Complaint Review: Statewide Windows

Statewide Windows is a company located in Beverly Massachusetts MA that thrives on uneducated consumers. They promise a free estimate and show up as a team so one can do the measuring and the other the presentation. A normal presentation should last no longer than 30-60 min. These guys were in my home with my husband for 6 hours. They're aggressive, assertive and persuasive. They push a signature for three contracts: one for the sale, one to install the windows without an appointment, and another which states that manufacturing of the windows takes place the next morning at 7:00am which already consumes hundreds of dollars, for which they will leave the room for 10 minutes for the consumer to think about it. They state they are recommended by consumer reports, which is a lie. They swear their prices are competitive with other brand names in the market. Claiming they must get a signature because consumer's forget the presentation and they would have to come back twice, offer many

discounts for allowing a sign outside for their company, etc. Claiming that locking in now would guarantee the discounted price for later installation of all windows on the house. After signing 2 of the 3 contracts, and 6 hours of demonstration, window samples, stories, heat tests, window inspections and filling out order forms they finally left. It was later discovered that they are not even mentioned by consumer reports, that they have 36 complaints filed at the Better Business Bureau - 11 for sales related issues, and the prices were inflated by at least 3x's the fair market value. In fact as Newsday.com publishes a great reference article which states vinyl windows should be between $200-$300. Statewide Windows quoted us a price of $1500.00 per double hung window. That's right, 5x's higher than the average vinyl window. It's a beautiful "premium" window for sure, but worth $3000 for a picture window? I doubt it. Also, they take about 1 1/2 hours to install so should never be

more than $150-$200 for installation. All said and done, we signed the contract on a Saturday, left a voice mail for Lou Chalifour the sales rep to cancel the contract on a Sunday (which was supposed to be the day when hundreds of dollars of work had already begun), he was not in the office on Monday, finally spoke with him Monday afternoon to confirm cancellation and assured him that I would mail the rescinded contract to their Washington corporate office within 3 business days. He assured me that I would not be charged for any work done, that the hundreds of dollars was a cost to them. On Tuesday, I got messages from the office attempting to set up an appointment for measuring. I again left a message at the office stating the contract was cancelled, there would be no measuring or windows. Nine days later, after mailing the rescinded contract, canceling the agreement on a Sunday (before even the first business day), somehow - still received calls from the office regarding measurements, and our credit card was charged $1500 dollars. I told the sales rep that I had no idea what a window costs - whether it was $10 or $1000 and that it wouldn't be wise for me to rely on a sales persons information, but again he assured me that this was a good price for a premium window. In all actuality, a premium window would be wood clad and even the most expensive companies that are designed for historical and oceanside homes go for about $700. Bay and Bow vinyl windows can be bought for about $1500. These guys were charging $3000 for a picture window. We've been had. Don't let it happen to you. By the way, this company isn't governed by the Better Business Bureau in Boston, the reports have to be filed in Washington.

Shelly
Peabody, Massachusetts
U.S.A.