Just got pricing from a Champion salesman on a patio enclosure. I’ve heard nothing but good stuff about their product and the guy did a nice respectful sales presentation.
But I thought I would float it by the people here. Any experiance anyone?
I mean. Who’s dumb enough to bugle an Elk in a zoo?
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He left without a signed contract?
Of course he did. I guess you haven't heard of my reputation. :)
I mean. Who's dumb enough to bugle an Elk in a zoo?
I have a past customer they refused to cancel a contract with, the sun room they wanted to build on an existing deck was a zoning violation. Customer spent 10 months stuck between Champion who wouldn't return the deposit and zoning that wouldn't let them build.
He finally got his sun room but it took someone from Ohio to come to Maryland to get the last of the construction finished. Total time from signed contract to completion was just over 2 years.
Good luck.
These guys here won't build on an existing deck. It has to be one they build. I'm not only going by the sales pitch. A buddy at works neighbor had one built and he was pretty impressed with their workmanship and quality. He's about like me when it comes to such matters. That's why we called them for a price to begin with. I don't mind paying more as long as I get more.
They also pull permits for everything and build to code or beyond.
I mean. Who's dumb enough to bugle an Elk in a zoo?
So... if there is an existing deck they tear it down and build there own????
You bought the sizzle.... enjoy the steak.
Apparently so. They will only warranty stuff built by them. And their product is only as good as the foundation it sits on.
I mean. Who's dumb enough to bugle an Elk in a zoo?
Just tore one off of my house when i did a remodel and reroof. It was leaking at the roof joint as another poster mentioned. It was gooped up real good with some sort of caulk / cement / sealer, but still started leaking about 8 years out. It was installed by previous owners. The walls also leaked rotting the plywood floor they put down. I ended up scrapping it and rebuilding all of the rafter tails / soffit details where it joined the house. Mine was "Patio Enclosure". Different company ~ same concept. As they say the devil is in the details. Maybe mine was cheaply done as the previous owners were known for faster and cheaper, but not better. I don't know if champion does better than Patio Enclosures- but make sure they get the roof details right.
Edited 8/16/2008 10:10 pm ET by frontiercc2
If we go ahead with it that will be the one thing I watch like a hawk.
I mean. Who's dumb enough to bugle an Elk in a zoo?
I would read up on aluminum types and compare to whattheirs is. The last sunroom i installed was "aircraft grade" aluminum. My customer built planes for a hobby and showed me what kind of low grade aluminum a lot of these companies were using as he had checked several specs. The glass is also a huge issue and finding out who actually makes it and what makes it unique for these apllications. In the end you will find that all of these things are a junk and it may last 15 years. i have built plenty of additions with quality windows, doors and skylights that will last for the same price. IMO, youre making a huge mistake considering any of these products. They are not supposed to be conditioned and appraise the same as a screen porch, 20 to 40 per foot here. Its like buying a new cheap car. In 5 years you'll have it full of junk like everyone else who owns them and got sick if fogged and dirty glass.
I hear what your saying. And that's my impression of most of the ones I see. My parents had one built several years ago and it's never given them any problems. They also kept it clutter free.
After going through the paces and getting a price and getting over the I want it now fever she's pretty set now on a paver patio. She loves me for my never sign a contract on the first meeting policy.
I'd like to do a nice paver deal leading into a sunken patio that's used for grilling and chilling.
I mean. Who's dumb enough to bugle an Elk in a zoo?
http://somafm.com/listen/
And their product is only as good as the foundation it sits on.
A-men brother!!!
The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
That's the thing that caught my ear at first. My buddy at work telling me that they wouldn't even consider building on his neighbors deck. They come across as a company that promotes themselves as more expensive in a good way.
I mean. Who's dumb enough to bugle an Elk in a zoo?
http://somafm.com/listen/
Very much sounding like they've cleaned up their act, or maybe my cust. just had a one-off bad experience.
For 20k couldn't you custom build rather than buy something that MAY look like a camper attached to your beautiful new home?The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
I think they have worked on their reputation. And like you suggested maybe your customer drew a rotten egg. I don't know. My research isn't done yet.
The 20k thing is a large amount. We don't really want to build a room addition though. We want the windows of a patio room if we are going to put something there. After the salesman left the wife and I got to looking and now she's wondering about a patio using pavers. I might take a couple of pictures and start a thread. What would you do with this back yard? We do have a big lot especially for in town. I've always wanted to pour a patio but never had the gumption. It would be a big one.
I mean. Who's dumb enough to bugle an Elk in a zoo?
http://somafm.com/listen/
Post some pics, talk it up, work it out.
Dam, I gotta go to work!The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
can't beat a paver patio! This was finished in May, and we love it.
Do you have any more pictures of your yard? That looks great. I'm interested.
I mean. Who's dumb enough to bugle an Elk in a zoo?
http://somafm.com/listen/
This pic shows the patio entrance and the 2 additions. What I did was actually bump out the first addition, which was originally a 2 room wing,(bedroom and family room), made it a big family room, and the second addition is now the new master bedroom, that ties into the new patio.
>> For 20k couldn't you custom build rather than buy something that MAY look like a camper attached to your beautiful new home? <<
I don't think he bought that house...
You know the new home thing didn't register with me when I read that. Your right we didn't go with the new home. A lot of people seemed to miss the end of that thread where we took a $hit on the deal.
That place did have a nice deck across the back. The neighborhood association would have tarred and feathered me for putting up a patio room. LOL
I mean. Who's dumb enough to bugle an Elk in a zoo?
http://somafm.com/listen/
Edited 8/17/2008 8:56 am ET by Gunner
I did miss that. Sorry.
I'll go check the thread rather than ask you to rehash.The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
They advertise on TV a lot here. I've never known anybody that's had any business with them good or bad though.View Image
Good customer of mine paid $21,000.00 for them to put 3 sides and a roof on an existing wood deck. (To the right of screen porch in picture)
Roof leaked at the tie-in point from day one.
Repeated calls to customer service yielded no results.
A year later a Champion sales rep cold calls my customer. She listens to the pitch, and then begins to explain that she already has one that leaks, yada, yada, yada.
Only response was a dial tone.
In this case, bad subs, worse cust. svc.
Of course, they haven't dealt with you yet. If the homebuilding experience you related here is any indication, I'm sure you'll get what ya want.
Good Luck
The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
These guys here don't use subs. Our quote for the total package top of the line four season six inch walls,14x14. They build a deck under it, full heat and air package, and electrical was in the low twenties.
I mean. Who's dumb enough to bugle an Elk in a zoo?
Not bad. I always felt like they scalded my cust. just because they could. She's got gullability to burn.The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
No doubt they will. They may have gone through a face lift and rethinking on business longevity in the last few years too. The guy that came out today was pretty good. I was impressed with his delivery and subtleness. He was of Russian decent and English is his second language. But he was pretty fluent. And very intelegent about his product and building in general. In Russia he was a design engineer so he is pretty knowledgeble on different products. One of the few salesmen I've met that I actually enjoyed conversing with.
But when we told him we weren't signing anything today and in fact it probably would be next Spring before we did sign because we wanted to pay cash and would be better prepared by then, he tried a little salesman stuff. The brow beating and financing gimmicks and finance it now pay it off sooner deals. But that was understandable given the nature of his business. And we did state up front in our initial call that we wanted an estimate and to see our options only. And that under no circumstances would we sign today. So I didn't feel sorry for him at all.
I mean. Who's dumb enough to bugle an Elk in a zoo?