Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Jan 27, 1999 03:29am | #1

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   Chris--up front I'll tell you that I have not bought cabs mail order, from a company "sight unseen". My opinion is relevant though because I anticipate that you will have some problems if you choose to go this route.

   First, everybody and his brother builds cabs, so the price should be very reasonable and the selection (what woods, style, etc) varied enough. Other than the mail order house being a new source, I don't comprehend the reason you are considering going out of the area.

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   Guest_ | Jan 27, 1999 03:42am | #2

   *There was an article several years back in either FHB or JLC about these. Basically, you are ordering the parts and an assembly system. Article seemed to indicate that the quality could be fine - since you are basically buying materials with a little mill work. Price wise, I seem to recall the author claiming that he would pay almost more for the raw materials then buying them cut. Some people just buy the drawer boxes and doors from these companies also - make their own carcases and face frames if required.But Rich is right, you may be able to find them nearly as inexpensive locally and a little easier to fix defects.

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   Guest_ | Jan 27, 1999 03:44am | #3

   *Chris--up front I'll tell you that I have not bought cabs mail order, from a company "sight unseen". My opinion is relevant though because I anticipate that you will have some problems if you choose to go this route. (What the picture shows and what you actually get are two different things. And the order girl won't have the information you require, be ready for some frustration)First, everybody and his brother builds cabs, so the price should be very reasonable and the selection (what woods, style, etc) varied enough. Other than the mail order house being a new source, I don't understand why you are considering going out of the area.Any savings on the initial cost of the cabs would be vanquished by the shipping; mfg service (try returning a dinged-up door, or two); hunting down missing hardware; cab construction time, etc.Building cabinets is very much within the realm of most DIY, but you should know of the technigues of glue-up, for example. Or knowing if the material selection and design is adequate for your intended use.If it were me, I'd stay local and pick the guy's brain for pointers. One last thing: when I do order anything mail order, I make sure I have the hardware, et al, that I think I'll need to complete the project. Or, at the very least, before ordering, make sure the company will return any item not up to snuff on their dime, that includes s & h.

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   Guest_ | Jan 27, 1999 06:10am | #4

   *This is slightly outside the scope of this thread, but that last comment rang a bell. I ordered hinges from grizzly, only to find out when I got them that SCREWS WERE EXTRA. I won't even go into the possible analogies with cars, or how incredibly stupid this is. I will not again, though, order from grizzly, for just this reason. Thinking of it again, just now, makes me boil. Some bean counter.......

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   Chris_Jendrick | Jan 28, 1999 08:12pm | #5

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   Hello to all! I have a question about purchasing my own kitchen cabinets from a mail order shop. I am wondering if any readers out there have purchased cabinets from a company sight-unseen? I am considering it right now. My kitchen consits of 16 base & wall cabinets. I'm wondering if quality was what was expected and how did assembly go? Any problems with installation or shipping to your site? Right now this seems like the way to go, half the cost of semi custom cabinets but no finish & I have to assemble them.