(no subject)

[allana]

We're thinking of doing the windows this year and so I'm subjecting myself to hours of sales patter this week. We had one seriously good quote yesterday and I was looking forward to putting the squeeze on today's lot.

However, apparently Safestyle won't give even a quotation to you unless all the home-owners are present. Why? Well, apparently some bloke up in Liverpool had a quote done and he wanted the Everton crest in the upper part of his huge bay window. He accepted on the spot and when they came round to fit the glass a few weeks later, his wife was there. She took one look at it, freaked, and refused to have it fitted. So, ever since then, Safestyle won't even give a quote unless all parties are there. Fucking ridiculous.

They won't be getting any business from us as a result. I'm sure Dave isn't alone in loathing salesmen and making absolutely sure that he's out when they come a-calling. (He's probably even more anti-sales after Everest were here for over three hours. ) I can't stand them either, but I'm a tad more tolerant. They're an evil means to an end in this instance as I really want new windows.

(Also, they were here for about five minutes and in that time my living room got absolutely rank with cigarette smoke. Lovely.)

Comments

[stonefinder.livejournal.com]

They smoked in your house? How very rude.

New windows. Ugh. I don't envy you that chore, though I think I might envy you when it's done.

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

They didn't smoke inside, this was just a general haze of smoke that came off their clothes. I can still smell it now.

And yeah, I'm dreading having it done. If I'd realised (a) the cost and (b) the hassle, I'd never have bought a house whose windows needed doing. Ah well, you live and learn.

[stonefinder.livejournal.com]

Good Lord, that's a lot of funk. As for the windows, they'll pay for themselves once it's done. You're improving the value of your property, and if they are energy efficient, they'll reduce you heating/cooling costs. It's amazing what a higher R value can do as far as that goes.

[puddick.livejournal.com]

Oh god I pity you.

I hate hard sells. If I want to buy something, I'll go to them. Actually I just remembered something that happened along those lines this morning. I shall post about it.

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they've already rung back twice this morning to try and book a time when we'll both be there. I've now told them twice that we won't be using them due to this ridiculous policy, so we'll see if the message sticks.

Anyway, I'm much more inclined to use a small local company. It just feels better somehow.

[puddick.livejournal.com]

Yes!
Use a local company. Small company = reputation to lose quite easily if they screw up. Also more ethical I guess.

I put posts on my local freecycle going "can anyone recommend a good such-and-such" - this is how i found my great plasterers (who were doing a homer and did it on their wednesday afternoon off from the council). Great job they did too.

[kelpierocks.livejournal.com]

Deepest sympathy! Been there, done that... I started getting quotes last month. I got about four quotes and had had it up to my ears in salesspeak and discounts and "sign now" and... just grr.

I've decided I can't handle the stress right now, lol.

I even kicked one of the salesmen out. (He was going to call me but ended up on my doorstep instead... then had the nerve to start saying how much it cost them to send him out to my house and how if I could sign that night he could give me a bigger discount... grr!)(That did earn me a lower bid from his boss, even.)

Anyway... good luck. I'm sure the end result will be worth it for you!

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

That's why I really liked the local company that came round on Friday. NO hard-sell at all and one price. No calling the boss for a discount, because he was the boss, and he actually made the products himself, too. Teeny-tiny company :)

[bella-cheval.livejournal.com]

Good luck hon! I dread the day we'll have to replace ours. Thankfully they're not that old but still...

Good luck!

[glam-ang.livejournal.com]

Ours are the original windows that came with the house. So, 40 years old or thereabouts. Eeek!