Kitchen Appliance Nightmare

[Spinny]

We ordered two kitchen appliances, paid in full, and they were held by the supplier pending kitchen readiness.

 

Just discovered the supplier has been put into administration, all 'stock' seemingly sold months ago - no communication to us whatsoever. What is more the fridge-freezer we bought has been discontinued. What is more the kitchen we have bought is designed for the dimensions of the fridge freezer - the new models have different dimensions which will not fit.

 

Anybody know of any sources of ex-demo or nearly new/customer return/secondhand appliances where I might desperately try to find one of the discontinued models ?

[Kelvin]

eBay would be a reasonable start. 
 

I would really try and adapt the kitchen to take a wider range of fridge freezers if at all possible. Things fail and it’s better to fix the size problem now when you can get the kitchen components than years from now when you can’t. 
 

what a pia though as it’s just theft effectively. 

Edited Friday at 17:46 by Kelvin

[-rick-]

What dimensions are you working to?

 

Is this an integrated unit or just a bespoke slot for a standalone unit?

 

If the latter, maybe a slightly smaller unit would work with some extra trim?

[Spinny]

It is a bespoke slot for a standalone unit. Took some working out as we basically wanted to get a standalone model (due to the astonishing price premium of integrated) but then arrange to have the front of the doors flush with the kitchen doors, creating a special knook to allow the door to open. 

Width is 79/80cm - we were tight for space for the layout we wanted. Manufacturer has now gone to 90cm wide - couldn't know this at the time.

 

(PS Why do kitchens keep getting bigger while houses keep getting smaller ?)

[Spinny]

Thanks Kelvin, good comment.

 

Tried ebay without luck. Just stumbled on theusedkitchencompany.com

 

Spouse in tears again. Our rooflight company also went into liquidation - I had to hire a van and negotiate with the liquidator to rescue our rooflight that time. Dog died last week. Counted 6 magpies in the garden yesterday though.

 

Gonna have to try a section 75 credit card claim.

 

[nod]

It madness at the moment I’ve Treatment plant to fit for the neighbors The local company I’ve used  to supply TPs have gone into liquidation 

Its a shit show out there at the moment 

 

Ive been in the building game for over 40 years and it’s the I’ve seen it for companies going bust 

Lots of business and lots of cash flow problems 

Edited Friday at 19:05 by nod

[Kelvin]

Section 75  should hopefully be successful. 
 

The kitchen company had our kitchen for several months fully paid for. I then noticed they were late with filing their accounts and I thought great here we go. I did eventually have it delivered to the house which was a pain trying to work around it. 

 

Edited Friday at 19:16 by Kelvin

[Spinny]

I think some companies were badly affected by Covid and incurred debts, then higher interest rates and inflation hit, labour costs have escalated. Bankruptcies were running at 1200 a month pre-covid and now at over 2000 a month.

[DownSouth]

Have you tried Appliances Online ao.com? They do end of range sometimes and you’ll be able to filter by size. We used them for previous kitchen and they delivered safely and on time.

[nod]

11 minutes ago, Spinny said:

I think some companies were badly affected by Covid and incurred debts, then higher interest rates and inflation hit, labour costs have escalated. Bankruptcies were running at 1200 a month pre-covid and now at over 2000 a month.

Rachel’ from accounts is the main culprit 

[Mattg4321]

And it sounds like they’ll be coming back with more tax rises in the autumn. I’m genuinely worried for the future of this country.

 

4 more years of this lot and no prospect of anything much better to vote for. Someone who has actually run a business, rather than a career politician would be nice. 

[Nickfromwales]

17 hours ago, Spinny said:

(PS Why do kitchens keep getting bigger while houses keep getting smaller ?)

Same thing with cars and shopping centre parking spaces!?!

 

eBay / gumtree if you're stuffed and have to have that model, or a mind-bending amount of googling to find an alternative. Or bite the bullet and dress an integrated one in.

[jack]

17 hours ago, Mattg4321 said:

And it sounds like they’ll be coming back with more tax rises in the autumn. I’m genuinely worried for the future of this country.

 

4 more years of this lot and no prospect of anything much better to vote for. Someone who has actually run a business, rather than a career politician would be nice. 

 

Have you listened to any of the Peter MacCormack podcast? Too many right-wingers and Reform nutters overall for or my liking, but otherwise some very interesting guests you're unlikely to encounter on many other shows.

[Mattg4321]

On 09/08/2025 at 13:56, jack said:

 

Have you listened to any of the Peter MacCormack podcast? Too many right-wingers and Reform nutters overall for or my liking, but otherwise some very interesting guests you're unlikely to encounter on many other shows.

I haven’t. I’ll give it a go though. There’s some great stuff around these days on the newer platforms though. Legacy media is dead imo - total tripe nearly all of it. 
 

The lack of understanding of how even a small business functions by those at the top of government is staggering. If they can’t even understand that then what chance do they have with the financial markets. 
 

Another set of tax rises in the autumn could be the thing that tips us into a pretty severe financial crisis. Labour have already found out that raising the rate of capital gains tax actually brought them less in tax receipts - will they learn?!