Estimates-why does my husband have to be there?

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

Wow, I'm surprised at everyone that considers this a "tactic" or "sexist"

It's an industry standard for just about every major home improvement company out there. Sure, some mom and pop locals may not do it, but this is the norm in the industry.

In the 6 months I did in home sales I never had anyone complain that the company asked for both spouses to be at the sales call when they set it up. Maybe the area we live in is just different.

 

[siouxi31]

Well, he showed up on time and came in. He never asked for my husband which was a huge plus on my side. The man was very nice and seemed a little nervous.
I did tell him that I was in the process of getting estimates and that he was my first. At the end, he gave me his pitch and told me about the extra discount of over 1000.00 if I signed right then and there. I told him that while the discount was very attractive and difficult to pass up, I couldn't in good mind sign right away without getting the remaining estimates and completing my research. He asked who else I would be getting estimates from so I pulled out my calendar and read off the names telling him that the estimates would be finished on Saturday. He wrote up the contract that was with the discount and said he'd extend it until Saturday when I've completed my research. I liked that. Moreover, I really did like their windows, warranty, and committment to a clean job. If the other estimates are comparable, I think I may go with this company.
We've had some crappy work done in our house that I'm not sure saved us much money just by us buying the materials and hiring someone to do the work. The roof took about two weeks to put on, interior remodeling took about a month (to split one large room into two), and woodwork done within the house took 3 weekends and they didn't even mitre the interior corners of the baseboards. I'm a little shy of handymen who do work on the side because I haven't been satisfied with those who I've had so far.
Thank you all for your input! I love the Dis.

 

[crz4mm2]

Cause they want to SELL the windows then and there. Tell them you are sorry but you won't deal with them!!
I am always the one that deals with people. I control the $$ here. So they either deal with me or they don't deal. Period.
I bought the new garage last year. DH wasn't even here.... AT ALL

Good luck.

 

[mickeyfan2]

It could be to make sure that both of you are in agreement that you want replacement windows and not waste their time with estimates. I am guessing they have been burned by only one of the homeowners saying yes and the other finding out an being furious.

 

[pyrxtc]

I once did not buy a car I liked becasue of the salesman. I was ready to do the test drive and was with my then BF. BF liked it but when I sat in the seat, i couldn't get it to go high enough to see over the wheel, and I'm not a short woman. Salesman says, "well you can always get a cushion for the seat when you drive!". I don't think so!! MY car! I should be able to see out of it! he also started to talk to my BF about it instead of me!
I din't buy anything form his lot and found my car somewhere else.

 

[mickeyfan2]

That's exactly how I feel. Is it because I'm the woman calling? Would they have expected me to be available if my husband called? This is MY thing. They're ticking me off. I know they feel like it's a surer sale if both of us are there but I can't help but think that it's because I'm a woman. The biggest thing that makes me mad is that I'M THE BREADWINNER. It's MY money (OK, well mostly my money).

It is possible because you are a women and it is possible that is it not. I am a women and I was the general contractor on our home. Most men were fine with me giving the orders but a few were not.

 

[DaisyD]

We had a friend that worked for one of those companies. He told us the reason for the husband being there too was to get both of you to sign a contract right away. They don't want to waste their time getting one signature when both at least have to okay the installation.

 

[DaisyD]

Wow, I'm surprised at everyone that considers this a "tactic" or "sexist"

It's an industry standard for just about every major home improvement company out there. Sure, some mom and pop locals may not do it, but this is the norm in the industry.

In the 6 months I did in home sales I never had anyone complain that the company asked for both spouses to be at the sales call when they set it up. Maybe the area we live in is just different.

It's the the same in our area also. We don't consider it a sexist but it is to try to get both to agree to it at once. It makes it easier for the company.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

I am also thinking it is not sexist but to get you sign right away...it would never work with us - I don't believe in "impulse buys"...we always take time to think things over, get more than one estimate - the way I think, it always takes a while for me to consider all the angles or for everything to "occur to me"...I hate for that to happen AFTER I have already agreed to something...

