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Howdens Reviews

1.8 Rating 214 Reviews
18 %
of reviewers recommend Howdens
1.8
Based on 214 reviews
Shipping & Delivery
Delivery Methods
Courier, Own Driver
Average Delivery Time
Over 7 Days
On-time Delivery
Greater than 40%
Accurate And Undamaged Orders
Greater than 41%
Customer Service
Communication Channels
Telephone, Email, Live Chat
Queries Resolved In
Over A Week
Customer Service
1.5 out of 5

Write Your review

Howdens  1 star review on 28th May 2024
James Breeds
Howdens  1 star review on 14th February 2024
Carl Birkenshaw
Howdens  1 star review on 14th February 2024
Carl Birkenshaw
Howdens  1 star review on 14th February 2024
Carl Birkenshaw
Howdens  1 star review on 14th February 2024
Carl Birkenshaw
Howdens  1 star review on 14th February 2024
Carl Birkenshaw
Howdens  1 star review on 12th November 2022
Phillip Gollins
22
Anonymous
Anonymous  // 01/01/2019
Always get phone calls from them to see if I need anything
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
2 Worktops in less that 2 years a third needed now - blamed installers twice. Poor quality work top - avoid. Howdens - will not even investigate failures. No customer services. Initially Howdens were okay however you find out what a company is really like when things go wrong. There are lots of 1/2star reviews all along a similar vein. POOR QUALITY PRODUCTS
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
We bought 8 no. firedoors and none of them was straight. Their branch representative came to inspect them and acknowledged that they were defective but their quality control department refused to replace them so we had to take them to court. Extremely poor customer service, so I would definitely not recommend them.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
I am very disappointed with Howdens Torquay and Jake Cornforth Carpentry Services having had a nightmare experience, and a huge let down which is why I advise and urge caution and can not and will not be recommending them. Jake distinctly informed me he would liaise with our kitchen supplier directly and get anything damaged replaced. There were copious amounts of damaged items, some may have arrived damaged and some may have been damaged by Jake before or during installation but instead of getting them replaced he went against what he said he would do and thought nothing of installing no end of damaged items with chips and dents galore in our new kitchen without giving us or the supplier the chance to get the damaged items replaced. The supplier was clear that Jake and all their trade only account holders were aware they will replace damaged items prior to installation but Jake decided to ignore their policy and installed damaged items in our kitchen. He later brazenly said the damage was only minor and he maintained he did nothing wrong. Jake also said nothing is good enough for me which is unacceptable as no one would want damaged items in their new kitchen and that includes Jake himself who wouldn't install damaged items in his own kitchen but thought nothing of installing damaged items in our kitchen. He said our refit would take around 3 weeks but it took almost a staggering 3 months. He was always keeping us waiting whilst he went off and did other jobs. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong; he sent in a painter two days after our ceiling had been rendered when the ceiling would have never dried that quickly, he damaged the wall where the painter had just painted which meant it all had to be redone, he was about to fit a water damaged unit and would have done if he understood the design which had to be altered because he did not meet with the designer as planned on site, his father assisted Jake and damaged our worktop which led to a cut and join in an area that should not have been the case and uncertainty about whether we paid for the damaged worktop as pricing transparency was sketchy, it took us ages to clean wood shavings in our kitchen, when I asked for it to be cleaned he said they are not valets, he also damaged a cupboard after needing to remove it and replace it as it was not level, and left a void at the back where the nails should be and put the nails sticking out and visible in our cupboard. A damaged shelf I showed Jake was simply moved onto a higher level which prompted me to check all the shelves. I found loads of damaged shelves that Jake once again fitted without due care and consideration towards us. I worked hard to get them replaced and all were replaced by the supplier as they were easily moveable. Jake caused my family and I extreme stress, anxiety, and distress, and lacked customer care and respect, and attention to detail. He also demonstrated a lack of understanding, insight, personal responsibility, and remorse, and got angry and hostile towards me when I asked him to put right areas of his poor quality work which he would not do. I wouldn't wish what I experienced on anyone.