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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Door salesman refusing to quote without DH present?

57 replies

Picnictime · 26/10/2018 09:03

Few years ago I was getting quotes for a new front door. One salesman did his pitch but point blank refused to quote without DH present and insisted on returning when he was available. At the time I was quite offended and obviously went elsewhere.

Talking to a friend, the exact same thing happened to her very recently. I'm not sure whether we somehow stumbled across the same salesman 5 years later.

Has anyone else had this happen? AIBU to think this wouldn't have happened to DH had he been getting the quotes?

OP posts:

ibblebibbledibble · 26/10/2018 09:05

How odd? What about people with no big brave man to look after them?!

OnceUponATimeInAmerica · 26/10/2018 09:05

It's a standard sales trick to avoid you saying you'll have to speak to your husband. Loads of door and double glazing people do it. The other one is asking if you are the 'decision maker's before being willing to quote.

OnceUponATimeInAmerica · 26/10/2018 09:06

Rogue s in there. Should be 'decision maker'.

Labradoodliedoodoo · 26/10/2018 09:07

This happened to me 20 years ago with coldseal

NoSquirrels · 26/10/2018 09:08

I’m sure there was another thread about this recently.

If it’s a sales tactic it’s a shit one!

Flyingarcher · 26/10/2018 09:08

Anglia windows do it as do Thomas Sanderson blinds. The man from Anglia was very rude to me. I pointed out to TS that I bought a car on my own...

Oysterbabe · 26/10/2018 09:09

Yeah this happens a lot. It's just so it makes it harder to fob them off with you'll get back to them.

PattiStanger · 26/10/2018 09:11

Standard practice for these type of companies, move one and find one that doesn't have this policy.

CornishYarg · 26/10/2018 09:12

Yes, I've had it a couple of times. I assumed it was because they want to get a sale straight away and think we won't be willing (able?!) to make a decision without our DPs being there. I just refuse to deal with any company that insists on this.

In one case, it was a solar panel company who offered to come round and give a "no-obligation explanation, no hard sell". But then insisted DH needed to be there too. When I asked why, as we were all saying the chat was just to find out info, they claimed it was for "safety reasons". So I asked if that meant they refused to sell to single women, but they hung up!

WorraLiberty · 26/10/2018 09:15

There are lots of threads about this.

When it comes to fixtures and fittings, they need to pitch to all parties who have an interest/investment in the property.

They also don't pitch to men if they have a female partner who isn't present.

HermioneWeasley · 26/10/2018 09:15

Sales tactics are usually designed to get you to sign up there and then, rather than prolong the process.

I bought a new car earlier this year. It was spontaneous, I popped into th showroom on the way home and decided to go for it. It’s a brand and model that I tend to see men driving (no idea why, it’s not “manly”). They never asked once if anyone else would drive it, if I could make the decision etc. They treated me as a competent adult. When I went to pick it up I was nervous that it might have a fucking bow on it. They didn’t do that either. Marvellous.

reallybadidea · 26/10/2018 09:15

It's actually really handy when companies do this, because it marks them out as being hard-sell con artists and allows you to avoid them easily.

BabarKingoftheElephants · 26/10/2018 09:16

Yes we had that recently when looking to replace our windows. One company wouldn't quote as it was just me there and another wouldn't as it was just my husband. These were both national companies so we didn't use either. We went with a local company who looked round, did the quote and didn't do any of the silly pantomime act about the price.

WorraLiberty · 26/10/2018 09:16

And buying a car on your own is completely different.

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 26/10/2018 09:17

Just say you're single

Jackshouse · 26/10/2018 09:20

It is not sexist as they would say to your husband that they would need his wife there.

They are going to stay for hours to give you the hard sell offering your lots of discounts but they will ultimately over charge you. They are definitely companies to avoid. Was it for double glazing?

happinessiseggshaped · 26/10/2018 09:23

I agree its a good thing as it immediately tells you on booking they are going for a hard sell and you can avoid them.

