Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that I don't need my husband to buy some windows?

33 replies

KeemaNaanAndCurryOn · 08/10/2014 16:52

I need two new front windows, but it would seem that no one will come round and give me a quote unless DH is here too.

This pisses me off something chronic. I pay the mortgage out of my salary, the new windows will come out of my salary. I'm perfectly capable of buying some fucking windows without having DH to hand hold me, so why on earth do I need DH here to do it.

Dicks.

OP posts:
Tryharder · 08/10/2014 16:55

YANBU. Quite a few companies have lost several thousands of pounds worth of business from me because they cannot countenance the fact that a little insignificant woman like me might well be able to - shock horror- choose and buy - amongst other things - bedroom furniture.

missbishi · 08/10/2014 16:55

I wonder if they are paranoid about visiting a woman home alone in case allegations of impropriety are made? Either that or they're just sexist pigs!

LurkingHusband · 08/10/2014 16:57

You don't need them there. But experience has taught any firm selling this way, that unless both parties in a partnership/marriage are there, then any deal they do will be vulnerable to the absent party getting home and cancelling it, and there's nothing they can do.

You could still cancel if you're both there, but it's harder to use the excuse "when my partner got home ...".

If you're really desperate, then say that DH &will be in. That'll get them there at which point they would be keen to make a sale, rather than write off the travelling.

There's a certain warm feeling you get too, lying to a double glazing salesperson.

Starlingsintheslipstream · 08/10/2014 16:58

I think they would do the same if it was your dh. We had a company round to quote for exterior paintwork etc and they wanted us both there. It's so they can give you the hard sell and you can't get out of it by saying you need to ask your partner. I would avoid them.

Original poster
KeemaNaanAndCurryOn · 08/10/2014 16:59

Apparently they can't come unless he's here as they need all the people,who are on the deeds to the house.

Strange that when I had the builders in to make structural changes to the roof, they didn't need DH around when I got the quote or to do the work.

OP posts:
youareallbonkers · 08/10/2014 16:59

I used to work for a large window company and it is because they have wasted many many many hours on dems to the wife/husband only to be told they need to check with the other person and they have to come back. Just tell them you live alone.

StickyProblem · 08/10/2014 17:00

It's because there's no point selling to one half of a couple without the other half there, because the half that isn't in the sales meeting might talk them out of buying.

Although IMO any company that won't give any indication of price until they've been to your house are rip off merchants anyway. They want to see how much you can afford rather than charging what it costs them plus a reasonable profit.

RaptorInaPorkPieHat · 08/10/2014 17:00

YANBU

I've had this trouble in the past.

I've found that if you stick to local independent suppliers rather than the big retailers they don't have such inane rules about visiting us poor defenceless women on our own.

TarkaTheOtter · 08/10/2014 17:01

It's so they can pressure you into taking their "for today only" offer.

Original poster
KeemaNaanAndCurryOn · 08/10/2014 17:06

More fool them really. I think you're right about going to a small local supplier.

I'm used to hard sell tactics as I've experienced enough to last a lifetime. I generally start negotiations saying that if at any point the quote needs them to call their boss for special permission or is for today only, then they can stick it up their bum.

OP posts:
Bouttimeforwine · 08/10/2014 17:13

I took great pleasure in telling Anglian windows that they didn't get our business because they wouldn't come when it was only me interested. For years afterwards we kept getting phone calls from them. I told them every single time that they'd lost the business because of their policy. They probably didn't care Blush but I enjoyed it.

AbbieHoffmansAfro · 08/10/2014 17:15

Certainly my parents found they got the hideous hard sell from the big chains, and a very good, honest service from the small local supplier. Whose windows were nicer anyway.

daisychicken · 08/10/2014 17:20

Yep I had this... so annoying as a) I'm quite capable of buying doors/windows and b) DH works such odd hours it's hard to know when he'd be available to be there for a quote.. In the end I spoke to a sales guy doing door knocking after he said "oh your husband will have to be here" and he then said 'say you are single' so I did! Got a quote and now have a new door!

