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

[Mufflette]

Yes, had this when I was single too. 'Can we arrange a time when your husband will be in?'. No, with that misogynist attitude we won't be arranging any time at all thank you!

[martingrowler]

I'd never use them. When I ran a pub we had 8 of them living upstairs and they were the most disgusting people I've ever met. Very derogatory about female clients.

Honestly, disgusting. I'm talking prostitutes, drugs, fighting, groping staff

It was a few years ago but it's always stayed with me and I mention it whenever someone talks about the company.

[LeavesOffTheCactus]

@martingrowler woah. That is bad.

To all the people who are complaining that you still get contacted years later: email them saying something like this. “Please erase all data concerning me from your systems. In accordance with GDPR I do not expect to be contacted again and will seek redress under GDPR if I am contacted”.

And then make a complaint if you are contacted.

www.gov.uk/data-protection/make-a-complaint

[MissAmbrosia]

I bought my first house on my own. They were most put out that there wasn't a man about and checked several times that there wasn't one I might have forgotten about.

[TheGirlInTheGreenDress]

Yep, has the exact same thing. Did not use as they used such high pressure sales tactics (including this).

[FurierTransform]

This is a friendly warning, maybe from God himself, to under no circumstances buy windows from Safestyle! In doing so you are, pretty much by definition, bring ripped off with a sub standard product (source: house has Safestyle windows...)

[Sandrine1982]

Wow. Reading this with interest. It reminded me of my broker from 7 years ago who used to call me "doll" and "love" and who always wanted to speak to my husband because ... I think ..being a FTB I didn't know as much about mortgage deals as I know now. Well my husband knew much less. And I've been sorting out our mortgages ever since, and suffice it to say that broker is no longer our broker....

[JohnGetHomeNow]

My SIL paid the most ridiculous amount of money with Safestyle for a couple of windows and doors. She even fell for the I really like you both let me ring my manager and see if I can make a deal. Terrible company.

We went with a local company who has been in the business for over 40 years and have a good reputation. They manufacture the windows so no middle man. Went to their showroom and saw the factory, felt the quality of the frames etc. Bloke came round measured up, sat at my dining table, opened up a folder which had tables of X wide by X height for each window design and you could see the prices very clearly. He wrote it all out by hand and said I'll leave it with you and promptly left. Think he was here for 20 minutes. They know you will not find another quote as good, they would rather charge a little less and get more business.

I compared them to a supply only website and they came in around £70 - £100 more per window to fit the window, make good and dispose of the old windows. Felt totally worth it. Great company, good sales ethics.

[hannahcolobus]

This is really bad- I wouldn't go near them because of this. I'm a plumber and gas engineer, I have renovated two houses (and done most of it myself) so I like to think I know a reasonable amount about practical stuff. And yet I have hundreds of stories like this, honestly have lost count. You wouldn't believe how many times other tradespeople, staff in showrooms etc direct all the questions to my clueless partner who wouldn't even know which way to turn a screw.

I always make sure I say something as otherwise things won't ever change and that's a really depressing thing to accept. If you don't feel safe enough to challenge at the time, you could do it afterwards. When it's a big company like this you also have the option of leaving anonymous reviews on Twitter/Trustpilot etc. If they start getting enough complaints they will eventually have to deal with it.

Also Safestyle are utterly shit so I reckon you've dodged a bullet there!

[CasperGutman]

We had a couple of local companies quote for new windows, during lockdown. I emailed them with photos of the windows and their heights and widths, and they emailed back with prices. It seemed a good system to me!

This wasn't simple stuff either - the quotes included salvaging and repairing existing stained glass and encapsulating it in new glazing units in the new windows.

[CheltenhamLady]

I would never deal with companies who use this 'tactic' however they tried to justify it.

[ItsSnowJokes]

All this bullshit is just sales tactics so they can pressure you. Don't go to any of the big firms, go with a local place with a good reputation. Any company that offers x discount if you sign today are shysters.

Friend had this, safety's said it was going to be about 15k then 10k and finally 8k. She got a quote with a Company I recommended and it was 4.2k with no hard sell just a heres the price let us know if you want to book it and they left.

[happytoday73]

I also had this with safestyle windows yeaes ago.. Lived alone and thry wouldnt believe me.
Agree with previous posters they do it so you don't have the get out and hard sell you into their over priced product.
I got equal quality windows at a third the price

[Hannahbrown123]

I’ve just had a really similar terrible experience with Safe style - the rep refused to give me a quote without my partner present…even though he had driven to my house - how inefficient! When I complained, some telephone reps were helpful and apologetic but others refused to accept that I had experienced any sexism and discrimination.

Seems to be systemic problem with their policy to quote only to all decision makers…this policy is so obviously discriminatory and frankly insulting - it really has no place in 2022! I wonder if they routinely ask men if they are the person who will be paying? I suspect not!

As a grown adult I have never experienced sexism like it.

Absolutely to be avoided.

[Maroon85]

I know this is an old thread but not sure if this will help anyone considering SafeStyle. We had them to quote and they gave us a horrendous price, tried to bribe our toddler daughter into getting us to agree to go with them, wasted our time calling head office to see if he could do us a favour and give us a special lower price and refused to leave even when we needed to put our daughter to bed.
Not sure where you are but we also got Britelite to come out and give a quote (I think they only operate in the South). Guy turns up and first thing he says is "I'm not going to waste your time and insult your intelligence with a stupidly high quote and pretend to call my boss to try to reduce it down for you. I'll just measure up, give you our absolute best price and I'll let you think about it." It was really refreshing and they were absolutely great. I'd definitely recommend them, also they were by far the cheapest quote we got anyway.

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[BigSidLittleSid]

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

[DelilahBucket]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.