Hello everyone,
Until now, I’ve mostly followed the topics here quietly, but I thought I might ask for your experiences this time 🙂
We are building with Schwörerhaus, and our current task is to plan our kitchen so that we also get the layout for the utility connections. We thought we’d get three quotes, compare them, and then decide. But it’s not as easy as we thought.
So far, we have visited two kitchen showrooms. Both told us they only plan and sell the kitchen with the appliances included, and during the consultation, we could only specify which functions are important to us for the appliances.
After all the planning, we got to see a finished rendering on-site and were given a price. However, we were not allowed to take any pictures or printed plans of the final kitchen. Also, no exact model numbers or similar details about the appliances were provided. We were told the brand, but a supplier usually offers more than one appliance of a brand.
This all seems quite unprofessional to me. The advisors’ argument was each time that they put in the effort, and then I might take the plan and get it done somewhere else. In the end, I determined the layout, number of cabinets, etc., myself at both places—and naturally chose the same for each to compare.
But without the details, I can hardly compare. In the end, I don’t really know which appliances are included. If company 1 says it costs 25,000 EUR and company 2 says 15,000 EUR, I have no way of understanding what causes the difference. Both kitchens are roughly identical in layout and the number of cabinets, so it must be the appliances? It would be nice to have that listed so I could maybe choose cheaper appliances in one kitchen or more expensive ones in the other if something is “missing” or however.
What are your experiences here? Does anyone perhaps know a good kitchen studio in Berlin/Brandenburg where you can get everything listed clearly?
I’m a bit unsure right now... I wouldn’t want to pay such an amount “just like that” without knowing exactly what I am paying for in the end.
Thanks in advance for your insights.
Best regards,
ElaVogel
Until now, I’ve mostly followed the topics here quietly, but I thought I might ask for your experiences this time 🙂
We are building with Schwörerhaus, and our current task is to plan our kitchen so that we also get the layout for the utility connections. We thought we’d get three quotes, compare them, and then decide. But it’s not as easy as we thought.
So far, we have visited two kitchen showrooms. Both told us they only plan and sell the kitchen with the appliances included, and during the consultation, we could only specify which functions are important to us for the appliances.
After all the planning, we got to see a finished rendering on-site and were given a price. However, we were not allowed to take any pictures or printed plans of the final kitchen. Also, no exact model numbers or similar details about the appliances were provided. We were told the brand, but a supplier usually offers more than one appliance of a brand.
This all seems quite unprofessional to me. The advisors’ argument was each time that they put in the effort, and then I might take the plan and get it done somewhere else. In the end, I determined the layout, number of cabinets, etc., myself at both places—and naturally chose the same for each to compare.
But without the details, I can hardly compare. In the end, I don’t really know which appliances are included. If company 1 says it costs 25,000 EUR and company 2 says 15,000 EUR, I have no way of understanding what causes the difference. Both kitchens are roughly identical in layout and the number of cabinets, so it must be the appliances? It would be nice to have that listed so I could maybe choose cheaper appliances in one kitchen or more expensive ones in the other if something is “missing” or however.
What are your experiences here? Does anyone perhaps know a good kitchen studio in Berlin/Brandenburg where you can get everything listed clearly?
I’m a bit unsure right now... I wouldn’t want to pay such an amount “just like that” without knowing exactly what I am paying for in the end.
Thanks in advance for your insights.
Best regards,
ElaVogel
Musketier schrieb:
I can understand the original poster (OP). Actually, this is supposed to be an offer. But an offer is a one-sided declaration of intent with a binding character.
However, if I don’t even know what I am bound to, it becomes meaningless. It can be changed anytime afterwards by the person handling it. I see it more as a planning proposal.
But I remain neutral and do not take a position. I can also understand the frustration. I felt that way myself over the weekend in at least 10 threads, but it doesn’t help in answering if this is the rule, and this is simply the answer. And honestly: it’s similar when building a house, if not exactly the same— which general contractor (GC) commits to all the details in the scope of work? Only the high-end ones… and usually only after the contract is signed. The comparison isn’t perfect, I know. But it’s like this: kitchen planners hand out every detail, but consumers first research online to see if they are being charged 50€ too much.
We have already discussed this topic here dozens of times…
The data for the requested appliances was provided, a plan was created, a total price was named. And now the OP does not trust the seller that the appliances are actually included. She will receive this data when she accepts the kitchen. In between there is a black hole… by the way, there is a whole book about buying a kitchen!
I also know that this is how it is handled in the furniture center, but that doesn't make it any more correct.
It is not necessary to list individual prices in the offer, but at least the contents of the offer would be nice.
Salespeople allow you to take your own notes. In my opinion, you can also write down the device numbers there.
It is not necessary to list individual prices in the offer, but at least the contents of the offer would be nice.
Salespeople allow you to take your own notes. In my opinion, you can also write down the device numbers there.
Benutzer12313 Jun 2022 16:55Musketier schrieb:
I also know that this is how it’s handled in the furniture center, but that doesn’t make it any more correct.
There doesn’t have to be individual prices listed in the offer, but at least the contents of the offer would be nice.
Salespeople allow you to take your own notes. In my opinion, you can also write down the device serial numbers. When I confirmed with my kitchen studio, I received the contract and everything was listed, including the appliance descriptions. We then changed three appliances before signing.
Benutzer123 schrieb:
Then changed 3 appliances before signing. This is exactly what could have been avoided with a proper offer. You commit to a kitchen studio, everything is nicely put together, you have a fixed price, and then you get the list of appliances and realize that the appliances have terrible reviews online because they typically break down after 2.5 years. So, back to square one, selecting new appliances again, requesting a new quote, and hoping that the new price fits the budget. Extra work for both sides.
Benutzer12313 Jun 2022 18:40Musketier schrieb:
This is exactly what could have been avoided with a proper offer. You commit to a kitchen studio, have everything nicely planned, agree on a fixed price, and then you get the list of appliances and realize that the appliances have terrible reviews online because they typically break down after 2.5 years. So, back to square one—having to pick new appliances, request a new quote, and hope the new price fits the budget. Extra effort for both sides. That’s why you choose a good studio and don’t just go to the nearest big-box store. They know which appliances are reliable and which aren’t. If you have a small budget, they can’t plan premium appliances for you.
.. and there is also the point that the original poster needs the kitchen only in 2 years. I think it is more important to define the functionalities that the appliances should have. In 2 years, there will be 2 new generations of appliances, and then the specific devices can be selected. Currently, it is also the case that delivery of many appliances cannot be guaranteed. You can also read more about this in the other forum.