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malvaflores

Trust issues with cabinet rep

9 years ago

We are building a house and so are looking for cabinets if good quality, but not interested in denting my retirement over cabinets.

I am shocked at cabinet prices and frankly less than impressed with many well known names. I am working with a rep and for the most part the prices seem standard around 400 to 600 dollars a cabinet, but 1000 dollar cabinets keep on appearing on our price list with extras costing hundreds.

Is it reasonable price that a microwave wall cabinet would be one grand or a built in oven cabinet would be over a grand? Wouldn't there be just a drywall box on the wall with a surrounding panel and trim kit. I can't imagine a cost of one grand for this. The kitchen aid mixer lift is over 400 and is not a soft glide. It seems I could do better third party. I noticed a 300 dollar tray divider and when question it appears to be just two vertices pieces of wood to hold baking trays upright. I feel I am being gouged. I being fair? Is this typical?

Comments (13)

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    An oven cabinet wont have any drywall, it should be all plywood. I think they are essentially tall (or stacked) cabinets with just no door or frame where the oven goes.

    Why do you need a microwave cabinet? How about just mounting a microwave on the bottom of a shorter cabinet. I have this microwave and it fits perfectly under a 24" cabinet: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C8582Y0/ref=asc_df_B01C8582Y05040555/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=395033&creativeASIN=B01C8582Y0&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167155690034&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17626571105354187296&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033348&hvtargid=pla-308446479770

    The hanging kit is like $30 or $40 on top of that. They also have it in monogram trim for another $100 but its almost definitely the same internals.

    You can probably do better buying the extras like tray divider separate or doing a little DIY work.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Agree with Barnaclebob above. For your MW, you could also just set it on an open shelf. It doesn't have to be built-in, and might be a better choice not to be. MWs don't last that long these days, so when you have to replace it in 3-5 years, a built-in will be much harder to find a replacement, than just unplugging the old, and plugging in the new. Also not sure that a mixer lift is that necessary, and you are using up a whole cabinet for it.

    It is hard to tell whether your cabinet costs are too high, because you did not describe what you are getting. What manufacturer? What material? Are they framed inset or frameless? Plain shaker-style, or something more elaborate? Painted, stained, glazed? Are you getting decorative extras like corbels or columns? Prices vary enormously depending on these choices.

    If you want more bang for the buck, check out Ikea cabinets.

  • 9 years ago

    The microwave is a box shelf. It is not Recessed in the wall. It maybe designed as one unit with a cabinet above, but it does not have to be. All I know is the price sheet list a microwave cabinet for 1,000 dollars and the 3D rendering shows the cabinet placed on a box shelf under the cabinet.

    The cabinet line is diamond reflection.

    i would like feedback on 3rd part inserts and roll out shelves become it seems to me what is provided from the cabinet maker is over priced


    thank you


  • PRO
    9 years ago

    If you are being shown line item prices it's highly unlikely that you're being gouged. Tall cabinets cost more,...Sure someone could build an oven cabinet with panels, a drawer and doors and some solid stock NO SHEETROCK. Add in the on site labor and it will cost more. Labor always costs more than materials so unless you want to DIY accessories they are most often cheaper in the long run if factory supplied.

    How much more or less micro cabinets cost is brand dependant-some a little more, some much more-some door styles in some brands it can be less>

    As to accessories there are a few exceptions. TRAY DIVIDERS- I like to use metal ones from Rev-A-Shelf- cheaper and IMO more flexible. Those can be had for about $12 each and install a fist full is reasonable-even easy to DIY, worst part is layout for the screw locations.

    For other accessories take a hard look at need vs want vs cost as others have suggested. Make the kitchen work as well as you can but don't get caught up in the cool factor of things.


  • 9 years ago

    To further answer the question we wanted just natural cherry shaker style with no glazes or other extras. I have considered IKEA but the show room shows chipped doors (not the best advertisement) and we have no place to assemble 30 plus cabinets.

  • 9 years ago

    You should shop a few different cabinetry places with the same design. I wasn't happy with the seemingly excessive bid I got from the shop my contractor highly recommended, so I shopped the design to some other companies. They were all around the same ballpark in price when comparing apples to apples, so I felt much more comfortable that this was a reasonable price and I "just" needed to adjust my expectations (and budget).

  • 9 years ago

    Do you live near an Amish community? If so, check them out for pricing. Much less and quality is excellent.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    And if you are building a house, you do have room to assemble the IKEA boxes. Easy peasy.

  • 9 years ago

    You can probably do better if you find your own after-market fittings, if you're willing to spend time learning what will work in your cabinets, and willing to install them. For example, you can get a basic mixer lift for <$100. The ones that cost much more may be worth it to you, maybe not. Keep in mind that part of what you are paying for is the expertise of a cabinetmaker who knows what clearances are required for various fittings. I am making my own cabinets and find myself spending a LOT of time looking at spec sheets to make sure the fittings I want will actually fit (and then some require blocking or other customization).

  • PRO
    9 years ago

    Fair? It's hard to say without knowing more about brand, door style, wood...etc. I have cabinet lines that range from $350 to $1000 average per cabinet. With my mid-grade lines, yes...average price per cabinet is between $450 to $550. Upper middle brands will be $550 to $650. Custom top of the line cabinetry $800 to $1000.

    Luke is right....you gotta have a passion for kitchens to be in this business. Trust us, no one is getting rich. Profit margins are not high in this business and customer expectations vs reality is a constant struggle for kitchen/bath dealers and manufacturers. Cabinets are not like the furniture industry which is mass produced. Also they are not built as well as kitchen cabinets....and the general public compare the prices of furniture vs cabinetry all the time. You can't compare the two! Bedroom dresser drawers won't withstand the constant use in a kitchen over time. Kitchen cabinets are built much more sturdy...and each unit is built to order. Not mass produced. Even 'stock' cabinets today are built to order. I love what I do...I really do! But I would not recommend anyone start a business in the kitchen industry unless they have a LOT of patience, a cool temper and are very organized. I would certainly advise anyone to become a kitchen designer....it's fun and satisfying for those with mathematical and creative minds...however work for someone else to start before opening up a business. It's a tough business to be in. I still come in to work everyday with a smile...after 34 years...I still love it!


  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I think you should shop around. Do some reading here and see what people have used and like, then check out those places/websites/brands. Talk to cabinet makers in your local area and see what they could do. You shouldn't just trust anyone. The fact that you're having trust issues means that you know this already. You're spending a good amount of money to do your kitchen, and you do need to be careful, protect yourself, and make sure you are getting a good product for a reasonable price. Actually, you should make sure you are getting the best product you can get for the best price you can get it for... Shop around.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    @malva...I know too well where you're coming from. What I ended up doing was designing my kitchen and cabinets so that I could add on stuff that I bought from places like Ikea and Amazon. I plan on using these http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20297104/ to store baking pans, these for storage http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00265651/, these to hang towels https://smile.amazon.com/Rev-Shelf-563-32-Towel-Holder/dp/B001NIGMO6/ref=pd_ybh_a_59?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=X1MKGBRBC8S5YR32ZSEX, etc.