For the last 18 months I've been trying to find a kitchen. I had quotes form all the usual (and a few unusual) places and nothing was quite right. One of the biggest problems was the sizing of the units. I wanted corner units and most companies sized them at 930mm. For me this meant that on one side of my kitchen I ended up with an odd sized gap of 270mm and no one makes a unit to fit. Some companies said they could do a filler unit but it would have been neither here nor there, too big for tea towels but too small to fit anything useful.
Along the way I looked at IKEA 's kitchens, the corner units were exactly 900mm, so no silly fillers and they also did a small larder unit (most only did a 600mm Ikea did a 400) and a small 400mm drawer unit with 5 drawers (most only did 3 drawers one of which was a huge really deep thing at 500-600mm wide).
The only thing that put me off was the fact that I had to find someone to fit it rather than it being including in the package. Then one day, I'm passing the store and see a sign informing me that they now do fitting. "Now's the time" I decide, so next chance I get I'm in the store finalising my design.
I was being helped by a really great person called Zach. He was personable, helpful and knowledgeable BUT as IKEA doesn't pay overtime his shift finished and we ran out of time! I decided to go away with what we'd managed to get done and make sure we had it all correct.
When I went back he wasn't free, so someone else helped me. Luckily all the stuff Zach put into the system was still there, unfortunately the system crashed while we were making a couple of minor changes and so she lost the order and had to put it all in from scratch! As a result her shift finished before we'd finished and so the order was taken over by Zach who had now become available. Unfortunately he was only due to work for another half hour or so and as I was going for the recently available 12-month's interest free credit the paperwork took so long his shift also finished.
Bless his cottons he decided to stay on and help me finish the order. Apparently they don't get any kind of commission or recognition for sales, although as he had phoned through the 50th interest free order of the day the finance company awarded him a box of chocolates.
Anyway, the order arrived when it was supposed to but the van had been loaded so badly one of the panels was severely scratched. The van drivers took it back and logged a call with customer services for me. A replacement panel was delivered within a very short time (very efficient).
Then came the fitting. I'd mentioned to someone I knew I was going to pay IKEA to fit (about £50 per unit) but he said he could do it for half the price so, foolishly, I went with him. He has fitted a fair few kitchens however he is used to the bog standard kitchens like the ones from B&Q and MFI. He found the whole thing a total nightmare and spent the whole time cursing this and that. I'm sure this is more his lack of professionalism than the design of the kitchen as I know loads of people who have successfully fitted IKEA kitchens.
Finally the units are all in place and all bar a few monor things the kitchen is finished. The colour is beautiful the drawers open smoothly. I decided on chrome plated legs rather than plinth and this also looks really good. Overall I am very pleased with the quality and style of the kitchen.
I've been back to the IKEA and bought loads of extra gadgets which compliment the kitchen perfectly. Including pull out bins and a strainer wihich fits into the half bowl of the sink. It's like having a new toy but one you can keep adding things to, to make it interesting all over again :-).
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That would totally annoy me if the salesperson didn't stay to finish the sale, fair enough he didn't get paid but if it was me I would have complained. It's called customer service. Anyway all's well that ends ok, the job was done and your kitchen was fitted.
eve6kicksass 30.10.2005 01:08
Excellent review, learned everything I wanted to know about the system. Well done!!! Chris xxx
Advantages: good quality, easy to understand how to put it together, easy to install, excellent organization Disadvantages: came in 96 boxes, can be labour intensive
Advantages: Fast ordering, delivery and installation, quality products that look great and cost less Disadvantages: Not everything may be in stock when you go to buy it
TheChocolateLady 28.12.2005 ·
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Review of Ikea Kitchen Systems
Advantages: Great price, solid, easy to install cabinets, real wood doors Disadvantages: Only that I had to carry it in my car to save the transport...
adicos 17.05.2006 (17.05.2006)
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Review of Ikea Kitchen Systems
Oct 30th, 2005
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