Window World

Ed the Roofer

Okay,

Whats the real deal with this nationwide company? Window World.

The ad in the newspaper says,

"ANY SIZE White Double Hung Vinyl Replacement Windows"

Any Size installed up to 48" X 78", $ 189.00, *4 Window Minimum, No Money Down! 12 Months Same As Cash!* w.a.c.



A friend of mine just this past weekend asked me to find and sub-contract out a window replacement company for 12 double hungs on his 1st floor of his home.

Is that a come on ad, just for the labor only? Or, is this a legitimate, cheap priced company, selling cheap windows? Do they get you on any and all accessories and upgrades, once they are in your door for the better products available?

I only deal with roofing and seamless aluminum gutters, but I would like to broaden my horizons and start taking on vinyl replacement windows and quality siding too.

Steer me in the right direction please.

North West Suburbs of Chicago, and my friends home is in Algonquin, IL., if anyone else on here is close by.

Ed

dougchips

http://www.contractortalk.com/showth...t=window+world

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To get the best replacement windows, or sun rooms contact the replacement windows experts at FHI Vinyl Window Company.

Shellbuilder

They do have windows including install for 189.00 I have seen them.

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www.shelladditions.com

Sider' Brian

Shell is right they will install for $189 (+ tax of course) however the average sale is $330 and even at that we have done $1000's per year in repairs for their shotty work.

As much money as we have made from them I guess I should be happy but it really pisses me off to see people getting ripped off.

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Hutch

I go along with Sider' Brian, no matter how cheap the price, their work is shabby to say the least, and shabby work of other contractors always leads to new work for us.

As for gettng into the window business, check with local suppliers and find out what is the best window in your area. They may be different from what we sell in North Carolina and South Carolina. Also remember to use the top rated brands and not the cheapest. You get what you pay for and so do your customers.

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"Building Homes And Family Minded Communities"
Vinyl Sunrooms, General Contractor & Vinyl Siding Contractors

Jlubb

They charge that for a window of under 48inches by 48 inches. Any other sizes bigger than that and they charge more. They get there windows through Allside window company. The windows are not the worst windows out there but the subs are terrible. They pay their subs 25 Dollars per window and another 25 per window for wraps, but the contractor buys the coil, caulk, nails, screws everything. I know because one of my employees used to work for them before he went broke. They also called my company to see if i would sub from them and i asked them the pay and they wouldnt tell me. I havent talked to them since.

Shellbuilder

I've seen the 1000.00 a window guys do the worse work, sills wrapped that slope back to the window and sill wraps butted to the window with caulk protecting the joint. Price does not measure quality.

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Grumpy

Ed it's a loss leader. Get you in the door, then the sales song and dance begins. Many roofers do the same thing advertising any roof for only $1 a square foot. It gets the salesman IN THE DOOR.

Ok let's say you called window world, they came out.

"So Ed, how did you hear about us?"

Ed: "That great advertising for $189 in the newspaper."

"Oh Ed you don't want that! That's a crap window. What you really want is this top of the line rolls royce window."

Ed "No I want the $189 window."

"Ok we can do that, so when will you be tearing out the windows, because that $189 doesn't include removal. We'll give you a couple days notice before we can come out so you can protect your floors, because we won't have the time to do it at that price and can't be responsible for dirt or damages to your floor. I recommend you use the fiberglass insulation after we are done, because insulation isn't included. You can buy aluminum and home depot, and rent a break there too for the window cladding because that's not included. Besure to use exterior grade caulk after you cap the window on the outside. Also you might want to caulk the inside with painters caulk because it has low odor. Oh yeah, caulking isn't included. You might want to slip the garbage man $50 so he takes all the windows at the same time, because we can't haul them away with us for that price... Oh What's that? you don't want the $189 anymore?.. well let me tell you about this rolls royce window that we have for $750.00 which includes everything and a lifetime warranty."


