Kitchen appliances

by **flic** on Sun Jul 06, 2003 5:00 pm

We are currently looking at appliances for

our kitchen which we plan to renovate in early August.

We are becoming increasingly confused as to what appliances are the best value and have looked at the ranges on offer from Neff, Baumatic and Fisher and Paykel. Price is a

consideration and there seems to be a substantial difference in the costs from each manufacturer. Any advice would be helpful to overcome the confusion. They all say there appliances

are the best but we are desperately in need of some advice. Can anyone out there offer some.

Felicity

by **timfoley** on Sun Jul 06, 2003 9:22 pm

Flic,

You have the honour of being the first person to post a query on our forum. Thank you for visiting the site and I hope you find our advice helpful in making your choice.

It comes as no surprise that all the manufacturers you are considering tell you they offer the best appliances, it's their job. However it's mine and your job to tell the real story

as we know it.

As with future posts the advice we offer is based on our experiences regarding the products ease of installation, it's style, reliability value for money and after sales service.

Baumatic are a manufacturer from the Czech Republic and offer a stylish range of products at reasonable costs. They are becoming increasingly popular with the buying public and the

feedback is generally good. My own experience of Baumatic is scant having installed them rarely but no complaints regarding ease of installation or style. In addition to the statutory

one year parts and labour guarantee they offer an extended 4 year parts guarantee. This is commendable and shows the potential buyer a faith in the product.

Maybe one day we will see a manufacturer offering an extended parts and labour guarantee of 4 yrs. This would certainly sort the chaff from the wheat. Is that a pig flying above my

head ?

Value for money, for me is intrinsically linked to reliability and in my opinion Neff are the standard bearers here. They offer relaiability, style efficiency and an excellent after

sales service. Although more expensive than many manufacturers, they are fully cost effective as they offer greater longevity than most of their counterparts.

It is part of my business to research manufacturers and I strive to find out as much as possible about every manufacturer with whom I have to deal. Having spoken recently with Neff I

am convinced they are a forward thinking company who wish to offer the kitchen buyer an increasingly better service and they achieve this admirably by the feedback I receive both from

the website and out on site.

Fisher and Paykel are a relatively new addition to the UK and the company is New Zealand based. I was recently approached by them to assist in achieving design standrds for the UK and

if their speed of reply to my initial response is reflective of their operation as a whole then I have reservations regarding their understanding of an anxious customer awaiting a

service call.
Having aired my frustration at the company I have to say that what they offer is innovative and attractive and if they ever contact me again I'll give you the lowdown on their

mission for the UK market and their commitment to the customer. Watch this space!

Rather a long winded reply Flic, but i've been itching to post my first reply to the forum and I got carried away.

In esence my advice presently would be to opt for Neff.

It would be interesting to hear from any previous buyers regarding their thoughts on any of the above manufacturers. Your opinions may prove instrumental to the choice of future

appliance buyers, so get posting your views.

Tim.

by **flic** on Mon Jul 07, 2003 9:23 pm

Thank you so much Tim - this is so helpful.

by **flic** on Tue Jul 08, 2003 6:09 pm

Tim - now have more time to

reply properly and thank you for your advice and the detail you provided. Thought I would share with you an incident that happened since you replied - we were invited over to a

friend's house for dinner (they too are planning to renovate but have a much bigger house and much more money to spend!). Much to my husband's amusement, I had printed off your

reply and have it in my purse to refer to when we are out researching for our planned kitchen.
Our friend was telling us about their plans for kitchen appliances and I referred to your email and they were jealous as hell at my access to an expert - and you are now referred to

as "Flic's Tim". Thanks again.

by **timfoley** on Wed Jul 09, 2003 11:57 am

Flic,

Thank you for the kind words, I hope my reply proves useful to you in choosing your kitchen appliances.

As your friend has a larger budget you may wish to send her to the following link http://www2.gaggenau.com/en/index.htm

Should she or anyone wish to purchase any of the products on view contact me and I will endeavour to obtain the best price.

As for "Flic's Tim" I don't mind as long as your husband doesn't.

Please keep us posted on your progress Flic.