There are many things in this world that stagger me: Chavs, North Korea, the way the banks are run, the crap weather, industry apathy and how there is nothing outside the Universe! However, sometimes the priorities of the customer also make me scratch my head.
Let me pose this question: if you take pride in the car your drive, the clothes you wear, your appearance, the phone you buy and so on, would you not take pride in your home? You would think so wouldn’t you? I would. So when consumers say to me: “a window is a window and a door is a door”, it really staggers me, especially when it seems they take pride in everything else they buy.
Obviously some cannot afford the best of the best all the time. But when it looks like people obviously can, why is it that some still choose a cheap and sub-par option? Is it lack of education and information? Are people duped into believing that a £600 front door is as high in quality as a £1100 front door? Wouldn’t they question the quality if there was such a massive gap in the two prices they have had? I know I would, whether I worked in this industry or not!
In this industry, a £600 door is NOT going to be as good as a £1100 door. So given that fact, and once explained to a customer, if they are still not convinced, is this proof that some of our population just do not care about their home and the security of it? Obviously I know there are some out there like that, but what I have seen so far this year are a lot of people who probably could afford to buy premium and quality without stretching themselves, yet do not. To me, I can only see this as proof that no matter how much education and information there is out there, windows and doors are just not that highly held in the thoughts of a lot of people out there, which staggers me.
Windows and doors are the primary defence to your home in terms of security, energy efficiency and aesthetics. Get them wrong, and it could have a terrible effect on the property. If apathy is the problem, then it is our job to step things up yet another gear and push the message out to the consumer that high quality windows and doors are an investment, serious home improvement product and will only achieve high security and protection levels where cheap variations won’t.
Like I said, it staggers me to think that some of our consumers don’t take as much pride in their home and home improvements as they should. But, it’s our job to change that!
My personal opinion is that some people feel that a £600 door is good enough,as £600 is a few quid customers think that their investment is enough to get them enough security and a door which will last a long time,I just think that cost is the major factor nowadays for most people.
For some it will always be a losing battle…some people will happily spend thousands on their kitchens and bathrooms and then make you feel like you are robbing them blind for charging them to replace their windows. Out of all the items in a house, windows and doors are essential, absolutely essential! I’ve had people stand in front of me telling me about the £8k worktops they have just had put in, or the rain shower with mother of pearl tiling that cost £4k and yet they will go with another company for windows for a saving of £150 and… Read more »
People notice clothes, and its a fashion statement, its your look and personality. Cars are are again a statement of who you are and how you want to be seen, also you use them every day so if you want to pay extra for heated seats you will do, And more to the point a lot of people have a massive interest in cars. Windows are neither interesting or a fashion statement for people, as you say they are just a necessity. Once they are in do people really notice your windows and doors, I would say not, unless they… Read more »
I sell Windows and Doors as a St Johns Window Centre product but problem most customers have is branding, when its fitted WER or any other label does not show how it is constructed. Only customer knows how good it is.
I drive a Jaguar XF and you know what you have paid for and so do your friends, customers etc. With windows there is no brand / badge.
So as an industry we could do with selling a viisiable brand, the question is how ?
I agree entirely. I recently quoted a customer who was so obsessed with price you could actually see the point at which she stopped listening to what I was saying once I said I was £400 more than her cheapest quote.
Tried every close in the book to help her understand the benefits of what I was offering over the white van men but some people just cannot be helped!
Good post! – PLEASE DELETE EARLIER POST – miss spelled my website in an amusing way :S
To be fair the price of a product has no bearing on the quality of the product, I have seen SBD composite doors that are on sale at the cheaper end of the figures you have quoted that bar attacked with a chain saw you are not going to get through it and likewise I have seen the same product being retailed at over £2000 but with inferior cylinders that can be broken into in under 30 seconds. Also you see people selling “engineered” cruciform doors at the higher end of the price range where in fact they should be… Read more »
Spot On Garry…BRAND! BRAND! BRAND! See you all @Fitshow for our Branding week!
It amazes me that we are debating this, after all we have driven costs down so low in this industry that this is all that anyone sells on these days. Gone are the days that windows and doors are sold on their features and benefits, even though the technology in a typical window and door is the best it has ever been. I am amazed as to how little the customer really knows about what he is buying. Ask him/her about PAS 024 and you will get a puzzled look in return. SFS intec hinges tick all of the boxes… Read more »
Engineered doors dgb do you target for more commision
I make the same on any type of door we sell, as is right.
“There are many things in this world that stagger me: Chavs, North Korea, the way the banks are run, the crap weather, industry apathy and how there is nothing outside the Universe!” Best opening sentence ever?!
Good post though, couldn’t agree more that people are prepared to show off/flaunt and spend the most money on the inside of their home, but when it comes to the outside, they all want the best for the cheapest. They don’t seem to realise it works like any other industry, you have to pay for the best.