Howdens - Brynmenyn Avis 13

Howden should call you back when your materials arrive in stock, as per their promise, instead of waiting 2 weeks the calling you and insisting you come and collect even after you have sauced the critical materials from another stockist. The staff’s excuse, “we were too busy to call”!

Bought my new kitchen with Howdens and had great service from Lily and Lee. The design consultation was really easy and we left with our dream kitchen. They recommended a fitter who was great and were very quick to resolve an issue with the kitchen handles.

Came to Howdens Brynmenyn for some kitchen inspo. Couldn’t have been more helpful and accommodating. After the initial home visit and actually listening to what we wanted to be incorporated, they came back with my dream kitchen. Elmsbridge range in dusk blue 😍. Everything went smoothly, delivered on time, some little tweaks and it’s perfect. Thank you all for your help!

Requested Howdens Brynmenyn help with my kitchen design and was very impressed by the level of support through the concept to installation.
The team as been great with suggesting ideas, advices and communication.
Lily and Jenny the designer s shown great professionalism and I can only thank them for it.
During installation they were great communicating with the builder and we have today our dream kitchen/ utility.
The team at Howdens is very customer service orientated, always happy to help whenever you go or phone (Amanda and Lee)
I recommend them without hesitation.
Thanks to all the team!

Very helpful staff.

We purchased our existing kitchen from Howdens Bridgend years ago and it’s still going strong. We have no complaints about quality at all!
After a house renovation, we were looking to add to that kitchen, change the layout slightly and add new appliances, so thought it best to return to Howden’s so we could get an exact match. On the recommendation of our builders, we decided to visit the Brynmenyn branch to help us this time around. Designer called out and was so lovely. Told them that we wanted to keep all our existing carcasses and doors and just add on to what we had. The range we already had has been discontinued so we decided to change all the end panels, doors, cornice etc. We ordered oak carcasses as that’s what we already had and wanted everything to match. Told them we weren’t looking to get it installed until end of October at the earliest. Attended the meeting to get a price. Quotes ranged between 13 and 17,000. Was flabbergasted with those prices for a few extra units and some appliances, so asked how many of our carcasses did that price include. Was told none, as “we can’t reuse existing carcasses, you need a whole new kitchen because the new doors and drawer fronts won’t fit on the old ones.” I knew there and then I was being mugged off. What utter nonsense. After speaking to my husband I contacted them to say we wouldn’t be proceeding. Got a phone call shortly afterwards explaining they've had a word with management and we could actually reuse our existing carcasses. What a surprise!!!! A return appointment was made with the designer to measure up again and make notes of what we already had. I explained I wanted most of the kitchen to remain as it was and what new appliances and few extra units we needed. Finally agreed on a price we were happy with.
Next came the push for delivery. They wanted to deliver it almost immediately, but we didn’t have the room because of all the building work still ongoing. We were told we could put it into storage for a cost of £120 a month until we were ready. Surely the delivery date should be suitable for both the business and the customer without it costing the customer any extra???? especially when you’re clear from the outset that you are nowhere near ready for delivery. (Not a branch issue, it isn’t their fault this is Howden's policy). We paid on the Friday and they wanted to deliver it the following Monday. Managed to get that postponed for 2 weeks. Husband booked that date off work so someone would be home. Then, the week before the arranged delivery date I got a message in work from the builder asking if anyone would be home the following day as the kitchen was being delivered. We were both working and couldn’t get time off so one of the tradesmen allowed access for delivery. Had I been home, I’d have returned it. The carcasses were white, not oak like I’d asked for. You don’t see the colour of the carcasses on the CAD design so I hadn’t picked up on it when I visited the branch. I appreciate you can’t notice when all the doors and drawers are closed but it really does annoy me that I have a mismatched kitchen now. They didn’t listen to us from the get go!
Then came the install. The carpenter followed the designs and they were all wrong so he ended up having to take everything back out and start again. End panels couldn’t be fitted due to him having to make alterations for him to get everything to fit. Had he followed the plans, the units on one wall would have blocked the patio doors. We had missing parts, appliances etc. He wasted so much time going back and forth the depot to rectify everything and wait for new parts to arrive, that the project overran by a whole week. He said it’s the worst install he’s ever worked on. Whilst I do love the finished kitchen (apart from the colour of the carcasses) I wouldn’t go back to this particular branch in future because they just don’t listen to what your wants and needs are and push for higher sale's figures. I get it, they work on commission, but surely a small sale is better than no sale at all?
We had zero issues when we worked with Bridgend all those years ago. It ran like clockwork. Delivery wasn’t forced on us or cost us extra for storing it (although I appreciate that could have changed over time and all branches could follow the same policy now). They listen to their customers.
The whole process this time around has been a complete nightmare from start to finish and I’m only sorry I didn’t listen to my gut and return to Bridgend for help after the initial visit to discuss the price and layout, when we were told we’d need a whole new kitchen, when we didn’t.

Informative and helpful guidance throughout the design process without any selling pressure

Easy to order and easy to collect good quality doors

Super helpful staff with outstanding product knowledge. Great prices and quality product.

Staff were very helpful, good selection of materials and a fair price.

The branch was very helpful in me opening my own account I am starting up my own business