Excellent Design, Let Down by Poor Delivery, Missing Parts and Quality Control
The design stage at Cabco is genuinely excellent. The process is clear, collaborative and well thought out. They are flexible, responsive and willing to tailor the design to suit the space. If the rest of the experience matched this, they would be a very good company to deal with.
Unfortunately, everything after payment falls significantly below that standard.
The delivery, communication, quality control and overall execution were extremely poor.
I was charged £150 for delivery, yet it was a single-driver drop-off, meaning I had to help unload the van myself. It took around 45 minutes as the driver could not manage the load alone. Charging this level of delivery fee for what is effectively a one-man service is unacceptable.
The original delivery date was missed, with notice only given on the day. The rearranged delivery lacked any clear communication, requiring multiple calls just to get an update. Even then, the delivery arrived later than the agreed time slot.
I was also informed that the delay was due to the owner prioritising a haircut over completing deliveries, despite the fact I had just spent several thousand pounds with the company. That alone reflects the level of professionalism.
On delivery, it became clear that quality control is virtually non-existent. Multiple panels were damaged, chipped, poorly edged or marked with saw cuts. I was then told to check everything myself and report issues, effectively being asked to carry out their quality control for them.
The issues continued:
• Essential components were missing, including shelf pegs, handles, battens, hinges and fixings.
• I had to purchase additional items myself, including hinge screws, shelf pegs, push-to-close mechanisms and replacement 180° hinges where the supplied ones were not fit for purpose.
• One unit was manufactured to the wrong size.
• Visible screw heads were left on finished panels.
• Internal drawer units had poor and damaged edging.
• Several units were supplied without pilot holes for hinges and shelves, meaning my fitters had to drill and measure everything manually on site.
When the incorrect unit was raised, I was initially told a replacement would be made the same day. Shortly after, I was then told they would reuse the existing board, despite it already being the wrong size. This had to be explained again, highlighting a lack of basic understanding and organisation.
The units were also delivered unwrapped and loose in the van, which likely contributed to the damage.
As a direct result of these failures, I have lost well over two days of fitting time, incurred additional labour costs, and had to purchase materials to complete a job that should have been supplied correctly in the first place.
For a company charging thousands of pounds for bespoke cabinetry, the level of preparation, quality control and service is nowhere near acceptable. The product may look good once installed, but getting to that point has been unnecessarily difficult, time-consuming and costly.
For anyone considering Cabco for bespoke cabinetry, fitted wardrobes or custom storage, I would strongly recommend thinking carefully before committing. My experience turned what should have been a straightforward installation into a prolonged and avoidable problem.
I am happy to update this review if Cabco take responsibility and resolve the outstanding issues. As it stands, this review reflects the service and quality I received.