To buy a new door by myself???

[ImWearingPantaloons]

I need a new front door - not urgently but the gearing on the lock has been replaced once , I was told it won’t last forever and it’s now 3 years hence with the lock getting clunky again so I’m starting to look around for a composite one.

A home improvements company knock on the door, I accept an offer of a quote just to see how much it would be. I tell them 4 pm is fine.

Their office call me straight back, I tell the chap on the phone that 4 is suitable. He asks if my husband will be there at that time.

I tell him no, he’ll still be at work but I will be here. He then offers me availability until 8. I tell him that 4 is the best time for me.

He then tells me they work until 4 on a Saturday if that’s better. I tell him no, 4.00 today is fine.

He then tells me that they ‘prefer to see both husband and wife together’ then tells me they cannot help any further with the quote because of this.

Seriously?? This house is mine, I paid for the entire mortgage, own it outright and it’s only my name on the deeds.

Can I not get a QUOTE unaccompanied??? It’s 2025 not 1955 for gods sake….

They do it so that you can't say 'I need to consult with x and I'll get back to you'. They want to pressure you into making a decision on the spot. They're not interested in giving quotes. They only want to make sales. I never use companies that use these high pressure sales techniques. They'll over charge you. Look elsewhere.

Unfortunately I've had this. I wanted to get some fabric roman blinds from my front room, DH doesn't care what I choose as long as it's not flowery and pink but salesman wouldn't come until both of us were there as he didn't want to do his sales pitch twice. I was paying for them, I went elsewhere.
My dishwasher broke and the repair man couldn't fix it and tried to sell me a new one on the spot. I hate making snap decisions about expensive items. I wanted time to think but did call my DH to get his thoughts. No answer from DH so the repairman said let me call him as some men don't want to answer calls from their DW but will answer a call from another man. Definitely didn't buy from him.
I'm in my 50's! Misogyny is everywhere and it seems to be getting worse.

Never, Ever engage with a company that goes around knocking on doors to drum up business. They are always rubbish, often scam artists.

Contact potential suppliers directly.
Don't mention a husband/partner, it's none of their business.

Was it Walkers? They repeatedly asked for my DH, I told them several times I didn’t have one and the house was only mine. They pointed out the man’s coat and shoes in the hallway and I said yes that’s my partner who lives in my house and won’t be contributing so doesn’t have a say.

I wouldn’t have booked if the door wasn’t broken and unable to lock, they could have it replaced faster than the other companies so had little choice. The door then kept getting jammed and they suggested I get my husband to try the door because maybe it was me. I put in a complaint and they eventually sent someone around and the mechanism was faulty, when the paperwork came through with the guarantee it was all addressed to Mr and Mrs Teenybub, I called to have it corrected and they said it didn’t matter. It all just felt so patronising! I got the paperwork corrected though just for the sake of it.

@Teenybubno it wasn’t Walkers.

I had this all the time when I was a single parent, in a house I owned. I couldn't get anything done easily unless my dad or brother knew the person and could vouch for the fact I had no hidden husband and I was the one making the decisions.
So frustrating, and also when they asked for my details they would always say Mrs...?. Never just first name, last name.

what happens if you're single then?

I'd just get your door repaired again, rather than pay ££££s for something unnecessary from a pushy shiny shoe sales person.

Go to somewhere like Solidor, they will have independent suppliers. And a long guarantee

If they aren't desperate for the sale, they just ignore you and find another (male) customer to quote.
I went to buy a new car once, and the salesmen just sat in the office watching me walk around. I went back with my brother and they fell over themselves to say 'can I help you SIR'.

I've had this before & wondered what the deal was. @AzureSharkgood to see your explanation because it annoyed me at the time. Funnily enough, I make all financial decisions in our household (dyslexic husband trusts my judgement & financial planning) so it backfired that time - put me off using them completely

In that case they will generally see you on your own. They just want to prevent you from saying 'let me ask my husband'

@PeapodMcgeei don’t think that’s an option, it’s something to do with the gearbox that’s in the lock and was always only a temporary repair, when it goes it’ll mean a new door. The person who repaired it I trust so have no reason to disbelieve him.

I had this from window companies. My husband is in the forces and so they’d do the call back to check the appointment; I’d say he won’t be there; they’d ask when he would be and thought I was joking when I said 3 months. I ended up using a local company who didn’t kind who they saw and were happy for couples to talk it over.

The sexism is outrageous of course. But, word to the wise, NEVER engage with anyone who calls unsolicited at your house offering services, roof repairs, her-washing or anything else.

They are most likely con artists and will use high-pressure techniques to get you to buy something outrageously priced. Always try to find local recommendations for any kind of tradesperson and do your research. You’ve dodged a bullet on this occasion but please learn a lesson from this.

If you are near Derby I can recommend https://tradewindows.com , they have a great showroom with loads of doors on display and will give you a quote on the spot. I had both doors done a couple of years ago and they have been great.

How much did they quote you?
`You don't need to buy a door from a stupid company like this. They're a rip off, just like window companies.

You can get a solid oak door from Wickes for £280. I would recommend hiring a carpenter or good handyman to cut it to size and fit the lock. You can get it all done for under £500 easily.

https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Carolina-External-4-Panel-Glazed-Oak-Door---1981-x-762mm/p/205882?gclsrc=aw.ds&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PMAX%20Shopping%20-%20Doors&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20231667777&gbraid=0AAAAADs4IsbDLuKDS6hOuhl4ElryakvFx&gclid=CjwKCAjwi-DBBhA5EiwAXOHsGaD0osasxKYLRpNUm4eHAw6RZyMnV2X21-hpXddCwAnxAFV97nsbzBoCN38QAvD_BwE

This.

I am 100% the decision maker on things like this in my house, and there is no world where DH would make this decision without me.

However in nearly all scenarios I will get a quote and say I need to discuss it with my husband before I agree (as code for, I’m not making a pressured decision while you’re stood over me, so leave me alone and I’ll get back to you if I want to go ahead).

Use another firm and write to the CEO of this one to tell them why.

But that won't stop them saying "let me ask my dad/boyfriend " though. It's normally only said to very pushy salespeople who won't let you have time to think so it's really a company problem.

I agree. Essentially they want you to make a quick decision. Generally for married couples that means both people need to be there. For singles it's more complicated - I'd imagine they probably target single people less anyway on the assumption they have less money. It's all a racket.

I was told by a company (can’t remember which) that they like the husband to be there in case the wife agrees to something then when the husband is told he cancels the order because he doesn’t like it. What a fucking cheek.

@grizzlyoldbearthey didn’t get as far as quoting me, that’s my point!!

Refused to give me a quote without my husband being there too.

FWIW I have decided to get one from Wickes (not a huge choice of colours but hey ho) and get someone I know and trust to fit it for me

@ImWearingPantaloons Delighted to hear this.

I can't even process the idea that your husband has to be present. Is it 1950?WTAF!

I own my own house. My boyfriend was at mine when I had a visit from the B&Q kitchen chap - every single question was directed at boyfriend despite him not doing any cooking, food prep, any shopping/cupboard Tetris and telling the chap I OWNED THE HOUSE maybe 5 times.

I did give him short shrift in the end and told him to leave. I got a follow up call a few days later asking how the visit went and in no uncertain terms told them why I wouldn't be entertaining a quote from them.