust them ever again. Check out the complaints pages on Facebook, and be aware they remove all negative reviews on their own social media 🙁
Daisy England
3 years ago
Independent businesses are normally no more expensive. Have you asked any of them for a quote? Lead times are good too. We get doors and worktops in the following day. Carcases take several days as they’re made to order.
Sonia
3 years ago
i have a 10 year Wrens kitchen and it’s been fine. We used our own fitter. However, I haven’t had to contact them in this time so can’t comment on their Customer Service. Howdens is of a similar quality and favoured by builders, but considering Joe Public cannot buy direct from them, maybe that’s why? I have no experience of Magnets. I would google all of them for reviews, it can be an eye opener.
Nicola Jong
Original Author
3 years ago
Any recommendations on independent options would be welcomed... I’m based in Herts
Sonia
3 years ago
Hi Nicola, my sister used Kitchen Ergonomics in Stevenage. She said they are fantastic but quite high end?
Nicola Jong
Original Author
3 years ago
Great thanks Sonia, that’s really close so I’ll check them out
sunshineband34
3 years ago
I’m about to buy a kitchen in Hertfordshire and I’m going to approach Planet Furniture in Hitchin, Wentworth Kitchens in St Albans and Letchworth and New Kitchens in Shefford. Haven’t spoken to any of them yet though so don’t know what they’re like!
PRO
OnePlan
3 years ago
Lovely to see you have increased your search to include local independents - we actively encourage our clients to use the designs we create together to shop around . There are a few online places you could add too ... DIY kitchens, UnitsOnline, Classic Kitchens Direct to name a few ! Happy hunting !!
annabellaamy
3 years ago
I always thought independents were expensive until I tried !!.....very pleased with our kitchen. A friend of mine was getting new kitchen at same time as me and went to Wren.... I nearly died when she told me cost.....!!
PRO
Eerospace Ltd
3 years ago
Hot tip - Which magazine regularly list the best kitchens in terms of quality and service and everything DIY Kitchens comes top...........I know its difficult to plan a kitchen as so many have different dimensions so that's where a design ( like me ) comes in...........if you would like a free ZOOM consultation please message me.
HU-367680419
2 years ago
It's an installer I can't get. Been trying for 18months. They can't be bothered with a small kitchen. They can pick and choose since Covid.
PRO
Lifestyle Kitchens
2 years ago
@HU-367680419 you could try advertising your job on Bark website (doesn't cost) but check their workmanship, reviews, experience etc, get 3 quotes etc or try the https://www.bikbbi.org.uk/ website as these installers have been checked, guarentee work etc
HU-367680419
2 years ago
Thanks, I could try them but I've tried other similar sites locally which is how I've had a load of them stop by, quote verbally and then say they aren't interested as they have bigger jobs. Plans were done by Howden's, given lots of contacts but lead to the same problem. Coz I live close to central London too, they tend to be further out and can't be bothered.
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Eerospace Ltd
2 years ago
Hu, hello where are you based. We use an excellent handy man who fits plumbs, tiles, paints and some electrical works. He is based om SW11
Veronika Karailieva
2 years ago
Hi Eerospace Ltd - what are your contact details please?
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Eerospace Ltd
2 years ago
Hello - dp@eerospace.co.uk or 07876886033

Davied.
Tony Jones
last year
Have been through this choosing exercise twice Magnet came out on top for price quality and sensible design. Delivered in 2 weeks no mistakes. As stated earlier the designer/ salesperson is important we have been very happy with Magnet
PRO
Carla / kolours.space
last year
I worked with all and quality apart, all have different doors from entry to wood finish. If you can afford without finance, better work with in stock items through trade (howdens preferred by most trade but magnet similar) if you need finance (magnet or wren but again stock / damage items easier and reliablewith magnet)
PRO
Carla / kolours.space
last year
My last job before Porcelanosa was Howdens and was the best team / employee experience even very demanding. Depends which depot you buy from the service you will receive. But the builder has a preferred relationship with a depot. Hopefully you have both good builder/ depot.
Rebecca Wilson
last year
I have just ordered a kitchen from a small local manufacturer - I shopped around all the usual including your top 3. I was advised that they could produce a much better quality door than Wren etc were offering and they knocked £8k from the Wren quote. Try looking local.
poppophouse
last year
Just about to go with Howdens. Tried a local independent but was too expensive. One of the plus points I felt when chossing Howdens was my fitter has a very good relationship with them and as they have so many depots with most items in stock if you have to replace/return/ buy any extras you don't have to wait for weeks ! They can usually deliver with 24/48 hours. I'll let you know how myine goes ut that won't be until SEptember.
Amber
last year
I have a Howdens kitchen and it's perfectly nice. I would however not go for the appliances, they are substandard in my opinion.
PRO
Carla / kolours.space
last year
Lamona appliances 3 years standard warranty and can be extended to 5 years so depends on budget
Daisy England
last year
Lamona appliances do not get good reviews. l would buy other brands for similar prices.
HU-639234920
last year
Be aware I work for Wren Kitchens as a designer and we searched a lot of the names that have complained on these ”complaint groups” and majoirty of them have never bought from us or even hold an account with us. Go figure for yourself
PRO
Dwell Interiors
last year
Neither of those
HU-931418813
6 months ago
I've just pulled the trigger on Howdens Allendale shaker style, 15 units in total, laminate worktop, 5 appliances (inc integrated washing machine and integrated fridge freezer), standard swan neck tap, composite 1.5 sink, door/drawer handles, upstand, undercabinet lighting.. delivered.. final price of £6150.. own tradesman fitting everything, inc electrics, his final bill is £1300.. so £7450 total.

Like for like, SUPPLY ONLY (not install), Magnet's online price estimator returning +9k, no mention of sink/tap and unlikely to include upstand, lighting..

Like for like, SUPPLY ONLY, not including things like upstands, lighting, Wren was well over 8k..

So Howdens was significantly cheaper. I can't find any supplier with a price estimator who can get near Howdens price. To be fair, it was part of their Autumn sale, plus fitters discount.
Daisy England
6 months ago
I regularly quote against Howdens, Wren, Magnet, Wickes and B&Q and always come in cheaper. As an example Magnet quoted £735 for a drawer pack, ours was below half that price. Then you need to take quality into the equation and whether you can obtain made to order sizes to avoid waste of space and unsightly fillers which Magnet excel at.

You should consider using an independent to get a fair comparison because most of us offer better customer service, quality, choice and are cheaper.

Howdens vs Wren vs Magnet

Your Space Living

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Nicola Jong
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