Can I haggle with a local independent double glazing company? If so, any tips on how best to go about it!

[bobkate]

Just that really. They're a local, family firm...sounds like they've been doing it for a long time. We've had a quote for 6 new windows and a new door ( 2 of the windows being very large bay windows ).
When he came round to measure up he said that the price he would send would be his best price, he's not like the larger companies ( ie not like the stereotypical Everest type where they quote you for £20,000 then within 2 mins, after you've fallen on the floor laughing, magically reduce it to £10,000 then after a call from the manager it gets reduced yet again type thing )
The quote came in at £11,187. I was expecting it to be similar but wondered about the best way to try and get it for £10,000 or even under. Is that even likely?
A friend of mine was saying how much of a mark up they make and so to always haggle with double glazing.
Has anyone got any experience with similar? Or any tips on how best to approach the haggling process?!

Tell him your budget is £10k and see what he says. Apparently prices are quite flexible in winter as less people have windows replaced for obvious reasons. Are they busy?

Thanks scabetty I'm not sure how busy they are, I haven't called them back yet to talk about it. They seem to have good written reviews online and I think we're going to try to see if we can see at least one of their recent installations and speak to a recent customer if possible. I wasn't sure whether to try to arrange that and then haggle after, or to get the haggling out of the way first. That's an interesting and quite possible thought about the prices in winter.

any tips on how best to approach the haggling process?!

Have you got a second quotation from another company.

Hi senua I have had another quote from a different company but I would say they were for not such good quality windows. Their price was a couple of thousand cheaper.
I would say the first company's quote was for what I'll call for these purposes bog standard upvc. Just plain smooth white, all the dummy sashes we'd need, but with not so much attention to detail.
This second company install windows called 'storm 2' or evolution windows. They have better attention to detail from the sample window that he brought round with him, and whilst I know wood would be the most ideal, we cannot afford wood. We were quoted £7000 per bay window in timber and it's just not something we can afford.
We're not in a conservation area, there are no other houses from the same era in our immediate location ( so I can't go knocking on doors for recommendations ).
I did think about mentioning the other company but I think he'd just use the reasoning of them being a slightly better 'spec' of window to justify the higher price.

Tell them you have a Max budget of £10k. Ask them if some payment upfront would help them bring cost down. Offer free advertising (board outside house etc). Ask if you can do any of the work yourselves so they need less manpower. Offer to take rubbish to tip yourselves (they would have to pay to dispose of waste, as a business. You can do it for free).

Brill - thanks middle those are great tips. All of those we'd be able and happy to do but hadn't thought of so thanks Worth a punt for sure!

For that price I would expect double glazed top quality timber to a bespoke finish, not uPVC.

Get some more quotes, and approach joinery companies, not just window companies.

The £7000 per bay window was a quote from a joinery company. Perhaps then I ought to get another joinery company around. The storm upvc window was just under £3000 per bay window. I've attached a pic of a diagram of one of the bays.

I'm in SW London if that's helpful. My flat is the top section of a typical Victorian terraced house and I'm about to have the 3-part bay and the flat window alongside replaced with DG timber. Each section of window is a box sash and the main windows are a metre wide and 2m tall. All the quotes have been in the £3k range for everything including the VAT.

I'd definitely get more quotes!

Oh wow - okay, that does help! And yep, more quotes I think should be got!!!! It's trying to find reputable companies that are trustworthy, good at their job and reasonably priced that's hard. We're on the Essex/Herts borders if anyone can recommend anyone!