KnackeredMuchly · 08/10/2014 17:22

It's because they want to needle you and make you sign there and then, rather than wait till you can confer with someone else.

Arseholes, no chance would I do business with anyone like that.

soverylucky · 08/10/2014 17:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

divingoffthebalcony · 08/10/2014 17:23

It's all to do with the aggressive hard sell tactics they use. They don't want you to shut down the conversation with "well of course I'll need to talk to my husband". They want to both there so they can give you the full on, hard sell, refusing-to-leave-your-house talk Hmm

Nomama · 08/10/2014 17:35

Well, the windows specialist I spoke to this morning had an unfortunate time of it... I'd just had a rant at a boiler man.

I want a quote, I said. Not a best price, bargain basement offer. I want to know how much this big job will cost, what all the options are. I want to buy the best I can we can currently afford, the best for the house (listed).

The boiler man said he'd ring back to discuss the specifics with my husband. I explained he works away, I was dealing with it. He repeated himself, adding that 'in his experience' things go easier when 'the man of the house' is present to explain the details! So he got a mouthful, his boss got an email.

Then the windows man rang and said something similar. So he got both barrels and his boss got a copy of the first email with a pithy comment about gender discrimination, neanderthals, poor word of mouth and loss of business.

I had a phone call back from the window people. That man asked me to calm down... I have now sent another email to the Association he belongs to, the Council's 'tradesman' department and Trading Standards.

I haven't even found a bloke to look at the guttering... How many more times will I have to go through this? At least the roofer is someone we know! He hasn't objected to discussing details with me, on my poor little lonesome!

I am having a bad tradesman day!

morethanpotatoprints · 08/10/2014 17:44

I think they ask for you both to be there so that one of you doesn't cancel the order.
I'm sure I can remember them not doing business with dh without me, because he explained to them he was the sole income into the house, they still wanted me there.
I suppose its fair enough if they are only paid on orders processed and I'm sure they aren't paid to visit/ give quotes.
This is why some are terrible with the hard sell, it can't be sexism as they would be better dealing with a woman than my dh if they try the hard sell. He has literally thrown them out before now.

BloodyUserName · 08/10/2014 17:46

I really hate the whole "will only quote you in your home" crap. Just give me a freaking ball park figure so I can decide whether I can afford it - plus I always know I've ended up overpaying. Grrr

Original poster
KeemaNaanAndCurryOn · 08/10/2014 17:54

Yes, indeed. If it's a "no obligation quote" then you don't need high people to decide there and then do you.

ARGH

OP posts:
auntpetunia · 08/10/2014 17:59

I had this over the summer. I went with local firm who couldn't care less if my dh was happy or not as long as I paid them. In fact we both live our new french doors, but he didn't need to be there while a man measured up, I mean, a door is a door!

PourMeSomethingStronger · 08/10/2014 18:31

I hate that sort of attitude too op. my dh works long hours and is away on business often. The companies who insist they want to see both of us miss out because by the time they will come out to quote someone else will have quoted, booked the job in and done the work.

The last time I tried to get quotes for windows/fascias/guttering dh did happen to be home. A large national chain quoted us £45k (special price, just for today etc). A local guy did an excellent job for £5k...

WhiskeyTangoAlphaFoxtrot · 08/10/2014 18:33

Well im single amd i can get quotes!

jeee · 08/10/2014 18:35

As several people have said upthread, it's a hard sell issue, not a sexism issue. When DH tried to book in some window companies they only wanted to come round if I was there too.

In general, though, I'd avoid companies who insist on you both being there as it means they're looking to get you to sign up that day - which is always going to be a bad idea on something as expensive as windows.

MrsFlorrick · 08/10/2014 18:41

I don't understand it. Even if your DH was there you still have the right to cancel under Consumer Protection. Anything you're sold in your home you can cancel within 14 days without any need for an excuse.

Very odd. Perhaps they think your DH is the "decision maker" and you can't agree to anything. Hmm