Review of Villager Chelsea Solo
A word of warning for Solo buyers
I purchased two stoves recently the single door version of this stove for a rented property and the bigger single door stove for my own house. While I was in the shop a lady came in to pick up a new stove glass at modest cost. When i got home a little voice in my head said it might be worth checking out the cost of a new glass for these stoves as accidents do happen particularly in rented property. I got a shock. A quick search produced a single supplier offering this glass (presumably because it is curved) and the price was £107. I phoned Villager. Their price is £64.05 plus vat and delivery of £10.50, a total of £84.15. My order was cancelled pdq. Based on a buying price of £380 inc vat I reckon Villager could spend no more than £100 per stove on materials allowing for their profit, overheads, retailers mark up etc. So I would guess a new glass would cost Villager £15 max. Rip off Britain?.
Anyone looking at this stove might like to consider the two door version for which new glass can be obtained cheaply. Perhaps other third party suppliers will come in and the price of glass for the solo model will fall.