Now that Steffi’s kitchen is ordered... we can have a little chat. Buying a kitchen. A broad field for character studies. The situation. Call from the general contractor. We want to lay the foundation slab right away in January. So we need a kitchen plan to correctly place the water connections. Do you already have it... No, of course we didn’t. So it started in January, right after the 1st. Planning the kitchen. First: What do we want? Or better: You? Woman! She wants white, matte, a tall oven, induction, microwave, dishwasher, double sink, corner carousel, many drawers, no refrigerator, that should stand separately. Ok. That’s the plan. Budget: 5k. Let’s go. About 30 km away is a smaller kitchen studio with a good reputation. We walk through the showroom. Watched by two salesmen. But no one approaches us. Eye contact with one. Yes, I have an hour for you... then I have an appointment. The guy is late 20s. He listens, sketches, builds and does. Done. 7,800,- without wall panels, those would be extra. But we want around 5... No, you simply wouldn’t reach that even with the best will. But he could go down to 6,800,-. Thanks, we’ll think about it... First impression, sticking to 5 will be tough. But also, he quickly offers a 1,000 discount, who knows what margins are in there. We visit a huge furniture store. A kitchen department like a football field. Complete kitchen with all appliances 2,666,- Oh, we get hopeful. Just no salesman to be found, they kind of hide. I run into one. Do you have an appointment? No. We didn’t know you needed one. Well, grumpily he takes care of us. Something like the one for 2,666,- there. Yes, that is a Nobilia. Lower segment. Ok, but we only want to spend 5. Mmmh, then you have to take Nobilia. Corner carousel? No, too expensive, he says. Wall panels? Over 1,000 euros. The wide handles don’t work either. (Strange, on the one for 2,666,- they do, just that wouldn't fit with us) Appliances? No, Bosch not possible, too expensive. We’ll take AEG and Gorenje... Then comes the grumpy guy No goes calculates, calculates,- 7,500,- If you sign today, the dishwasher is on the house. We hesitate, want to have another coffee as thinking time. 7,100,- still remain. Now he does the boss and special discount routine... I think to myself - enough - may I have a moment with my wife... we consult, she feels the same, this won’t work. We’re being taken for fools, what we put together is no more than what’s advertised for 2,666,- there, let them still charge 1,000 for installation, then we’d be at max 4, the boss discount can go elsewhere... polite no thanks. Why not? - He makes big puppy eyes. He sees his chances slipping away. Because we now don’t want to sign! Then to IKEA. Skeptical my wife sneaks around the display kitchens and finds it not a bit worse than what was shown before. - only, how does planning work here? There are PCs. I sit down. Let’s try... Jerome comes. May I help you? Oooo, a planner... Yes, this is our building plan, for that one kitchen. Give me that and I’ll set up the room for you, and you, XYZ, now pick here: front, countertop, handle type. Then you come back to me. Well, I think, the woman picks alone here. She does indeed. Veddinge white with walnut countertop and the wide handles. Jerome finished the room. - Now he sends us after a short interview about other wishes to eat meatballs. In half an hour you two may come back. Then I’ll give you a proposal. Eat meatballs, come back, look at proposal. Well, it will be changed a bit. At least Jerome and the woman change things. Meanwhile I daydream. I’m superfluous anyway here. Then the thing is done. Jerome grins. So, what do you think all that costs now? I blurt out: 3,500,- He grins. No. 3,200,- with LED lights! OOO, then wall panels are still possible. Jerome gets on a roll. I got something. It’s a new build. We don’t have to pay attention to sockets and such yet. We’ll take our standard panels, 79,- per 1.30m, reversible in aluminum frame, if you get tired of one side, just turn it around... two pieces, one behind the stove, one behind the sink, the rest you paint or wallpaper... cool. Those come on top. And assembly? And delivery? Jerome calculates. Complete to your house, assembled, installed, connected 4,890,-- That’s it, Jerome. - How does it go on now? You take the kitchen plan, he says, give it to your masonry company, they’ll build accordingly. The sockets are already marked. When the screed and plaster on the walls are done, call us. I’ll store it for you now with us. You get the password, can check at home anytime. Only, if you change anything, be careful, contact me before "go" whether it’s feasible. Then one of us comes for measurement. If all ok, then we order it. Two weeks later it’s in. Conclusion: It works!
