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

It’s a sales tactic so they can lure you with a ‘huge’ discount if you commit straight away. It happened to my husband too.

He just wants to get both (potential) decision makers together, make sure he is addressing both peoples requirements and present the quote and maybe even offer an on the spot signing discount.

It's more usual if you are in a couple that you make large spending decisions together.

He could have gone about it somewhat differently though and not given you such a negative impression.

I would be more worried about whether the windows were any good, the price and whether I thought they were going to do a good job. So many cowboys around these days.

Agreed! We used them for our windows and they kept phoning for years. I ignored them after a while, but they then used my local code to make it look like they were someone else. When I told them data protection laws and the Telephone Preference Service applied to them as well I was told I was being rude and "most" people liked them being helpful. Arsehole.

Well, it might be because he wants to talk to both home owners as he has to ensure that both are in agreement about the work. Maybe there have been instances of one half of a couple claiming they won't pay for the work as they did not personally agree to it initially

This is always the excuse.

The reality is that they are highly unlikely to ask a man when his wife will be home.

It's sexist. Lets not make excuses for these people.

It depends on whether he would have said to your husband that he’d only talk with you present as well. If it’s Anglia windows run for the hills, they will never stop pestering you for the rest of eternity.

They all do and there is a good reason
Too many easy-minded people sign up and then want to back out because their OH
was not consulted.

This is an elementary sales banter.

I can't see the offence from any angel whatsoever.

Case closed.

This!

Lots of sales people won't bother to if the 'decision making unit' (normally meaning both partners in a couple) isn't present. It's not sexist. It's part of high pressure selling.

Recently I was negotiating with a tradesman about some fairly expensive work on the house. We'd agreed terms and a start date when he hesitated and said 'don't you want to run this past your husband?' I laughed out loud and said 'He is far too busy and important for me to bother his pretty little head with household matters!'

The 'both be there' is a thing, it seems!https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/comments/s59haz/window_company_asking_for_both_man_and_woman_to/?rdt=60273

I had this previously, I understand if it was more ‘are there any others who’d be involved in the decision making process’ but saying they won’t speak to the ‘wife’ alone is embarrassing for them.
I told him I had a partner but owned the house myself and he still wasn’t happy. Needless to say I didn’t go with them..

I called a company for a quote for new windows, they said they would arrange to send someone out when me & my husband were both home. I said it was fine to just see him because he works from home and I don’t, but they were quite insistent on coming when both of us were there. It’s obviously a sales tactic, a really fucking annoying one because I don’t want to take half a day off to get a quote for windows that my husband is perfectly capable of getting without me.

Could have written some of these replies. We are trying to buy new glazing at the moment, grief, not impressed and four suppliers and counting!

I had similar with Wren kitchens. I own the house and have done since before OH moved in. I pay for everything to do with it and was buying a new kitchen with money from when my mother died. OH couldn't care less what the kitchen looked like tnh

So we get to the Wren showroom and they guy looked at the paperwork "Oh, Rachael X" Then turns to OH and says "We'll have to get your name on this too" When I asked why I was incapable of ordering a kitchen without a man, he sort of mumbled awkwardly and sent another salesperson to deal with us.

After that, I had no intention of buying anything from them.

He is preempting husband being a gatekeeper, so he wants to sell to you both so that can't be a rejection. The colours bit is sexist but most women would actually only care about the colours and trims so he is actually doing what works, the majority of the time.

I used to work in sales and unfortunately, men and women often have these differing priorities!

I say that as a woman who usually handles the stuff a man would be expected to.

I think they prefer both home owners to be there as they want to pressure you to sign on the dotted line rather than just give you a quote that you can think about and compare with others. I hate this kind of sales tactic though and would just tell them to give you a quote or you will go elsewhere.

I am constantly hassled by door to door salesmen and wouldn't touch any of the companies with a bargepole. Need to get my windows replaced, so are there any mumsnetters on here with a recommendation for local firms in north east /North lincs area?

It’s nothing to do with sexism. It’s just part of their hard sell tactics. Making sure both decision makers are there, so you can’t use the ‘I need to check with my other half first’ before signing on the dotted line excuse.

If your husband had made the appointment, then they would have asked him to make sure you were there.

Best not to do business with these kind of companies anyway. Find a decent local company who’ll give you an honest quote and leave you go think about it, rather than one the big companies who over inflate prices, give you a big ‘discount’ if you sign up today, and still end up charging you double what you should be paying.

Often cold calling window companies will be selling a finance plan/ credit agreement. It's not the product they are flogging, it's the repayment plan. They are less keen for people to buy windows outright(people who are doing that usually get their windows elsewhere)

Both adults in the household are responsible for repayment. That is why they need both members present to sign the contract.

Yup it’s because they want you to sign there and then….

this also speaks volumes about the company in itself doesn’t it?

Where are you? I can recommend a great window company who did all my windows and were polite and respectful, in London.

For me the words “fuck off” would be the only ones I’d use
I oversaw an entire house reno, doors/windows/boiler, the lot, and not one person even asked if I had a husband. I can’t be doing with that

I’ve previously walked out of a car showroom when a salesman kept speaking anti my husband despite dh saying “speak to my wife, the car’s for her”

I've had this both with windows and when buying my car.

I was buying my current car. First time I've bought a new car outright. I knew what I wanted. The guy asked me if I needed to run it past my husband. I said no, and let it slide. Went through the details, he double checked with the actual words "sure you don't want to run it by "hubby"". He didn't get the sale. He also didn't get why. I don't even have a fucking hubby. Bizarre. But definitely sexist.

We had this with Dunraven. Thought I was going to have to call the police to get him out of the house in the end. Never again!! We go with a local reputable company who is in and out in 10 mins and doesn't care who is there. He leaves a quote and then says to ring if we want to order them.

name that law!

Funnily enough we've had windows and doors done in the past (and a kitchen too). Local companies and only one of use present, ie me!

Don't be ridiculous. Of course it isn't 'the law'.