White Goods

[Mac]

Just about to move to France. Finally about to sign Acte de vente. I will need to buy some white goods,in particular a gas cooker(bottle) and a washing machine. I have checked on the Darty website but I can't remember any of the other suppliers of these items. Does anyone have suggestions of the best places to buy? We are or will be in the north dordogne and will not be on line there until after christmas so on-line purchases may not be an option unless we can order from UK for delivery to french house. All suggerstions gratefully received.

[pachapapa]

http://www.promo-conso.net/recherche.php?keyword=lave+linge

http://www.promo-conso.net/recherche.php?keyword=cuisiniere

[Hoddy]

We bought our fridge and washing machine in Brive. I'm not sure that they were the best or cheapest, but they were certainly convenient. There are lots of stores on the west side of Brive which sell this kind of thing.

Hoddy

[Iceni]

Our first cooker (gas hob, elec oven) came from Carrefour in Brive. Subsequent items were bought from Entrepot in Biars, nearer to us and possibly cheaper. Entrepot seems to specialise in seconds, shop soiled, end of lines etc which made it attractive to us mean types who don't care about the occasional scratch. I have no idea whether Entrepot is a one-off or part of a chain.

Gas cookers and washing machines can be bought in just about any Leclerc.

John

 

[Gluestick]

Recently back after a long spell: in which we scheduled to purchase a new simple gas cooker (Bottled) as a temporary replacement for an older flawed unit which proved irreparable. (Oven Thermostat duff).

Plan is to completely gut and refit the cuissine in the near future which will include a substantial range gas cooker later on.

Looked at Darty: also visited Gitem and a couple of other électroménager  outfits and was not over-impressed at what was offered: nor the prices.

Eventually, called in to a local large shop which has a wide range of stuff from Hi Fi, through Plasma TVs etc to all kitchen white goods. They also have a large local contracting business in plumbing, heating and electrical wiring etc.

They proved cheaper than the big boys (!!), delivered the very next morning and the charming young engineer who came, fitted the new cooker; slapped my wrist for using a flexible gas pipe which was out of date (Just: Had been going to change it that trip in point of fact!), made all new connections to the detendeur; and even took the old cooker away for its appointment with the baked bean tin foundry.

And made no extra charge!

Now if we have any problems I only have to trot off 15 mins to our canton town and see the owner: who has always been extremely helpful to me in other areas.

Rather than hold a long distance remote dialogue with a call centre or an online so called "Service" facility.

So my considered advice would be to check locally first: you may well be surprised.

[cooperlola]

I'm a fan of BOULANGER and have found them rare beasts in that their SAV is good.

I agree with Gluey also (hi there, btw, how are you doing?[:)]) I've had great service from my local Pulsat - worth checking out the locals before going further afield - they always seem to me to be far more likely to be able to help you out in the event of a problem as they need local trade to keep going and will do more to keep you on their side.

[Pierre ZFP]

Hi Gluey

Have sent you a PM

[Gluestick]

[quote user="Pierre ZFP"]

Hi Gluey

Have sent you a PM

[/quote]

Responded to Pierre.

[:)]

[Gluestick]

[quote user="cooperlola"]

I'm a fan of BOULANGER and have found them rare beasts in that their SAV is good.

I agree with Gluey also (hi there, btw, how are you doing?[:)]) [/quote]

Good, thanks JE: excepting back in Blighty and addressing a mound of professional backlog! [:(]

Hope you are still improving now and finding life much easier.

[quote]I've had great service from my local Pulsat - worth checking out the locals before going further afield - they always seem to me to be far more likely to be able to help you out in the event of a problem as they need local trade to keep going and will do more to keep you on their side.

[/quote]

Totally agree: important in as far as possible to support local traders and businesses.

I have also found most of the time, that my local large builder's merchant is not much dearer than the acknowledged low price leader: Bricodepot. And the local people are far more helpful, more knowledgeable and  the quality is higher, however.

And a forgotten point about local traders is they invariably know loads of good artisans locally: since they are their customers.

[Pommier]

Conforama are pretty competetive on price, and we've had excellent SAV from most shops (and very poor from one!)

[Mac]

Thanks for all the advice. I think my first job must be to go round local traders and see whats on offer and then I'll check out the bigger boys.