To complain (and share with MN) about Zenith Windows rude, sexist and crap service?

[PumpkinJack]

Zenith windows door to door salesperson knocked on our door about 4 weeks ago. Like a fool I said we were considering new windows and would like a quote. He pressured me to have one that day or at the weekend but I insisted on the following week. An appointment was made, he wrote it down, I diarised it etc.

The day arrives, Zenith phone me about 2 hours prior to the appointment to confirm they'd see DH and me later. I mentioned it would just be me. They cancelled!! On that basis! Said they'd ring to rearrange a time to see DH too, despite me saying we only want a quote.

Equally incredibly I then heard nothing more. Tonight someone from their company phoned to say I was down as a 'missed 'appointment' and would I like to re-book. Wtaf? I briefly (not like this) said no, not interested as the service had been... Brrrrrrrrr

She hung up! Shall I complain? What for, a written apology? Or save my energy? Fuckers.

I second wishingchair - I've never had a problem with small local traders refusing to come round to see me on my own. I recently had a discussion with a smallish window company who wouldn't come to me alone, their loss as I spent my money with the next company I called (very local 2 man band).

I did a summer of telesales with Everest, and when we made appointments we had to basically check that both parties would be present at the appointment. It is to stop time wasting as I think that if they actually send a salesperson round, they want the optimum conditions for a sale rather than the 'I shall discuss it with my husband/wife and get back to you' line.

God that summer was soul destroying!

I had Zenith round recently. They spent 4 hours going through the product , measuring up and working out the quote. It came in at over £32,000 !!! When I said no they reduced it to £25,000. Still said no. They tried to get me to just have front windows done for £5,000. Needless to say I did not agree to have the work done.

£25000! Are you living in a greenhouse? How ridiculous.

DON'T LET ZENITH WINDOWS INTO YOUR HOUSE. they will harass you for ever after

had a zenith salesmen round hard sell very low price, said i would think about it ,phoned next to confirm order ,the price went up two thousand pound because they said they could not do it at low price,avoid zenith.

Having had a bad experience with Zenith I would not recommend this company or let them anywhere near us again.

Another one saying avoid Zenith, their sales pitch is awful.

When we were trying to get a quote we wouldn't see any company who couldn't guarantee being in and out (for the quote, not installation!) within half an hour. Any company that wants a lengthy chunk of your time just want to do a big sales thing.

We contacted a local company, they came in, measured up, quoted, left. No drama.

Oh dear i feel i have made a big mistake with Zenith. 4 hrs they was at my home. And yes i signed as seemed like a good deal. This was wed eve of this week, can i cancel agreement

There is a 7 days cooling off period, so you should be able to cancel it.

I found Safe Style windows the same. We spent ages trying to get rid of the salesman when he finally left we had phone calls for months pestering us. I threatened them with police action of harassment and we never heard anything until we moved in which case we told them wrong address we've moved and we had new windows as it was a conversion so didn't need their rubbish and that any future services were being handled by a family friend who was a glazier (who we used and have him on call for future jobs including plastering which he's good at and does the work at good prices) and they haven't bothered us since.

I can go one better, I got a

"hiya, is your mum in love?"
"No, I'm sorry, she doesn't live here"
"Oh I'm sorry, is your daddy in?" (Yes, he said daddy)
"No, sorry, what is this about?"
"Oh its double glazing for the windows honey, I'll leave a leaflet, its not for you to worry about"
"I'm 29 and married and I paid for all our double glazing to be done less than two years ago."

I admit, our house used to be owned by my parents so when people ask if my mums in, I don't automatically reject them, but this was too much! I don't look THAT young!

We arranged for Everest to come to give us a quote. For one window. They stayed for hours. Demonstrated how windows work (?!) and then quoted for all windows and internal doors.

I told them no. Dh told them no. We only want one window.
They gave us the quote (£2k which at that point was comparable to other firms we'd approached). I said it was reasonable and asked whether it included scaffolding (we live in a flat). They asked why they'd need it. I showed them why. The quote turned out only to be for the window. Not the fitting.
We said we'd think about it.

We ended up using a local firm. Half the price. Included everything. Didn't need scaffolding. Left no mess.

