Why my competition is a rip off. ($189 windowz!)

I often get asked my windows cost so much. Most people drive past a nice billboard with a “$189 any size window installed” slogan on it.

Well, here is a actual estimate from “Window world” $189 a window…

Lets break this down for everyone. At the top left you will see the following.

Series 2000 - This is an ancient window design. “Alside Geneva” Mechanically fastened frames + welded sashes. You cannot get the “Argon gas” or “Low-E coating” on this one.
Series 4000 - This the SAME ancient window design. “Alside Geneva” Mechanically fastened frames + welded sahses. You can upgrade to the “Argon gas” or Low-E coating"
Series 6000 - These are a bit better. This is a Alside Excalibur window. Welded frame and sashes, BUT you still have to pay to upgrade for “Argon gas” or “Low-E coating”

Now, Alside is a very large company that is very closely tied with window world. Their windows are nothing to write home about, and at the price point that they market these at, there are better windows out there.

Notice on the right side.“Value Plus/Stimulus options”
Low-E Coating is $32.
Argon is $15.

Windows come standard with low-E coating and argon gas from any respectable manufacturer. For me to order it without, I save very few dollars. Not worth it one bit, this is obviously a marketing gimmick.

Foam insulation has it’s place, I charge $0 for this. I charge $0 to remove your storms. I gladly include a full lifetime warranty on my WORK, as well as any decent window company will offer a lifetime warranty on almost any of their products. In regards to their other options, they are a bit pricey compared to what I’d offer. Their bow windows are absolutely nothing to write home about, and cost approximately $500 at the base price than what I’d offer.

They charge $60 to trim windows in aluminum, which I offer for approximately $45. I also don’t jack you on the price for stops and practically include them at my cost.

So… $189 a window installed seems like a good deal. Then you realize you don’t want a half finished POS window that’s less energy efficient than the one you have in your home.

The actual price for this job is $424 per window installed completely. Something I on a regular basis charge ~$300-350 installed with all the same options and in my opinion a superior window. With a LIFETIME warranty on my labor.

Hope you enjoyed the read!

I thought you were charging $ 250 ?

You think your windows are expensive…

But yes old $189 window guy stuff we read is funny, we see some really interesting business practices and installations out there.

I wonder what the $16 “Hurricane package” is LOL. Is it a sixteen dollar sheet of plywood.

LOL

More like a sheet of OSB. For $ 28.50 you can get the extreme hurricane upgrade…plus installation of course. $49.99-low E plywood.

Good to know, I always figured there was some scamming/overcharging for other labor /materials involved.

Good read! Thanks for walking through that.

That sale has ended unfortunately. At $300-$350 dependent on the exact window options, I know I’m pretty much under anyone else’s quote for the quality of work and service I offer.

Well, unlike this window world/depot/americas windows I like to install plenty of other kinds as well dependent on what the customer likes. For comparison sake, I was showing my entry level product vs theirs. If I could install high end every time I’d love to.

We both know the sky is the limit for our business lol.

Do you guys want to see a home depot quote? I’ll show you $848 a window for a Simonton 5500 (Vinyl replacement) LOL.

:word:

I want my windows FUR FREE

I was wondering the same thing, 1/4 plywood lol

Good things mentioned here. You get what you pay for.

Being in a similar business, I spent a week last year camping out at my friends house letting the best and the worst try to sell me some windows. Besides the hilarious claims and techniques, you realize that most of the places have prices that are in line with others, once you carefully break it all down. The only exception I can think of is the RENEWAL guys (they call them selves andersen renewal) Those guys might as well bring a mask and a gun to sell their overpriced windows.

X…

Lol, those Andersen renewal guys have all the tricks. Fancy UV gun to demonstrate Low-E, going door to door, ridiculous time deadlines for the price advertised, targeting the elderly…

You do, indeed get what you pay for. However, there are some things that are a better value than others especially in this business as you may know.

Additionally, service is the major difference. For example, Sunrise windows are a brand I frequently push. They are indeed a bit more expensive than other brands out there, however they do not hassle anyone with their warranty process. 'Oh, your lock isn’t working? Here, take this brand new sash!" Some companies you give a call and you get put on hold for hours with no result or weeks worth of waiting.

i don’t know how the window world in buffalo operates but i will just say that i have used the one here near me a few times now on rental properties. i have probably had about 100 windows installed by them and have not had a major complaint to speak of and i have never paid more than $189 a window. perhaps it is because i’m buying several windows at a time or they now know i will buy more but they have never dinged me with any of the add-ons.

other than a few occasions where i have needed strengthened glass due to the height of the window i have never paid over the $189.

are they the best windows in the world…of course not…but they do replace sashes for free and quickly no questions asked…which for rental properties is a nice benefit. i have had people move in and break a window on day one by letting a bed frame slide into the window, attempted break ins, stray baseball, bee-bee gun pellet, window AC units, etc and they have yet to ask me why they are replacing anything that I have asked for. call them up, give them the serial number and i have a new sash in 10 days.

EDIT: my mistake. i have actually been getting the doublehung 4000 series which is called “4000 Premium DH DSG” down here for $189. i had forgot that when i first used them they were running a sale and they guaranteed me the price for 5 years because i told them i had other properties and i was buying a dozen windows to start. according to the literature the 4000 series is both a welded sash and frame.

Good read.

I take most ads with a grain of salt. Much like when you see “Great Lease Deals!” for car ads. They are showing the lowest possible lease price for a no option, lowest trim car, while showing you the highest trim vehicle in the ad.

Just a marketing gimmick to get people to click, call, or come in to check out something. If you wanted to sink to their crappy level you could also market your windows at your lowest possible price and then nickle/dime the people to death like the above estimate was. But, I don’t think you want to do that and your quality of work that you have posted proves that you do fantastic work at great prices.

The previous owners of my place paid almost 700 per window installed from Braymiller Builders. Now they are pretty nice windows and I have zero complaints but it seemed high to me.

The window maker is Bristol Windows

He wants his windows the same way he wants his women…

These are typically a triple glass window with a decent U-Value. Your previous owner must have been a haggler if they are the triple, most of the triple glass braymiller quotes I see are about 1000-1200 per window. Unless you have a dual glass model, not sure what they offer exactly or how old they are.

I like when Braymiller comes in before me.

We all say that at the office too LMAO. I actually know one of the guys too, makes it even better :slight_smile: