tap/kitchen showrooms??

[Sue]

I need to buy kitchen taps.

I don't want to buy them without seeing them "in the flesh", if at all possible.

Does anybody know of anywhere within reasonable travelling distance where I can go and look at a load of them ie not just half a dozen or so?

I know the DIY shop opposite the Plough has a window display of them, but I don't like any of them :(

I'm pretty sure Bell's don't have many kitchen taps on display.

I do have a shortlist based on catalogues and the internet, but it's much easier to get an idea if you can actually seem them.

Thanks!

[red devil]

B&Q...

[Ruffler]

Bells do have few on display inside. We got one from there and we've been very pleased with it, otherwise Potter Perrin in Streatham probably have a larger selection.

[Sue]

Thanks! Had forgotten about Potter Perrin.

B&Q makes me lose the will to live, but I shall grit my teeth and look there too .....

[mooncake]

Ideal Home Show isn't too far off but maybe it's too late for you? (20 March onwards) There'll probably be a lot of kitchens on display so you'll see a range of taps there, though somewhat random. Admittedly we got one we saw in Bells and the other from B&Q. Though we actually bought our tap from this place here: http://www.budgetappliancesonline.co.uk/ (Never actually set foot in their shop but think they will have a range on display too).

[red devil]

Plumbase have a few stores dotted around SE Ldn...

http://www.plumbase.co.uk/kitchen-taps-6027-0000

[Sue]

Thanks, yes 20 March will be too late sadly.

I'll check out plumbase, thanks, hadn't heard of them before.

ETA: My other problem is that I am without fail drawn to the most expensive taps ..... :))

[red devil]

Sue Wrote:

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> ETA: My other problem is that I am without fail

> drawn to the most expensive taps ..... :))

Check out Vola taps first then... http://www.ec1bathrooms.co.uk/shopscr56.html

[davidq100]

Just been through this - we needed taps for the kitchen and two bathrooms. If you are prepared to go a little out of the way there's a great showroom near Kings Cross http://www.justaddwater.co.uk/locations/

Huge amount of options on display there. Its not *that* much of a trek if you take the overground to Highbury & Islington or Thameslink to KingsX

We actually ended up buying a lot of stuff through www.ukbathroomstore.co.uk

We found they had the best prices and have helpful people on the phone to answer any questions. And you can get a discount through quidco :)

[monica]

Hi Sue we bought our Kitchen units, including some lovely taps from Bells Kitchens, we really do think they are very reasonable. We are moving to a new house soon, and we are thinking about getting the new Kitchen from Bells.

Good luck

[Sue]

Thanks Monica, I have already ordered my kitchen units from British Standard (the budget end of Plain English).

I phoned Bells today as I'd like to have got my sink from there, as it's just round the corner from me. However they quoted me ?320 for the same sink I can get online for ?190 with free delivery in one or two days.

I'm afraid I told them that much as I would have liked to buy from a local company, my loyalty to local companies did not extend to paying over ?100 more for exactly the same item :(

I did wonder whether they had got the price wrong, I must admit.

[bellsbm]

Hi Sue,Bells here, sorry we could not help you with your sink, we could not complete with the online price. The online price of ?190.00 is actually less than we can buy it ourselves!.

[Sue]

bellsbm Wrote:

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> Hi Sue,Bells here, sorry we could not help you

> with your sink, we could not complete with the

> online price. The online price of ?190.00 is

> actually less than we can buy it ourselves!.

Hi Bells, thanks for responding!

That's a bit tough for you, you have my sympathy but hope you understand my position. I do try to balance local loyalties with finances, and I would have been happy to pay a bit more, but not that much more, sorry :(

Anyway I may be getting a different sink now, so I'll try you again!!

ETA: Quite a few online websites have the sink for around ?200, maybe you need to change your supplier if you can't buy it for less, as the online retailers must be making some sort of profit on it surely??

[monica]

Sue Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Thanks Monica, I have already ordered my kitchen

> units from British Standard (the budget end of

> Plain English).

>

> I phoned Bells today as I'd like to have got my

> sink from there, as it's just round the corner

> from me. However they quoted me ?320 for the same

> sink I can get online for ?190 with free delivery

> in one or two days.

>

> I'm afraid I told them that much as I would have

> liked to buy from a local company, my loyalty to

> local companies did not extend to paying over ?100

> more for exactly the same item :(

>

> I did wonder whether they had got the price wrong,

> I must admit.

Sorry to hear that Sue, my experience was completely different. I found a lovely sink online and Bells sourced the same one for the same price.

[Sue]

monica Wrote:

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> Sorry to hear that Sue, my experience was

> completely different. I found a lovely sink online

> and Bells sourced the same one for the same price.

As you see from their post above, they say they can't buy mine for the same price I can get it online.

I still wonder whether they looked up the wrong sink, but they did repeat the name back to me ...