Honestly though if you think about it for a second $189 for a window aint that bad. No wait don't shoot me yet. Subs in my area will do it right for $85 a window which includes removal and installation, disposal is extra. A decent no frills low-E & argon fusion welded vinyl window will cost about $110 for an 80 UI opening if you use a local manufacturer, so MY cost to install a run of the mill, middle ranged, no frills no thrills window is $195.00. I can then add from there what ever I want to make. There are window manufacturers who do the labor for their cost because it allows them to sell more window product. That means if a customer goes directly to the manufacturer he would expect to pay about $220 installed. I am thinking of one manufacturer in particular.

Ed the Roofer

Which manufacturer in our area Tom?

PM or e-mail me if you don't want to put it on the board.

Ed

Grumpy

PM sent, I don't want a lawsuit on my hands.

dvon104

There is a whole lot more to a vinyl window than just vinyl and glass...and in windows as with everything else you will get what you pay for...

Do they use virgin or recycled vinyl ? If not virgin...it will chalk ...
Where is thier vinyl extruded ?..in China or India then only about 70% vinyl
What gauge of vinlyl do they use and welding process ? leak and seperation issues can occur
Do they stand behind their product ?

These are the basic principles on ALL vinyl windows ...The best vinyl windows on the market right now in my opinion are...MW...Simonton...Visions by Weathersheild...and Windsor

As for being a sub for W. world...If they sell their inferior product based on price and not quality and value ...What do you think they will want to pay their subs...
and when there is a window failure and there will be one day...they will expect you to fix it and to fix it at no cost because it will be an installation issue when its all said and done ....SO...RUN AWAY..now

Chuck JONES

I use to work for Window World and its $189 + tax $200.00 a window for an Alside excalibur window installed, if you have already existing wood windows,any size double hung.Steel or existing aluminum is extra $50.00 take out per window.Wrap is normally an extra $60.00 and lo E & argon extra $45.00 to 60.00 per window.They sell ala carte.They do alot of volume but suffer on service and on installation due to miss measurements at least in this area.Wash DC.Framing is hollow and they use metal seals that sometimes break.But you do have contractors selling same windows at a higher prices but because there smaller, service is most likely better.They sell franchises to folks who never been in the business ,but they know with all you retailers out their selling at 800.00 per window, that $189 per window is gonna get folks calling.I bought a franchise that sells windows starting at $169.00 per window but at 198.00 I could sell yah the mercedes window foam filled sashes krpton lo e ala cart.You got to sell your installers on volume and pay them less.

Home Serve

So tell me Chuck if you are open to discussion, how is it with the franchise company that you are with? How long have you been with them? How does the thing work? What are you paying your installers? Sales people? Plenty business? How is the quality of the window and who makes them?There is a Window World close by us in Columbia MO but I don't know how they are doing. I do see their ads a lot. I'm not really interested in running a high volume type business in the big city. I'm in my 50's and would rather serve the country folks around here where we live.
Thanks,
David

Amber

I am not a big fan on paying installers on volume and not quality. I have seen alot of crappy work result from it. I know here in California we had a bill pass a few years back called SB800, which states thats every sub on a house is on the hook for 10years for lawsuits. I worked for a window manufacturer previously and I am still going to depositions for projects that I ran 9 years ago. Big $$$ in bad work.

I say people get what they pay for...if they want a crap job on their home then call Window World, but if they want a quality job and good service then pay a little more and call me. Usually, if I have to argue against a place like Window World its not a customer that I want anyway.

Chazbe

I just had WW install 7 windows in a remodel that I am working on. Price was definitely an issue. I was surprised, the windows are not to bad. I had the cheapest ones put in and they seemed pretty solid and well made.
They do charge extra for tearouts, outside wrapping, etc but some of those costs seemed to be negotiable. The install was ok, not the best i have seen but for sure not the worst.
I would use them again if the project called for it.
Chuck

vinylguy

go away chuck! ww they come and the go in our area and i'm glad price was your issue cause you got exactly what you paid for. because when your windows fail not if but when cause they will you will have no service to help you replace them. like the one i went to the other day only been in for about 1 1/2 yrs all cauling falling off outside and water running right into the inside of house upon removal of window found no insulation in window weight cavity either this really made him feel like he spent to much on the lowest priced windows he could find i had to smile as we were talking about this and a piece of window capping blew off while we were there. man he really got a deal now he's paying me more than he would of to begin with. oh well a lesson learned i guess ( i hope!)