What to say to sexist salesman asking for my 'husband' to be present for quote? Should i say something?

They're often working commission only. They are trained to not leave the appointment unless they've closed the sale and have the paperwork signed, which is why people find themselves trapped in their own front room with them refusing to leave and repeating their increasingly desperate spiel for hours.

They want to eliminate any obvious reasons for not signing before they make the appointment, they are judged on their conversion rate.

Don't touch them with a bargepole.

Yup ours was A

I absolutely refuse to use any company that tries to insist on this

I get my windows sorted by a local independent company who are quite willing to come out and give me a quote by myself, and think its normal that I might want time to consider an expensive purchase rather than make a decision on the spot under pressure.

When making expensive purchases its quite normal, and sensible to get multiple quotes before deciding, so the whole suggestion from one poster upthread that the man needs to be there because the silly woman will just dither is just offensive.

Utter bollocks @PotatoPudding , my husband has organised and had fitted new windows without me present, and i have organised new ones without him.

anyway OP don’t go with a doorstepper, or any of the nationals, one beginning with E has long held form for going bankrupt then reopening with a marginally changed name, meaning all guarantees are invalid. As a pp said, give your general area and ask MNs for recommendations.

I have already stated that I stand corrected. A solar company told my husband this.

You’re one of those delightful MN examples of someone who loves to snipe.

It doesn't necessarily make it ok, but it's a common sales tactics of these companies to want to pressurise homeowners into these things in one meeting. If both partners aren't present, then it becomes harder to push for agreement there and then.

Likely if your DH had opened the door they would be insisting any female partner would be present.

Can one joint owner of a property agree major works without the consent of the other?

Are you feeling quite well?

No need for both home owners to be present, but sensible eg window company enters into contract with PotatoPudding, they can only pursue you for the money. If they enter into contract with both owners, then they can pursue either or both of them

That's rubbish! I did it all the time when I was married.

I stand corrected. It was what a solar panel company told my husband when he wanted someone to quote. A quick Google has just told me it’s a sales tactic to have both people present so you can’t say you’ll talk it over with your partner when they get home.

Not defending it but if you work with the public year after year you can’t help but spot patterns and then you avoid what is likely to waste your time.

YANBU and you should bring it up. Just say that younfelt the salesperson was making inappropriate assumptions about your domestic arrangements and that he should not have pushed back when you clarified that you were the person to deal with and that this came across as sexist

I can't believe companies are still doing this! Decades ago, when I was married, I was getting quotes for work. Anglian wanted only to come out when my then-husband was home. I said that's not necessary, you will be looking at the job and then giving me a quote. I am perfectly able to facilitate that, without my husband being there. We have other companies quoting. Once we have the quotes we will discuss and decide. But no, they just wouldn't accept this, no matter how many times I told them that nothing would be decided or signed. For some reason, we did make an appointment. They cancelled an hour before. Then did that again. Then when I said I not longer wanted them to quote, they said it was my fault they had cancelled. Hassled me by phone for several weeks afterwards, until I said I would call the police if they didn't stop calling.

Went with a small local company in the end, who quoted after just meeting me, and who was not required to come and "explain it all over again" to my husband!

Tossers. Don't fall for it OP. Find a better company, by recommendation if possible.

@PotatoPudding It is not the law at all. Don't talk nonsense. Who spun you that line?

It's poor sales tactics.

People should be able to quote and accept that people want time to go away and get alternative quotes and make considered decisions.

Poor companies don't do that.

Ha ha no it’s not “the law”!

(I’m a lawyer)

I had similar with a kitchen salesman who was both ageist and sexist. I was a single woman. It was one of the major companies.

It’s not sexist. It’s the law for both home owners to be present for windows, solar panels, etc.

Don't do business with any of the larger providers who adopt those sorts of tactics. It's the beginning of a pressure selling spiel.

Find yourself a good reputable independent supplier who will do a better job for half the price and none of the nastiness.

If you say which town you are near, I'm sure someone on Mumsnet will give you a recommendation of a decent local company.

My life rule number two:

Never ever buy anything from someone knocking at your door.

I think you might live on my street!!!! The exact same thing happened to me yesterday!