Lack of stock unhelpful staff cheap worktop surfaces always into much of a hurry to get you out

I find the customer service in Inverness incredibly slow:( The accounts department are needing some assistance where allocating payments are concerned. One account manager per customer would be a good idea!!

Recently visited the rugby branch for some doors. The person I spoke to was very polite and gave me a brochure talked to me about the doors I liked and explained about being a trade only company so would have to go through my fitter for prices, this was not an issue. She was extremely helpful and got the chaps to get the doors out for me to look at. I popped back in on the Saturday with my wife to show her and we ended up speaking to the manager. Well what a complete difference our experience was this time. He was rude and arragont didn't seem bothered as we were not tradesmen. Very cocky. In fact he walked off halfway through and got another staff member to "deal with us" due to his complete disregard and lack of professionalism we bought our doors elsewhere and will be buying our kitchen elsewhere too. Such a shame as he has let down the other friendly members of staff there.

The 'designer' talked in joinery jargon I didn't understand. It is usually women deciding on kitchens and I don't think they want all this 600ml by 300ml stuff. I didn't know what the hell he was on about and was very confused. If a relative who is a joiner had not met up with the 'designer' at my home, I would not have gone ahead as I didn't understand all the joiner speak. It took several goes to get the design I wanted as there seemed to be a communication problem. I think the joinery jargon needs to be dropped and a more 'designer' approach taken. I wouldn't have bought my kitchen units from Howdens if my relative had not been around to explain what the guy was meaning. However, the units and work tops are lovely and the kitchen looks great. I am pleased with the kitchen but the approach taken when visiting me to discuss the design could have been much better. The guy is pleasant enough but needs to drop the jargon and try not to confuse people by bamboozling them with so many options you don't know where you are.

I have just seen an advert for Howdens that prompted me to write this. The advert stated that the designers gave support to the customers and builder throughout We have a very expensive kitchen. We met the so called designer at the start. He was there 20 mins. He spoke to our builder and a lot of what we said was confirmed through the builder. We felt like our opinion was not listened too. Confirmed when the wrong doors arrived. When we had the wrong larder unit. Now we are left with doors that can not be opened. Not happy at all. We never saw him again. Or heard from him. He got a good commission for 20 mins I would say

Quality of cupboards looks good in catalogue but disappointed when installed. The extractor fan thrown in is a low quality with a 'd' energy rating. Howdens advertised sale but give you discount instead which you cannot see as you pay through a tradesman

I had my Howden's kitchen installed 5 years ago next month (November). I remember being so excited when it was finished, it looked amazing, still does. I opted for the Lamona products on good authority. Unfortunately, within the first year things started to go wrong - the ignition was the first to go within a few months, within 18 months I had to contact the joiners who fit it because the cooker hood broke - the arms began to deteriorate due to the heat generating from the hob which they kindly replaced. Within 2 years the element in the oven needed replacing and has been replaced again since. A couple of month later the fan went and had to be replaced. By the end of the third year the motor went on the freezer, so I have had a new inter-grated freezer installed. The final straw was today when the cooker hood fell out altogether, crash, bang, wallop right in the middle of cooking tea taking a hot pan of oil with it. One of the arms had snapped due to the heat. I was very,very lucky I didn't end up with three degree burns. Apart from the cooker hood Howdens didn't replace any of the mentioned appliances. Because my warranty has expired I'm not sure where I stand with this one?. My kitchen still looks stunning, but the Lamona electric appliances are total rubbish. My washing machine I bought from a department store 6 years is still going strong in comparison.

They are expensive. The young lady in charge of out kitchen took the measurements but we were sent cabinets that the fitters fitted that left a 10cm gap at the end so a decor end had to be cut and fitted, this is not what was wanted and as a consequence causued a dummy cabinet to be fitted that was not semetrical spoiling the look. They lied about a few things and the kitchen was more than the estimate given by @ £600. I partner is very unhappy and is always bringing it up so I am having to suffer as well. I would advice that you take the measurements as well as them and check their plans and make sure you watch the fitters carefully and that the kitchen is fitted correctly. Check everything all the time.

