In-laws ordered a 2 pack kitchen, received a laminate kitchen. Should I tell them?

lockmc on 16/09/2019 - 09:55

Hi guys.

After some advice. My in-laws had a new kitchen installed around 12 months ago and ordered a 2 pack finished.
The quote and invoice both say this.

I myself am looking into a new kitchen, so I have been taking particular notice in theirs. I've noticed that they didn't actually receive a 2 pack finish - it is just a laminate finish, when they are under the impression that they ordered and received a 2 pack finish. I understand there is quote a cost difference in this (10-15%), so up to 5k difference.

I'm tossing up as to whether I tell them or not. Most likely, this is a clerical error of some sort and not deliberate by the cabinet maker.

If I tell them, it could open up a can of worms that may not be beneficial in any way to them.

My question is: what would typically happen in a situation where a customer paid for a certain product, and got something different, but was unaware?
Telling the difference between a 2 pack kitchen and a laminate finish can be difficult these days if you don't know what to look for.
Is it likely after 12 months that they can request a refund of some sort?

Obviously the right answer will be to ask the cabinet makers, but I can't really ask this without telling them, which I'm reluctant to do if it probably isn't going to benefit them. They tend to worry about small things so not sure if it is worth bringing it up with them.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 16/09/2019 - 10:00

    What's the name of the place? My folks are chasing a shoddy mob, I'll check with them. If not comfortable naming, please pm.

    • lockmc on 16/09/2019 - 10:06
      +1

      Would rather not say at this stage as I don't believe this was deliberate.
      They are in VIC south of Melbourne.

  • JimB on 16/09/2019 - 10:29
    +1

    It could be an honest mistake from the cabinet makers.

    Without telling the in-laws, approach the cabinet makers first with some photos. Ask them when can they replace the doors/panels.

    'Telling the difference between a 2 pack kitchen and a laminate finish can be difficult these days if you don't know what to look for.'

    As difficult as differentiating between a Lexus and a Toyota.

  • k-rokfm on 16/09/2019 - 10:37

    They tend to worry about small things so not sure if it is worth bringing it up with them.

    Are they happy with what theyve got? Maybe ask in some subtle ways about what they think of the finish of the kitchen. If they are all very positive then I would just overlook it and not mention it to them. If they say some things to indicate they dont like it then maybe pretend you did a bit more research and indicate it might not be two pack

    • HighAndDry on 16/09/2019 - 11:20

      Even if they're happy with it, they can still get back the difference in cost/price.

      • lockmc on 16/09/2019 - 12:21
        +1

        That's what I am thinking would be the ideal outcome here.

        • HighAndDry on 16/09/2019 - 12:23
          +3

          Yeah - there are two answers here. What's best for them (tell them, they can claim the difference) and what's best for you (let sleeping dogs lie, they're happy with it, no need to 'start' anything).

  • spackbace on 16/09/2019 - 10:45
    +6

    I'd leave it alone - 12 months later, not my direct family.

    No point unnecessarily getting the in-laws off-side as this could trickle down to an argument with the missus.

    • poboy on 16/09/2019 - 11:09
      +2

      Always let sleeping dogs lie.

    • nith265 on 16/09/2019 - 11:44

      I like to imagine an unforseen chain of events starting.

      They come to replace the doors, they break something while they’re there, they uncover some dodgy wiring that needs fixing, turns out the wiring was done dodgy to avoid a new fusebox that costs $1000 to install

      Everything finally gets installed and sorted, a day later the 2PAC gets a chip in it and they go “You know what..I think I liked the old laminate doors better…”

      All because the know everything son in law was trying to help!

    • lockmc on 16/09/2019 - 12:20

      Well it shoudln't get them off side - I would actually be doing them a favor by letting them know that they didn't get what they paid for.

      • spackbace on 16/09/2019 - 12:23
        +2

        A problem which they can't fix, or might not want the hassle of fixing. Instead you just point out something sub-par which they paid good money on.

        It could also be taken that they didn't really know what they bought, and that you know better. Do you want to feel superior to the in-laws, or to make them feel dumb? Because you're going the right way about it…

    • [Deactivated] on 17/09/2019 - 11:51

      Why not tell the missus then ? She can decide what to do. Her parents = her problem.

  • Stewardo on 16/09/2019 - 11:23

    I’m not sure you know what your describing. Laminate is not used that much on kitchen doors anymore it went out of fashion in the 90s. It looks nothing like a painted kitchen. Laminate doors are made out of MDF or fibreboard that has had sheets of plastic laminate glued onto them. It has square corners with faint black/brown line where the sheets meet.
    Two pack is paint, you can paint many door materials with it including solid timber panel doors, mdf doors, mdf/melamine doors. Do you have a picture of the relatives kitchen?

