It's classic double glazing sales technique from any of the nationals - Everest, Staybrite, Anglian etc
They turn up at your house and after looking at the car on the drive, the house, the area and a few questions about your job, they give you a random figure of £10k. Then if there is a hint of not accepting, that is reduced to £7k instantly, and then after a call to "the manager", your are told £3.5k - which still includes a healthy profit for them.
Safestyle! I've never bought anything off a salesman who has come to my house, but on occasions I have invited them round for a quote - for comparison's sake.
Safestyle were one of the double glazing companies who were invited round a few years back to quote for windows and a door for the front facade of my property. A local company and Anglian had both quoted around £4500 (Anglian insisting that we advertised their work for six months).
I told the customer services rep that I wanted nothing more than a quote - although was braced for the hard sell. Saturday morning comes and the rep arrives and immediately enters into his well rehearsed patter. I tell him I'm not interested and just want the bottom line, but he mustn't deviate from his script and resolutely continues.
"We have the Premium Range. Features include ... ... ... . The premium range will today cost you £12500, but we offer a 55% discount so today sir, you get them for £5625." he imparts.
"Sorry, too much" I reply. "I've had two cheaper quotes".
"Yes sir" he continues, "but we've also got the Diamond Range, which is a better quality window, and at the moment they are on special offer."
"But they won't be cheaper than the Premium Range, will they?" I ask.
He doesn't answer, just continues on script. "The Diamond Range includes features such as ... ... ... , all on top of the many features you would get with the Premium Range. Usually sir these windows and door would cost you £16500, but you get the 55% discount so that's down to £7425. However, sir, if you sign today, we can do them for - taps randomly on calculator - £5150."
"Sorry, seems like a quality product, but significantly more than I've been quoted".
"Let me speak to my manager", he helpfully suggests. "May I use your telephone?".
"If you must", I reply.
"Yes", I overhear him saying. "I've got a figure of £5150, including the 55% and the special offer... He's interested, but it's a bit high... I know, fantastic deal... I know it's top quality... I told him that, won't get better quality anywhere else... OK, £4200, I'll see what he says".
The salesman returns. "I've spoken to my boss, and today only, we can do it for you for £4200".
"Thanks", I say "it's comparible with the other quotes I've had, but I need time to weigh them up and come to a considered decision. It would need to be significantly lower for me to sign today".
"Let me talk to my boss", he says.
At this point my other half can take no more and starts to get ready to leave to visit her mum. Knowing he needs both of us in order to make a sale he rushes back in. "£3400", he blurts out.
"Sorry", I say, as I kiss my girlfriend goodbye. "Need to take time to consider my options...needs to be lower for me to sign".
Our salesman sits down, dejected. He's losing us, and he knows it. The car door opens. He hears this and panics. "£2250" he screams, knowing this will make me sit up and take notice. "Deal", I reply. Just before my girlfriend leaves I tell her that this is a deal not to be missed and we should sign immediately. She obediently returns and we stand in front of a sheepish looking salesman and ask for the paperwork. "Ah", he says, "I just made that up to get you to come back. I've got to ring my boss for the real price now."
Now I'm generally an easy going, laid back kind of a guy, but he pushed me past my limit, and I politely told him to "get out of my house, before I throw you out."
My girlfriend leaves once again. I go to step back inside. From over the wall the salesman calls "My boss is on the phone. Will you talk to him?" I'm still thinking £2250 and take his mobile from him. "The best we can do is £3100" says the boss. "Well that's £850 more than I was just quoted so I'm not interested", I reply. "But it's a fantastic deal, you won't get a better one". "That's as maybe. You've messed me around. Why would I buy off you? Your salesman told us £2250 and went back on his word.". "But you said you weren't going to sign anything today." "How is that relevant FFS. I'll sign if the deal is good enough". "So are you interested in the deal at £3100?" "Maybe, but my girlfriend has gone now and I need her agreement". "Call her". "No, she's on the M25. I'll speak to her and if we are still interested we'll call back on Monday. Goodbye".
Anyway, we went with the local firm!
