Replacement window and doors

RedQueenie

Hiya, I've recently been trying to get quotes for a new window and French doors. I called a local company and was quotes £2500 which seemed fair. I thought it best to get a couple of other quotes to compare prices but also to see if I could get it done any quicker.
I called Everest and made an appointment and then Anglican where I was told they had taken over Everest selling the same products.
The salesman arrived measured up and gave us a quote of just shy of 6 grand when I laughed and told him we had had a quote far lower he then looked to see what discount he could give us. He came down to 5 grand still double the price. I said I need some time to think about it and it was then he started slating local firms and calling their product and service inferior. He said how all Everest windows are made to measure and smaller companies just buy their stuff in and the quality of the windows and doors were poor especially the locking systems.
I reiterated that I needed time to think and I had other quotes lined up and he went saying he would call Monday.
I decided to see if I could get another quote from another bigger company and found that the ones in my area (North West) are all part of the Anglican group. There are only 2 Safe Style and Home Improvements. I'm fairly sure if I call them for a quote I will get the same salesman. 
I'm leaning towards the local company but I'm embarrassed to say the Everest chap has sown the seeds of doubt.
There are other local companies I could try are there any accredits that I need to look for apart from FENSA?

BarelySentientAI

RedQueenie said:

I'm leaning towards the local company but I'm embarrassed to say the Everest chap has sown the seeds of doubt.

Then lets dig up and burn those seeds.

Shady salesman will give you as much dodgy info as they think it needs to get a sale.

If all local firms were so bad quality, they would all be out of business.  Do not trust the snake oil.

born_again

Look on local social media sites & get opinions on local co's.

Why would anyone believe a salesperson from a national co who are way OTT on pricing on local co's who will do a far better job.

FreeBear

RedQueenie said: I called Everest and made an appointment and then Anglian where I was told they had taken over Everest selling the same products.
The salesman arrived measured up and gave us a quote of just shy of 6 grand when I laughed and told him we had had a quote far lower he then looked to see what discount he could give us. He came down to 5 grand still double the price. I said I need some time to think about it and it was then he started slating local firms and calling their product and service inferior. He said how all Everest windows are made to measure and smaller companies just buy their stuff in and the quality of the windows and doors were poor especially the locking systems.

Everest have gone bust twice in the last 4 years, and SafeStyle went tits up last year - That should serve as a warning about using any reincarnation of either outfit. As for Anglian, I can show you a hose where a lintel should have been installed when they fitted a new door. Rather than fitting a lintel when the brickwork started to collapse a few weeks later, they just repointed with cement (badly, I might add). Plenty of tails about shoddy work by Anglian on the internet... Even had them knocking on my door the same day a bay window was being replaced (by a local independent fitter for a lot less than Anglian would have charged).

If you want doors & windows replaced, always, always find a local company or an independent fitter - FENSA have a list of local installers that you can browse, and I'm pretty sure CERTASS will have a similar facility. Cut out the corporate overheads, sales bonuses, and you'll get a much better service for half the price. Don't fall for the "scrappage schemes", "extra grants", or other price reductions if you sign now - It is all B.S. designed to get you to pay over the odds.

Grenage

Use a local independent.  As above, the large nationals will generally do a lesser job for a higher price.

RedQueenie

Thank you for your replies. I feel much more confident about looking for local window installers and have book a couple more appointments for next week.
It does seem odd that Anglican have just absorbed nearly all their rival big competitors.

Albermarle

It does seem odd that Anglican have just absorbed nearly all their rival big competitors.

They have not, although they have got bigger by buying Everest and Safestyle and they have more of a public presence than others.

The domestic replacement market is mainly dominated by smaller local firms, supplied by much bigger players than Anglian, like Rehau, Eurocell, Veka etc 

Also  replacing domestic windows is only one side of the business, and a semi saturated market, with new build/housing association/commercial properties being more important.

Alderbank

RedQueenie said:

It does seem odd that Anglican have just absorbed nearly all their rival big competitors.

It's all the Archbishop of Canterbury's fault. He used to be an oil salesman.

GrubbyGirl_2

4 Years ago I had my whole house done and used a local company on the advice of my builder and my builder installed them.  I had 10 windows(3 were very large), a composite front door with glass side panels, 2 sets of patio doors and a set of bifolds for £10,700.  I have been really happy withe the quality of them so my vote would be the local guy but do check them out properly and pay with a credit card