Tactics when buying a kitchen / how to negotiate properly?

Just to be clear, it's not about squeezing out the last euro for me. But I want a fair price, and if a seller goes to the boss twice and after the second talk gets the price down from 43,000 to 19,600 because he realized that 20,000 euros is probably my limit and I have to sign the same day since the planning costs 1,200 euros more the next day, which is still a top price, then I do wonder what else might be possible. I’m happy to pay 500 euros more for good advice, but not thousands of euros. And honestly, I would always prefer to support the small kitchen shop in town and pay a few hundred euros more than give the money to a big chain. Ok, I got this answer here: Plan the kitchen exactly in another forum and then compare apples to apples. But that's probably not going to happen. For example, I was in a small kitchen studio in town. They only offer one kitchen manufacturer. But maybe that one isn’t offered in other studios. The advice was great though, and he will break down the price for me from the beginning into different items. I’m definitely curious about that. In the end, it’s probably the gut feeling that decides. I was mainly interested in how most people here approached this.

Kitchens are like furniture; prices also depend on the outside temperature, moon phase, and the shoe size of the current salesperson.

The best was once at the furniture store where a super special price was offered for a sofa that was almost equivalent to equity.
Unfortunately, we had already seen the signs that were lying behind the sofa.
From the next day, 500 euros cheaper, and below that the next sign 800 euros more expensive.

The market is deliberately kept non-transparent through house and private labels and countless names for the same items.

Those who shy away from price comparison will already know why they do so.

Just to make it clear, it's not about squeezing out the last euro

I can't find anything wrong at all when someone wants to get the best possible price for a product or service. My acquaintance works for us often and of course he thinks more about his wallet than ours, just like we do. That's human; still, we always find the way that suits us. If the dealer or service provider doesn't like your price, they will simply refuse it, don't worry, or did you have a razor blade to their neck? -

when a seller goes twice to the boss and after the second talk gets the price from 43,000 down to 19,600 because he realized that 20,000 euros is probably my limit and I have to sign the same day since the planning the next day costs 1200 euros more, which is still a top price, then I do wonder what else is possible

Exactly this kind of deceitful business practice is what this is about here, which also affects the reputable providers and craftsmen. This clique also includes the aforementioned tilers who charge surgeon-level hourly rates and exploit the builder’s predicament in a disgusting way. Laying €100/sqm has nothing to do anymore with a reasonable craftsman’s wage but in my opinion falls under highway robbery. Because this practice actually exists, just as it often happens with the quick progress of prefab houses, it is usually necessary to be very critical and not simply accept prices but inform oneself thoroughly beforehand. What is probably important is that you get a nice kitchen and then feel comfortable with it. I’m already curious how it will go for you; maybe you will have completely different experiences—

When I finally asked about a kitchen how much this big kitchen would cost me without appliances, it suddenly got weird. I told him to just calculate the kitchen normally for himself and then sell it to me without appliances......oh dear. When he then came at me with his guarantee for sliding in an oven and plugging in the appliance connector, that was the end for me.

I would get weirded out too. They probably make hardly any money on the furniture, but rather on the electronics. And in the end, it’s all a mixed calculation, where for example the guarantee is also factored in. That all goes into the price. You don’t have that at Ikea. The Ikea buyer loves to tinker, he'd rather factor in a few days of DIY if something pulls or rattles, than spend €500 more for 4 years of warranty.

Therefore, I believe it is important to find the existing "gems" that provide good advice plus performance and then pay the price it simply costs there.

The gem is always just equal to a dumping price, let’s not kid ourselves.

well, I then just switched to IKEA

The market in general has unfortunately evolved like this too, with "stinginess is cool," sky-high prices with deceptive intent

One seller then simply disappeared for surely 15-20 minutes to ask his boss, and the second time it took 10 minutes to ask the boss. Then I was supposed to sign on the same day to get that price.

I wouldn’t want to put up with such attitudes.

having to be "fooled"

...I’m just wondering whether there is transparency when buying a car if the sale price is €3100 below the MSRP. Do people get upset about the opaque pricing there? Why can one dealer do it but not another?

The calculation of such kitchens and the margins of the individual stores depend on so many factors that one has to add more, the other less, even if they are from the same manufacturer. Also, hours-long consultation talks with potential customers who ultimately do not buy have to be factored in.

I agree with that.

since the planning costs €1200 more the next day, which is still a top price, I do wonder what else is possible. I like to pay €500 more for good advice, but not thousands of euros.

Consultation should not be associated with costs, but it is a service.

In the end, the gut feeling probably decides. I was mainly interested in how most here went about it.

For most, it’s about “what is the final price” and not only among foreign citizens. It’s the same with plumbing (you will probably make such a thread here too): “why do I have to pay the sky-high prices from the craftsman if I can get the same things cheaper at Reuter and co.?” “Isn’t that usury?” “Help, I am at the mercy of the subcontractor - he wants to make money off me - what can I do?” “Who has experience with MyHammer?” “Whose fault is the leak behind the tile” ... more to come.

We have a good kitchen studio here in northern Germany: there you don’t have to haggle. I set a price for my kitchen, what a kitchen is worth to me in our house, and then the kitchen salesperson planned a Nolte accordingly. He also said that of course Miele is not included, but Neff is. If this and that, then it wouldn’t work out, but if we do this and that, then it fits. He was €300 over in the end.
Two other studios came with a lower-quality kitchen and couldn’t plan the cabinet grid I wanted for the tall cabinets. We broke off those talks after one salesperson calculated the Nobilia with the wrong grid and was already above the limit without appliances.

This clique also includes the tile layers mentioned earlier who charge heart surgeon hourly rates and disgusting exploit the builder’s plight. Laying €100/sqm has nothing to do with a reasonable craftsman’s wage anymore,

Yes, disgusting. The builder chooses very expensive 100x100 tiles or 15x120, and the tile layer adjusts his wage to the growing task and then has to be called disgusting.
Does one also get upset about the higher inspection price when buying a Range Rover, Porsche or Mercedes AMG?

And in the end, it’s all just a mixed calculation, where for example the warranty is also included. It all goes into this price. You don’t have that at Ikea. The Ikea buyer loves DIY, he’d rather calculate in a few days of DIY if something pulls or creaks than spend 500€ more for 4 years of warranty.

Big fail - Ikea gives 25 (sic!) years warranty on its kitchens:

"25 years Metod kitchen system warranty coverage Material and/or workmanship defects on the following parts of the METOD kitchen system: • METOD cabinet carcasses • fronts • Utrusta fixed interior fittings (with the exception of wire basket and push door opener) • Maximera drawers • legs and plinths • side panels • decorative strips • worktops (with the exception of LILLTRÄSK) • sinks (with the exception of FYNDIG sinks)"

When it comes to kitchens and appliances, it is not about a mixed calculation but rather about avoiding a price comparison.

Complete packages with appliances whose numbers or designations do not exist on the market can no longer be compared.

There is a reason why there are so many kitchen studios.