Experiences with online kitchen studios

Thanks for the pictures. Definitely a very nice kitchen :) After a bit of internet research, the appliances and assembly in our offer seem a bit too expensive. Plus a rather expensive waste collector for €250. I think you can realistically reach €20,000 with a natural stone countertop or €17,500 with a laminated countertop.

I think so too, the price is by far not bad. But probably it’s worth looking around left and right. Have you checked local suppliers? We compared with the big chains and stores here with us. Pricing was the same or higher, but the consulting was a world of difference. As I said, 12 hours of planning, without knowing if even a cent would be spent. At the supposedly largest furniture store in NRW (or even Germany?), where more or less everyone here buys, the whole thing was cobbled together within 1.5 hours. We were pointed out the special advantages of remnants and at the end had to pay almost the same with worse equipment, with the note that they could give us a discount of €1,500 if we agreed “now,” a call to the boss could probably reduce it again to €25,000. We felt like we were being screwed. The good boss from the local studio really took a lot of time and honestly said if he thought something was crap, even if it would have made him more money. We could have spent about €3,000 less elsewhere, with slightly worse quality and equipment. But the advice and service convinced us. Besides, we maybe gave the little shop at least a few days of breathing room during the lockdown. The installer told us while the kitchen was being set up that he probably would soon have to go into short-time work. That’s already sad. Of course, it’s different if you install a few hundred kitchens a year or the same every month.

So, I have now also spoken with the heroes. The contact was initially very friendly and professional. One particular thing stood out to me: they do a mixed calculation and free cabinet selection. That means the price of the furniture is based only on running meters and fronts, but which exact cabinets you choose, whether drawers or shelves, is determined afterward and the price does not change. Somewhat interesting, but of course that explains why they are not the cheapest from the start. Or rather, if you actually want a lot of "normal" cabinets with shelves, you won't be cheap here. Or to put it differently: To save money by cutting back on drawers, you can save yourself with them. I'm curious about my offer, it should come by the end of the week.

They do a mixed calculation and free cabinet choice. That means the price of the furniture depends only on the linear meters and fronts, but which exact cabinets you choose, whether drawers or shelves, is determined afterwards and the price does not change.

I had also already pointed this out and calculated the numbers on the invoice somewhat based on the price per meter. In doing so, only the prices for one type seemed normal, the prices for other cabinets, however, seemed very high. Basically, you are warned (on the internet) about the prices per meter.
In this respect, an individual comparison is worthwhile.

Yes, but I hadn’t quite interpreted it as their intention. For me, it might not be so bad, since I want almost only excerpts anyway (except for the hanging and equipment cabinets). However, if they calibrate their price per meter exactly to the most expensive variant and everything below that is basically their profit, then it would be somewhat cheeky to call it a mixed calculation. Well, we’ll just have to wait and see.

Have you looked at local providers?

Yes, we have now re-established contact with a chain and spoken to a locally owner-operated kitchen studio. The chain studio wants to adjust its offer from last October to current wishes and prices again. The owner-operated studio sent a 360-degree view of the kitchen on the same day (!!!) based on a phone call and the offer from the Onlinehelden. On the next Saturday, we will be on site for the detailed and offer discussion. Here is a picture of the kitchen as we have currently configured it: We have our detailed planning meeting with the Helden next Friday. I’m curious to hear what you will report! By the way, independently, the studios pointed out that the annual new product fair takes place in September and that list prices will be increased across the board by 5-7% afterwards. We were advised to buy a kitchen by the end of August to avoid the price increase. Can anyone confirm that?

We were told that the prices will not be adjusted until after the turn of the year