Question about safestyle windows - sexism?

[LeavesOffTheCactus]

Hi all.

I had safestyle out today to quote me for windows. I have spoken to them on the phone about 3 times over the last week and each time they’ve said “we’ll see you and your partner on Thursday” and each time I’ve said that it will just be me as my partner is working. I even spoke to someone from head office this morning and repeated this to them.

When the guy turned up he asked where my “husband” is (I’m not married but that’s by the by). I explained that he’s working and that I keep telling them that he won’t be coming. The guy said ooooh I’ll have to call head office and check. He does so and they say no - he can’t quote me without my husband’s authorisation. His explanation was “because we have our own factory and make our own windows”. I don’t get it. We had another company out just before safestyle and there was no issue. They also make their own windows.

I could have gone and got my partner as he works from home but by this time I’m just annoyed that they ignored me all the times I warned them on the phone that it’s just me and I’m also suspicious about how they would have responded if it was just my “husband” and not me.

So my question is this: has anyone had safestyle out for a quote to just their male partner? And did they insist on speaking to the second partner to seek authorisation? Or did they just get on with it?

I might be paranoid but I really want to know…

Thanks for reading

[Hannahbrown123]

@Onnabugeisha

It’s not sexism because the same would have happened to your partner if you were absent. As a pp said, it’s a hard sell tactic. They want all the decision makers in the room with the salesman so they can use pressure tactics to get you to sign a contract for windows on the spot.

The thing is - it is sexism if safestyle are more likely to refuse to quote for a women because her partner is not around, than to refuse to quote for a man in a similar situation. And it is sexist (or at best extremely old fashioned) to refer to peoples 'husbands' as default and repeatedly even when corrected. I certainly felt it was sexist when i was questioned 'but is it really you that will be paying for this?'. Also (assuming happytoday73 is a woman) their experience of not being believed when they told safestyle they lived alone is absolutely shockingly sexist.

I assume that the accounts above are mostly from women - would be interesting to hear if any men have had a similar experience of being refused a quote in the absence of their partner, or being questioned about the whereabouts of their partner in the same way.

Regardless of the intention of this 'sales tactic' it does come across to me as sexist, rude and totally out of touch. I cannot recall another circumstance where I have been refused a service or product simply because my partner was not accompanying me - intentional or not, this practice is discriminatory and sexist because it harks back to a time not so long ago when women couldnt go to a pub without a man, couldnt own property, couldnt vote...the list goes on....and because sexism in many areas of life is a very real and very present problem. We rightly should expect higher standards from companies that are trying to sell us something.

I wonder if David Seaman (new face of safe style adverts) is aware that he is representing such an antiquated company....probably not even aware.

[Flapjackquack]

@LadyMarmaladeAtkins

Very normal for them apparently, seems to be a national policy.

It's so they can pressure sell. Run a mile.

I can understand that when doing the final paperwork that both/all owners of the house need to be there unless written authorisation has otherwise been given, so that contracts can be signed. Although there will be plenty of cases where the owners of a house are far-flung or indisposed, and it is their representative dealing with it on site and signatures acquired via the post if needed.

However it's a massive assumption that the owner of the house and person contracting the services, even if she has a husband or partner, is not the woman alone. They're disgusting.

I don’t think this is true. I own my house jointly with DH, we each jointly own 100%. I have had the house torn apart and put back together again just on my say so as far as the builders were concerned. No one said anything. Surely if DH has an issue it’s me he’d have to sue not the builder? The tradesperson takes the persons word for who owns the house don’t they? I doubt they look up deeds on land registry to check.

[Tdcp]

This casual sexism drives me insane. I had someone come to pick my car up for an MOT and he told DD that he'd be "dropping Daddy's car back later". My name is on the deeds for the car, my name was on the booking and I answered the door. There was zero mention of a man anywhere. I said "actually it's my car, he doesn't drive". 4 times they asked for / mentioned my husband for one reason and another. I didn't go back to them.

[LadyMarmaladeAtkins]

ringing me one evening in tears that she could not get rid of a salesman from her house. I sent DP round to rescue her.

I have found "get the * out of my house now or I will ring the police to have been effective on a small handful of occasions with pushy salespersons or meter readers. However, if there is an inkling of a vibe that they might get aggressive, I would do what your friend did. When I was doing viewings (online estate agent) I made sure they were in daylight, rang someone before and after. I always make sure the back door and GF windows are unlocked when I have trades or viewers round alone. And I am far from paranoid about personal safety. Lots of really good people in these jobs but too many rotters, even if they aren't going to physically harm you, pushy sales tactics to the point of fraudulent are not on.

[Coffeetableposhbooks]

Honestly tell them to fuck off it’s so they can do the hard sell and want both decision makers there, as in many house holds this level of cost would be a joint decision. Additionally if they think you don’t work then they assume you cannot make the decision.

[LadyMarmaladeAtkins]

I was with my parents when Safestyle came to quote. He kept banging on about special deals only available if they signed that day. I looked him straight in the eye and said "I'm here for one reason, which is to make sure that Mum and Dad don't sign anything today.

Ha ha ha. Nice one. (Not funny though when this is needed, really though. Yuck.)

[LadyMarmaladeAtkins]

Very normal for them apparently, seems to be a national policy.

It's so they can pressure sell. Run a mile.

I can understand that when doing the final paperwork that both/all owners of the house need to be there unless written authorisation has otherwise been given, so that contracts can be signed. Although there will be plenty of cases where the owners of a house are far-flung or indisposed, and it is their representative dealing with it on site and signatures acquired via the post if needed.

However it's a massive assumption that the owner of the house and person contracting the services, even if she has a husband or partner, is not the woman alone. They're disgusting.