    • lockmc on 16/09/2019 - 12:19

      It is definitely not 2 pack. It is a type of laminate made by Polytec - Royal Oyster Ultraglaze.
      https://imgur.com/a/VDR1vEk

      • Stewardo on 16/09/2019 - 13:00

        It’s melamine not laminate.

        • lockmc on 16/09/2019 - 13:17

          Is that more or less superior than laminate?

          • Stewardo on 16/09/2019 - 14:09
            +1

            @lockmc: Completely different product, laminate is far more durable and involves skilled trades (cabinet maker) to apply the laminate to the board after it’s cut to size. The pictured product is cheaper and is applied at the board manufacturer. It’s then cut to size and the pvc edge is put on. In any case the picture isn’t of a two pack kitchen and doesn’t look anything like one, you would never see the edge tape in a painted kitchen door. And for what it’s worth the edge tape has been put on terribly in this picture and the door gaps are to large. If this is the inlaws kitchen and they paid for a two pack kitchen they are pretty gullible and the company who installed it are cowboys.

            • nith265 on 16/09/2019 - 15:51

              @Stewardo: To be fair the terms melamine / laminate panel are very often used interchangeably by many people including the trade.

              It’s true that laminate sheet is made under high pressure and very durable compared laminate panels (aka melamine!) - but that durability was only really of use when they were used on bench tops (as you say popular in the 90’s).

              No reason so think there’s anything inferior about the panels from the pic but agree those ABS edges look very very rough

            • lockmc on 17/09/2019 - 08:17

              @Stewardo: they are pretty gullible

              ^^^ I wouldn't say that necessarily. If you don't know what to look for and have simply been sold that 2 pack is better, you may not realize that 2 pack has no strip edges. In person, I must say it does look fairly impressive and could easily be mistaken for a painted surface. But when you get close, that is when it is very obvious.

      • nith265 on 16/09/2019 - 15:57

        How do you know the name of the laminate colour if they were promised 2 Pac paint?

      • [Deactivated] on 16/09/2019 - 23:28

        That's terrible workmanship. :(

      • [Deactivated] on 17/09/2019 - 11:53

        Totally unacceptable finish from a professional.

  • Seraphin7 on 16/09/2019 - 11:35

    Obviously the right answer will be to ask the cabinet makers, but I can't really ask this without telling them, which I'm reluctant to do if it probably isn't going to benefit them. They tend to worry about small things so not sure if it is worth bringing it up with them.

    There you have it.

    • lockmc on 16/09/2019 - 12:20

      Hence my question to the community. Maybe it will benefit them through a cash back or a replacement.

      • Seraphin7 on 16/09/2019 - 12:45
        +1

        My point was, I think you've answered your own question.

        Whether or not you'll/they'll get any cash out of this, whether or not that will create a bun fight with the cabinet people, whether or not this will cause issues between you and your missus/her parents … all items that are speculative that are going to be 100% specific to your situation only.

        If you think it's only going to upset them, there's little upside in this for you and them.

        My advice … do not step into any issue that's relevant to your in laws that (1) isn't actually an issue at this point, (2) you haven't been asked to get involved in and/or (3) is not a topic where you can apply some specific skill or knowledge.

        Of course, you'd love to be the son-in-law that delivered $5k, but that is both uncertain and unlikely to occur without some heartache along the way.

  • TheRealCher on 16/09/2019 - 12:52
    +1

    It was Biggie Smalls kitchens yeah?

  • garetz on 16/09/2019 - 12:57

    Of course you tell them, they could get that 5k refunded.

  • buderim11 on 17/09/2019 - 07:22

    If the inlaws are happy with the kitchen , i would say nothing …

  • Hirolol on 17/09/2019 - 08:27

    Tell them for sure.
    Extra points with the in-laws always helps.

    Just be careful how you deliver the news… something like “I just realised” would be better than “I’ve been meaning to tell you”

  • [Deactivated] on 17/09/2019 - 11:57

    Here's what I don't get: why is this your problem? Why not tell your wife and she can decide what she wants to do with this info.

    • lockmc on 17/09/2019 - 11:59

      Its a discussion we are both having together. It's my problem because they are my in-laws - we are very close to them, we see them a few times a week. It is not like we see them once a month.

      • [Deactivated] on 17/09/2019 - 12:01

        I'm close to my in-laws too and would tell them. I'd hate to think that they've been taken for a ride and I know about it and didn't say anything. I would somehow feel complicit.

        P.s: would you want to know?

  • kiitos on 17/09/2019 - 15:34

    If I tell them, it could open up a can of worms that may not be beneficial in any way to them.

    Can you elaborate on this? Were there favours being done, or other friend involved in the deal or something?

    • lockmc on 17/09/2019 - 19:51

      Nope.. Just don't want him loosing face because he didn't realise he potentially got ripped.. Or as someone pointed out, don't want to appear as a know it all. Also the kitchen company could say to them tough tittied and he will forever be looking at his kitchen knowing he got ripped.

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