Company lost a window sale because of a stupid policy

[perhaps]

DH and I were sitting on the porch one night last week and a guy comes up.  He works for xyz window company.  They are doing a house a few streets over and wants to know if we are interested in an estimate.  We have been thinking about getting the windows done and this is one of the company's we would call any ways so we say sure. 

I get a call yesterday afternoon to schedule and apt.  The young kid on the phone asks if DH will be in the apt.  I tell him know that his work schedule is pretty hectic and I will be handling the meeting.  He then says that they can't come out unless DH is home, that it is their company policy that husband has to be home (?).  I explain that I am the one that will be making the overall decision on any windows and work done and that I would be the one cutting them a check.  Doesn't matter they won't do an apt unless DH is there.  Needless, to say they aren't coming out and I told them to lose my number.

I have never run into this before.  Any work we have done on our house I have handled all the initial apts and price talk.  DH and I have very similar tastes so I usually narrow it down to what I like and then show him when he his home.  He gives the ok, might make an adjustment here or there and then I take over again.  I handle the scheduling of the work and all the payments.  I just found it totally odd that this company (and they are big in my area) would have such a ridiculous policy.

[Deleted]

It is a blessing in disguise.   You don't want to business with someone wandering the streets offering estimates.

[perhaps]

I normally don't do bother with the "wandering the streets" type businesses.  But this is a legitimate window and door company in my town.  Their trucks have been in my neighborhood for a few weeks now working on a few homes.  I know people that have had work done by them and they are very reputable.  That is why I was thrown a bit by this policy.   

No biggie.  There are a dozen more companies I can call for estimates. 

[Deleted]

If you wanted to, you could call the office and talk to the President of the company.  I am sure the President would be interested to hear what is going on with the estimators there. 

[NoNamePerson]

A company that sold brick here had a sign hanging on the wall that said "Brick $10.00 more per thousand if your husband has to approve your selection" I thought it was funny!!

But I'm not sure I would let some joe blow off the street come into my home anyway. Heck, maybe the guy was protecting himself against nutjob females

[Deleted]

Maybe they've been burned before by one spouse getting an estimate and then the other putting the kibosh on the whole deal?  If they have both parties at the estimate there's less chance that they'll cancel their order?

I still think it's a stupid policy. 

[Deleted]

My first thought was that they got burned by being accused of either sexual harassment or assault. If the estimators are all male and they go to a house alone where there is just a female, it could end up being a he said/she said type of issue. I believe that's the reason that, if you have a male OBGYN, there is always a female nurse or assistant in the room during exams.

[Opti]

Maybe their male techs have been accused of sexual harassment and they want the DH there as protection for them? It also could be a traditional company who belives the husband makes the decision. You can always call the president of the company and ask. I'd bet they do not insist the wife be home just the husband.

[Deleted]

I just found it totally odd that this company (and they are big in my area) would have such a ridiculous policy.

In general that sound like an really stupid rule & I do find it shocking. I have to wonder if possibly there is a reason for it, like something has come up in the past (maybe with the owner or manager?). Let's face it, people are nuts & could see a husband going off on workmen if he didn't know the work was ordered. I could also see him refusing to pay.

As for me? Well my wife has been known ( ) to spend, agree to stuff, farm me out as labor or me & my truck, etc. without telling me first. Heck 3 days ago I found out that I was taking care of the neighbors animals for a week (I found out the day before they left) because they told me about it (my wife had said that "I" would.

[Deleted]

so do they refuse to give estimates to single women?  I've had a roof, siding, windows, deck, HVAC, etc estimates done and nobody has ever asked if my husband would be home (and they have no way of knowing I'm single).

[geenamercile]

Jul 30, 2013 7:53:26 GMT -5 @beerwench said:

Maybe they've been burned before by one spouse getting an estimate and then the other putting the kibosh on the whole deal?  If they have both parties at the estimate there's less chance that they'll cancel their order?

I still think it's a stupid policy. 