[Lougle]

I was with my parents when Safestyle came to quote. He kept banging on about special deals only available if they signed that day. I looked him straight in the eye and said "I'm here for one reason, which is to make sure that Mum and Dad don't sign anything today.

[Wombat27A]

My tenant wanted a patio door changed and she was very distressed when they said they wouldn't quote her without me being there. We got a local firm to come in and quote. She felt discriminated against for renting but it's the hard sell thing, so she couldn't say "I'll ask the landlord.".

[terriblyangryattimes]

We had this with Anglian. My husband couldn't give two shiny shits what doors or windows I chose, and more importantly it wasn't his money being spent. Would the Anglian guy accept this? No. So he lost a 6k contract and we went with a local, friendly firm who were happy to deal with the female half of a married couple.

[Elphame]

I remember years ago a friend of mine (divorced and single) ringing me one evening in tears that she could not get rid of a salesman from her house.

I sent DP round to rescue her. Some of these firms are disgusting.

We only use small local firms. Safestyle are infamous for the hard sell and I would not even be asking them for a quote.

[Flapjackquack]

I know this is an old thread and people will say oh they need all decision makers present. This is absolute crap, it’s sexism mixed with a whole heap of pressure selling.

I had two local companies out, both times it was just me, they measured up, gave me a rough idea of price, went away, sent an exact quote by email, I emailed them back saying if I’d like to go forward or not. Window fitting day, my husband was in and I wasn’t. Again nothing said. I assume if one homeowner did something the other didn’t like that’s between them to solve.

[Blossomtoes]

I used Safestyle to replace the windows and external doors when I refurbished my parents’ house. I now know just how much I was ripped off. Don’t go near them.

[Pootles34]

All these big window companies are atrocious - get local ones in.

[Eleusa]

DH has had this experience (not with this company)- tradespeople refusing to come and quote unless I'm also there. It's because they want to do a hard sell and get you signed up there and then- if the partner isn't also there then people don't sign up because they need to discuss it. So, a shitty coercive sales technique rather than misogyny, necessarily, but of course there could be misogyny involved as well. I'd steer clear.

[Onnabugeisha]

It’s not sexism because the same would have happened to your partner if you were absent. As a pp said, it’s a hard sell tactic. They want all the decision makers in the room with the salesman so they can use pressure tactics to get you to sign a contract for windows on the spot.

[Crazymadchickenlady]

Had the same with Dunraven. thought I was going to have to call the police in the end to get rid of them but they finally left after about two hours. also went with a local well regarded company. They showed up, measured and gave the quote within 10 mins.

[AccidentallyRunToWindsor]

Yes, had exactly the same patter from them. Turned up and asked where my husband was. Told them repeatedly that I was the one buying so they can just talk to me. Salesman actually said 'but what if your husband has a technical question'

I told him to get out of my house. Went with a local company instead who were brilliant.

[DelilahBucket]

I wouldn't even entertain safe style. They are absolute scammers as well sexist. Get a local company.

[BigSidLittleSid]

Oh god DH has arranged for Safestyle to come and quote for us tonight 🤦🏻‍♀️ will try and get him to cancel!

[Megifer]

Do not go near Safestyle.

Its cost me £3500 to correct their shoddy work, which included them not putting a lintel in despite us telling them a common problem in similar houses is having new windows causing brickwork above to sag. I was patronised, told "not to worry" while the bastard smirked at DP over the little woman worrying. Sure enough 3 years later, new lintel needed fitting, after arguing with safestyle over liability i just ended up sorting it myself.

Also had water ingress from sealant that looked like it was been put in by a toddler.

You're best off going with a local company. Safestyle and their ilk are all the same.

[nannybeach]

Had even worse scenario with them. I wasn't married them,(to my now DH) I used to call him my partner. Rep saw both of us,came back,.... just me I worked nights. Threw a contract across the table, said it was just to confirm he'd been,sign the bottom, I said it was a contract and I wasn't signing it. He then rang, screaming at me,that my husband had agreed and the windows had been made, funny, because no-one had measured. Told him I didn't have a husband,he said I introduced my husband!!! No, I didn't,I'm afraid I have to have the last word, I said 'oh,you mean my brother ". Equally bad,Anglian and Everest.

[Allthegoodnamesarechosen]

I don’t suppose anyone else remembers Dolphin Bathrooms? They used exactly the same tactics, refusing to leave until you had signed. Quite threatening for a woman on her own.

I had one in my flat, sitting in the bathroom running the tap endlessly to show me how poor the after pressure was ( it wasn’t) and why I needed his very expensive pump. Having told him to leave repeatedly because I wanted to go out, I took the key out of the bathroom door (fire door so no bolt) and told him I had to lock him in as I was going out and couldn’t leave him to roam around my flat.

he asked to leave quite politely after five minutes.

[bilbodog]

NEVER use a company that works like this! I made the mistake twice, once with a conservatory company and recently (🙄) with a heating company. They take up 2 hours or more of your time and the sales pitch is always the same - prices are going up next week and we currently have 10% off and you need to sign on the dotted line now!

sadly i think the sales staff only get paid when a sale has been made so they are desperate to get you to buy - it shouldnt be allowed as these people are being ripped off as well.

always use a local company, never a national one like this.

[Pinkmagic1]

Don't let these crooks in your house. I had them out to quote years ago and had to virtually kick the salesman out after around 2 hours of his speil and dodgy sales tactics, including the calling the manager trick!

I had a lovely local company come out, who measured up and told me how much it would be, then left the quote with me to decide. They were also less than half the price of the Safestyle quote, even with the so called 'managers discount!'.

The asking for the husband to be present is not a sexist thing though. It is a sales tactics, so you can't say you need to discuss with him before signing the contract!