Dinner/presentation by Renewal by Andersen tomorrow

[roc_on_the_rocks]

I received this flyer by Renewal by Andersen and signed up for dinner at Johnny Carino's tomorrow.

Good Afternoon,
Our team frequently works in your area and we've seen first-hand that many of the homes in the neighborhood are the same age and could benefit from updated, more efficient windows. Would you and your spouse like to learn more... and get a delicious free meal?

RSVP today and join us for a dinner presentation to learn more about lowering your energy bills and drastically improving your home with replacement windows. This is not a sales call, you are under no obligation to buy anything.

Act Fast! There is limited space at the restaurant, so please call my phone to RSVP today. We look forward to having you as our guests.

My house (1969) is wood-sided and has a couple bathroom windows with rotted trims (the windows are fine though). Then there's a large (108" x 80") three-panel sliding door that the upper frame is badly rotted (I didn't catch the water intrusion in time). A good carpenter could easily redo the window trims, but I just can't find one. The sliding door would take more work though.

I welcome any insights/tips and things to think and look for. I plan staying in this house for a long time so I don't want to cut corners.
Thanks as always folks!

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

They just called, rescheduling it to Feb 23.

 

[m6z]

Typically these type of events/estimates are not price competitive at all.

I've had a couple of these type of quotes over the years and they are usually double or triple the going rate.

Always get two or three quotes before making a decision.

 

[FJ 432]

I received three quotes on window replacement in 2018

Company X (vinyl replacement) was 11k
Company Y (Infinity by Marvin) was 30k
Renewal by Anderson was 51k

Anderson builds nice windows and better than company X that I went with on my project. Just prepare yourself for their pricing. Good Luck!

 

[Toolfool]

In 2014 a friend told me he had contracted with Renewal by Andersen to replace all the windows in his house. The side of his house that faces the view is A-frame, so has a bunch of huge trapezoid windows. I told him to go to the local window dealer that sells Andersen. They matched the windows, sizes and product lines. Windows worked out a little cheaper. Told him to cancel the contract (think he had 3 day rescission ). I installed and trimmed them out for him (first job after my bypass surgery). Saved him $7k , and he got a nice sliding door too.

 

[FMB4]

The dinner for free pitch. Sounds like what I'm receiving in the mail all too often now that I'm due to start collect M*dicaid.

 

[nadogail]

Take them up on the free dinner, then use what you learn to shop for the better deal. The "Free Dinners" are rolled into the price of the windows they sell.

There is no "Free Lunch" somebody will be paying for those dinners, try not to get stuck with their adverting costs.

 

[jmiller_2308]

Renewal by Anderson windows are not Anderson windows and in my opinion are of much lesser quality.

My personal experience with Renewal by Anderson is that I for some reason thought they were selling windows of the Anderson window fame quality. I had the sales pitch and assurances that the window they put in would match my existing pella windows. Well it doesn't and the quality of the cladding as well as the inside molding is a significant downgrade from what I expected. I am also not happy with the crank or closure mechanism. I should have sent it back but what are you going to do when you only get to see all of this after the old window is out and there is a huge hole in the wall!

I got sucked in by the Renewal advertisements and hard sell when I did that window. A few years later I had another sucky pella window fail and had the guy the built my house look at it. He set me up with a real Anderson window that he installed and that Anderson then came out and tweaked various adjustments to make it the best window I have ever owned. And the kicker.... it was less than what Renewal would have charged and it actually matches the other windows.

I'm not saying don't go with Renewal but if you do, make sure you go in with your eyes wide open. Get multiple bids from multiple window vendors. Get a chance to look at the actual windows before they start tearing yours apart. Make sure that you like the quality of what they will put in and if possible, get some independent references from people that like and dislike whatever window and installers you choose.

 

[gmcgeo]

I love free dinner, but not worth this.... to me anyway

 

[jives]

Uggh. I would never again go to a free dinner sales pitch, for any item. Not worth it.

 

[Sumboodie]

They are CRAZY expensive and somehow people are sucjered into it.

A friend's parents spent $60,000 to do their windows. Was maybe 15 windows.

I priced similar windows for my house, and they were about $500-550 each. Casement triple pane vinyl with integral J trim.

Talk about a profit! Even if they had 40 hours labor into the job, that's still $46k in excess.

 

[gmcgeo]

yeah they want a commitment upfront right NOW, some sales pitches they make you feel bad for eating the food lol

 

[vavet]

Went through this several years ago. The worst pitch, by far, was by a Champion Windows rep. I thought we were going to have to call the police to get him out of the house. Super high pressure.
I ended up buying the windows from HD and replacing them all myself and hiring a siding guy to install the aluminum wrapping on the outside.

