Unethical Practices in the Window Coverings Market -- What to Look For, What to Avoid
This time, on the Budget Blinds of Scottsdale & Fountain Hills blog, we wanted to do something a bit different from our usual fare. We always want our customers to be as informed as possible in every decision they make, and that goes double if they are working with other companies or getting a few quotes. We know that upgrading your home can be a big expense, and you might want to seek out a few quotes or other options from other companies – we get it! That’s why we want you to have this knowledge in hand so you can be sure that you’re working with a good company that has your best interest at heart and not just their bottom line. So, let’s get to it – here are five unethical practices to keep an eye out for and avoid when working with a window-covering company!
What’s the saying? The devil works hard, but so and so work harder? Well, unfortunately, businesses that are only after a buck work pretty hard, too – just not for you. These unethical business practices start from the jump.
False Advertising, Bait-and-Switch Tactics, Hidden Fees
These three all fall under a similar umbrella, so we’re lumping them together as general deceit. Unfortunately, false claims about services and products are common, with companies promising all sorts of savings, durability, performance, and more only to have products that don’t meet those promises.
Some businesses lure their customers in with attractive deals, low prices, or savings only to upsell, add feeds, or give convoluted pricing schemes that actually end up costing customers more money! There are few things worse than getting a quote only for it to skyrocket with tacked-on fees at the last minute, or hidden additions for installation, using certain materials.
When you’re working with a company, if there is any run around at all about pricing, be on the lookout going forward, or better yet, get out of there. Chances are you are going to be dealing with a shady company the whole way through.
Pressure Selling
High-pressure sales tactics are absolutely the worst and often a sign that the service itself isn’t worth it – if it were, they wouldn’t have to resort to strong-arm tactics. It also is a sign that the salesperson has what they want to accomplish first and not the needs of their prospective customer.
Look for a company that lays out the pricing openly, gives you all the information you could possibly want (and more!), and helps guide you through the process, whether or not it’s for simple shades or a complex automation system.
Low-quality or Defective Products
This is, unfortunately, a tough one to keep an eye out for, but low-quality and/or defective products are also a common signal that a business isn’t on the up and up. Why do businesses bother selling low-quality products? Typically, it’s because it saves them a lot of money to do so, and they can turn around and price their goods at whatever they feel. If the product breaks, then they get another opportunity for high-pressure sales tactics to sell again.
To protect yourself from this one, you are going to have to do a bit of extra research, such as looking at reviews, getting the names of the specific products on offer, and researching. Here at Budget Blinds of Scottsdale and Fountain Hills, we offer name brands like Lutron as well as custom-made pieces. That means that potential customers can look up reviews for Lutron window coverings or read our Google reviews and see that the quality of what we’re selling is worthwhile.
Nonexistent Customer Support
Imagine paying for a service or product, only to have the company disappear when something goes wrong. Unfortunately, this is standard operating procedure for unethical companies. Poor customer service (or nonexistent support!) is unacceptable in an industry like ours. After installation, window coverings may need adjustment, or maybe the fabric isn’t quite what the customer hoped for now that they see it on the wall. That’s where a good company continues supporting its customers and ensuring they get the exact right fit.
Again, turning to reviews on sites like Google or Yelp is going to be your best bet here. Look at the 1 and 2-star reviews and search for any discussion of their customer service and support quality.
Withholding or Misleading Warranty Information
This one is similar to the lack of customer support, but it bears specific mention here. Misleading warranties – anything that seems too good to be true often is – hidden clauses, fine print, unreasonable terms and conditions, all of these could leave you high and dry when something goes wrong and it shouldn’t. Before anything gets installed, before any money changes hands, you should have a firm understanding of what your warranty options are, how they work, and the sorts of things to be on the lookout for.
Any company worth its salt will want its customers to know all of this, too. It makes our jobs easier and our clients happier to know that should something go wrong, there is a way forward.
Here at Budget Blinds Scottsdale and Fountain Hills, we believe in doing business the right way. We’re proud to serve the local community with integrity, honesty, and quality window coverings that make your home more stylish, comfortable, and energy-efficient. When you work with us, you can rest easy knowing you're dealing with a company that values transparency and customer satisfaction above all. From our first free in-home consultation through installation and beyond, we are here to serve above all else. It’s what you deserve!