This was 3 years ago. Everest kept calling. Until I gave the local office the number of UK hq as my number.

We got dolphin in for a quote for a new bathroom. We hadn't released they were pressure sellers and we don't buy expensive items without thinking about it and comparing designs and quotes. He tried the pressure tactics, saying we were stupid if we couldn't see what a good deal it was etc etc and even.printed off a contract for us there and then. The bit he didn't expect was DH being a commercial lawyer and rewriting the contract terms on acceptance and timescales for withdrawing from the agreement without penalties. It was quite funny, the guy was desperate for a sale but didn't know how to handle it. We went with a local firm that didn't do the hard sell and actually brought round the guy who would fit it she looking at a design android img a quote.

Last sentence should read - fit to do a design and quote.

Thankyou for comments have sent email cancelling and aslip off paper, which has to be received within 7 days. Senr if recorded...we will see what happens

Like a fool I, too, opened the door to a young man who did not seem to understand the word No, wanted to know why one window had not been replaced, and drove me to lose my temper and tell him that he was annoying me and to go away. Even then he seemed reluctant. As I shut the door I heard mocking remarks.

Do not touch these people, don't open the door. Use a small local firm who come recommended and don't pester you with calls.

I knew there was an upside to having window frames that no national firm want anything to do with!

If they want both of you there it means they're going to try to make you sign on the spot.
I would NEVER sign on the spot with only one quote. Ever. So this request is a good way to filter out companies I won't use.

Interestingly the two double glazing companies and British Gas for a new boiler were all happy to talk to me and leave me the quote to get back to them.

When I worked in sales we were trained that unless the DMU (decision making unit), that is both partners of a couple were present it was not worth trying to make a sale. When working in a high end hi-fi store in the 80s, our salesmen would not waste their time serving a man with a wedding ring unless his wife was also present. So,the attitude is indicative of a hard sell approach but not necessarily sexist.

Recently we had various companies round to quote for having a log burning stove installed None of them insisted on the DMU being present which was reassuring but when I eventually ordered one the salesman asked me 'wouldn't you like to check with your husband first?' I told him that I never bothered my DHs pretty little head with things like that.

"one the salesman asked me 'wouldn't you like to check with your husband first?' I told him that I never bothered my DHs pretty little head with things like that."

LOL, liinyo!

All the top home improvement companies use the same selling techniques.

Home improvements are a joint decision, so the companies have a policy where all home-owners must be present during the quote appointment. Think about it this way... wife decides to go ahead with the quote given on the designs/price she likes then husband goes mad because he didn't like the design she chose or the price was wrong. So, the policy is actually in place to protect all; the wife, the husband and the company.

As for the company, they don't pay their staff a set wage, they pay their staff by commission, and the 'hard sell' is actually costing the sales agent money. To explain: If you are given a quote for £10k, but on the night he/she can offer you a 35% discount... you get it for £6.5k, but the agent will get the same percentage on the deal... say it was 10% they will earn £650 on the £6.5k or £1000 on the £10k... now think would you rather pay £6.5k or £10k? It is a somewhat easy decision if the work needs doing but of course husband and wife need to agree... hence the requirement by such companies to have all homeowners present.

In regard to Zenith... you may not like the selling techniques but they do abide to all relevant laws (e.g. not calling in 'no cold calling areas' or booking vulnerable people for appointments) and the products are truly really good (98% customer satisfaction). However, due to the commission structure some agents try to 'beat the system' but Zenith soon deal with this, so if you have a problem with them do report it to them and it will be addressed. As an example, the agents who knock on the doors to make appointments are given a 'do not contact' list and if they do knock on a door on that list it is instant dismissal.

They're certainly crap and rude but idk if it's sexism that makes them insist on your partner being there- my female friend was told she could only have the quote if her wife was present. Something about not letting you use the "I will talk to my partner and let you know" way of getting rid of them I suspect.

I love when salesmen come round (now I'm on maternity) and are shocked that I don't live with mum and dad (one salesman asked for my daddy too; was a bit put out when I said he'd been dead 7 years). I'm 28 I definitely do not look 16 so no idea why they insist on asking for my parents!