Triple glazing

Don’t commit to anything.
Could you have a friend with you?
We had a few quotes when we had our conservatory updated. The salemen were very nice, they went away and sent us estimates which we could think about on our own.
So no pressure.

Have friend and don’t commit on the night,have a written quote and say you will contact them if they are successful. Make sure you let them know you are having more quotes.

I have been bitten previously going for a large well known company. I was better off going with a smaller local firm who gave me a price and that was it- none of the nonsense of having to ring his boss to get a discount.

I agree with others, try to have somebody there with you. Do not forget that your money is not available just yet and be vague about it all- it is none of their business. They probably will try the hard sell- it is only at this price today- tomorrow it goes up 30%.

I agree.I would also get several estimates too. We had several bits of glazing work over the years and found a local company (although I not sure that they might not have been part of a national franchise) who gave us the lowest quote and did a great job. We got about 3 or 4 quotes.

Tell each one that you are getting several quotes - it will concentrate their mind!

Whatever else you do, don’t sign anything! Be vague and tell them you have to speak to another family member before you can agree to anything. They will probably try to tell you that the price is only good for the time they are with you.
Don’t believe them!

I have no idea of the price of Triple Glazing and I don’t know of anyone who has it, do you really need Triple Glazing?

Double glazing is still very good.

Essential to have someone else present. If that's impossible then arrange for someone to ring you after an hour with 'big news' so you have to end the visit. Make it clear you are getting 3 quotes. And do.

When we did our last U.K. house we did some windows with locally made windows and doors. They were expensive for what they were and when we saw the windows from a large national company there was no comparison - far better quality and window mechanisms. So we had the rest of the house done by the national company with their ten year guarantee. Each year about the anniversary time they rang and asked if all was well and if a problem was mentioned sent someone out to fix it.

At least you are aware of the possible pitfalls! Our MIL took the first estimate and spent a fortune on her double glazing. We spent less on having the whole house redone. You must get at least three and please have someone with you!

Do try and have someone with you if you’re sure they will be on your side.
Years ago I had issues with a kitchen installer who simply would not leave until I said I would ring the police (it was a well known firm too, but in the days before computers, they didn’t ask for feedback.)
Now I give anyone I have asked for a quote, a letter to read when they arrive which says that I want their lowest price up front and if they have to ‘ring their boss’ or offer an ‘only today price’ they may as well leave straight away. That way I can compare quotes in peace. One bathroom salesman ignored that, but when he got his phone out, I stood up and asked him to leave. I never sign anything there and then, because although they tell me about the cooling off period, I simply don’t believe them.

I don't know if I'm able to say a company name so I'll miss out some letters. We (both OH & I) got well & truly ripped off by S**e St**e. (Last word rhymes with mile). The salesman used so much pressure & took so long changing the price lower & lower that in the end we thought we had a good deal.

The fitters were a local firm (cowboys) & it would take all day to write the pitfalls. S S were no help at all. Once they had our money they couldn't care less. We have a porch supported each side & they didn't use long enough supports so the whole thing almost collapsed.

We got it fixed by them after threatening Court & they gave us £100 for our inconvenience. I would never use them again but would go with a reputable local fitter instead.

Always get more than one quote. From previous experience they will give a price which includes some room for reduction so haggle and ask for references. This may not be the case now but I believe the cooling off period does not apply if you sign a contract in your own home. Follow the good advice on here and don’t do anything in haste.

I agree with all of the above. Have someone else there with you. Make sure you say that you have to leave for an appointment in about one hour that way you can ease them out the door. Don't sign anything. And make sure they know that you will be getting a few quotes, thank them for their time and have a good think about it all. Good luck.

A large well known national company wanted an extortionate amount for our 4 bedroom house, French windows, and all outside doors. We asked a neighbour who had done theirs, it turned out to be a small local company who quoted a third of the big national. Guess who we went with! And we were very happy with the product.

Nibbie
I have first hand experience of this getting out of hand.
Son, then aged 18 and in his first brand new house, rang to say that he couldn't get rid of a double glazing salesman (same name as a religion) who had been with him for 4 hours.
Was quoted £16k for 2 front windows and door.
Guy went outside (to call manager...lol) came back with offer of £12k as long as he agreed to put sign up on his lawn.
House is at end of small very rural cul-de-sac of 10 with no passing footfall, so an ad board would be useless.
The house was was less than 4 months old and already double glazed, although my innocent son had no idea what double glazing looked like at that time.
I asked to speak to 'Darren' and told him that he had no right to be preying/ leaning on my son and I wanted him to leave whilst I was on the phone and not to phone or contact him again...or else.
I myself have had bother with this company recently and one salesman said that, unless I said yes and agreed to the price (for 1 window) over the phone, that he wasn't going to 'even bother to waste £40 in petrol' to come and view the window in question. I had 4 cancellations from different salesmen before that conversation, with excuses ranging from 'a family emergency' to 'being off sick'. Phone calls to see if I was still interested, continued for the better part of a year. I threatened legal action. They stopped.
I went with a small, family run local company.

