Replies

1. 
   Mike_Smith | Aug 09, 2001 02:00am | #1

   *
   rich... as the contractor it is your responsibility to find out how the mfr. measures their product....

   if you don't want the responsiblity have the mfr. rep. come out and measure for the order... .. but you placed the order..so it's right where it should be... on you....

   this is pretty basic stuff... sorry 'bout dat....

1. 
   Mark_McDonnell | Aug 09, 2001 03:06am | #2

   *Sucks.....but......You'll sell it on another job and the client won't have to wait for the factory........Don't feel bad.....all of us (everyone I know) has had to open wide to eat a mis-order.You'll never half to do that again.........and leave your supplier alone.

1. 
   Sonny_Lykos | Aug 09, 2001 04:16am | #3

   *I agree with the other guys. Those measurements by the factory, supplier or whatever, could have been inside, outside or fin to fin. Put in a few bow and bay windows in my time and "always" ordered from the manufacturers catalogue or spec sheet which always shows from where their measurments are taken.Still, like most of us, I've eaten a few products as well. In fact, our warehouse has just acquired a 8' x 20' sliding patio door we will sell cheap. Even the best of "systems" will occasionally fail.

1. 
   William_Ensley | Aug 09, 2001 04:22am | #4

   *Hey Sonny,How cheap and when can I expect delivery?Bill Ensley

1. 
   SHGLaw | Aug 09, 2001 01:15pm | #5

   *This is why GC's homes look so weird, using all the surplus and mis-ordered stuff from their jobs. Sucks, but a learning experience.

2. 
   Sonny_Lykos | Aug 09, 2001 03:15pm | #6

   *Bill, they're all crated and on their way to your place.

3. 
   Geoff_B | Aug 14, 2001 03:35am | #7

   *WOW- Now I need to find out how big the window manufactures flange is. Thank god they dont make a 30" flange I'd need a magnifying glass to see out.

4. 
   Andy_Engel_ | Aug 17, 2001 02:29pm | #8

   *I'm not sure that I agree with you guys. I've worked on both sides of the lumberyard counter. If Rich ordered a window to fit a 66-in. opening, the supplier should eat the window. If he ordered a 66-in. window, well, Rich should design an addition around it. A good supplier makes sure that the special order the customer thinks he wants is what he really needs.Andy

5. 
   Mark_McDonnell | Aug 18, 2001 04:39pm | #9

   *Andy, you were a good supplier.......but like most good ones, you moved on to other things.......I have a great supplier/ salesman I reward with all my big ticket, special orders. He's very good and very complete. (Ah, Mark, ya want shims with that?)He's also very rare.Anytime you order a new product, you must read all the info first.....If Rich had done that, he wouldn't be dreaming of a new application for a mis-ordered bay.....It would be kinda like opening your F.H. and learning how to install a skylight by just looking at the pretty pictures!

6. 
   Rich_Thompson | Aug 19, 2001 09:30pm | #10

   *Thank you guys for your input about my problem with the window supplier. I guess the verdict is that I was wrong for not inquiring on how the window manufacturer reads the measurements. I'm learning something new all the time. My standpoint is that I believe it is the job of the window supplier to find that out and notify me of that. A phone call something like this would have been nice - "Rich I want to make you aware of how Maestro bay windows are built. The measurement you gave me (66") will be from fin to fin. That will not be the size of the bay window frame." Anyway I now own that bay window. This has been an expensive lesson and one I won't soon forget. Thanks again to all who replied.

7. 
   Mark_McDonnell | Aug 19, 2001 10:07pm | #11

   *Rich,I agree completly with you........on what the supplier SHOULD have done. Proof that the supplier was remiss, if not an idiot..........but it still pays to check out all persons and info. After all, it's your reputation and it's your nickel.

8. 
   Andy_Engel_ | Aug 20, 2001 03:23pm | #12

   *Rich, you learned a lesson. Have you made sure that your supplier has as well? If you don't raise a stink, taking it to your salesman's manager if need be, things won't get better. We get the service we demand. I still think he was remiss for not telling you how this window's maker measured.To quote a quote that I think Joe Fusco has used, "All that is neccessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."Andy

9. 
   JRS | Aug 21, 2001 03:06am | #13

   *Andy,I agree completely with you. You must let the salesman know that he let you down, and although you may have signed the order, and are legally bound to accept the product, his future business with you is in jeopardy. When I deal with a supplier, I want a professional salesman, not just an order-taker. Anyone can fill out an order sheet and send it in. A professional will make sure you understand what you are ordering, ask the right questions, review it just to be sure. Rich, you have to let your supplier know that your mistake is also their mistake, and if they don't do something for you to mitigate your loss (not necessarily a full refund, but something) you will vote with your feet and shop elsewhere. And then stick to it.John

2. 
   Rich_Thompson | Aug 21, 2001 03:06am | #14

   *
   I'm replacing an existing Andersen bay window with a new Maestro bay window that will allow the new kitchen countertop to extend out onto it.A few months ago when meeting with the clients about replacing the window I measured the width of the existing bay window from inside as it's sitting in the wall. That measurement was 66". I ordered the new bay window with a width of 66". Monday morning the windows show up and I measure the new bay window just as I had the existing and the measurement is 61". I called my window supplier and told him that the new bay window is wrong , being 5" narrower than what I ordered. He called Maestro and called me back telling me that Maestro builds those measurements from nail fin to nail fin. So I measured from fin to fin and the measurement is 66". I asked him why he hadn't told me that's how Maestro builds their bay windows (knowing that he didn't know it either until he called Maestro and called me back). He didn't really answer and I told him the client would rather put the old window back in and return the new one. He said the factory won't take it back so what do you want me to do, eat the cost of the window? I did offer to pay for half of the window and he pay for the other half. He still didn't like that. My problem is I'm not sure if I ordered the window wrong or it was his mistake for not informing me on the different method of measuring that brand of bay window. Any replies will be appreciated. Thank you.