Quotes for New Windows

vikingaero

scooter_chick wrote: »

Okay, this is what I did when I wanted double glazing quotes.

I invited 4 companies round in one evening at 45 minute intervals. I did not tell them in advance that I was doing this. I invited 2 small local companes, and 2 nationals (Everest & Anglian I think). To make it easier for them in the time available, I prepared well - I drew out a plan of the windows with the openings etc. that I wanted to give them. I also drew up for myself a list of questions that I had to make sure we all made best use of the time.

When each chap arrived, I told him how much time he had & that I wanted his best price at the end of 45 mins. One of them showed up 15 mins late, so he only got 30 mins.

The two local compnies were fine, played the game properly & gave me a reasonable price. The guys form the national companies complained, tried to do their 'full' pitch etc. But I was firm with them, and they did actually comply (even the one that was late!). Everest came in at double the locals. Anglian gave a a price & then rang me up every other day after that with a 'better' price - which still didn't ever beat the locals.

Got the whole thing over in with in one evening. I went with one of the locals, and it was all fine - both in terms of the quality of windows & the way the whole process worked. So I'd recommend finding a local firm every time & making sure you take control of the sales process.

I booked 2 companies on the same day but 2 hours apart. The first guy from Weatherseal(?) was an hour and a half late and the other guy from BAC was roughly on time. They were both spitting feathers and making sarcastic comments at each other whilst measuring up.:D

The first guy said to me: "I'm going to do this for cost to beat BAC" and came out with a quote for £6k cut down to £3,300. My previous weeks quotes with Anglian and Everest were discounted down to £7k so £6k was roughly in the ball park.

The BAC guy was left and asked to see my Weatherseal quote which I showed him. He said: "F**k that, I'm calling my boss." After a few minutes explanation his boss authorised £500 off £3,300 to beat the Weatherseal guy. So I got 6 windows (2 large, 4 medium sized), 1 front door and 1 study door/window all with Pilkington K glass for £2,800. :money:

CarolTheExtra

Thank you everybody who has taken the time to reply but unfortunately somebody always has to be sarcastic when I post on here. Your comments gordikin were uncalled for. Why waste your time typing out unnecessary remarks.

Life is so short so who wants to spend an entire Sunday morning trying to get rid of a salesman. My son is too polite to be rude. Incidentally one of the reasons why he was upset as well is that he should have been updating his CV as his job is likely to go to India. He just would never have had anyone round to give him a quote if he had realised it was going to take so long. Still he is young and learnt lessons from this.

Thanks again.

inca_2

When booking the appointments tell them that you have people coming over at x time so they have to be in and out by x amount of time and if they go over this or try to delay then you will definitely not be using them. Sounds like your son just needs to be a little more assertive with them. If salespeople sense a slight bit of 'weakness' or the sense that they can dominate someone they will do alot of the time. He needs to remember it's his house and that people are only welcome there for the length of time he wants them there. Tell him to remember that they want his business and that they are the ones trying to win him over so he needs to realise and believe that he holds all the cards here. Sounds like (and I could be wrong) that he felt intimidated and either did not want to appear rude or wasn't comfortable enough to take control of the situation.

Tough talk him before they come round and make him see he can be assertive without it becoming a confrontation and that he is perfectly within his rights to tell them the timescales they have when they come round.

sashman

maninthestreet wrote: »

Rather than invite DG Companies to your property to quote, take your window measurements to their office, and ask them for a quote. You can always walk out if you feel pressurised in anyway.

Thats fine, but they can onlky estimate, there may be hidden lintels, damaged render about to fall away any kind of Ligitimate concerns that need to be priced for (or excluded) in the quote.

That said, I am sure contracts signed in the office dDO NOT get the same protection as a contract signed in the home (you dont get the cooling off period)

sashman

sagalout1954

We had a similar problem 20 years ago with Anglian Windows. No probs whatsoever with the 3 firms we chose 18 months ago.........but I'm older and wiser. 2 had showrooms locally, none of the 3 stayed longer than it took to measure up, roughly draw 'opening's etc and 30 mins discussion.

They all gave their best estimate, then posted written quotes. sorry, but I won't sit there bartering - any of them that tried would have been asked to leave. I tell them at the start that I WON'T be signing on the dotted line there and then so no point in giving me the "only this price if you sign today" line. Any company who says that is suspect IMO.

