Howdens - Erith Omdömen 84

We ordered a kitchen from howdens and it was delivered in the 18/06/25. The pre sale experience was very good and the designer (Elliott) was very approachable and accommodating. The good experience prior to ordering appeared to be a one off.

I am not a kitchen fitter. I am, however, very competent and so decided I would fit the kitchen myself. I began fitting the kitchen on 18/07/25.

We were not supplied the howdens installation manual and had to collect this from a store. One of the legs for our appliance cabinets was missing a black cap for the bottom of the foot and we had to collect this from the store.

We were supplied a cupboard door that was clearly a customer return - the door had a gouge in the front, the screw holes had been used and the packaging had been taped up with gaffa tape. Howdens resolved this quite quickly but did so only “as a gesture of goodwill” which I think is quite an unacceptable comment which suggests begrudgingly replacing a defective supplied product.

We were supplied a fridge tower cabinet (flat pack) and was told that the fridge freezer we had ordered would fit inside. This was confirmed in writing from the kitchen designer (Elliott) who had been sent the link to the fridge freezer prior to us buying it and was asked to confirm compatibility which he did so. He confirmed it would fit inside the unit. It did not fit which was realised only after the cabinet had been fitted and the fridge was attempted to be installed. It then transpired that only the rigid cabinet would fit the fridge freezer we had bought. This took time to chase up and initially I was informed that Howdens would only sell us a rigid cabinet. Of course this was unacceptable as this was not our mistake and then I was told that Howdens would deliver a rigid cabinet for us without charge. We were told that this would be delivered In the First drop of the day so we waited in. Again we chased this up and received little information. This was then delivered at 1200 just before my wife had to pick up my son from nursery. The cabinet then had to re fitter by ourselves which took time and inconvenience and then we had to dispose of the incorrectly supplied one which was not taken away and is quite substantial in size. Had we had been told at the design stage that only the rigid cabinet would fit the fridge freezer we had bought then we would have bought the rigid cabinet.

Blue ink was discovered on one of the drawer fronts - this door was reported on 20/07/25 and new one not received until 08/07/25.

Internal drawers were ordered for the kitchen - 2x 700 and 2 x 600. When the first internal drawer was fitted it was clear that the deep pan drawers we had would never fit in as well as the internal ones. A howdens employee (Simon) who turned up to deliver the replacement drawer front stated that the drawers should be shallow ones to allow for the internal drawers to fit and that deep pan drawers should never have been supplied. This was reported on 08/07/25 with assurances that we would be updated after a few hours by Simon. No update was received as of 12/07/25. Called 2 times on 14/07/25 and was promised a call back by Lauren. No call back received. Tried to call again at 1730 but store was closed. On the 15/07/25 this was checked by a kitchen fitter and confirmed not to fit. Still nothing heard from Howdens despite promising yesterday to contact me. On the 17/07/25 my builder cut the drawers to a different size as a favour to Howdens. This now leaves me with visible holes where the old screws were. I have not been given any touch up paint or coloured plugs to cover up the screw holes. I have not had a single call from Howdens regarding this matter.

I finished fitting the kitchen on 17/07/25.

We actually really like the kitchen and it is still the best kitchen that we saw which is why we bought it. The problems we have had with howdens however have caused us inconvenience, stress, wasted time and a clear realisation that we would not do business with howdens again and will warn anyone who is considering buying a kitchen not to do so also. I feel that only appropriate financial compensation should be provided for the time wasted in fitting and removing wrongly supplied products, chasing up the issues and waiting for replacements to be supplied. These issues were not caused by us. We trusted a company that designs and supplies kitchens to do so. The reality was starkly different. The project was delayed as a result of these issues at cost and inconvenience to us. A normal day rate for a kitchen fitter is £300. I would expect at least a few days compensation.

I escalated all of these concerns to Howdens head office on 17/07/25. Absolutely no surprise that there has been no response.

Awful company - buyer beware.

Friendly staff, always helpful.

Great products, mostly available over the counter. Decent helpful staff too

Definitely one of the best in my opinion

From the moment I entered the staff welcomed me and assisted me with technical solutions and had a strong ‘can do, attitude. The follow up was equally impressive and included the attendance of an experienced and highly enthusiastic team member.

Excellent service

Great place to find quality products for your projects

Howdens is one of the best company I know

I would say the staff are very helpful and friendly which is most important to most people like my self.

Kitchen was beautiful but service appalling. Spent nearly £29k on my kitchen but the salesman kept trying to “rip me off”after giving me a quote. If it wasn’t for my builder I would have gone insane!

I was given appliances from Howdens own range that I didn't want and the first heat pump tumble drier had a gaping hole in it. 2nd one has been constantly tripping the electric and found out it was due to the tumble dryer. First visit I was told at 4pm in the afternoon the engineer had gone off sick, 2nd visit they turned up without the parts to complete the job, 3rd visit the engineer replaced 3 parts still tripping the electric. Eventually after numerous emails manager at Erith said he was asking HO to write it off and would contact me that was Tuesday and despite emailing him have heard nothing.

I had a first class kitchen with second class appliance and I have spent so much time emailing and my builder has been up there numerous times and called him and it’s still not been rectified.

Visited Howdens Erith yesterday afternoon. From the very first minutes my experience was positive. the member of Staff Janine was helpful. She inspired confidence that Howdens would be able to help. Her explanation was clear about what I needed to do. Now less than 24 hours later the job is complete. Well done Howdens and thank you.

Had very very very bad experience with howdens . Just came back from the Erith howdens store. Extremely disappointed Basically we bought kitchen and designed from howdens totally wrong measurements our kitchen fitter struggled to fix it .Designer design kitchen and give quote to me we said it’s not in our budget after that they make another quote we were happy with that but ACTUALLY that was dirty business trick to make kitchen in our budget he included one work top instead of two , no sink added . Now after delivery we realise things are missing again we went there again they add the sink , work top now price again goes up to £2800 approximately .
They send wrong filters for hood . To sort out I book holiday. Designer don’t want to accept his mistake manager argue with us that when delivery reach why you didn’t check . According to law manager have to check before he delivers.
Extremely bad experience with howden. Suggest everyone not to trust on designer bcz when they made mistakes they not accepted .
He designed sink under the boiler to be honest I never seen this in whole country .
Now there is a gap in the corner beside the cooker 400 m unit can fix in it .
Designer said 95% kitchen in uk have that gap .
I will never be go to Erith howdens store never ever and same I suggest to everyone save your money save your self from dirty business trick from howdens store Erith .

Very helpful staff brilliant service in Erith branch

Absolutely brilliant staff, so helpful & go the extra mile to ensure customer satisfaction. Best Howdens in London! Thanks 😊 Amit

Just had a new kitchen with all appliances installed - well pleased, looks great. From planning to delivery brilliant service. Unfortunately once installed the fridge wasn't working correctly. Howdens went over and above to make sure a new one was arranged asap. I can't thank Michael (Manager) enough. I think you can tell how good a Company is by the way any small issues are dealt with and I can't thank the team at Erith enough. Would recomend 100%.

The Erith team were very helpful and such nice people.

Ordered around 10 items.
Constant mistakes from the erith store
Wrong items delivered 3 different times.
Told manager would get back to me, he didn’t.
Cost us a company, both time & money.
Not pleased