“I love my New Windows!” That’s the slogan you hear on TV during commercials for Universal Windows Direct. They were founded by William Barr and Mike Strmac in 2002. In addition to windows, they also offer doors, vinyl siding, roofing, gutter protection and more.
Columbus, Ohio Window Companies
“R” from Universal showed up on a cloudy Saturday morning. He was very polite and good with our dog. We offered him a bottle of water and games began. He immediately started asking questions to gain an understanding of why we “were in the market for new windows and were we serious.” We shared with him that we had already gotten a few quotes from his competitors. He asked us who and we told him. Being in the Biz, he already understood that Rosati, Window World and McCloud were going to be less expensive than his pricing at Universal Direct.
Emotionally, he admitted defeat and started packing up his brochures once we shared with him who we had gotten quotes from. I recognized this, as I’ve had it happen to me. When the customer wants something specific and you know your product can’t perform to their expectations or you can’t beat the competitor’s price, as a sales person, you have nothing to offer and you might as well pack up your stuff and head home.
He could have tried to one-up the others with some specification his window had that he knew the others didn’t or played up how his warranty was better by this feature or that feature, but he totally gave up. He called our 1,580 square foot home of twelve-windows a “large” project and that it would be over $20,000. As we begin to question him on items like would haul-away be an extra cost or was there an add-on if we wanted financing, he said that we could assume the price would be $2,000 per window give or take and everything were asking about was not considered an extra.
I thought to myself, so why isn’t he selling that? Rosati charges extra to haul away the old windows and also adds a flat fee to the cost if you want to finance, why wasn’t he using those facts to fight for the sale? Certainly, he knew his competition and how they compete, didn’t he?
How much do Replacement Windows in Columbus, Ohio Cost?
The first quote we had was from Mad City Windows and Doors at just over $20K. It was a painful, miserable two-hours and fourteen minutes. The second quote came from McCloud Windows and was just a tad more than $10K so about half the price of Mad City Windows and Door. The third quote we received before we made a decision was from Rosati Windows. Ultimately, we chose McCloud mainly due to price, sales presentation and our belief in “Joe”.
As I continued to ponder the process Columbus, Ohio homeowners have to go through to get a window quote, I was convinced I could help. That help is this Website and my Wacky Woman Comparison Chart. I felt that if I could get a quote to replace all twelve windows in my northwest Columbus suburban neighborhood home and share that with other homeowners in Columbus, Ohio that it would help to not have to suffer and sit through any more window demos that you absolutely have to.
Universal Windows Direct – Your Home Improvement Experts
Universal Windows Direct is a franchise with most locations being east of Mississippi River.
After our Sales Representative “R” left my husband and I both did a post-mortem to discuss how we felt the appointment went. I find it odd that many of the Window Reps we’ve invited into our home for quotes don’t even bring the window in with them. It feels like they gauge your interest before they decide if they will bless you and your time with a demonstration of the features and benefits of their windows. Call me old fashioned, but how can I measure who has the best window along with a competitive price if you don’t even try to “woo” me with all the magical features your window has?
I think the fact that I demo software solutions at my day-time job, I’m always interested on how a professional sales person performs their job and how they attempt to close me that day or at the least get me one step closer to a sale. “R”, gave up and once he did, the appointment wasn’t fun anymore, at least for me and probably not him either.
Replacement Windows – How do you choose?
I think the answer for this will be different for all of us. For me and this project, the price, the quality of the window and experience I have with the Sales person are the three things that weighed in on my decision. When we found a single Replacement Window Company that checked all three of these boxes, it was a no brainer.
Ultimately, we went with McCloud Windows. “Joe”, the sales guy was super easy to talk to, he was good with the dog and I could tell he was passionate about his job. He made the presentation fun and there was never an awkward moment.
