Why Our San Diego Replacement Window Company Doesn’t Advertise a “Price Per Window”

Every once in a while, when I’m driving down the freeway in and around San Diego, I’ll see billboards that say something like, “Windows installed for $149 each” or something along those lines.

I always shake my head when I see billboards (or print ads) like this, advertising artificially low prices on replacement windows. One of three things must be true of the San Diego replacement window companies putting out these ads:

1. The company doing the advertising is just picking a random low price so people will call them. Their salespeople will then give them a different (higher) price after visiting their home and taking measurements. They will explain to the customer that their windows are the “exception” to the $149 price that was advertised, or that the customer needs some added features that cause the price to go up. Or maybe they will say that there will be extra work required for the installation. Whatever reason they come up with, the customer won’t be getting windows for $149 each. That price was just a lure to get them to call.
2. The replacement window company is selling very poor-quality windows that you probably wouldn’t want in your San Diego home. If the price of a window is too low, you may realistically wonder what is being sacrificed to get the price that low—craftsmanship, energy-saving technology, quality of installation, etc.
3. The company is actually selling every window for $149 and taking a financial loss on any window that costs the company more than that to install. I can’t imagine any replacement window company doing this (and if they did, they wouldn’t be in business very long). Occasionally, other types of companies will deeply discount their products, even occasionally taking a loss, in order to gain new customers, but this doesn’t make sense in an industry like the replacement window industry, where we typically don’t have repeat customers.

In my opinion, any reputable replacement window company will not publish a “price per window” on a billboard, in an ad, or even on their website. The reason is simple—it’s impossible to know for certain what a window will cost until you go to a customer’s home take measurements, and see what you’re dealing with. Your home may need custom windows, or you may have windows in your home that will require extra work by our installation crew. We wouldn’t want to publish a price, only to have that price go up once we visit your San Diego home. It would make us look shady—like we’re pulling a bait-and-switch—and it makes the customer feel duped.

If you’re looking for a good value on replacement windows, going with a replacement window company that advertises really low prices on their windows is not necessarily the way to go. You’ll likely either get what you pay for—low-quality windows and substandard installation—or you’ll end up paying more than you bargained for (sometimes much more). Either way, you’ll be disappointed. You’re likely only going to replace your windows one time, so make sure you do it right! Sacrificing on window quality or installation services in order to save a few dollars will have a real impact on the energy efficiency of your home, as well as on your comfort.

A better option is to go with a company in San Diego that provides quality replacement window products and professional installation at a fair price. And by professional installation, we mean a company that uses factory-trained window and door installation teams—not subcontractors or general laborers.

Give us a call or contact us through our website if you’d like us to come to your home for a free, no-obligation consultation where we can give you an accurate estimate of what it would cost to replace the windows and doors in your home.