Zenith Windows (aka Zenith Staybrite):
Who & Where they are:
They are a company covering about 35 Counties across the UK with various offices in each of them.
They are part of the Bowater group (with Bowater being the company that deals with the Public Sector side of their business).
Products: ... Read review
Advantages: Good quality product. Disadvantages: The Techniques to Sell (like LIES & Naughtyness Rubbish)
Zenith Windows (aka Zenith Staybrite):
Who & Where they are:
They are a company covering about 35 Counties across the UK with various offices in each of them.
They are part of the Bowater group (with Bowater being the company that deals with the Public Sector side of their business).
Products:
Obviously they make windows as can be seen in the pictures. They also have a range of other products ... ...for somewhere along the form!. Zenith will say its likely to lead to more business so they can discount YOU!
Then its the managers turn to help YOU! The salesperson will ring HIS manager to say about all these helpful things that will lead to further business and HE WILL agree to a bigger discount for you. So, of course, they're BOTH on your side and working for your best interests! (Yea, right, I dont think).
Who & Where they are: They are a company covering about 35 Counties across the UK with various offices in each of them. They are part of the Bowater group (with Bowater being the company that deals with the Public Sector side of their business).
Products: Obviously they make windows as can be seen in the pictures. They also have a range of other products which includes doors, porches & canopies, flat roofing, garage doors and Conservatories.
We have contact: They can be contacted via their web site and a brochure ordered. (www.zenithwindows.co.uk). Unlike many companies they operate with a FREEPHONE number. They also call house to house 'touting' for business.
Who is in: They wont attend to give you a quote if they find out you have a partner so you'll either have to be single or your other half will need to be there!
What happens then: Usually a manager will ring you beforehand to confirm the appointment time and, if applicable, the attendance of your partner.
Touchdown: The salesperson will turn up. Then over a period of 'some hours' (my personal experience and the other reviews) the salesperson will show you some old poor quality Double Glazing then get you to compare this with their product.
They have patterned glass, plain glass, different coloured handles, different coloured casements, leaded patterns, and so on. The choice is considerable.
Finally you'll settle on what you'd like done and it'll all be measure up and entered onto the 'quote form'.
Pick a Number: Then the fun starts. Once the quote is drawn up and you've made your 'bestest guestimate' for the costs, its ZAP time. The quote will be high. For my personal circumstances ( 2 sets of bay windows, front door, canopy, 1 front window, 1 large back window & 2 large sets of upper bedroom back windows) it came in at over £20,000. (YES, thats CORRECT, OVER Twenty Thousand pounds). Even the saleman seemed impressed!!
But then you get some discounts! (Woo Hoo). They'll be the normal 'on offer' discounts (as per any leaflets, as per their web site or because you deserve it). You get discounts by saying you'll allow an advert board to be left outside once the work is complete or by allowing before and after photos to be taken. You'll get a tick in the discount box for having a 'post box' near-by, for having a School near-by, being on or near a bus route, working with other people, going to pubs, etc. All things you'll probably fit the criteria for somewhere along the form!. Zenith will say its likely to lead to more business so they can discount YOU!
Then its the managers turn to help YOU! The salesperson will ring HIS manager to say about all these helpful things that will lead to further business and HE WILL agree to a bigger discount for you. So, of course, they're BOTH on your side and working for your best interests! (Yea, right, I dont think).
My figure was ALMOST HALVED at that point. After my initial shock I thanked him for coming and said 'leave the quote with me and I'll consider it' but it was way too high and had no hope at all! Then it was his turn to be shocked. STAND YOUR GROUND HERE! He started on whether the product was OK and was was wrong with it. I blocked this and said it was fine (it was) but the cost was way too high and I started to tidy up. Concerned as he was then (he could see any commission going out the window, and NOT a Zenith one at that!!) he offered to ring his manager again, which he did and the price dropped to a slither over 10K. I again thanked him for his time & offered to help him pack his samples & show him out!
