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A Story About Anglian Windows
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HansMoleMan
Newbie
Join Date: 21/07/2009
Posts: 3
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Posted: 01/09/2009 10:05:55 AM
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As the owner of several properties I have had perhaps more contact with double glazing salesmen and companies than most, over the last twenty years.
Although my gut instinct is to always go with local firms, the truth is that in all that time I have not used a company who I returned to - unlike all other aspects of my business, where I soon found guys I could trust, and who I use time and time again.
Anyway, last october I lost my deposit to a bunch of cowboys (who actually came highly recommended - they became lost in the wind, as they say). Feeling slightly downtrodden I phoned around everest and Anglian, both of whom gave me quotes.
I actually ended up going with Anglian, and to my surprise the work was actually fine. I had the fitters in whilst a load of other work to a flat was going on, and their guys worked as professionally and as competently as the rest of us.
The price, in the end, was in the right ball park and the work was up to par.
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janek
Newbie
Join Date: 01/09/2009
Posts: 1
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Posted: 01/09/2009 4:04:27 PM
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does someone like the simpsons.... :)
cheers for that, seems good advice.
I think that the benefit of the internet is also it's curse, in that it has given people the power to research and share experiences that are different to the adverts/sales pitches (which is good) but that it also, due to our human nature, is often very pessimistic, because people who have been treated shoddily are more likely to sign up to this kind of forum and tell people. I think one bad experience probably rings out to 1000 people on the internet for every 1 good experience.
If anything, you would think this would make the big companies really incentivise working entirelly professionally, and leaving lots of satisfied customers....
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jonty
Newbie
Join Date: 20/09/2009
Posts: 5
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Posted: 21/09/2009 9:12:51 AM
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What narks me is the pricing systems used by these companies. You wouldn't see the same 'oh this is worth 3k but you can have it for 1k' mentality in any other industry, and I think it is designed to deliberatly make people uncurtain as to what the product is worth.
I'm glad you have had better than expected experience though- I remember reading once that if you have a good meal in a restaurant you tell 5 friends and if you have a bad one you tell 50 (can't remember the numbers but you get the idea) so I guess this industry is like any other - look after your customers and they will look after your company.
I've had years running a small business and even now all our work comes from word of mouth - people we've worked for for years recommending us.
Once the big companies can cut their multi million pound advertising budgets and rely on word of mouth you know they are as good as their word!
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ctrob
Newbie
Join Date: 30/09/2009
Posts: 1
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Posted: 30/09/2009 9:40:10 AM
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We had a visit from Anglian Windows last night.
The pricing ritual is off putting. We ended up with a sheet with prices from £7k to over £20, depending on when we placed the order and the finance terms. There's the phoning up the boss to get the on-the-night manager's special price (which we've also witnessed as part of an attempted timeshare sale!).
It's also reminiscent of a company my wife got in to quote us for our ensuite bathroom - price started at over 13k and ended up under 6k, which was still possibly twice what we paid in the end to someone who was recommended to us personally.
Another company we've seen did just provide a quote that was reasonable in the first place without all this game playing. That feels more honest to me. In the end though we will consider the quality and cost of each option and go with what we can afford.
Good to hear you've ended up satisified though.
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DIY Conservatories Chris
Intermediate
Join Date: 30/09/2009
Posts: 79
Location: Sheffield, UK
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Posted: 30/09/2009 6:19:54 PM
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I' ve recently started my own DIY conservatory supply business and one of the first things that hit me when researching, was pricing tactics.
It's interesting to hear what you guys are discussing, as I've made the bold (or some would say fatal) move to set my pricing at a realistic level. I've even gone as far on my website to say as much.
The problem here though is, you speak to marketing gurus and they'll tell you that we inherently steer towards what appears to be a 'saving'. So, to this end the companies out there that are offering, 30%, 50%, 70% off for 'this week only', etc., are only doing it purely from a marketers point of view. But what the hell, eh, they reel em in and bag the customers that 'think' they're making fantastic savings.
What is happening, though, is that (particularly in this current economic climate) people are now entering a bartering mindset and so whenever I get a call I'm always asked 'Is that your best price? Can't you knock anymore off?'. So, when I offer to drop (for arguments sake) £50 off they think I'm unreasonable. Let's be honest, we're all in business to make a profit, but when your expected to work for nothing it all gets a little despairing.
It's refreshing to hear that there are the opinions out there that we need to start pricing reasonably first time, when I first started out I even had my former MD tell me I needed to ramp my prices up just to show an 'offer' on my prices. Needles to say, I've resisted.
I'm going to keep soldiering on with true down to earth pricing policies and as you say Jonty. When your reputation speaks for itself, the customers will know where to come.
Mighty Oaks from little acorns grow.
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jonty
Newbie
Join Date: 20/09/2009
Posts: 5
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Posted: 08/10/2009 6:05:14 PM
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Yep - I can see the appeal of the tactic but I would say that you are perhaps filling a gap - the straight up approach.
The thing is, if people took the time to get multiple quotes then they would be in a position to choose - there is nothing to say that a deduction such as the type we are narking about isn;t going to offer the homeowner value - it just seams a funny way of doing things.
How are you advertising yourself at the moment? Have you been using the internet at all?
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DIY Conservatories Chris
Intermediate
Join Date: 30/09/2009
Posts: 79
Location: Sheffield, UK
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Posted: 10/10/2009 10:09:20 PM
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Hey Jonty,
I couldn't agree more. Multiple quotes is always the way forward,that way at least; a) the custoemr gets to know what the 'real' price is going to be. b) We, the supplier can get a feel for what others are offering (genuinely) after all the so called discounts have been given.
But, that's what brings me back to the point, I know I'm pricing competitively, so it grinds me when proposed customer has had some other company knock down their price and it ends up somewhere near my price. Hence, customer thinks I should be able to do the same in order to give them an even better price (or bartering stick to go back to the others with).
Again, I agree it's seems a funny way to go about things, hence, I'm going to dig my heels in for now and stick it out.
As far as advertising, I haven't took the plunge on any traditional methods as I've never really seen much return in my previous employ. I'm working hard on the website SEO to get it up the rankings in Google, et al. Obvioulsy the golden chalice keyword is DIY Conservatories but as I'm sure you're aware it's an extremely competitive term and popping one link here and there (such as above) is nothing compared to the £1,000s a month the big boys can afford to pay. But we're getting there (I think), slowly.
Mighty Oaks from little acorns grow.
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albatross
Beginner
Join Date: 11/02/2010
Posts: 24
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april_luv
Newbie
Join Date: 29/06/2010
Posts: 6
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