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Having gone to who we thought was the best, we are extremely disappointed. We had a "designer" using the word lightly to come around. He did a basic design to replace like for like so no great shakes We went down to the trade counter to chose the doors and worktops. The rest was chosen by the designer. All I asked for was Bosch appliances. The kitchen is now fitted and the appliance were not like for like the cupboard doors now fitted are so flimsy, They look nice but practically they wont last 5 minutes. The ones we looked at in the show room were just a small sample but now they are on the units they are way too light in weight. I ended up with over £1000 too many units so they had to go back. The oven is for small people and not sure how this will work at Christmas. For the money we have paid out I wish I had gone to Magnet or Wren. Please avoid Howdens at all costs.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Why do howdens say they will phone yu back, then nobody can be bothered to speak to yu about booking a design appointment.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Hi Guys I have just been reading all these comments regarding Howdens, I totally agree with everything that has been said, I worked for Howdens and the way they treat their staff is unreal, to hear of them treating customers like it is diabolical. I made a complaint to the Area Manager and he took their side, I'm now taking them to a small claims court, they made me feel so ill after I had worked for them for so long, and all the Area Manager wanted to do was to meet me and discuss the matter, ( which is fair enough ) but it was like 15 miles away from my house. ER no thanks you come to me. I didn't get any outcome from AM so I took it further to a small claims court, which is still ongoing, they just don't listen to you. I just hope this can get sorted out, and I feel really sorry for the people that have had a really bad experience and hope you get it sorted.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
We had a nightmare experience. Jake Cornforth Carpentry Services installed no end of damaged items in our kitchen without giving us or Howdens the chance to replace them. Some may have arrived damaged and some may have been caused before or during installation. One item was water damaged and some items not yet fitted were replaced with further damaged items. Quality overall was poor. Howdens blamed Jake Cornforth Carpentry Services who in turn blamed Howdens. We were left stranded and unsupported. Both implied I was at fault for being fussy and expecting too much. Jake Cornforth Carpentry Services said nothing was good enough for me which is disrespectful as no one would want dented, chipped and damaged items in their new kitchen. Howdens replaced damaged shelves which Jake Cornforth Carpentry Services said they did not appreciate me returning. Howdens did not comment on photo evidence showing Jake Cornforth Carpentry Services' poor quality work. We profoundly regret using them.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Shocking quality for the money! In the end, closed my account. Howdens kitchens ended up costing me money with damaged items, wrong/missing parts! Their delivery charge is a bloody rip off too!
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Don't really know where to start. Very poor quality worktop that is impossible to cut without chipping!!! Mix up after mix up with items. Wrong sizes of many items delivered, protracted delivery times, only 3 items delivered on the first occasion when it should have been full order; carpenter unable to start and couldn't return for three weeks. There's mor but don't want to bore people!!!
