Advertising Gimmicks and Scams Used by Replacement Window Companies.

Telemarketing Companies

Companies that call you trying to setup an appointment for an Estimate on Windows will tell you they are in the area giving Free Estimates, they are trying to appeal to your impulsiveness to get an appoitment and chances are you will not get the best deal.

These type of companies depend on you not shopping around and not doing your homework. Salespeople are trained for a “One Night Close.” If you agree to this type of appointment, be prepared to get harassed by a skilled salesman for 2-3 hours before they will leave.

Don’t assume a low bid is a bargain!

The lowest bidders are usually the ones that have the most complaints and
will be out of business when you need them in the future. Here are some important
points to consider:
A perfect example of this is the $189 or $199 window ads. The problem with

these ads is; if you read the fine print closely, the window is for a window up to 73 united inches. What people don’t understand is that windows are sized based on the united inch; that is the height plus the width, therefore a 73 united inch window is very small.

The majority of windows in an average home are much larger than that.

This type of advertising is called “bait & switch.” Typically the company will
come in with an extremely low offer in their ad and then will add on different costs to
give you a window that will fit into your opening or to install the window properly. You
can’t get a replacement window installed properly by a reputable company for $189 a
window.

Now there’s the “$110 Trade-In Super Sale.” This is obvious- $110 off what?
The deception here is to hope when the ad is seen; the consumer thinks the windows are only $110.

The same deception here also lies with the “Save $99 per window” sale.
Face it Folks! You always get what you pay for. If something
looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Home improvement salespeople are some of the best-trained salespeople there
are, next to the to the vacuum salesperson. It is a competitive industry and requires skill to properly present the product.

Another scam to look out for is the big companies on TV.

How much do you think it costs to run these ads?  And do you really believe that a company can give you ten or more FREE windows just because you purchased vinyl
siding?  There is always a catch.

Folks, Lets get real! Someone is paying for the window and the
TV ads….YOU!

Financing Scams

Also, beware of all the “Financing Offers.” The bigger companies with the highpressured salespeople always offer financing with deferred or low monthly payments. BigRip Off!

Everything is built into the sale; high interest rates, points, deferred payments,
etc. Go to your bank or credit union and get your own financing. If you can’t afford it,
wait till you can…but don’t fall for financing that accepts poor credit and no equity
because you are going to overpay for the product, and the financing terms will be
unfavorable. 

Chances are the company will try to have you consolidate other bills too.
This seems attractive in the short run but will cost more over time, guaranteed.

“Today Only” Offers

Any tactic that requires you to make a large financial decision that day with NO
TIME to think about it or compare products and their different values should not be
considered.

You cannot make an intelligent decision while under pressure.
REMEMBER! The salesman’s job is to get the order processed that night. They will
try to appeal to your sense of greed and urgency that you will lose something if you
don’t make the decision now!

BS, if it’s good today, it will be good tomorrow.
Believe me, We all want your business and there is not a company out there that won’t cut the same deal with you if you call them back in a couple of days, or next week. Take all the time you need to evaluate the company and products before you make a decision.

Beware of “The Drop”

When a company is willing to offer a large discount; “The Drop”…BEWARE!
How honest is that company if they could offer thousands off the actual price? Why
didn’t they quote you that price? And if you agreed to the higher price…would they have told you about the discount? Companies that use this technique have one or two drops already built into the sales presentation so you feel like your getting a better deal.

A company that quotes a price and is firm with it or negotiates slightly, is likely to be more credible than others.

The “Phone Scam Drop”

After quoting the final price and exhausting all efforts to close the sale, the
salesman will ask to use the phone to check in with the office to see when the next
appointment is or to report the outcome of the estimate. He will start to discuss the details of the job with the person on the phone; usually the sales manager. He will say something like “these are nice people and they really like the window but it is just more than they wanted to spend at this time.”

The salesman will then put you on a phone with his highly skilled sales manager so he can beat you up some more and offer you the one-time deal of the century.

This is usually the final drop in the home; but rests assure someone will call you in a couple days and attempt a re-hash of the sale.

You have to remember, salespeople don’t get paid unless they SELL. There’s
nothing wrong with that and there are plenty of salespeople who really care about the
customer, but many are trained by less scrupulous people and will do anything to get the sale.

A trained salesperson will try to pin you down as to why you are not buying today and will do everything possible to rebut all your objections so you have to say “YES” or look like your lying.

This can be a very uncomfortable situation for you and feel like you’re being interrogated.

Reverse the Salesman’s Strategy

Many salespeople will ask you if you will give them a YES or NO answer at the
end of the presentation or say something like, “If I can show you a product you will like; that will solve your problem and make it affordable to you, are you able to make a decision today?”

Tell the salesperson that you understand he is here to sell you windows
and that you will evaluate everything he is telling you. Let him know you are getting
estimates and you would like to take time to consider the offer. If they need to have an answer today, they shouldn’t waste their time or yours. You need time to gather estimates and evaluate other contractors.

In Conclusion

If they need a YES or NO, tell them you will give them a YES or NO at
the end of the presentation…but if you say NO, then it is NO and they
must agree to accept your NO as a final answer.