 

[e015475]

Renewal by Anderson runs a relentless marking campaign. I get something in the mail a couple of times a week and they spam my inbox a couple times a day.

My perspective is that they target buyers that are unable/unwilling to do the diligence in purchasing windows and rely heavily on the Anderson 'brand' to create a product differentiation that's hyped. They offer financing too.

A few years ago, I wanted to replace about three large windows I'd cheaped-out on when I built my house. RbA provided options from about $30K to $50K to do the work.

I took the ideas I got from them and went to my local lumber yard and a high-quality solution was about $20K

RbA continued to contact me by phone and email for a year or so after the consultation - they wouldn't take no for an answer.

If you'd liked to be spammed and hounded - go to their dinner

 

[NORTON'S SHOP]

Like the old saying goes, "There is no such thing as a free lunch."

 

[gmcgeo]

Like the old saying goes, "There is no such thing as a free lunch."

There is another saying, Buy me a steak first before you ....

 

[RPH]

“ signed up for dinner at Johnny Carino's tomorrow.”
On the other hand. Been to a couple of Johnnys restaurants. Not bad for a chain.

 

[FMB4]

Signed up = A... renewal and C*rino's will be selling your info at $5 or more a pop to countless entities for the next 5 years. Like I said, you'd better buy a bigger mailbox.

 

[Spacep0d]

FYI; it's Andersen with an 'e'.

 

[haveissues]

Put vaseline on your eyelids. It will make harder to tape open during the 'dinner' .

On a serious note my buddy across the street had a bunch replaced (not by anderson) and they went really quick. I'm not sure how many were done - maybe 8? and the guy doing them did them in a day without working too hard. One guy, no helper. I think he said andersen's quote was triple.

 

[redmondjp]

I get these very same flyers all the time in my mail. In fact, just got one about a week ago. My house is a teardown and it doesn't make sense to put big money into new windows. Yes, I pay a few hundred extra per year for heat. Oh well . . .

My dad put real Anderson wood-framed windows into the house that I grew up in. They were really nice and are still there 50 years later!

 

[jar944]

Window salesman are generally selling snake-oil based on "free energy from water" or "200mpg carburetor" level math..

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

FYI; it's Andersen with an 'e'.

Great catch, thanks, corrected.

 

[gregs]

Curious about the whole window game. I dont understand how expensive some of these quotes are. Other than energy savings whats the game to have your existing windows repalced? Is the energy savings payback really that good? Currently Window World is running a television ad looking for experienced window installers and siding installers. They are promoting that you can earn $150k a year plus normal benefits and tool allowances. I dont see how they could pay someone $150k a year to replace windows.

 

[Spacep0d]

Great catch, thanks, corrected.

Awesome. You're welcome!

 

[reader2580]

Curious about the whole window game. I dont understand how expensive some of these quotes are. Other than energy savings whats the game to have your existing windows repalced? Is the energy savings payback really that good? Currently Window World is running a television ad looking for experienced window installers and siding installers. They are promoting that you can earn $150k a year plus normal benefits and tool allowances. I dont see how they could pay someone $150k a year to replace windows.

CAN EARN is the key here as far as how much a window installer can make. I bet only the person who really hustles and is willing to work 100 hours per week makes $150k. I wouldn't be surprised if they pay per window installed versus an hourly rate.

I replaced the windows in my house because they were cheap builder grade wood windows and quite rotten. I'm pretty sure the wind would have blown right through them. I replaced the windows before I even moved in so no idea how bad the existing windows really were as far as drafts and such. I have no idea if the energy savings will pay for the windows, but that wasn't high on the list of reasons to replace the windows. I love living in a house where there are no drafts from leaky windows. The new windows and siding also look much, much better. (Siding was cheap vinyl and full of holes and cracked everywhere.)

I put in Andersen 400 series windows as I did not want cheap vinyl windows.

 

[reader2580]

Renewal by Anderson windows are not Anderson windows and in my opinion are of much lesser quality.

How are they not Andersen windows? They are made by Andersen Corporation. Personally, I like the Fibrex material versus the vinyl exterior and wood used in the other Andersen windows. I suspect the original reason Fibrex was developed was to use up all the sawdust generated by making the wood and wood core windows. (Andersen used to dump huge piles of scrap wood at local Boy Scout camps to use as firewood. Maybe they still do.) Fibrex is now in used in the 100 Series Andersen windows, but not in the 200 or 400 series as far as I know.