Overall we are pleased with our replacement kitchen. The Burford cream units with rounded corner cabinets, together with granite worktops from another local company, look very good so far However, we haven't been pleased with the under-cabinet lighting. The lighting looks okay when you are standing up (viewed from a higher level) but when seated at the table the light units are very bright and glaring, and the wires and fittings are visible. They look very unsightly and almost blinded us when sitting down for a meal- not a relaxing ambience! I believe this to be a design fault, as the front 'lip/overhang' of the wall cabinets is very shallow, barely covering the light fittings. Our previous Magnet kitchen, which we had had for 24 years, did not have this problem as the light fittings were well-concealed by a deeper overhang, and the lighting effect was much better- no glare or unsightly fittings. I emailed Howdens several weeks ago to explain the problem and also to ask if they had lower wattage lights (these were Interlink 344mm 8w) but to date have not had the courtesy of a reply. This reflects the experience of others- once they have your money they are not interested in any follow-up or after-sales service. In the end we got our electrician out and he re-positioned the lights. They now look better than they did but you can still see part of the fittings when seated, and they are still too glaring. If the cupboard overhang depth/recess were to be increased by just a few centimetres, this would improve things no end. Howdens would do well to emulate more upmarket kitchen companies and improve their after-sales service - perhaps by a customer-satisfaction survey and a policy to ensure follow-up queries are responded to. Otherwise how will they ever improve their product?

Went to Howdens as brother said they are very good. Liked range and had meeting with kitchen designer who measured and planned everything for us. I asked what notice they required to ensure everything ready for fitter; told 1 week to guarantee everything. I gave them 2.5 weeks and fitter still ended up driving several times to Corby for missing bits (still waiting for 4 handles). We went away while kitchen was being fitted, came back to find instead of the olive green splash backs they sent pale blue. Fitter has done great job but this isn't the kitchen I ordered. I have contacted Howdens but still waiting. I also have several square meters of the flooring in my garage. Reading the reviews it is obvious that which branch you use is very important as customer service seems to vary.

No complaints about the Oak kitchen we had fitted but the stainless steel splash back for the cooker is staining with what looks like rust. Howdens didn't want to know as it was over 2 years since purchase, not happy at all as it means dismantling the cooker hood to replace. The staff at the Minworth branch were less than helpful.

Our builder recommended Howdens - he liked the saleswoman and had used them before. Her initial design was limited - unnecessarily cramped and she hadn't always listened to what we'd said. The builder improved it, the fitter (not from Howdens) adapted things and we went ahead. Having read earlier reviews about Lamona (their own brand) appliances, we bought other brands for everything except the tap (spray,mixer,hose type). This seemed good, but needs re-tightening every few months as it works loose and swivels round (the plumber says something is too short to fit properly) and they use metal that rusts in an internal part, as if they didn't think the inside of a tap would get wet. So we're going to replace it from somewhere else. The cupboards are generally good - the doors are solid wood, so were more expensive than some. Strangely, one side piece for our island unit (not solid wood, but coated board) arrived with edging strip missing from one edge. After waiting hopefully for it to be sorted, my husband went to Howdens to get a roll of edging strip to fit himself. The Howdens man tried saying that these pieces always came with both edges finished properly and then wanted money for the roll (he didn't get it!). We've used their laminate flooring in the dining part of the kitchen/diner and in the living room, and my advice is ... don't. We went for a mid-price range, it was fitted by a joiner and we've tried to be careful, but very soon it had scratches and some edges were chipped. I'd thought that perhaps some of our problems were because our fitter, plumber and so on weren't from Howdens but, having read other people's reviews, perhaps not.

We have just paid for a Howden kitchen and waiting for installation. We were quite happy with our decision until we found this site! We sincerely hope that it all goes well and we're happy with it so we can come back and prove everyone wrong! Wish us luck please

I have a Howdens' kitchen which was fitted about five years' ago. It still looks as good as when it was first installed. I can't speak for installation problems as mine was done by my interior designer's team. However, NEVER buy 'own brand' appliances from any of these kitchen companies be it Howdens/B&Q/Wickes etc unless you know who manufactured the equipment. If it is one of recognised companies, spare parts and repairs will present no problems.

Howden kitchens are only as good as the fitters who fit them. Howdens do not have their own fitters so it is pot luck as to the end result. I have been unfortunate with my fitter so am not particularly happy with the end result.