My home, a small terraced house circa 1985, has three wooden single glazed windows that I want to have replaced with double glazed unit principally to reduce/eliminate condensation. Investigated the 'web' (google) and a local windows company and had quotes in the price range £1200-£1500. Yesterday I had a visit from a Zenith Staybrite Salesman and after two hours of waffle and telling me how bad everyone else's product was initially quoted me £4950.00 which was reduced to £3350, if I agreed to be a show home. When I told him I thought his quote was somewhat high, more waffle about how superior the Zenith product was and a phone call to the boss (probably fake) the price was reduced to £1980 if I signed up there and then. When I told him I didn't intend to commit to the first salesman through the door the price was again reduced to £1500 if I initially had the front two windows replaced and at a latter date the rear window. The scheme apparently being the rear window could be replaced at a lower cost as I would be a repeat customer.
How do these companies stay in business with this sort of selling? I understand that Zenith Staybrite are a 'reputable' company, whatever that means :-). As far as I am concerned they are a bunch of con men. It is simply outrageous that a quote of £4950 can be reduced to £1500.
How does one go about getting honest quotations for this sort of work?