He then asked what sort of price I would be prepared to pay. I can back with about 7.5K (which was similar to other quotes I had previously had). I said that was the top figure for me, FULL STOP. He asked if his manager agreed, would I sign up tonight. I said yes and a prompt call went into his manager. The price was accepted with a condition that I wrote them a nice letter afterwards saying I was happy with their service! Quite simply, the original price was down to a little over a third of the starting price! Naughty Sales Techniques involved here but OTHER companies do also do this. You'll also get told the 'special offer' is for THAT night only! (YAWN YAWN). After the signitures and paperwork were split up that was this section over.
Surveyor: Within a few days you'll be rung by the relevant office thanking you for your order and that the surveyors department will contact you. Sure enough, they'll ring & book an appointment for the surveyor. He'll come round, check the measurements and go. Quick, easy and simple.
All systems are go: At some point, a few weeks later, you get a letter giving you a rough date when your windows (or whatever), will be ready. Then, once they are, the office will ring and book a fitting date with you.
Fitting: Quite simply the workers turn up and do the work. Depending on the size of the order depends how long they will take to complete it. Once its all done you either sign the payment form or pay the workers (by Cheque).
OTHER BITS:
The workmen: You WILL be told the men are all company fitters and are employed by Zenith. NOT TRUE. They are all contracted and paid by the jobs they do. But the workmen I've had contact with did a great job and were professional at all times.
Showhome Magazine: They have a magazine that appears to be quarterly. This will be HEAVILY plugged by the salesperson. Basically if your house appears in it, possibly with before & after photo's, they'll refund the cost of your work (except for the vat). Obviously they do use some peoples purchases but, they WILL make a HUGE play about this. You odds of getting in are, quite simply, going to be VERY slim!!!
Payment: This can be by cheque on the day the work is completed. You can use a credit card but this attracts a 1.5% fee. They will try to get you to put the costs on a payment plan. Obviously as soon as you start to pay over a period of time, the amount attracts interest. But you can sign up for it and pay by cheque on the day. This wont cost you anything and the salesperson gets a bit of extra commission.
Product: The windows, doors and whatever are all guaranteed by FENSA and you will get a booklet on this, how to look after the windows, etc. The glass used is all Pilkington K glass as ALL windows now have to be. All double glazing companies will have differences between their products. Zenith have a lifetime guarantee that the colour of their windows will not fade. Something to do with their manufacture process. I like the locking systems on their windows which enable you to leave them slightly open but locked in place. The front door has locking mechanisms all round it and is quite substantial.
Recommondation: I do recommended them as I feel the product is quite substantial. They look good and the security devices are 'top quality'. Yes you'll be able to get cheaper quotes with other companies but not quite the same quality. Either way, DO get other quotes. If their product is so good, you'll be back to buy from them, wont you!
*** REMEMBER. IT IS THE SALESPERSONS JOB TO SELL YOU THE PRODUCT. IT IS NOT YOUR JOB TO BUY IT! ***
And Finally HOT 'MONEY SAVE' TIP: This tip can be used for this product or many other loans. Quite simply, if you take out a loan (NOT a morgage though) then you will be paying back the money over a period of time and with interest. The quicker its cleared the less you pay (obviously). But BE AWARE, NEVER EVER ask for a settlement figure when you think you have enough to pay it off. You will (legally) be charged a maximum of 3 months interest on the outstanding amount. What you do is send them a cheque (or whatever) making a substantial payment. This must not be for the full amount owing. Tell them this is simply a capital payment. This payment will then reduce the loan owing. After doing this, you can THEN ask for a settlement figure if you wish. They can then ONLY charge you 3 months interest on the small amount left owing by you!!! Enjoy!
Advantages: Good Quality with 10 year guarantee Disadvantages: The sales talk can take hours.
