Is ordering cabinets usually this complicated?

13 years ago

hi... sorry this is a little long, but i'd appreciate your thoughts.

i have a small kitchen that needs 11 cabinets and molding. not a big order, so i imagine not much profit. we are doing the install, too.

it's been really hard finding a dealer in the cabinet line i want to take my order! i've found two so far. the second one is 40 miles away. not a huge distance, but not convenient, either.

the second dealer has been very good about emailing me back with corrections/changes and answering questions. the first one is totally overloaded because she is the only one at her office, so turnaround time is loooong. she is very nice, though.

the thing is, the second dealer has a few inconsistencies in the quote, and i'm not sure if these are oversights or he is trying to pad the bill. (i'm really sorry if i am being overly suspicious.) :(

for example, there were charges for wood ends even though i ordered the plywood upgrade. he fixed them and apologized. there are things like crown molding listed twice, some molding listed with the cabinets, some listed in the accessories. the way it's all totaled with the upcharges is kind of confusing.

but especially after kompy's story, i don't want to string anybody along. i just want an accurate quote and to order the cabinets!

thanks if you read this far. what do you think? what has been your experience? any kd's want to chime in?

Comments (5)

xc60
13 years ago
I found some KDs don't pay attention to the small jobs or ones they perhaps don't want. I met with some who acted like they listened to me, but did not bother to return quotes in the time they had originally agreed.

Finally days after waiting patiently for the quotes I would call and they would quickly give me ones not based on anything I had originally wanted or asked for.
debrak_2008
13 years ago
Are you only interested in one cabinet line? Contact them and ask for a referal. Consider finding a KD first then see what cabinets they offer.

They should treat you the same no matter how much you spend.
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noebee1313
13 years ago
just a note--- all wood construction does NOT mean that every side is finished. Merely that the sides are not MDF. That would be a waste of time and energy if all the interior sides were stained/painted to match. You will need finished ends (or wood ends) for all the exposed sides of the cabinets, otherwise you will be looking at an unfisnished side. Its usually an additional panel that is attached in some way to the unfinished side. Talk to the designer-- this may need to be changed back!! Also, mouldings are usually ordered in long strips-- 8 foot lengths maybe, so its possible the computer lists it more than once, esppecially if you need a lot. Or maybe your moulding choice is actually two different mouldings put together to look like one. Also did you order bottom mouldings (light rail)? These are all usually listed separate. Just make sure you understand what each item on your list is. Its quite possible its a duplicate, but it may just be a minor miscommunication of something you actually need.
Good luck-- it sounds like the second guy is much better. If i had to choose I'd pick the one who has time for me and my questions, over a bus designer any day!!
daveinorlado
13 years ago
all plywood construction with most cabinet companies requires finished ends as stated above. I used to sell Armstrong cabinets and they cheated using a cheap plywood that was a different species of wood then the doors and you had to pay for upgraded wood ends to get the sides of the cabinets to stain right. Cabinets are very specific. So the order is also. A lot of quote programs do not explain the nomenclature to understand it without a book which is annoying.

My prokitchen design software which I hate, I ordered 20/20 today! (Been waiting a long time to be able to switch)calculates the trim automaticly if you set it up that way. Any moldings not able to be done in auto mode show up at the end of quote verticaly speaking and those must be entered manually.

Every now and then people on here email me to ask questions or see what something I carry might cost. I did a booth at the local home show here in Northern Va last week. I have been chasing my tail for the last week to get back to normal. I have not been quick to respond in the last week to anyone. In my case it is not my norm. Big kitchens are not always easier or more profitable as a hard fast rule. Little kitchens are much faster to layout as there are not as many choices of how to use the space. The large ones I spend more time deciding how to layout the use of the space.

Sounds to me like you need better communication somehow with these people to truly understand them and they you so you can get on a good foot with them.

You need to better understand the quote to know if it has mistakes or not and how to get thru the design and process with them.
ironcook
Original Author
13 years ago
thanks for the input, everyone.

the second kd got back to me today, which was good.

i just never thought 11 cabs would need so much back and forth over details.

part of the the problem, i suppose, is that my layout is a gardenweb one, and not one a kd came up with. i started with one of buehl's suggested layouts for someone else and adjusted it with things i learned here and needed in my own kitchen.

still hope i can order this week. :)

Is ordering cabinets usually this complicated?

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xc60

debrak_2008

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Is ordering cabinets usually this complicated?

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xc60

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