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Absolute ripoff, if your loyal to them they will rip you off more, as found out my father in law has been ripped off for god know how long when I’m going though old invoices and nothing makes sense no wonder we have lost a good few jobs , like a bucket of eels the lots of em slippery as fook. Avoid
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
This issue has been rumbling on for 2 years. It all centred around a faulty worktop which was installed in 2020 by our joiners. On reporting a fault the worktop which was at the time discontinued was replaced and installed and replaced by another joiners. Great service although slow we understood with impact on srvices coming out of the pandemic. The same fault occurred with it raising at the edges. We reported this again but it took numerous emails and phone calls from my wife to speak to the manager. This rumbled on for months with no resolution. The joiners said it was not a fitting issue (2 different joiners installed) with same result and Howdens said the worktop is not faulty. This deadlock continued until we were finally offered the original cost of the work top back in 2020 which would not buy a new one today. We would also have to pay for the installation at an approx cost of £1200-£1500 to fix the issue of there faulty worktop. I emailed the store manager requesting contact details of the regional manager so we could dicuss this matter and try to get a resolution. The store manager never replied to my email. I then contact Howdens head office customer service who then spoke to the store manager and regional manager with no change in stance. The customer service team at head office were very supportive and actively wanted to get a positive outcome. Finally 2 weeks ago I was told the regional manger was going to speak with me and the case was closed. Its 2 weeks later and the regional manager has still not contacted me? Would I use Howdens again, no. Would I put people off using them? Well I would say you will be fine unless something goes wrong. The communication we have experienced has been between lack of respect to the customer to incompetence. Avoiding and not dealing with things has left us drained and increasingly angry.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
The culture within this company is appalling. Quality of goods is very poor. Atrocious customer service. The object of their game is to get your money…after that they are unhelpful and obstructive. My joiners found numerous faults, from inaccurate measurements to faulty parts. Several doors were warped…the manager’s response was to say this could be rectified by adjusting the hinges. Avoid at all costs.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Firstly , your rep came out to measure kitchen, I told him that the property is rented out, so I dont need a expensive kitchen , I need 2 small kitchens and 1 big kitchen, anyway the rep,Tom put me down for expensive kitchen , with a cost of over £5000 saving 55% off ,so maybe a £8-£9000 kitchen plus £2000 to install, firstly , why pressure people to buy in 1 week ,secondly, you obviously didn't listen to what the customer wants, just tried ripping me off £5000 , and the 55% off is just a blag , some say a SCAM , and reading about the poor quality kitchens ,glad I didn't buy , my experience with Walkden Howdens where Tom works is negative , Would he RIP his granny off ,who knows
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Be VERY AWARE. Do not ask for recommendations. My mother spent £13,000 on a kitchen that was poorly designed and fitted. Units cannot be used, are not symmetrical which makes the kitchen look extremely poor. The joints have had to be covered as they are so bad. Even after looking at the kitchen, the local manager Paul Hope from Hainault told my mother he would try and get her compensation. If she never went into the Howdens showroom in Hainault she would never of had these problems. We are now having to take Howdens and their recommended fitter Joseph Sharpe to court for their lack of getting the kitchen to do what it was bought for. My mother is at the end of her tether, everyday she has to look at this. You would of thought that for such a large organisation that they could of just got this sorted. HOW WRONG WERE WE ! EXTREMELY BAD EXPERIENCE - AVOID!!
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Be VERY AWARE. Do not ask for recommendations. My mother spent £13,000 on a kitchen that was poorly designed and fitted. Units cannot be used, are not symmetrical which makes the kitchen look extremely poor. The joints have had to be covered as they are so bad. Even after looking at the kitchen, the local manager Paul Hope from Hainault told my mother he would try and get her compensation. If she never went into the Howdens showroom in Hainault she would never of had these problems. We are now having to take Howdens and their recommended fitter Joseph Sharpe to court for their lack of getting the kitchen to do what it was bought for. My mother is at the end of her tether, everyday she has to look at this. You would of thought that for such a large organisation that they could of just got this sorted. HOW WRONG WERE WE ! EXTREMELY BAD EXPERIENCE - AVOID!!
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Website is an absolute joke. It doesn't matter what I search for it comes back with 10000 matches. Awful, infuriating.
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Biased management supported by customer service
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
The worst company I have ever had the displeasure of encountering, definitely working against the customer, definitely not customer focussed, they just want one thing and one thing only and that is your money, nothing else matters to them, forget quality, forget everything, the only thing they'r concerned about is their profit, absolutely dreadful company, and includes their depot and their head office, all of which couldn't care less, stay clear !!!!!!!!!!!!!
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
This is unbelievable how badly they treat their customers. Completely not customer minded. We moved away from them
Helpful Report
Posted 1 year ago
Howdens is rated 1.8 based on 214 reviews