Lifetime warranty window warranty hassle:(

[hallerb]

I am interested in to what you think is fair.

About 11 years ago I bought lifetime warranty windows from Swingline, a local window company. they emphasized at the time of sale to call them not reynolds who made the windows. your warranty is really with us not reynolds. did nice job, nice folks

at about 7 years I had a couple fogged windows, swingline did replace the sealed glass units but informed me reynolds went out of the window business:(

But they would still provide a 10 year full warranty and after 10 years it would decline 10% a year like a battery warranty till it expired. I wasnt happy but what could I do?

At about the 10 year mark more fogged windows:(

Called swingline 10 times, over months basically the blew me off and ignored me.said we will take care of me but never bothered...

the frames screws were rusted and I feared breaking that frame so I ended up boarding up some windows because they were outside my fenced in yard and I have dogs. it was a security issue... took the assemblies to pgh window and door, it took a day but i had the glass replaced. cost a few hundred bucks. replacement sealed windows arent expensive:) getting frame apart can be tough....

note if swingline had offered i would of gladly paid something to avoid the hassles of boarding up wiondows etc.

swingline though ignored me:(

What if anything would you do under the same situation?

complain to BBB

Say oh well?

Start a website dedicated to the company? a not nice site like sucks?

Be a PIA at home shows and embarass them bigtime?

I WANT TO BE FAIR, but they shouldnt of plain ignored me........

opinons please?

[PopS]

I'd probably start with the BBB and talk to city hall, the Chamber of Commerce, and any other org they might be a member of. If nothing else, that will usually get their attention. IMO forget about web sites and creating bad PR: Beautiful invitation to litigation about slander. The laws are vague and hard to work within if they decide to be PITAs. Especially true of doing ANYthing at a home show! I'd also start sending them letters weekly asking or a win-win resolution to the problem, and copying various other companies as applicable: as in, a home office or larger headquarters if there is one, major competitors, their larger vendors, etc.. Your local libraray will have a Thomas Register if you need to figure out the names/addresses to write to. Do as much as possible in writing so there is a valid, verifiable paper trail of your due diligence. After, say, 6 months of this, threaten to take them to small claims court, and then do it.

IMO Pop

[m Ransley]

Is the warranty in writing, is it from swingline, for 35$ my cost here you can easily file in small claims, without an attorney. Let a judge decide, its their job, if you have it in writing. The BBB is a toothles joke that cannot enforce a collection, only a court can, and getting angry isnt worth it. Depending on the contracts wording you win or loose. What does your written warranty say, there is you case, or not. Verbal agreements mean nothing.

[trader4]

Bingo! I'd read the warranty very carefully. If it's with the local company, then I'd file suit in small claims. Hopefully he has proof, like letters, emails sent to the local company over a period of time asking for them to take care of it and pictures of the fogged windows, receipts for the repairs, etc., which will help prove the case. They probably will settle it before it gets to court.

If the warranty is from the manufacturer and they are defunct, then he's SOL.

[Jim McLaughlin]

Re: BBB -- you do understand that sole purpose of the BBB is to ensnare you in so much "process" that you give up and go away. The BBB de;lays you and deters you from taking any effective action. The BBB is a farce for consumers, has no enforcement powers.

Run, do not walk to :

1. The local small claims court and sue both the installer and the manufacturer. And don't take anuy body's word that the mfgr is "out of the window making business" 2. Scream bloody blue murder to your state's attorny general. They all have consumer protection units.

Forget the BBB.

[Bennett Price]

[digitalmaster]

home show would be a good idea..but tell only the facts and 100percent truth.and have someone video the whole thing...if you can get the demonstrator at the home show to freak out on video they will settle quick.

[m Ransley]

There is one important fact few know which could win your case on Swingline even if the other company is gone.

Fact, Anderson, Pella, and all window companies I know require "Proper Instalation " of a window to qualify for any warranty. "Proper" as in a Plumb, Level and Square instalation. Anderson and Pella give 1/8" max deviation before you are considered "out of warranty due to improper instalation". Meaning a 1 minute old window improperly installed has No manufacturer Warranty. This is how they avoid replacing " bad glass". I know, my hack installer did this to my Andersons and Pellas and I won big in court. [But I never collected]

You must carefully check Plumb, Level and Square on every window. If there is a 1/8" or more deviation, there is your case, you can refrence Anderson and Pellas warranty requirements. If 1/8" or more, photographs may be enough of every window or may not. Best would be a paid independant installer, or the Free service and Free court testimony your building inspector suplies. Of course you must pull a late permit pleading ignorance, but they wont mind, ive done it, they just want your fee. And yes the inspector came to my court case, he said "he enjoyed a day off , it was better than watching court tv"

Your inspector is paid by your fee, and respected by the court as all work for the same county that pays them.

If all are out 1/8" or more id suit for all glass good and bad as it will all likely fail early.