Your son was too polite - yes there is a numpty on here who thinks that's a failing, it isn't. Having said that, probably best if he starts his conversation with "I won't be signing anything today, no bartering so give me your best price straight away when you have my requirements". Allow 40 minutes for measuring and marking up the pre drawn diagrams with openings etc & 30 minutes of discussion AND THAT'S IT. From that point he can stand up, thank the salesman for coming and say "I'll call you when I've thought about it, please put a quote in the post".

It is helpful if he knows exactly what he wants for each window, side/top openings etc, understands the security aspect each 'brand' have, not all double glazing is equal! I asked them all to give me the addresses of some recently fitted windows so I could go and have a look - I even knocked on a few doors to ask complete strangers who fitted theirs and were they happy.

We used a local company called Gallagher and Cropton - Beautiful Windows. Did an outstanding job and our back windows and side door very recently withstood a burglary attempt (though £1000 worth of damage done).

Personally, I wouldn't touch with a forty foot bargepole some of those companies with their shrieking adverts on the tele.

bargainbetty

Don't go with Zenith for a quote - our chap arrived 20 minutes late, and then proceeded to spend nearly two hours lowering his prices a piece at a time.

We actually found it funny, and let him witter on (there was nothing on the telly) but particularly enjoyed his 'security' pitch. His windows would ensure that we wouldn't ever suffer a break-in through the windows. I politely invited him to join me at one of our existing windows, opened it and indicated to him the sheer five storey drop below. I explained that if someone did manage to climb up to break in, I'd hand him the TV myself, and show him where the jewellery was kept.

Toward the end of his pitch, I told him outright to cut his bullshi*t, and give me his best price, because I was now bored. He had one last chance to give me a written quote, I wasn't signing that night, and he was leaving in five minutes.

Signed up the next day with a local firm that did all the windows for £800 less than Zenith had offered.

lincroft1710

Zenith Staybrite are a pain in the ****!!

They are about the only company that still cold call locally and a few years ago when I wanted a quote for a replacement garage door, they insisted OH was also there (which she didn't want to) when they called to give quote. As she wouldn't be there they wouldn't make appt.

banwa

Can anyone tell me if this is normal please? We had a guy knock on the door from loacalish firm asking if we were interested. I gave him my number and he said one of the sales team would give me a ring.

Three days later I got a call asking if he could come and see me, I told him he could, that I would be getting the quotes and then consulting with my husband when he comes home as he works away.

The guy said he would only come when we were both there, so I said 'oh well thanks anyway, byeeee'. I could hear him still talking as I was putting the phone down.

Why couldn't he just give me the quote? Besides which, I make my own money...would he have said that if he'd been talking to a man? :mad:

CHR15

banwa wrote: »

The guy said he would only come when we were both there, so I said 'oh well thanks anyway, byeeee'. I could hear him still talking as I was putting the phone down.

That's a very common scam.
If there is only one of you, you would be entirely justified in simply getting the quote and waiting til the other half came home to discuss it.

They know even the most gullible wouldn't make a decision of that size without first discussing it.

If you are BOTH there, then they can lay it on really thick with the same old nonsense about "limited super dooper 98% reductions only if you buy today, this minute, the boss has gone mad to offer this fantastic deal, I've never known such a fantastic, never to be missed offer" and all that old garbage they spout.

Simply put ---- they know if only one of you is there, they are unlikely to get a sale.

banwa

CHR15 wrote: »

That's a very common scam.
If there is only one of you, you would be entirely justified in simply getting the quote and waiting til the other half came home to discuss it.

They know even the most gullible wouldn't make a decision of that size without first discussing it.

If you are BOTH there, then they can lay it on really thick with the same old nonsense about "limited super dooper 98% reductions only if you buy today, this minute, the boss has gone mad to offer this fantastic deal, I've never known such a fantastic, never to be missed offer" and all that old garbage they spout.

Simply put ---- they know if only one of you is there, they are unlikely to get a sale.

Thanks CHR15, I'm glad I put the phone down then. So basically, if they were a decent firm it shouldn't have put them off that there was only one of us here?

I still wonder if he would have come to see my husband on his own...