New window prices

birkee

I need two bay windows replacing due to age and slight distortion in one.

Got a man in to quote, and after all the waffle and the usual sales techniques, came up with a price well over £7k.

After the usual gasp in reponse from me, I started pushing the deal away, and saying I wanted more quotes etc when he got to about £4.400.

Finished up with a quote of £2200. Still a bit pricy, but they are top quality, so I went with the deal.

Saved £5k by not accepting a deal straight off. HAGGLE with them!

(Won't reveal the name of the company until my business is completed if you don't mind.)

McAzrael

He tried to get £7000 out of you for something he was happy to sell for £2200, and yet only a short time later you've placed an order with him. Don't haggle; tell these crooks to get bent.

birkee

McAzrael wrote: »

He tried to get £7000 out of you for something he was happy to sell for £2200, and yet only a short time later you've placed an order with him. Don't haggle; tell these crooks to get bent.

I think you'll find that nearly all of them work like this, so we would end up with no windows.
It's just a case of how far you can bring them down.

pinkmami

Are you taking double glazing? We've fitted 8 windows & 1 composite door for the grand total of £3000 inc labour & lead. He's a fine young chap who left the glazing trade a few yrs ago & still does jobs around & he gets his stuff from Heritage Frames. Took us ages to get him over as he's so busy.

Do you have a "man in the know" who can help you?

GSDog

birkee wrote: »

I think you'll find that nearly all of them work like this, so we would end up with no windows.
It's just a case of how far you can bring them down.

I wouldn't say that nearly all of them do it. I had several companies around and it was only one or two of the large national companies which used that tactic, all of the smaller local companies who I got around did the measuring up and gave really helpful and honest advise with a realistic quote - they were also significantly cheaper.

I understand that you don't want to reveal the name of the company but I'm guessing it is one of the large national ones?

ormus

youve probably paid the salesman about 500 quid in commission.
well done.

propercopper

I recently endured 6 companies pitching to me at my house in Kent in one day. They varied enormously in price and professionalism. The best one - they're based in Rochester - were no nonsense, straightforward pricing (published on their website - a good sign) and they installed 11 windows and a new door for me a week later.

The worst one was a company with pretensions who tried to tell me other firms made their windows in "a dirty room at the back of the factory"! There was another who were quite shady and started high, then said they'd beat any other quote, then refused when I showed them the quote for the one I went with.

Key thing is do your research in advance re energy index ratings etc so they don't spend an hour trying to bamboozle you with all that.

birkee

pinkmami wrote: »

Are you taking double glazing? We've fitted 8 windows & 1 composite door for the grand total of £3000 inc labour & lead. He's a fine young chap who left the glazing trade a few yrs ago & still does jobs around & he gets his stuff from Heritage Frames. Took us ages to get him over as he's so busy.

Do you have a "man in the know" who can help you?

Had three independants over the years who were all rubbish, despite recommendations. One larger one who was adequate, and one small one who were excellent (Now bust).

Appreciate the price wasn't cheap, but I want the job done by a company I can hold responsible for the quality this time, bearing in mind, they will not be stock item windows and hence lower cost, and the fitters are the most important component when the quality is as described.

Heritage frames site is a little light on detailed constructional information, just sales speak.

pinkmami

I can assure you we're not scrimping on quality nor workmanship. He fitted the windows in our place 13 yrs ago & they;re still going strong & he did our cottage were renovating.

birkee

pinkmami wrote: »

I can assure you we're not scrimping on quality nor workmanship. He fitted the windows in our place 13 yrs ago & they;re still going strong & he did our cottage were renovating.

I wasn't suggesting that was the case, what I was saying that the site lacked sufficient detail to make an informed judgement.

i.e. No frame design or sizes, no mention of gas filled glazing units, no mention of mounting method of glazing into frames etc etc.

minnie123

How can you trust they are actually top quality when they were willing to try and rob you of over 7k initially?