I would never buy Renewal by Andersen windows simply based on the absurd price. My parents paid the absurd pricing for Renewal by Andersen windows because they wanted Andersen windows, but they also wanted custom sized windows so no framing or drywall work. The windows are very nice. The only issue is multiple sashes have blown the seal on the insulated glass, but Renewal replaces them under warranty.

 

[Technologyteacher]

If you are worried about repeated follow up phone calls and emails, give them a fake email address and the phone number to Lowes or Home Depot

 

[dogdog]

There are no free lunches or dinners...

 

[MarvinBerry]

Other side here... my folks took the renewal plunge a few months ago had them installed in September 2021. Did the whole house. House was built in 84? Had a few windows with serious rot& other issues.

No it's not cheap. If you can swing all the labor & sourcing yourself? Yup you'll save money no doubt. I don't think that's even a question.

Part of the reason to go with Andersen was simplicity. I tried for months to get someone out to look at repair & replacement. Impossible. Guys would show up then disappear... or pull the classic no show.

Andersen was one stop shopping. And they were really easy to deal with. Almost as easy as getting a pizza delivered. Seriously! Couldn't even find screws or dust. Flawless. Time from purchase to install was several weeks.

Completely updated the look of the house. Took decades off it. House is warmer... views are much better... plus no more silicone spray or whacking stuck windows with a mallet. They completely transformed the house.

Pricing? Not cheap but we financed the deal over a couple years. Takes the sting out. Like buying a new car.

Dad is 80... mom's a bit younger. They're kinda looking at resale value on the house and no doubt... they'll get most if not all that money back as a capital improvement.

 

[vrinner]

I received three quotes on window replacement in 2018

Company X (vinyl replacement) was 11k
Company Y (Infinity by Marvin) was 30k
Renewal by Anderson was 51k

Anderson builds nice windows and better than company X that I went with on my project. Just prepare yourself for their pricing. Good Luck!

I pretty much had this same experience and agree that the Renewal by Andersens were nicer windows but not triple the price nice for me.

 

[Farmall450]

Typically these type of events/estimates are not price competitive at all.

I've had a couple of these type of quotes over the years and they are usually double or triple the going rate.

Always get two or three quotes before making a decision.

A friend of ours had them quote. They were 3x the cost of a local carpenter, who charges $65/hour...

 

[Showkey]

They usually require the spouse to bepresent ……..so when the finance guy starts/finish they can sign you up with both signatures.

Be prepared for the pressure……..hot lights and thumb screws are not off the table.

If you get on the list ………the free TIME SHARE dinner invite is coming soon. Two to four Weeks later the retirement ANUITY guys will be asking to the feeding trough.

On the windows and door In general……….every manufacturer has builder grade, good, better, best, premium and ultimate platinum. The real trick is not paying for premium and getting build grade.

 

[fourjeepin]

Hard sell and their quote will probably double the next highest quote you get. That was my experience anyway.

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

A friend of ours had them quote. They were 3x the cost of a local carpenter, who charges $65/hour...

Local carpenter?? What is that???

 

[CJM8515]

id say no. they are very costly. my parents had a quote from them and it was nuts.

i need to redo my windows but im no carpenter and my buddy who was recently passed. Hoping cousins father in law can do it fairly cheap if I help. I need to do approx 10 windows.

 

[MarvinBerry]

Local carpenter?? What is that???

Those are the guys you have to call 2 or 3 times to come out & measure... say they'll get an estimate in another couple 3 days and then you never hear from them again.

Last guy I called before Andersen? Think I woke him out of a drunken sleep at 2 in the afternoon...

 

[ozyborn]

Make a disposable email address and a Google voice number in dealing with them. They will hound you with their speeches, texts, emails, etc. Like above. Get multiple bids.

 

[Zen]

Had a rep come over for a quote a few years ago, first thing he asks is where is your wife? Told him she had to work today, he basically packed his stuff up left before looking at anything. What a joke, I was happy he left .........

 

[theoldwizard1]

They are CRAZY expensive and somehow people are suckered into it.

A friend's parents spent $60,000 to do their windows. Was maybe 15 windows.

I have had Renewal by Anderson windows for over 25 years. Yes, they were very expensive. 3 large front windows (large center with a slider on both sides). 4 large bedroom sliders and 7 average bedroom sliders. I felt the quality was better than the other companies. I have been very happy with them.