Blue Group Recycling Double Glazing Offer

Lochsideman

Unusually, for some unknown reason I actually listened to a cold caller today!
It turned out to be a company called Blue Group Recycling who say they offer cashback and percentage discounts on replacement double glazing over 10 years old.
I heard them out, thinking it was something like the Government's Green Deal. But reading between the lines I start to think that it's just a new twist on selling DG at a "discount" - i.e. Push the price up and then 'discount' it down.
Has anyone had any dealings with Blue Group or any views on this?

teddysmum

A few companies try that in. If I answer their calls, I just tell them there is no such incentive and cut off.


I wouldn't deal with any company trying to con me.

footyguy

Lochsideman wrote: »

Unusually, for some unknown reason I actually listened to a cold caller today!
It turned out to be a company called Blue Group Recycling who say they offer cashback and percentage discounts on replacement double glazing over 10 years old.
I heard them out, thinking it was something like the Government's Green Deal. But reading between the lines I start to think that it's just a new twist on selling DG at a "discount" - i.e. Push the price up and then 'discount' it down.
Has anyone had any dealings with Blue Group or any views on this?

Get several quotes for double glazing before putting pen to paper!.

I know when I did it, we had quotes ranging from under £3k to over £30k for the same work. :eek:

Yes there was a little difference in the quality, but no where near 10 times the difference.
It was the big boys with their salesmen on commission that played all the usaul games; 50% off plus an extra 10 percent if you order today, and then pick an enevelope to see what 'lucky dip discount' you can get off the price and allow the salesman to make a call to their manager to sanction yet more discount, to be told there was a cancelled order so the factory needs the work, so yes an additional discount would still be possible ... if you sign on the dotted line before the salesman leaves the room. I heard it all.

I just told all those that came to price the job, give me their the best possible price they could, told them there will be no order placed that day as I need to consider all the quotes on the table ... as it may not be the cheapest one that wins either as it will depend on the quality of the product they are offering. Value for money was the key I told them I was seeking.
The big boys really don't like that.

The big boys even with all their discounts could not get anywhere close on a competitive price.

Recently, I've been looking for some more double galzing. (this is for a different property). Was stopped coming out of a DIY store, someone offering 40% off their usual prices.
My immediate thought was if they can knock 40% off their usual prices, then they are usually charging way OTT!

Anyway, nothing ventured I thought, so I said yes, can I have the details please . Then came "I need your name and address please"
"Why?" I asked
"We'll arrange an appointment for you" I was told
"No thanks - if you want to doorstep me and tell me you are offering amazing savings, surely if they are genuine, you can give me some details now."
"Oh no, it doesn't work like that" I was told.
I left empty handed.

I remember another time not so long ago when we enquired about some double glazing work. It was only a small-medium sized company, and they actually had acrried the same work out next door (it's where we got their details from)
They came round and gave us a quote. I nearly fell off the chair. I pointed out that they had done the work next door, and he said, yeas I noticed that.
So then I said "And I know what you charged them!"
"Oh, he said what was that price?" I said it was a hellova lot less than he just quoted me. He dropped his quote by 50%. I said it still is far more than you charged next door, you've had your chance, I think you should leave now."
So it's not just the big boys taht rip you off.

There are plenty of sites on the web where you can get online indication of double glazing costs. Do your homework on them first (but you can get a better deal if you negotiate face to face)
Or get prices from somewhere like Wickes. Of course, that would be without fitting, but you can can work out the labour yourself. A typical 3 bed house will normally take 2 guys about a day to re-fit ... but perhaps that is something else you can enquire about when requesting their quote (so that you know how many people and how long it will take to allow for the labour cost)

Edit: Oh the other one - get details of their expected payment policy.
I told them from the outset that I would not pay a penny until the job was done.
The big-boy salesmen don't like that either - they have come to collect payment now as they will pocket most of it themselves.
Some of the smaller guys said they would need payment up front to buy the actual windows. I told them to go and get a loan and add the cost to the quote. If they cannot get a loan (or fund the purchase price themselves) they probably are not the right installer for me anyway.

(Ensure the guarantee is backed by a proper, independent third party insurer, not just by the supplier who could go bust next week)