I don't like the way double glazing is sold, and have no time to listen to salesmen trying desparately to earn their commission. I bought a window for my lounge 10 years ago from this company and had no problems at all, so they were the obvious choice when I wanted the rest of the windows replaced.
The double glazing companies are not so easy to find when you need them, but I only had to wait a few weeks before a rep. telephoned. An appointment ... ..."You will be there, won't you?" I guess they have a hard time selling their product.
The salesman must have thought it was Christmas - I didn't just want new windows, I wanted replacement cladding boards front and back of the house!
I don't like the way they quote a price, then deduct a large percentage to arrive at a special offer if you sign up today. Don't sign, because in a few weeks you will get a phone call offering a lower extra special ...
johnalderton 26.02.2001 (25.02.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Zenith Windows
Advantages: Fantastic Products, lasts a life time Disadvantages: People dont seem to like the salesmen
Zenith Windows is owned by the Bowater group. Together with its sister company, Staybrite, both merged together to form, Zenith Staybrite.
The company has some fantastic products, and the quality of installation is second to none!
Their products are made from virgin grade PVC U, which means they wont fade or discolour, and to keep quality control as tight as possible, its all made in house in their massive Norfolk factory, and then shipped out ... ...that leak real bad!
Zenith Staybrite have sales consultants, and its with these people that most gripes are produced.
The Salesman tends to join the company when his personal life chips are down, no one wakes up and decides to be a double glazing salesman, but the Bowater way, is a strict and tightly controled one.
All salesmen, including those migrating from other companies, must attend a 1 week residential training course where they learn about ...
gt5952 31.10.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Zenith Windows
Advantages: Good Quality product Disadvantages: Everything else.
...finished.
Reported this to Zenith along with comments as and when they rang to ask if there was anything else because of money they had put aside for us because of other business they had gained from it. Etc, etc, etc !
We had a phone call 5 weeks after the windows and doors had been fitted enquiring as to our interest in replacement windows and would we like to arrange an appointment for a salesman to visit with a no obligation quote guaranteed ... ...a Zenith letter through the door advertising doors and windows etc with up to 50% discount if I contact them by 28th Feb !! Don't think so ! Oh and according to this brochure the Chief Execs name is Chris Watson if any of you fancy writing to him ! ...
SallyBB 12.02.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Zenith Windows
Advantages: exellent product good installation Disadvantages: expensive, iffy salesman
Our experience with Zenith windows began as many do with a canvasser ringing the doorbell.
Now it must be said that we did indeed need new windows as our old wooden framed windows were well past their sell by date and if the wind was in the right direction the curtains would blow gently in the breeze.
So the appearence of the canvasser gave us the push to do something about our windows and we arranged for the salesman to return a few days later. ... ...remains to be seen.
Will Zenith still be around at the end of the ten year guarentee? I think there is more of a chance than with other less established fims, which was a major factor in us choosing Zenith.
And did I pay over the odds well yes probably but to get possitive solutions to my other questions I think it was worth it.
One point on price I feel I should mention although whether it is company policy or just our salesman I do not know ...
docpov 28.04.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Zenith Windows
Advantages: NONE Disadvantages: Dishonesty from start, lies and pushy salesmen
We called Zenith Staybrite for a conservatory quote which was supposed to be "NO obligation" according to Zenith's own words. Unfortunately, the real experience has demonstrated otherwise.
First of all, the salesman arrived half an hour late with no apology or explanation. He then spent about 15 mins rummaging in his car for some folders and eventually came in. 5 minutes later he popped out to his car again to get something else. In fact, for the ... ...anyone ever decided to ring Zenith for either windows, doors or conservatories, please, don't fall for it. It's a lie. We went to some local conservatory suppliers and they all offer you a choice of either plastic or powder coated alluminium. Zenith will also tell you that most other companies offer you polycarbonate roof for your conservatory whereas they offer glass. That is also not true. Every conservatory supplier will do what you wish and can ...
tiggerkid 23.08.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Zenith Windows