When we were young and naive we had an awful experience with a salesperson who wouldn't take no for an answer and who we found difficult getting to leave. I now start by saying 'I just want your best quote, I'm not having any of this phoning your boss to see if you can get a better deal or I have to sign today to get this deal. Also, I have 2 other companies booked to give me quotes'. If they give what you think is a good deal which 'has to be signed now' and you have other quotes to come, do you think if you decided that was the one for you do you think they would give up a sale which they were happy with a day or two before. You must get at least 3 quotes and I would suggest asking family, friends and neighbours who have double glazing, for recommendations. Large companies often sub-contract and have large overheads.

Can you get other quotes before this one? You don't have long before Monday. Perhaps you could postpone it until you have got in some practice with less skilled salesmen? And I agree that having someone else prsent is a very good idea.

If it is the same company as we have used, the salesman has a sales pitch which has prices starting at astronomic and gradually coming down to just fairly high - like Hillary and Tenzing coming down from the mountain peak to a base camp that is still above the snow line.

You will probably find that his first costing gives you a price that would buy a house, let alone the windows. When you are horrified, he will suggest some modifications and give you a new, lower price. Don't be too enthusiastic about this! If you don't go for that price either, a bit of reluctance will produce a special offer from nowhere. We ended up paying about half what was first quoted.

If you have already had other estimates, you will have some idea whether his "final offer which finishes tomorrow!" is a bargain or not. Unless you are very sure it is, don't sign anything. Ask him to come back "when I have the other quotes in." and get a detailed written version of the final quote.

One of my sons is always present at times like this and although it seems sexist some salesmen are less pushy if a man is present. Do you have sons, brother, nephew or male friend who could be present? If not a strong minded female friend or relative? If no to all, when you open door say immediately 'can I just say, I will not be committing to anything today as I have appointments with two other reps later as my sons advised me to get 3 quotes and they will go over them with me'. White lie but often justified.
Here is what happened to me just last week. I desperately need a new lean to (step down from full blown conservatory), so my son very kindly made some appointments for a day he could come round and do the talking for me as he is in sales himself.
The first quote the guy gave us was just over £17k which we knew was ridiculous as we had 3 other quotes all around 8k. My son told him to think again and he got it down to 13k but we still told him it was too much, my son pointing out that website says, will match any other quote. We showed him the other quotes and in the end they went back and forth finally settling on £8,250!!!!! So, the moral of the story is offer half what they quote and maybe go up from there if you can afford it.
I would never have been able to get this deal had my son not been there to help.

I don't understand the problem of salesperson 'overstaying'. Option 1: say ON ARRIVAL "I've only got 40 minutes, that's all the other sales people needed". Option 2: say, "I have to leave for a medical appointment in 40 minutes, so you'll need to get the measurements done straight away". Option 3: When you think you've had enough say, "I've heard enough to make a decision, I need you to leave my house NOW". Option 4: when salesperson has not left on your first request "LEAVE MY HOUSE NOW OR I WILL CALL THE POLICE TO REMOVE YOU". Job done! My advice, and that of Which? is to go for a local supplier - much cheaper, more likely to be satisfied; easier to get a result if there's a problem.

Wow I would hate to try and sell you something NemosMum, lol. Even in my above scenario we both had a laugh with the salesman and shook hands, did threaten police for overcharging though!

Didnt not did!

don’t sign anything, tell him as soon as he arrives your getting several quotes and will be making a decision later and tell him your going out in half an hour. So get a wriggle on

My daughter made an appointment for a visit by a double glazing rep - he turned up on time and was very polite and when we said we had an appointment to go to an hour later he said he still had to go through his presentation. I know it sounds rude but we had already told them the measurements of the windows/doors and what we wanted so were only looking for a price so my daughter repeated we had to leave at xxx time. He gave a huge sigh and then sat down (with a cup of tea) and did some costings for us. We waved him goodbye an hour later and went shopping. We did place the order with him though, he was a nice man just doing his job. Think you have to be firm with them - can you arrange for a friend to call for you to take you out for tea/coffee or something similar so you have to leave the house? I do feel sorry for the reps, the pressure they are under from the supply companies is enourmous

I must say, I wouldn't want to have to be in the position of selling anything to you lot !!!!!!!!!!! How rude !