 

[Nancy]

I had a car dealership that wouldn't talk to me about a car without my husband there. I went in to look at new cars, wanted quotes, test drive etc. The saleman refused to do it..he kept saying...come back with your husband....I went down the street to another dealer, the salesman there talked to me, took me for a test drive, gave me prices, dealed a bit with me on price...guess which one got our business? DH went back with me that night, signed the papers and I had my car.

DH is too busy to wait around for estimates, he wants me to do the leg work, then we make the decision together. If contractors and salespeople can't deal with me, they don't deal with us at all.

 

[Maleficent13]

I don't think it's sexist, but it IS a tactic. A tactic to get you to sign now, not wait. In this age of comparison shopping, I find it surprising that businesses continue to operate on this principle. I keep having flashbacks to "Glengarry Glen Ross".

 

[laurie31]

We have also experienced the "both of you must be there" thing. We never took it as an insult to either of us, but recognized it as a sales ploy. I often use the "I need to discuss it with my husband" excuse to get a sales person to leave me alone, although it isn't true. If I'm shopping for a TV, or whatever, DH and I have ALREADY discussed it, but I'm not good at telling them no any other way. DH says I'm a wuss

In the "in-home" thing we did, we were interested in the product, but found it cost WAY MORE than we dreamed. We were pressured to sign RIGHT then (to get the "big discount"). It was obvious we both had to be there so we couldn't use the "talk it over" excuse, but we used it anyway We told him we had to think about it and talk it over. What we meant was, "There's no way in heck we're spending that kind of money on this product."

After reading Obi-Wan Pinobi's posts, I wish we had just come out and told him that. I had no idea the salespeople were not compensated at all for coming out. However, in our defense, we set up the appointment because of an unsolicited sales call, so maybe next time, they will not bother with the telemarketing.

Laurie

 

[foolishmortal]

They want you both there so that you can't put them off by saying, "Oh, I need to check with my spouse...we'll get back to you". They want your answer & they want to book the work right then & there.

YES YES YES!!!

Also, they want to know that both parties are involved in such a big purchase that one side doesn't say they ddn't know and try to cancel off the whole thing!!!!

so it isn't just because you are female...lol

 

[Nancyg56]

Well, he showed up on time and came in. He never asked for my husband which was a huge plus on my side. The man was very nice and seemed a little nervous.
I did tell him that I was in the process of getting estimates and that he was my first. At the end, he gave me his pitch and told me about the extra discount of over 1000.00 if I signed right then and there. I told him that while the discount was very attractive and difficult to pass up, I couldn't in good mind sign right away without getting the remaining estimates and completing my research. He asked who else I would be getting estimates from so I pulled out my calendar and read off the names telling him that the estimates would be finished on Saturday. He wrote up the contract that was with the discount and said he'd extend it until Saturday when I've completed my research. I liked that. Moreover, I really did like their windows, warranty, and committment to a clean job. If the other estimates are comparable, I think I may go with this company.
We've had some crappy work done in our house that I'm not sure saved us much money just by us buying the materials and hiring someone to do the work. The roof took about two weeks to put on, interior remodeling took about a month (to split one large room into two), and woodwork done within the house took 3 weekends and they didn't even mitre the interior corners of the baseboards. I'm a little shy of handymen who do work on the side because I haven't been satisfied with those who I've had so far.
Thank you all for your input! I love the Dis.

He went a long way to show you that he was not pressuring you with a fast line. We just renovated the main living area of our home which included an addition on two sides of our house. I was home, and handled most of the estimates that we needed. Most of the contractors were used to presenting a proposal, and knew that we were getting more than one. The only issue we ran into was the carpenter, who we also hired to do the work. He was a friend of DH. No proposal, etc. From now on we also will never use anyone who "does work on the side, as we need to hire someone to "fix" his mistakes.