Posted: 5/12/2007 5:22:16 AM EDT
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www.paramountbuilders.com We've been considering getting the trim on our house vinyl wrapped, and having gutters installed. Thursday someone from Paramount Builders happens to be in our neighborhood, and ends up talking to my wife. They end up dropping by that evening to talk to us. Two sales types drop by and go through their pitch about what a good company they are what good work they do and how great the materials are they use and how great their lifetime warranty is even though it's unlikely I'll need it. Fine. At one point one guy is working up what I guess is an estimate/price, while I'm talking to the other guy, and he's talking about this "first visit promotional discount" or something. I tell him I'll consider their company, but there's not any way I'd commit to something that night, as I'm not done doing my research. Well, that took the air out of their sails, and they wrapped up and said their good-byes and left. Apparently these poor saps work on some kind of commission basis that requires them to "close a deal" during a visit. Seems bizarre; I don't know anyone who would make that kind of decision that quickly. Anyway, the next day, someone from the company calls back, and some "manager" wants to come by today for "only 10 minutes" and give me a price. "You're wife will be there right? She needs to be there too."  We'll be home, as I'll be doing yard work and stuff, so I tell them sure, they can drop by.They seem like a well-established company, but their approach to new business seems bizarre. It will be interesting to see if they do any more weird stuff; their antics have me curious. They seem to have sites all over SE VA and NE NC. Anyone here dealt with these folks? |
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We used them to install vinyl soffit covers on the second floor of our house in Courthouse Estates in VA Beach several years ago. They did a nice job on the installation and cleaned up fairly well. We had one issue- apparently the installation team enountered a wasp nest and sprayed some industiral strength material on the nest to kill them. The crap MELTED some of my roof shingles. I called the company, they came out immediately. The boss took one look, took full responsiblity, had his crew go to Lowes, buy matching shingles (he brought them to my office first to make sure I was happy with the shingles) and then had his roofing guys go up and rip out all the bad stuff and replace it. Kinda a hassle but they made it right and didn't walk away until I was satisfied. I'd recommend them. |
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I'll be a little off topic here but I can give you some insight into this style of sales presentation! I was in the home improvements business for some years and worked a short while with 2 companies like this. There are a lot of companies that do business this way. Seems Very high pressure. The ones I worked for did good quality work and had a good product. Usually these companies handle higher price line goods with many bells and whistles and will not be the cheapest. High pressure sales? Not really. Realistically you should be able to make up your mind that night. Why are you and your wife not able to make a decision that night? Were there any questions the salesman didn't answer? I doubt it! Had you not done any research prior to their presentation? I'll bet you had! Did you already have an idea what the project would cost? Definitely! Don't you know if you can afford it? You know! Are you afraid to make decisions or did someone teach you never to make a decision that quickly? BINGO----That's it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! At your job, Don't you have to make quick decisions daily? These are all proven points I am making. People make all kinds of BS excuses for not making a decision on the spot. Even when they know they want the item and can afford it. You don't want the cheapest price anyway. I would get straight to that point early in my presentations to qualify the people. If you want a reputable company that has been around a while- has a good product- great service, YOU will pay more. The low price guys come and go so their warranty is worthless. They want the wife there because there are so many "tire kickers" out there who waste salesman's time when they really have no intention of buying anyway. If both husband and wife are there then they can not use the excuse that they need to talk it over with their (wife, husband). I'll give them all night to sit with me and ask me any question they may have about my product and company. What is there to think about? |
Wow... your post is kinda like their style of sales tactics. "What is there to think about?" You're kidding, right? Several thousand dollars is not something I tend to spend without considering all the options. "Why are you and your wife not able to make a decision that night?" Had not researched the company, just having heard of them that day. Have not talked to other companies, gotten other estimates. "Were there any questions the salesman didn't answer? I doubt it!" They didn't give us a price. After I said we weren't gonna decide that night, they lost interest and left, making it clear they were commission guys. "Had you not done any research prior to their presentation? I'll bet you had!" No. One of their reps was in our neighborhood that day, and my wife talked to them, and the sales guys dropped by that night. "Did you already have an idea what the project would cost? Definitely!" No. "Don't you know if you can afford it? You know!" No. Without an estimate given, how would we know? "Are you afraid to make decisions or did someone teach you never to make a decision that quickly? BINGO----That's it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" "At your job, Don't you have to make quick decisions daily?" When it comes to awarding contracts at work, the decision process involves research, self-generated estimates of what the work should cost, written evaluation criteria, etc. The decisions typically take weeks. "These are all proven points I am making. People make all kinds of BS excuses for not making a decision on the spot. Even when they know they want the item and can afford it." Proven points? Sounds like desperation. I expect this company probably does solid work, but they seem desperate. They seem sleazy, like a lot of car salesmen I've dealt with. I guess pushing people to rush into a decision might work with a lot of folks with not much education, but not with many people I know. People I know (myself included) want to determine their options, weigh them against their needs, and determine the best value. These guys seemed to be pushing for an immediate decision, as if they were worried I was going to get other estimates. (Of course I am.) I see no reason for a rushed decision, and every reason for a measured consideration of the options. |
| Run Away. I think it was Paramount who's salesperson left there reference book at my house and never came back to get it after multiple calls. It had HUNDREDS of names and addresses with what they had done and how much they spent. Even if it wasn't them they were one of the companies that qouted me $15K for what ended up being a $5K job. Paramount, Premier, and Mellani Brothers have exhorbinant prices. They do fantastic work from what I've heard just at about triple what it should cost. I never go with the cheapest contractor but I got 8 bids to do the windows in my house they ran between $3500-$7000 with the exception of the previously listed three which were in the $15K range. I ended up using "The Roofing Company" at a cost of about $5K to replace 14 windows and wrap the exterior trim. They did a fantastic job and were very professional. I reccomend them whole heartedly, you are more than welcome to come by and see there work. I do not get any kind of referral bonus I just know there a good stand up company that does good work for a fair price. Feel free to come drink a beer and look at my windows if you're in the Hampton area. |
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I gave you some of the come backs they will use on you! Most salesman are commisioned and if they see you are not going to buy from them they will cut their losses and not waste any more time on you. I did learn some valuable lessons from the high pressure guys. They are very good at reading people and they have a response for most any No answer you could give them. |
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Like clockwork their teams are ringing doorbells and trying to get me to buy something for the house every month. You would think that they could maybe just cross my house of the list. The calls finally stopped when we got on the do-not-call registry. They were calling at least three times a week. |
| They do try to nail you with that first visit discount. The wife also got roped in and the window guys came out to the house. Nice enough guys and their windows were preemo, but there's no way I'm paying $1000 per window to have them replaced. Shit, the windows that were going in would be more energy efficient than the freaking walls. Where's the benefit in that? |
Thanks... I appreciate the offer! Melani Bros. pulled that "your wife has to be there" crap on a friend. He was ready to roll, and even told them his wife had nothing to do with the decision. They refused to consider the job. He's still pissed at them. |
That sounds suspiciously like someone I know that works over in your building, does this guy have a Korean wife and drive a short bed, red truck? 
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