My guess this would be it.  When we were getting estimates for the new AC last weekend all of the companies said they would like both homeowners to be home for it.  I don't think it was deal break if one of us couldn't, but not what they preferred.  The first guy DH kind of walked in and out of it, the last guy he said, "hi" and left.  Seriously DH doesn't want to do the research, he doesn't care about the specifics, he is a SAHD so the financing is with me, and I do all the budgeting and keep track of the saving accounts ect.    

 I had one guy who wanted to hem and haw over my questions about servicing and warranties, and answered vaguely.  He just kept wanting to say they were the best, and no one else will sit down and go over things like he was, oh and look at the pretty pictures and the emails from happy customers  I don't know if DH had stayed if he would have been more detailed with DH, but he was certainly trying to play the emotionally side with me.  They did have the 18 month 0% financing instead of 12 in their favor.   

But the one we went with was the one who sat down and sold me on their stuff, not talk about how bad others were.  He also didn't spend time on the things I said I wasn't interested in, while others were like, "well let me just tell you this one thing."            

[Angel!]

My guess is because for door to door sales (at least in my state) you have a 3 day period during which you are allowed to cancel the contract.  I would also guess the windows are extremely pricy, but they have some fancy tricks they are going to show you to prove they are totally worth the money. 

So if you see the "show" you are more likely to buy.  But, if another decision-maker misses the show, they are going to come home and say "you spent how much @#&*#$^ money on windows!?!, HELL NO, we can buy them for 1/4 of that at Lowes".  Then you are likely to cancel the contract.

So having both parties present I assume makes if far less likely you will cancel the contract later at the request of a spouse or look back and feel like you were pressured into the sale.

I have had door to door people ask me for both the be present.  I have never even been asked by someone I contacted directly for an estimate.  So I really don't think it is any sort of sexual harrassment/cover your ass thing, I think it is a sales technique.

[Deleted]

Is this Renewal by Anderson?

I agree with Archie's recommendation to call the local CEO/president. But I wouldn't bitch about it. I find that taking the approach of trying to understand the policy a much more helpful approach. I know we had to sign a contract and since it's a home improvement matter I do know that if we fail to pay there could be a mechanics lien placed on the house. If you and your husband both own the house I can see why they do that.

We had young kids knocking on doors in our neighborhood who were setting up appts. I let DH handle it so I don't know if they asked about the other spouse being present. I think the kids are given a script that they must follow. I heard some of the questions which were a little irrelevant in our situation but I understand why they were asked.

Calling the company to set up an apt shows that you're pretty serious. They may make an exception to their policy if you talk to someone in charge.

Good luck!

[perhaps]

I can see the possible sexual harrassment angle.  But what about the single female customers out there?
I am sure the door to door guy made a note saying he spoke to husband and wife.  I guess I could see them wanting both husband and wife to agree on the order.  I had no intention of ordering windows at the first apt.  I just wanted to see what they had and their pricing options. 

I have had roofers over, HVAC guys, a guy to do the deck, garage door repairman all without DH home or even in on the first conversations.  It just seems like a policy that is going to alienate some customers.

Dh is ADD, trust me, you don't want him in on the early apts of just looking at samples and stuff.  It is torture for all involved   It is best to involve him once I have narrowed down the choices. 

[Baby Fawkes]

I don't think it's harrassment or gender bias at all. I'm pretty sure they just don't want to leave anyone with the chance to tell them "Thanks, I'll have to chat with my DH/DW when they get home"

Window salespeople tend to have a stereotype of being high pressure sales. They are like car salespeople and they want to push you to close on the deal there an then. I suspect that a lot of times the deal either falls through or the other person gets cold feet and cancels it.

ETA: Sorry Angel, I didn't see your response first. I agree with Angel

[HoneyBBQ]

WTF. What if you weren't married? No windows for you, you unattractive cat hoarder! 

[Baby Fawkes]

Then you wouldn't have anyone to risk derailing the pressure sale so they'd just talk to you only.

[geenamercile]

They are like car salespeople and they want to push you to close on the deal there an then.

LOL, I don't know how many times I heard, so what can I do to make this sale right now.....  I can......  You would think after the 1st,2nd, or 3rd answer of nothing, they would stop asking the question.  Oh, and the....  Don't tell my boss that I told/showed you this.  Yes I call B.S on that.  You are not going to do something that will risk your job, so don't lie to me, and if you are doing something to risk your job your an idiot.  And making me think you are lying to me, or that you are an idiot isn't going to help you sales pitch.  

