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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be annoyed that they can't believe a woman can deal with these things.

38 replies

mumof4sons · 10/05/2012 16:22

Made an appointment to have a quote for new windows for MY home. I have had two subsequent emails addressed to MR J Mumof4sons.

Mr J Mumof4sons is my XH. He hasn't lived here since he ran off with whore OW 2.5 years ago. The house is mine - not his. It is my money that will be paying for windows, not his. His name wasn't even mentioned when booking the appt. urgh!!!

This company has already pissed me off royally and I haven't even had a quote yet. AIBU?

OP posts:
eurochick · 10/05/2012 16:29

YANBU. That kind of sexist twaddle always irritates me.

I'd say something about hoping they send the invoice to Mr J Mumof4sons as he hasn't lived there for 2.5 years, but it would be lovely if they could get him to pay for the windows.

ShellyBobbs · 10/05/2012 16:31

Balls to them. If they can't pay enough attention to exactly who they are replying to then can you imagine the state of the windows? I'd tell them this too and look for someone else.

everlong · 10/05/2012 16:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Nickoka · 10/05/2012 16:36

Infuriating I know. I arranged for a new boiler to be put in. My partner and I have different surnames. The invoice was then made out in Mr Myname. with the cheque I pointed out that I was not a Mr, and then they thanked me for my cheque and sent the guarantee to Mr Myname.

xxmush1983xx · 10/05/2012 16:37

YANBU. My mum was a single parent and one company actually refused to come and give her a quote because there was no "man of the house". Do single women not need doors and windows?

Eggrules · 10/05/2012 16:37

This infuriates me and my OH lives here. I wish I had put the mortgage just in my name.

everlong · 10/05/2012 16:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sparklingbrook · 10/05/2012 16:50

It used to be that if you are a couple the Double Glazing companies would not come out and give a quote unless you are both there at the time. is that still the case?

Sparklingbrook · 10/05/2012 16:50

Sorry for hijack. the thread just reminded me of strange things they do.

catgirl1976 · 10/05/2012 16:53

The phrase in sales is "Don't pitch the bitch". :(

I had a job in dobule glazing sales when at Un. If we made an appointment the husband had to be there, not just the wife as they felt she would say "erm I have to ask my DH" or they would agree to something and then the DH would over rule it. "Don't pitch the bitch" was an offical rule.

This was about 15 years ago though so you really would have thought they'd have moved on (And maybe they have given this is just an email)

Sparklingbrook · 10/05/2012 16:55

I remembered rightly then catgirl. This was in the days when they would be in your house for 3 hours then use your phone to ring their boss to supposedly get 'the best deal but only if you sign up today'. Hmm

5Foot5 · 10/05/2012 16:57

Sparklingbrook Yes that does still seem to be the case. We had someone come out only a few weeks ago and they insisted on this.

Sparklingbrook · 10/05/2012 16:57

Oh no 5 , i thought things may have changed. Sad

Sparklingbrook · 10/05/2012 17:00

How does that work if one of the couple is away in the forces abroad say?

5Foot5 · 10/05/2012 17:01

Sparklingbrook x-post with my last one but that is exactly what happened to us less than a month ago.

He pitched the thing to us and did lots of working out then came up with a range of prices, gradually reducing in proce if we could commit to it sonner rather than later yadda-yadda. Then when we said it was still too much sorry he seemed fine about it but said he would just ring his boss to leave a message. There was then this conversation where he came back with a comment from his boss that they were prepared to do it "at cost" if we signed up today.

I was initially impressed but DH still said no and when the guy left he said that he sniffed scam and had heard of that tactic before.

In this instance maybe he would have got further talking to the little woman Grin

Sparklingbrook · 10/05/2012 17:03

Rumour has it they don't even actually speak to anyone. They know what price they will drop to and the ringing the boss thing is all for show. Shock

Alameda · 10/05/2012 17:05

there are plenty of window companies, obviously don't give this one your custom

slug · 10/05/2012 17:10

We had a salesman do that, after I had explicitly told him to leave. We had made it very clear before the sales pitch that we weren't prepared to sign up that evening and were only looking for a quote. While he was "on the phone" Hmm I picked up his bag and display unit and dumped them out the front door.

startail · 10/05/2012 17:12

Our conservatory was not bought off the sales man who treated me as if I had no brain in front of DH.

DH wouldn't have dared suggest it wasGrin

Original poster
mumof4sons · 10/05/2012 17:27

It is still the case that some won't come out unless there is a man about.

This particular company was recommend by friend, just annoyed that the managed to dig up XH's name from somewhere. I battled long and hard for house to be handed over to me.

I have asked salesmen to leave in the past with there window samples before when they wouldn't listen to my request of 'Just want cheap and cheerful windows that you can look out of because old ones are rotten and I want to sell the house.'

Not an unreasonable request?

OP posts:
Amateurish · 10/05/2012 17:31

It's not a sexist thing - they just want to make sure that both parties in a couple are present so that the hard sell will work. They are worried that if they spend hours and hours giving you the hard sell and charging you an extortionate amount of money, that your other half will refuse to pay. They will just assume you have a husband. Think "MAN" - Money, Authority, Need.

catpark · 10/05/2012 17:33

Hate window companies like that. Since it's actually me who deals with the finances not DH so they wouldn't get our custom. It's not that DH doesn't have access to the bank account which is joint, he just doesn't bother with it. If you asked him about who we have our electric with and how much he couldn't tell you !

I remember when we bought our first house (11 years ago ) and saw a mortgage adviser. He tried to get us to take out an endownment mortgage. We both knew that they were rubbish and that the only reason he tried to get us to take one was because he'd get a bigger commision. We wanted a repayment mortgage. I said no to it and he then talked over me to DH and tried to get him to agree. I again said no and he told DH that it was his (DH) decision and he'd wait outside until he (DH) had got me to agree to it. We upped and left at that point.

charlatan · 10/05/2012 17:33

A few years back when we were getting quotes for new windows one of the men that came round was trying to tell me that I should get a pattern at the top and that is what everyone is getting now and how good it looks etc etc..

After telling him from the start exactly what we wanted and telling him again over and over that I just wanted plain glass, he said "you women are a bloody pain, think you always know what's best"!

Needless to say we didn't get our windows from them!

GrimmaTheNome · 10/05/2012 17:42

If a bloke rings to make an appointment with a window company, do they insist there's a woman present or does it only work one way round?

I wish they'd just sell windows for a proper price in the first place. You know what's worse than the stupid 'ring my manager for best price only available TODAY' malarkey? Its that they seem not to do it to elderly people. Oh no. They'll sell at full list price to people who don't know their rotten game. DH was gobsmacked how much his parents paid for a new front door.

manicbmc · 10/05/2012 17:45

I am just Shock at these things!

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