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 26/10/2018 09:25

DH has phoned up a couple of double-glazing companies this week. They have insisted that I'm there, as well. It's not sexism, but hard-sellism.

Malbecfan · 26/10/2018 09:26

Exactly the same happened to me. It was my fucking house! I asked a friend who works in property development (also female) and she put me in touch with a small local outfit that doesn't need to advertise because all their recommendations are by word of mouth. The guy came round and quoted us a third of the price of the 2 hard-sell merchants. He got the job. His workers did a lovely job and cleaned up after themselves.

The roofer (another recommendation from a different friend) didn't need DH there either. We spent similar amounts on the windows and roof. I too have also bought a number of cars over the years without needing male help.

MissWilmottsGhost · 26/10/2018 09:27

I think some of them are just sexist.

Had an (invited) double glazing salesman who only spoke to DH and completely ignored me.

At one point he even turned his back on me when I was speaking. DH couldn't believe it and was fuming and told he salesman to leave.

Salesman then tried to offer (DH) a large discount.

I was pissed off for a while but eventually it was just so funny. The Salesman seemed completely oblivious of why I was laughing and DH was cross, and couldn't understand why DH wasn't interested despite the increasing discount.

Salesman's boss rang a few days later to ask for feedback ............

LemonBreeland · 26/10/2018 09:30

MissWilmottsGhost please tell me you gave truly honest feedback :)

sunglasses123 · 26/10/2018 09:33

This reminds me of the situation where a salesman wont leave and people end up buying products they don't want.

I have never understood this. Surely you just say that you have an appointment to get to and you will think about it. Thanks for coming etc and get up and open the front door. Why can some people not feel capable of doing this?

Taking about cars though. I was in the market for a new company car using my not insignificant car allowance. The Mercedes car salesman who happened to be older Asian chap (and I do think its relevant) without even talking to me about mileage etc told me I would like the pale blue colour and a smaller model because I wouldn't be going far in it would I! Maybe in his family the women don't work or do what the husbands tell them to but not this family!

finks100 · 26/10/2018 09:35

This happened to me!
I had a phone call from a company about windows, it just so happened that I was looking at replacing windows and doors. I spoke to a lovely chap who booked the appointment, he said his manager would call to confirm the appointment. His manager phoned, she was lovely and we confirmed the appointment. When talking to both reps I confirmed that I would be home alone.
The night before the appointment the rep, who was coming out, phoned to confirm the appointment. He asked if my partner would be home, I said no and then he asked could we make an appointment when he would be home. I said no because it was my decision, ( I own the house and would be paying for the windows, boyfriend not particularly interested as it would be my decision) the rep reiterated that he would need my partner to be there. I was really confused by this..he then said a man needs to be there to make the decision. It slowly dawned on me what he was saying. I cancelled the appointment, as soon as I put the phone down I was shocked!
Imagine my delight when the company phoned back a couple of months later and I explained that the rep had cancelled the appointment due to lack of man being present. I told them it wasn't the '50s and that woman can make their own choices and complete purchases.
So interested that other people have had the same situation!

rabbitwoman · 26/10/2018 09:37

I have had an opposite experience, I can remember someone knocking on my door trying to sell me cheap utilities. I said no thanks, not interested, he asked when my husband would be home! I just laughed in his face and closed the door .....

..... but apparently, a useful tip for when you are on holiday and someone is trying to sell you timeshare. Just say you're not married. They only want to sell to married people.

Original poster

Picnictime · 26/10/2018 09:38

Thanks. Glad to know it's not a sexist thing, still they must know how it comes across, especially if you have a willingness to purchase on the day.

It was a window/door salesman. We wanted a door and a door alone. It might have been Anglian actually we had quote.

Who has time to have both partners available for this kind of thing? It's a door, DH couldn't give a monkeys what it was so long as it was black with a good lock. Me neither tbh, just so happened I pulled the short straw for getting these quotes.

OP posts:

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