We are currently looking for a kitchen for our new build, which is scheduled to start in 2021. Nothing extravagant. Our first two visits to kitchen showrooms resulted in prices of at least 15,000 euros (around $16,000 USD), plus the side-by-side refrigerator that we plan to buy ourselves.
We are a bit surprised that for just a few pieces of furniture and three appliances (dishwasher, cooktop with fan, oven) we have to pay at least 15,000 euros. The consultants actually expected around 20,000 euros. The countertop is not even ceramic but rather granite.
Are there other options to purchase an affordable kitchen?
Please don’t get me wrong. We could afford such a kitchen. We just don’t see why we should spend 20,000 euros on a few furniture pieces and appliances.
We are a bit surprised that for just a few pieces of furniture and three appliances (dishwasher, cooktop with fan, oven) we have to pay at least 15,000 euros. The consultants actually expected around 20,000 euros. The countertop is not even ceramic but rather granite.
Are there other options to purchase an affordable kitchen?
Please don’t get me wrong. We could afford such a kitchen. We just don’t see why we should spend 20,000 euros on a few furniture pieces and appliances.
hampshire schrieb:
Either you live in a community and accept the local price level, from which you also benefit, or you simply reduce consumption. Earning high prices locally and shopping cheaply elsewhere might work for a while and for some individuals. However, it is not a contribution to society. In the long run, it is harmful to yourself to damage the society you live in for selfish reasons just to gain a short-term benefit. My argument is that buying “cheap” elsewhere is ultimately unwise and short-sighted. You always assume that goods from abroad are of lower quality than those in Germany. But that is not always the case.
For example: windows, fences, stairs.
I know many homeowners who have bought these items from Poland and would do so again because they are convinced of the quality. The same applies, for instance, to car repairs. Many German car workshops (I have been to about 10) only replace parts and no longer repair them to charge more. I have now found a local one who is not focused on making money. There, our cars are fully repaired.
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saralina8726 Oct 2020 08:30Ybias78 schrieb:
You always assume that goods from abroad are worse than those from Germany. But that is not always the case.
For example: windows, fences, stairs.
I know plenty of homeowners who have sourced these items from Poland and would do it again because they are convinced of the quality. The same applies, for example, to car repairs. Many German auto shops (I have been to about 10) only replace parts instead of repairing them to charge more. I have now found a local one who is not focused on making money. They do complete repairs on our cars. No, that is not what he assumes.
But you are too personally triggered to understand what he and @ypg are trying to say.
H
hampshire26 Oct 2020 09:00Ybias78 schrieb:
You always assume that products from abroad are worse than those from Germany. But that is not always the case.I have no idea where you get that from. I completely reject the arrogance of believing that everything here is better. I buy locally because of the people, not the prices. I prefer to deal with people who enjoy their work. In this way, I usually receive very good quality, although rarely the lowest price. I consider that money well spent.A
Alessandro26 Oct 2020 09:10hampshire schrieb:
I buy locally because of the people, not the prices. I prefer people who enjoy their work. In this way, I usually get very good quality and rarely the lowest price. I consider the money well spent.Exactly!
It's always a give and take. My kitchen fitter has already been to my place three times to install or modify something extra. He didn’t ask for any extra payment.
I don’t know if Leszek from Gdansk would be like that...
But this is typical German... Everyone complains about the decline of bakeries and butchers, yet they buy their bakery rolls and packaged meat at Aldi, Lidl, and similar stores.
The main thing is that the big BMW is parked in the driveway.
Alessandro schrieb:
That’s typically German... Everyone complains about the decline of bakeries and butchers, but they buy their pre-packaged bread rolls and meat at Aldi, Lidl, and similar stores.
As long as the big BMW is parked in the driveway. Yes, I would really love to find bread rolls like those again. On Saturday mornings, if I woke up early enough, I would drive with my dad to the bakery in the next town around 6 a.m. We would get fresh rolls, and I was allowed to pick a Stabilo fineliner pen from the counter display every time.
The double rolls had a crisp crust and were fluffy and full of flavor inside. You could easily eat them with just butter—no toppings needed.
But that was a long time ago. The bakery is gone, my dad has passed away, and I haven’t had rolls that good in nearly 20 years.
Still, I like to think back to those times so much that I always have to tell the story whenever bread rolls come up.