Five Edmonton window companies were contacted by on-line quote requests, two replied. Window Mart attended and completed their quote within the first week, ******* attended the end of the second week. I chose to play “dumb” about this process for the purpose of checking their integrity and honesty. The truth is that I apprenticed in the glazing industry, have background in contractor sales, and over forty years’ experience in home renovations / window replacement. The windows were priced for self-install before this process began. As working class people with limited financial resources; it was our decision to replace the two large units, those being a 9’ wide by 5’ high bay window and 5’ wide by 4’ high master bedroom unit. The balance of windows to be replaced the following year. These are very large, heavy, and expensive units, I am over sixty years of age, and did not want to tackle this job if an affordable install could be found. My wife is extremely frugal, and her knowledge of windows was limited to the use of Windex.
The sales person from Window Mart was Slava K. I found Slava to be well prepared, patient, and knowledgeable. He took the time to explain available options from window grills through double and triple glaze, insulating values, single hung, double hung, low E, window insets, offsets, molding and trim. Slava explained the costs so we could make an education decision and get exactly what we wanted, needed, or could afford. I then explained what my plan was for the windows, and Slava suggested some significant improvements that I had not thought of, or simply were not possible with my knowledge and self-install abilities.
We reached the point where I thought this deal was going to end, and that being the final price, fully installed, taxes in. Window Mart’s final price for a completed install was about $500.00 over my cost to purchase the windows and install myself. For the first time in the history of my marriage, my wife agreed without a two week dispute over the cost. I signed the purchase agreement on the spot.
A final point I should make is that Slava did not spend the entire appointment trying to up-sell us to a product we could not afford (as was the case with their competitors). He devoted significant effort to providing a quality product that fit our project budget. We have six more windows to replace as our budget permits. I look forward to dealing with Slava / Window Mart on this next project.
