Buying Kitchens And Kitchen Stuff Online

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Geekamouse

54 posts

Master Geek

#113620 22-Jan-2013 16:44

I'm reasearching an article on online shopping for kitchens, kitchen cabinets and kitchen appliances - exciting stuff, I know!

However, I really am and I need stories of real-life experiences - horror outcome, good outcome, reasons to and not to, etc.

I'm hoping some of you might be able to help. What was your experience?

mattwnz

20164 posts

Uber Geek

#748989 22-Jan-2013 16:56

What sites are you looking at?
Many of the fittings, such as hinges, draw runners etc, you can purchase direct from the manufacturers if you can get a trade account, or you know someone like an architect or builder. SOme DIY knowledge though is required.

Geekamouse

54 posts

Master Geek

#749375 23-Jan-2013 10:29

I'm hoping to hear the experiences of those who've bought kitchens, DIY cabinets, kitchen appliances and so on.

jonherries

1396 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Subscriber

#749579 23-Jan-2013 14:45

Have a look at the Bunnings website. Hidden in there is a price list for their kitset jobbies. My family run a business making custom kitchens and can't hold a candle to the prices they quote doing like for like.

Generally the price difference between custom is in the quality of the hardware fittings (drawers, handles, hinges), the bench top and the type of finish/colour/material on the cupboards and drawers. Also the cost is in the ability to design and build solutions with out of the ordinary requirements.

The Bunnings website catelogues should be able to point you in the right direction as to whether you need to spend more on a custom approach.

HTH,

Jon

mattwnz

20164 posts

Uber Geek

#749614 23-Jan-2013 15:06

Geekamouse: I'm hoping to hear the experiences of those who've bought kitchens, DIY cabinets, kitchen appliances and so on.

Yes but you have said 'online shopping' for these. I am not aware of any online shops that offer this sort of thing. Often for lower pec standard sized stuff, you go to mitre10 or bunnings who order the stuff for you. Or for higher spec and made to measure stuff you go to a kitchen shop. Or you go direct to a local kitchen manufactuer who builds a template and meaures up for it. It isn't something that you really do online, unless you are just wanting off the shelf stuff. Hence why I am asking for examples of online shops selling kitchen cabinets off the shelf or made to measure, as I am interested in knowing what comapnies offer this service. If you are writing an article I presume you know of at least some that you are basing the article on?

Geekamouse

54 posts

Master Geek

#749671 23-Jan-2013 16:15

Thank you for your interest but I obviously haven't made myself clear. I'm hoping to hear from people who have actually bought kitchens, kitchen cabinets, kitchen appliances, etc. online. I'd like to hear about their experience of doing so. There are many web sites selling kitchens and appliances such as:

http://uduit-diy.co.nz/
http://www.appliancesmart.co.nz/

Sorry if I was a bit vague

nickb99

128 posts

Master Geek

#753056 30-Jan-2013 09:00

Hi. I planned and had fitted a new kitchen last year. This was my 8th kitchen project so I have the benefit of many years of mistakes ;) I buy most things online so had the same question as you.

Sadly there seem to be few if any fully functional NZ kitchen websites. By fully functional I mean like the Ikea Kitchen Planner, where you can enter dimensions, plan a kitchen and then select and order all the necessary parts. There is such a substantial number of variables in all kitchens I can only assume that most kitchen companies don't have the resources of Ikea to build such a tool. In 99% of the NZ sites I found you either emailed in a plan or they came around and measured up. Not very online I know.

The choice in the end (as normal) seemed to be either to accept the barn (Mitre 10/Bunnings) prices and make their units fit the kitchen (as the range is always limited) or to have a specialist build one to fit exactly. I normally do the former but this time did the latter and went with Kitchens Direct in Timaru. They ship nation wide I understand (both flat pack and fully assembled) and I found their price for the quality very reasonable. There were some bugs during install (as always) but they sorted them all with no hassle.

What might be of interest to you is how much you can save on the appliances online. NZ & Oz appliance prices are such a rip off (I am from the UK) that I spent a while researching alternatives. Check out the Oz Whirlpool forums here. A huge thread (and there are others on that forum too) but will give you the info you need. If you have the time, and need enough appliances you can save a bundle importing them from the UK. I was in a rush and only got a Bosch 80cm convention cooktop air freighted over from Woodalls (www.we-sell-it.co.uk) in the UK rather than a whole set by sea. Cost me less than half what it would cost to buy in NZ! You need to do your homework on warranties first of course. The rest of the appliances I got a good deal (offline) on from Scott at Kitchen Appliances in Timaru (scotta@kitchenappliances.co.nz) but only because of the co-deal they have with Kitchens Direct. Hope this helps...N

jonherries

1396 posts

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Subscriber

#753059 30-Jan-2013 09:03

Ha, my brother designed and built the kitchen planner for Ikea originally about 5 years ago. He was the only only working on it.

Jon

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Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

nickb99

128 posts

Master Geek

#753065 30-Jan-2013 09:11

Small world! Tell him he did a great job. Now if only Ikea actually had all the stuff in stock...!
I still have fond memories of a hot summer day in the UK where I set off from Bournemouth in the morning to buy all the final bits I needed to complete my Ikea kitchen. It involved visiting three (3) Ikea stores, Croydon, Brent Park and then finally Thurrock. It was so hot all the Ikeas were quiet, I had strong AC in the car and plenty of tunes...a good day. I wonder if their plumbing is still non-UK standard.