[justme]

I would think that if it was a policy because of sexual harassment they'd just send two employees. If a wife is whatever enough to cry sexual harassment when there wasn't I would figure the odds of her husband going along with it would be pretty high. Though they'd probably need to send a female to get around the idea that another guy would just be covering for the first one.

BTW - All my OB/GYNs have been female and there's always been a nurse in the room when an exam is taking place.

[shanendoah]

The company we got our new windows from wanted "all homeowners" to be present for the estimate/sale pitch. But they made certain to phrase it in that way. 
In this case, I think part of it was because they were offering a gift card with the estimate, and wanted to make certain you were actually serious about getting the windows, vs just having someone who was going to be home anyway listen to a pitch, say "I'll have to talk it over with my partner", and get a free $50.

[greeniis10]

It could definitely be either a protection against sexual harrassment or a protection against contract cancellation.  If it is the latter, then they should have worded it as shanendoah mentioned: "all homeowners".  Saying, "Your husband needs to be home" would set me off as well.

I would take Bonny's approach and call and ask about the intent of the policy first before concluding whether I'd give them my business or not. 

[Virgil Showlion]

I'm sure they're not in the business of alienating customers for no reason, hence there's undoubtedly a good reason for it. My vote is for the reason given in Beer's Reply #6.

[Deleted]

Jul 30, 2013 12:35:21 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

I'm sure they're not in the business of alienating customers for no reason, hence there's undoubtedly a good reason for it. My vote is for the reason given in Beer's Reply #6.

I agree that it is probably something like this.   In which case the estimator was not conveying the company policy correctly which is why I think the President would be very interested to hear how the company is being represented to the public by its own representatives.

[Deleted]

I've actually heard this policy before.  I think it was a timeshare sales person.

[Deleted]

Jul 30, 2013 12:35:21 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

I'm sure they're not in the business of alienating customers for no reason, hence there's undoubtedly a good reason for it. My vote is for the reason given in Beer's Reply #6.

Virgil said I was right?!?!?!?!?! 

[Virgil Showlion]

Jul 30, 2013 13:26:44 GMT -5 @beerwench said:

Jul 30, 2013 12:35:21 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

I'm sure they're not in the business of alienating customers for no reason, hence there's undoubtedly a good reason for it. My vote is for the reason given in Beer's Reply #6.

Virgil said I was right?!?!?!?!?! 

And I gave you your "Comedy Master" Proboards badge.

Saying things Virgil likes has its sweet rewards.

[Deleted]

Oh my! 

[Peace Of Mind]

Jul 30, 2013 10:22:21 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

WTF. What if you weren't married? No windows for you, you unattractive cat hoarder! 

LMAO!!!  I wondered that too.  Had she been the only one on the porch would they still insist a guy be there or was it because they did know there were a DH and DW already?  I hope she follows up and lets us know the scoop.  I hope it's to get both on board at the same time and not because they think only men can handle such a decision. 

ETA:  Beer and Virgil - Get a room! 

[perhaps]

POM  sorry but I won't be following up with the company, it really isn't worth my time.  The are easily a half dozen window/door companies in my area that I would trust.  I could take Archie's advice and call the manager/owner/president of compnay and ask for an explantion to the policy.  Honestly, I would rather just take my business elsewhere.

[8 Bit WWBG]

...:::"If you wanted to, you could call the office and talk to the President of the company. I am sure the President would be interested to hear what is going on with the estimators there.":::...

That would be interesting just to see how the President reacts.  If he says "geez... dames are crazy" then you know where the policy originates.  If it was just the workman being an idiot, thats another story.

...:::"Maybe they've been burned before by one spouse getting an estimate and then the other putting the kibosh on the whole deal? If they have both parties at the estimate there's less chance that they'll cancel their order?":::...

This, or something to do with making sure that a homeowner is present.  All the service people I've worked with ask flat out if I am the home owner.  I know thats to separate tenants from owners, but I wonder if there are issues with a non-owning spouse authorizing work, but the owning spouse not agreeing?