Thread: Double Glazing Salesmen

Originally Posted by LordVonHarley

I think I will have fun with the next salesman we have coming tomorrow. I will effect a cockney accent and do a Del Boy "Cut the sales balls and give me your bottom price!" :D

I tried that... told the chap at the doorstep before he came in. Told him i didnt need a demo, didnt want to haggle and told him he would have 10min. He got a little upset, told me he needed an hour. He got no further, goodbye salesman, see ya!

Go to a local trusted company. The flashy adverts, buy 1 get one free, free fitting, no vat??? All bollox, you pay for the sales campaign.

Big companies better guarantees? Fcuk no. Remember 'Cold Seal', went bust, now 'Warm Seal'.

Most window systems are similar, the mechanisms fit into a euro-grove, an industry standard, type of mechanism is stamped on it, most odd jobbers can fix it, or replace a misted glass unit.

A LOT of pvc IS due for replacement, it's been around for a while, and is now not as efficient.

Free 'K' Glass, it's actually required as a minimum by regulation. Self cleaning glass needs regular cleaning, just not so often, and without detergents!

Mind you I wouldn't have PVC anywhere near my house, hate it.

LVH, if you’re after a good job at lowest possible, consider DIY if you can handle moderate building, or buy your windows and have a pro builder fit them ;)

Measure brick-to-brick holes and check somewhere like Wickes for an idea of price.
http://www.wickes.co.uk/browse/pcvuw...s,pcvuwinready

Look around for companies that just make windows and doors (even if the say ‘Trade Only’), and get some prices there – you’ll probably need to allow for corresponding sills. Ask which system they are manufacturing from (e.g. Rehau), then Google them to satisfy yourself it’s a modern together system.

Whatever you get, MUST be guaranteed in writing, so if a sealed unit fails it get replaced. Most failures with the overall job are not with the products but with the fitting or ‘making good’. So, if you don’t want to DIY, buy just buying the windows and door you should easily have saved enough for a pro builder and mate to install?

If you chose not to DIY, after you’ve seen them do the job you’ll probably think ‘it that all there is to it?’ :OMG:

No.9

ps pros and cons for ali v plastic, but if security is a big issue go ali ;)

Originally Posted by maxi_77

Another example of the rip off, we had problems with a hinge, national company told us the window was obsolite so would need replacing, and to match the othe windows would need replacine too. The local guy replace the 'obsolete' hinges in half an hour for under £100

Had the same here only with a window lock. I broke the one in the bathroom.Went to the company that installed them, sorry no can do your windows are too old , don't make those locks anymore............bollocks.......got 3 from another local company.

Every so often we get salesmen at the door. Mrs Flo I see you have Aluminium windows. Did you know they are now illegal........aye right bugger off I don't want UPVC !! The windows are 20 years old now and apart from the locks theres nothing wrong with them and as we live in a bottom floor flat they're perfectly legal!!

I find not answering the door stops people selling me things. One of the bastards caught me in the garden though and asked if I was interested in double glazing. I informed him if he didn't know I already had double glazing he wasn't fit to sell it.

Wish I had seen this advice 2 years ago when I got 5 salesmen to come round in succession on the same day. I did remember to remove all family photos and any 'conversation pieces' to make things harder for them to keep a conversation going. In the end I went for a local firm rather than the big boys, because they were the cheapest, and have not been disappointed with the quality. One odd thing happened later. I had a phone call from someone claiming to work for the factory that made the windows for Weathershield, offering a better price than the salesman if I dealt with him direct. Too risky, I think.

Wish this thread was around a few months ago... :(

Had the hard sell, price knocked down and down and down, sales turkey "went outside to phone the regional manager" who then phoned us with a modified price. Signed the deal for +-£3800 for double side doors and new front door with Everest. Phoned by the company a few days later to be told that the front door price didn't include the leaded glass we had been quoted on. Another £350 please, which we paid. Came the day for installation, and the doors were not the size they should have been. Another (?) £500 please for non-standard doors. Told them to fook off at this one, which they accepted. Six weeks later (they're custom-made, aren't they...?) doors installed. Side doors didn't have the leaded glass, biut the front door did. Side door handles are not level in relation to each other, and they droop.

Complain to the company, you say...? Five times so far. Two sets of door handles replaced, and no improvements. The fookers STILL phone and ask if they can come and take PR photo's to put in their magazine and enter us in some holiday competition or other.

We went local on the back door. Competitive price, well installed, lifetime year guarantee (not 5 like Everest), not a spot of bother in two years.


edited for webfoot typing

I worked for a Norwich based Home improvements (Biggest in the UK, Everest is No.2) until very recently.

Its all about selling on the day because it costs the company for each visit (telephone/foot canvassers get paid if one of their leads gets a visit), even if you only want a quote, they will, after ringing their manager, offer you a further discount of 2 x 10% (which isnt 20%, its 10% off the price and then another 10% off the lower price) which is an 'on the day only' discount.

Put the salesman on the backfoot, he will ask you early on if you have had any other quotes, regardless of if its true or not say yes and that he is 2nd or 3rd, he will ask who the other companies were but usually not what the quote was (if he does ask just say youd prefer not to say), always say its one of the biggies such as Everest or Anglian. If he knows he isnt the first then he will now know that you have already managed to fend off exactly the same tactics that he uses.

A sales man will always leave you for a moment, whether it be to ring his manager (although they will usually do this in front of you to show you that they are trying to get you the 'best offer' possible), they usually go back to the car to get the demo model of the window as to be honest you dont want to initially introduce yourself with armfulls of paperwork and display models. This gives the customer time to discuss the salesman with their partner, a lot of time it is whether or not the customer likes the sales man that will seal the deal.

Top tip, hold off as long as possible before saying yes, sales men will always have an extra 10-20% discount to give away, plus if your still not signing they may well give you a freebie extra such as (if you are buying a front door) a freebie security camera instead of the usual spyhole.

Take finance if offered, as this will get you 10% off the starting price, then once the papers from finance company arrive sign them, leave a few days, ring the company up and say youd like to pay off a lump of the balance, pay all (if you have the cash) except for £50, then the next day say you would like to pay it off, it will cost you about an extra £5 for leaving early, this is because the interest is worked out on the amount you still owe and not the amount you initially borrowed.

Cant get the salesman out? pick up his demo model and chuck it out of your front door, on the course they basically tell you to stay until the customer seals the deal or gets violent.

Discounts you should be given:

Finance - 10%
Scrappage - up to 30% + another 5% if youre hardwork
Volume - up to 20%
Show home - 2 x 10% + possibly another 5%

These discounts are taken off one at a time so that each discount is off a smaller amount.

The salesman doesnt want to give out too many discounts as the more he gives out the less commission he gets.

To be honest, the quality and aftercare services of Anglian and Everest is absolutely top notch, but their sales techniques can be bordering on bullying.

Originally Posted by Tool

Phoned by the company a few days later to be told that the front door price didn't include the leaded glass we had been quoted on.

The companies surveyer should have picked up on this, they usually visit between the salesman calling and the fitters arrving.

Another £350 please, which we paid.

You shouldnt have paid, you should pay what you are quoted, if they quote you less than it should be, the cost should come out of salesmans commission.

Came the day for installation, and the doors were not the size they should have been.

Again should have been picked up by surveyor

(they're custom-made, aren't they...?

Anglians definately are.

lifetime year guarantee (not 5 like Everest)

Anglians are 10 yeas for frames, 15 years for glass

eodmatt, the certification of compliance is a legal requirement for the HIP if you have had windows fitted in the last 2 years.