DIYWEEK.net

The company behind the Kitchen-compare website, Insight Retail Group has launched a new website Bathroomcompare.com, featuring products from B&Q, Bathstore, Homebase and Wickes.
As with kitchen-compare.com, the newly-launched bathroom comparison site is designed to help save consumers time and money during the buying process, negating the need to "trawl around various retailers, picking up brochures, speaking to store staff and trying to get an understanding of the quality and price differences as well as the various service offerings from the retailers", said the firm.

The new site will allow user to compare the designs, styles and prices of more than 150 different bathrooms from the four largest national bathroom retailers. According to Insight Retail Group (IRG), prices are updated daily and consumers are able to search and compare bathrooms initially based on the type of bathroom, either cloakroom, en-suite or family and then by their own personal style; contemporary, classic, or traditional.

IRG has also designed three of its own 'model bathrooms', containing all of the items needed for the finished project, so that there are clear details listing exactly what is included in the final price.

The firm's first site, Kitchen-compare.com has attracted controversy since its launch, with some people in the market suggesting the site is biased towards particular retailers and doesn't feature all comparable products or ranges, therefore not meeting the requirements of an 'independent' comparison site.

Commenting on diyweek.net, one user said: "I am confused why as an independent kitchen comparison why B&Q have masses of detail around their products and yet Wickes and Homebase don't and how you can compare B&Q "IT" kitchen range against Homebase when they don't have a value range? Seems like some not so independant [sic] "support" fr B&Q?"

This is naturally disputed by IRG, which states that kitchen-compare.com "is a totally independent company on a mission to demystify the kitchen market and make it easier for people to find their perfect kitchen at the right price."

A similar mission statement appears on the newly-launched bathroomcompare.com, adding, "As we've selected similar items across the retailers, this provides a 'level playing field'."