In May, I was contacted by the BBC as they wanted to interview an independent kitchen expert about the subject of guarantees for kitchens. The focus was on the 25 year guarantee that IKEA offers, as the programme had received certain complaints about the retailer.
I have worked in kitchen design as both a manufacturer and retailer for nearly 27 years, and I had never heard of a 25 year guarantee before. We guarantee our bespoke workmanship for 10 years and our contemporary kitchens by Intuo and EWE for five years, and any appliances, worktops, sinks, taps and accessories we sell are covered by their own manufacturers’ warranties. These can range from anywhere between one and five years depending on the manufacturer.
It was amazing to see the BBC Watchdog team at work, as they are all very professional and committed. I was interviewed by presenter, Nikki Fox who was delightful and she immediately put me at ease. My interview lasted around 40 minutes and we covered a great range of topics about kitchens, multiple retailers vs. independents and how you can tell the difference between ‘wear and tear’ and a fault, and I gave some good examples. We also talked about quality control and the promises that major retailers make to guarantee a sale. Sadly, when it made the final edit, my segment was cut down to a minute or so, but it was my first foray as an industry expert on TV, and hopefully not my last….
Darren Taylor, MD, Searle & Taylor with BBC Watchdog presenter, Nikki Fox
