I am sure you all have done price comparos and know the difference, but for me it is the first time around with these Andersens.
Look at this. Andersen 400 gliding window, 72″ w x 48″ h R.O., full truckload discount, $851. Same size in a 200 glider, $333.
Unbelievable!
How in the world can the 400 series be so much more?
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I think one or both of those prices is off..................
I go to my supplier and order an Andersen window. He doesn't ask 2 or 400.
What's up with this 200/400 thing anyway?
Glass coatings add alot I know that.
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I pulled up a few Andersen sites and believe it or not, the price difference was actually more on one of them.
http://www.andersenwindows.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1133544515664&pagename=AW%2FAWProductCategory%2FawProductCategoryList&p=1102951372825&c=AWProductCategory
That explains a lot.
Gene you need to look at this site.
Big choice differences.
You get a Chevy for this price, or a Caddy with leather for this price.
Thanks Robert.[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
I was inside the window biz and inside the door biz for 15 years.
At the time ThermaTru was courting possible suitors for a buyout, Andersen was one of the contenders. I was on the management team at TT that met with the counterparts at Andersen for some "let's get to know each other" sessions. We toured their plants at Bayport, MN, they toured ours, we broke bread, drank their $120 per bottle wine, called each other nicknames. In the process a lot of due diligence was done, looking at and sharing numbers.
At the time A was building their greenfield plant to make nothing but their new 200 series window. This was the plan . . . good design, good product, but limited sizes, no specials, limited options, design the manufacturing for volume, big runs, commonality of parts, everything you do in manufacturing to cut costs. Don't sacrifice quality.
One thing that impressed them greatly, looking at us, was how a "little" company like TT with less than 40 percent of annual sales as compared to them, was able to make more bottomline profit. A whole lot more.
They looked, and found out how. What you do is promote the heck out of a product that you market as highly superior to other stuff in the market, and then price it way up there so that it can generate huge margins. Fiberglass doors represented 20 percent of the business, but 80 percent of the profit. To do that you have to get huge margins over cost. Ever priced the fiberglass versus the low end steel door? You would be shocked at the actual difference in cost to manufacture.
Now that I see the 200 versus 400 price on the sliders, I recognize what's up. The glass unit is the same (the IG part . . . insulated glass). Same spacer, same sealant. There is no reason at all to think that the 400 will have a greater lifespan when it comes to the glass seal.
All I can see is that the sash is beefier and the rollers different. The frames look about the same.
And what the heck! Anything goes wrong, just call 1-800 Bayport, and that wonderful service team goes into action, whether you own the cheapie or the cadillac.
BTW, Andersen service is not the same everywhere. There are pockets of greatness, just like there are pockets of not-so-greatness. Where we are here, it absolutely sucks. Everyone here agrees on that. Which is why Pella rules here.
But hey, the client wants Andersen, and the client is always right.
Edited 3/8/2006 9:49 pm ET by Stinger
Interesting analysis Gene. I'm totally confused on the 2 v 4 issue. It's been a while since I ordered any # of Andersens. Was a time when it was just an Andersen window.
I'll bet there is more to it then you see, but I am not gonna argue the point with you.
What do you mean by your reference to throwing rock? Someone else mentioned "shatterproof" and I just blew it of. You said the glazing is the same, so what gives?
Eric[email protected]
It's Never Too Late To Become What You Might Have Been
Here is the main differences between the Andersen 200 & 400 Series Gliding Windows:The 200 Series has an active & stationary sash. Only one sash glides. The sash is locked with a sash lock similar to a double-hung window.The 400 Series has an active & passive sash. Both sashes glide. The sashes are locked with a very sophisticated multi-point locking system. The 400 Series are extremely air tight, when installed properly.I've never seen a 200 Series, but plenty of 400 Series.View Image
Ditto what's been said above on the differences. I just bought a houseful of the 400's. A. will sell you the 400's with grilles, either applied on the exterior or snap-in interior, or both. With the 200's I think you're limited to between the glass grills. Also as has been said, the 400's are heavier - sash and frame, and the cladding just looks finished a little better. You're also more limited in the sizes and colors available with the 200's.
The prices are staggering - paid almost $700 for a single 3x4 glider with grilles, for example. I won't even discuss what a triple mulled set of dh's with transoms overhead will set you back. Andersen increased their factory prices beginning of Feb. Some of the units priced the same after the increase, but others, for example a 2-6 x 2-6 quarter round, priced almost $200 more after the increase. Supply & demand, and astute marketing, hmm?
Anyone know what the differences are between Andersen and Pella?
I looked at the casement and they there is only about a 20% different.But in double hung there is a large difference.
I've been told by our Andersen salesman and Rep that both windows use the same glass.
Looking at the two the frames are definately far different from each other.
We use all 400 series but I actually like the tilt wash clips of the 200 series better.
I have owned 2 GM vettes.
One was a corvette and the other was a chevette. Though they were both cars they were very different.
Something wrong there. I don't buy sliders, but mty last compare on dblhungs was less than $40/window
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I thought so too, until I griped back, then checked around.
Three Andersen dealers are saying the same thing, and they are all using the same Andersen-furnished PC-based pricing program. Each gets a different deal, but it doesn't affect the discounted price that much.
Other brands are a little higher, against the Andersen 200 price of $333, but no one is anywhere near the sky-high price for the 400 glider.
And if the plain glass price blows you away, you will be absolutely numb after hearing how much it is with the various lite division options . . . SDL, SDL sort of, SDL with removable insides, GBG, inside removable grilles.
Rape and plunder, sounds like to me.
What is it that makes Andersen so good?
What is it that makes Andersen so good?
Customer service.
I have called them on several occassions with a defective shash, broken operator.
Problem solved within a week usually with no charge at all and a smile to boot!
I still say somethings off with those numbers. So does Paul.
I wouldn't consider the 200 series for anything greater than a garage or a barn based on the $ difference. The 400 series is the tried and true Andersen window we have all known and loved (maybe).
What about you? How do you feel about this especially based on your industry knowledge?
Eric
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But wait until you throw rocks at the 200s.
Mr. Mike Smith is using them right now under "Adverse Conditions!" A whole house fulla them.
Don't know about the 200 series, but, it seemed to me that the one time I looked at the 400 series years ago, I was also blown away by the price.
Seemed to me that it was all about the way they glided. Not your standard sliding window.
Memory is a bit foggy, but, that is the cause of the expense to the best of my recollection - superior gliding mechanism.
...So good...
Trust works for me. They are tight and the seal has never broken in any I or my father have owned. I'm sure they do fail somewhere but I looked out of 2 pieces of 6 foot square thermopane Anderson windows as a kid. from 1956 til today the seal is still holding.
We saved a lot using the wicks brand then some other brand in my folks cottage. both failed about 30% of the installations nad all of them leaked at the casement or window assembly.
Last is the parts chase. I broke a dbl hung spring return in my house. Called the local lumber yard and 3 weeks later the correct part with really good instructions came UPS. Far better than getting a new window and installing it.
Pella & others might be fine but I just trust them. but at what price... that is what marketers call money on the table. They must be getting smarter.Jack of all trades and master of none - you got a problem with that?
I believe the 400 series is their impact resistant glass unit. I have 2 5' French doors being delivered Monday, $3200.00 each. The glass is much, much heavier and the frame is beefed way up too. Generally we use aluminum single hungs around here. A single strength glass unit that sells for $150.00 is $550.00 with impact glass.
What may be a stock item in the 200 series and may not be in the 400, and therefore be a special order or makeup. We've seen it on a few different sizes,and we only use Andersen.
On another note, the 400 is by far a more superior window or door than the 200 series.