China Home Expo has gained insight into the competitive challenges currently facing the panel and whole-house customization industry.

Raw material costs for panels, hardware accessories, labor, and logistics transportation continue to rise year after year, steadily increasing the operational burden on showrooms. Yet the industry remains trapped in severe price-based internal competition. Competitors repeatedly undercut quotes to win customers, leaving many completed orders with virtually no profit margin.

Showrooms have consistently insisted on using high-quality eco-friendly panels and standardized construction processes, yet they struggle to compete against low-priced whole-house packages priced at 699 or 799 yuan advertised online. Most homeowners compare only the surface-level quotes during selection, making it difficult to see the hidden consumer traps behind these bargain packages.

Those who blindly pursue low prices usually end up being the ones who suffer, while physical showrooms dedicated to quality find it hard to operate normally. With twenty years in the industry, I have seen too many homeowners fall into various traps of whole-house customization, and many insider industry secrets are rarely disclosed straightforwardly.

Many low-priced packages on the market only include basic cabinet bodies. Drawers, damping hardware, straighteners, and finished side panels all require additional separate charges. Many homeowners initially budget 60,000 yuan for customization, only to see the final settlement balloon to 100,000 yuan, with budgets severely overshooting.

Once an advance deposit is paid, homeowners fall into a passive position and can only keep accepting add-on charges. Some merchants also cut corners on panel quality to compress costs, using inferior base materials to pass off as high eco-grade ENF panels.

While the front of the cabinet uses compliant panels, the back panels and shelves are replaced with cheap waste materials. After renovation, the house reeks of pungent odors, and long-term residence can harm family health. Some merchants verbally promise zero formaldehyde and deliberately confuse different eco-grades, while omitting panel specifications in the contract, leaving homeowners with no basis for later rights protection.

Many small-scale low-price showrooms provide vague quotations with no clear标注 of panel types, hardware, or craftsmanship standards. When subsequent quality issues such as cabinet deformation or edge sealing cracking occur, merchants simply shirk responsibility. Some showrooms even close down directly after collecting deposits, leaving homeowners with no recourse for rights protection.

The relentless price war forces merchants to cut costs on raw materials, processing, and services. Without reasonable profit margins, it is impossible to equip quality hardware and fine edge-sealing craftsmanship. Designs become perfunctory and installation rough, and the subsequent costs of rework and repairs far exceed the initial savings from the price difference.

The showroom has also considered following the trend to launch low-price promotions but cannot lower existing quality standards. Genuine eco-friendly panels, branded hardware, fine edge sealing, and long-term after-sales service each have fixed cost support. Taking orders below cost can only lead to cutting corners or long-term losses.

Homeowners preparing for renovation and selecting custom cabinets can remember several practical pitfall avoidance methods. Do not simply compare unit prices. Ask merchants for a complete all-inclusive quotation breakdown, with all charge items clearly stated in the contract.

Try to choose officially authorized brand showrooms, proactively request panel quality inspection reports, verify the true eco-grade, and avoid unbranded panels without testing qualifications. Also distinguish the legal difference between "deposit" and "earnest money," and only make large payments after confirming that the drawings and full quotations are correct.

Home renovation has a usage cycle of over a decade. Panel eco-performance, cabinet durability, and comprehensive after-sales service are far more important than temporary low prices. The additional costs of later formaldehyde removal and cabinet repairs often far exceed the initial price difference of panels.

Renovation is a lifelong matter concerning family health and quality of life. There is no need to blindly follow low-price packages. Abandon the misconception of looking only at unit prices, and focus on the comprehensive quality of materials, craftsmanship, environmental protection, and after-sales service. Only then can you avoid industry traps and create an ideal living space that is worry-free, durable, and healthy. 

Source: weixin