Double glazing without the salesmen

UKSBD

I know when you get double glazing the salesmen work on commission which in some cases can be on a par with the cost of the windows.


Is it acceptable to just phone the local company direct, tell them your virtually certain you will use them (previously used them, just up road, local independent) and cut the cost of the sales commission?


Will they do this or just pass the call to the sales team only?


Last time I had some, I was only with salesman for an hour, I did approx. measuring and fitters came out to do more precise measuring, salesman did virtually nothing.


It seems crazy having to pay such large sales commission when the salesmen aren't really making the sale. (I already new the company and was probably going to use them whatever)

spadoosh

UKSBD wrote: »

I know when you get double glazing the salesmen work on commission which in some cases can be on a par with the cost of the windows.


Is it acceptable to just phone the local company direct, tell them your virtually certain you will use them (previously used them, just up road, local independent) and cut the cost of the sales commission?


Will they do this or just pass the call to the sales team only?


Last time I had some, I was only with salesman for an hour, I did approx. measuring and fitters came out to do more precise measuring, salesman did virtually nothing.


It seems crazy having to pay such large sales commission when the salesmen aren't really making the sale. (I already new the company and was probably going to use them whatever)

Not really how buisiness works. You dont directly pay any comission. You pay the company and they pay their staff. Whether or not you use the sales people (you wont have to and im sure theyll be quite happy to take your order so long as your measurments are accurate and you take liability for any problems arising from bad measurements) the money you pay goes towards paying them.

You also dont use their employer liability insurance but you do pay it. Theyll give you a price based on what they think is appropriate, salespeople or not.

UKSBD

spadoosh wrote: »

Not really how buisiness works. You dont directly pay any comission. You pay the company and they pay their staff. Whether or not you use the sales people (you wont have to and im sure theyll be quite happy to take your order so long as your measurments are accurate and you take liability for any problems arising from bad measurements) the money you pay goes towards paying them.

You also dont use their employer liability insurance but you do pay it. Theyll give you a price based on what they think is appropriate, salespeople or not.

The salesmen didn't measure 2nd last time I had windows, fitters came out and did the measuring.


I doubt the salesmen work direct for the company, last time I was negotiating, he let slip we had hid rock bottom price, if it goes any lower it starts coming out of his commission.



Last time I bought was a couple of extras for the same job which I did buy direct at half the price, this wasn't fitted by them though as it was for an extension, basically just said I want two standard windows this size, then went and picked them up when ready.


With regard "im sure theyll be quite happy to take your order"
That's what I'm trying to find out, enquiries on website are more geared towards requesting a salemens visit, is it acceptable to phone and say you're as good as sure you are going to use them and have the fitters straight out to do the measuring?

spadoosh

Of course it is acceptable to ring and ask. The national companies will likely want there sales man to make a visit. Independents will likely just send a fitter to measure. I doubt the price you pay will be amy different than if you spend an hour with a salesman though.

As an example, i used to work at b&q, kitchen staff where on commission. The price you pay for a kitchen is the same price if you choose to use a salesperson or not, it only varied based on whether you were fitting it yourself or getting b&q to fit it. You could use a trad card to get some discounts, tradespeople where allowed to use the sales people if they wanted. The discounts for trades people is to encourage repeat custom for people who regularly spend a fair amount.

Just had a load of salesmen to price up some windows, i was under the impression that everyone who came round was directly employed by the company that i requested quotes from. Didnt ask about their commission structure as it has no bearing on my decision, the price they offered did.

stator

Phoning up and telling them you definitely want to buy from them is not going to get you the best price. Best tell them you want a few quotes.
I'd forget about the commission issue.

beaker141

Buy direct from a manufacturer of the windows, or find a local builder or independent window fitter and use them.

e.g. local to me I'd go to Altrincham Glass with my measurements - they'd make it and deliver.

EssexExile

I'm in the middle of this at the moment. I went to two long-standing local companies, both sent out a salesman who took rough measurements & discussed what we wanted, neither was in the house more than an hour (18 windows plus a little building work & some bi-fold doors).
Once we chose one of the companies a surveyor came round & did accurate measurements. We've just had a visit from the boss to finalise the details of the building works & next week we'll get another visit before production starts to check everything.

When you talk about "sales teams" & big commissions I think you are referring to the big companies, this firm doesn't have a "sales team", it has Kevin.

No money has been paid yet & all payments will be in arrears. The cost for windows (excluding the building work & bi-folds) is on a par with what we paid last time - in about 1985.

bob_a_builder

last time I was negotiating, he let slip we had his rock bottom price, if it goes any lower it starts coming out of his commission.

Not that old trick !

UKSBD

bob_a_builder wrote: »

Not that old trick !

Had the exact opposite effect on me.


I thought if he hasn't even lost any of his commission yet he must be able to go lower.


Got the window boards supplied and fitted at no extra cost.


I was in building trade myself for 25 years, so no way I was gong to overpay by too much.


I dare say I did pay more than I could off though as it was a bit of a rush job and had to be in before plasterers could finish :-(


Unbelievable the difference in price I was 1st quoted though.
A big mountain firm quoted £12k, price I eventually paid was under £3


I just hate the fact that you know what you want, just want to buy it, but you still get the salesmen who "land the deal"

Ectophile

If you phone them, they will only put you through to the sales person anyway.

They will want to know all the details - where you want the openings, what style of windows, what style of handles, what colour, trickle vents or not, and so on. Then they need the size of the window to calculate the price.

You might was well just call out the salesman, who will be armed with a bunch of catalogues to show you. Or if you really want, visit their offices (though you will lose some cancellation rights by doing so).