Houses To Go

You And Your House Second Edition

October 1, 2007 on 2:20 pm | In Houses To Go General |

I left off with this window contractor turning up the high pressure window sales tactics in a effort to get me to by his windows. I could not believe it when this guy tells me $1000 dollars per window, remember these are just the average size slide by window you see on a ton of houses all around. In fact, I was going to leave this till the end but, I measured up my own windows and went to a window and door place. I ordered my own window for $250.00 for all the required parts and supplies to put in a new window. You must also remember I did get the huge volume discounts that these window contractors get, so you can only imagine how cheap they are getting them. Now back to the story at hand. Then this guy states “well I know others that work with you so I will take off $200.00 from the $1000.” “So, now that’s a great price.” I tell him again it is just to high. I won’t bore you with the rest, but this goes on for another 30 minutes until he reaches $650 per window.I tell him that we must think about. Then he moves in for the line I hate from these guys the most. “Well if you don’t sign today its going to cost you more.” That’s it, game was over for me. I cannot stand this tactic that scammers use all the time. They use this junk on the elderly customers and con them on this most of the time. They scare them and they think that they better sign right there or they won’t get a good price. The scammer contractors just love to use that one. It makes them a ton of money by scamming people on the spot and then laughing all the way to the bank, taking this elderly persons life savings with them. I don’t see how these guys sleep at night.

Now, I ask him to leave and walk him to the door. He does not stop here, we get to his brand new Cadillac Escalade EXT in my drive. What kinda of guy comes to sell windows in a $60,0000 plus vehicle? Can you say CON MAN! I tell him nice truck, just to see what he says. Yes it is, and begins to brag about it. So, as he is bragging about his new car he chimes in with, “ok $600 per window and thats it.” I said your right thats it, we are not buying windows today, I tell him again. Then the kiss of death for him was his final statement, “if I have to come back again you will have to pay $650 per window. I have had it by now. I say, you don,t have to worry about coming back.

I finally think I got to him on that statement as he jumped in his $60,000 plus vehicle and I never heard from him again. Do you know how many people this man has scammed through years? Enough to open up a second location to just show window displays and show room tactics. You see, I knew he was a scammer contractor shortly after he entered my house. The sad thing is many other people never see that and get scammed, so much so they even tell their friends and family what a great job. This is how good the scammers are. Take a good look around theres not a ton of window replacement companies out there because they are not making any money. Many of them were doing other scams and found out how much people will pay for replacement windows. It really is a shame.

So, this edition deals with just window contractors. You need to ask questions. What the costs are to them? How many windows have they put in. This is were their volume discounts come in. Remember, I only told how they scam you on prices. Some scam you all the way around with service and poor installation practices. You need to find a middle of the road type contractor. Don’t always go with the guy who has all the big ads and promotions as this will probably be your highest quote with the charming sales person who never wants to leave until you sign. This person is just that, a sales person. He or she is only making money or looking good to the company owner if they are selling windows!

I have seen very sharp dressed sales people and company owners do the contracts and house calls. Only to have shady looking crews show up to do the work and you don’t even want them to get out of their truck, because you fear for the safety of your family and property. You see this a lot when you deal with really large companies that have more sales then crews to install and will hire anything and everything that has a pulse, with no concern for their customers. Remember the contract and money is already been paid. This again is one of the biggest complaints I hear from people about other large contractors they have used. Watch out for small companies too! Sorry, it really is hard now days to find someone to work on your house.

So hard to find someone in fact, these prescreened companies as they call themselves are popping up all over. I really have to laugh at that. Most of these places charge the contractor for any leads or jobs that they get for them, see this is how the screening companies make their money. Take a look around you see these contractor screening companies all over on the internet running ads like wild fire. They are trying to make money off the fears of people who had a bad experience with a contractor, that is all this is. Remember, the contractor has to pay them to get your name,address and phone number. Still the best way is to ask around and see pictures and other dollar amounts they charged for similar jobs. Again, I know it is hard to find someone just don’t fall for all this high pro go TV and newspaper ads costing $1000s.

Now, again I will state it so the scammers don’t scream foul on my part, I never stated my company name or even what part of the country or what country I am in! So, I think this shows on my part that I am just trying to help people to walk through a land mine field of bad contractors and scammers. If people want to find out about who I am and what company it is, they will have to ask or look for it. I will keep my honor and integrity intact.

Remember Always Safety First When Working On Your House.

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