Replies

1. 
   FrankB89 | Oct 27, 2003 03:51pm | #1

   I've had Anderson and a couple of vinyls with fogged glass or failed glazing seals...Reps were on the spot to replace.

   Now that Anderson has changed their distribution system, the rep situation is iffy out here in the West...

    

2. 
   geob21 | Oct 27, 2003 03:53pm | #2

   Andersen goes above and beyond without a doubt. I personally know 1 of their independent service provider and it's amazing what they'll do to correct a problem.

   How about this for example: 16' combo sliding door unit with 1 seal failed center panel and neither slider operated. The builder shimmed between the header and jamb causing the seal failure and the non operating condition. Andersen supplied new door ( cost approx $650.00) and service tech removed shims to get the door working. All of this could have been avoided had the installer of the door actually read the installation instructions, but all the customer knew was his Andersen door didn't work. Andersen fixed it.

   On the other hand I have weathershield and had  many seal failures, jamb liner splits and balance failures. Weathershield offered pro-rated replacement parts and no idea who could repair them in my area. I repaired them myself and buying the parts from strybuc  it was was much cheaper then weathershields pro-rated prices.

   __________________________________________________________________

   If you were arrested for being a quality builder would there be enough evidence to convict you?

   
   

   ---

   Edited 10/27/2003 8:54:40 AM ET by GEOB21

3. 
   jarcolio | Oct 27, 2003 04:22pm | #3

   we have had exceptional service from Andersen - one house had a couple go 'cloudy' and they replaced without quibling, the other we had a large picture window (5x5) crack and they replaced it without quibling -- all of these jobs were at no cost to us -- we really have had favorable treatment and sucess with the Andersen product -- they are a joy to install

4. 
   goldhiller | Oct 27, 2003 04:24pm | #4

   Had one Marvin patio slider lose the seal after about a year. One phone call and rep was on sight within 48 hours. They installed a new door within a week........no charge. Couldn't have been easier.

   Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.
5. 
   ZippyZoom | Oct 27, 2003 04:42pm | #5

   I've had two of my Weathershield windows fail- one clouded, one developed a hairline crack in the middle of the pane. I called my GC who installed them, he called the distributor, and two days later the distributor's rep came out, measured and ordered replacements- no questions asked. When the replacements came in, the distributor's own installer did the replacement- a real pain in one case since it was a fixed panel with somewhat fancy trim. Did nice work, too.

   =====Zippy=====
6. 
   DaveRicheson | Oct 27, 2003 08:14pm | #6

   Built my FIL home in 91 with Andersen windows. Had two fog up in 01 and called my supplier. Windows were two months past the the ten year warrenty, but the rep said they would honor it. He also scanned the other windows in the house and found eight more that needed replacing. Replaced them all at no cost, and said to call if others of the original package failed. Seems they had a lot of bad seals in the 90 and early 91 productions, Said Andersen would extend the warrenty to cover those units an additional ten years. I can't say I have ever heard of any other manufacturer going that far.

   Dave

1. 
   BossHog | Oct 27, 2003 10:12pm | #7

   I gotta tell ya, I'm shocked to hear all the positive stories about Anderson. I've never heard anything like that around here.

   My biggest memory of Anderson has to do with a friend's house. Endless battles and phone calls over a batch of windows for their house. Anderson denied having any responsibility for seal problems in half the windows on the house. Eventually they grudgingly replaced the internal wood muntins on a window that were 1/2" too short.

   Eventually the rep just quit returning the homeowners calls. I wonder if maybe this kind of stuff is largey left up to the individual reps? Maybe they just got a jerk to deal with.The Earth is full. Go home.

1. 
   retiree | Oct 27, 2003 11:37pm | #8

   Can't go wrong with Anderson.  Had a window fog up after 9 years.  Called Anderson and they replaced it through their local distributor.  They never even sent out a rep and when I asked what to do with the old window they told me to throw it away.

2. 
   blues_hound | Oct 28, 2003 12:56am | #9

   I am in South Dakota and I have collected on a few different window gaurentees from Andersen Pella and Crestline.  Andersen had the fastest service of the three but all had good service.  Crestline had 35,000 worth of window problems on one house alone, they paid us for removal and installation of all failed windows.  The jambs on alll the crestlines cracked in to the house so there was nothing to stop air infiltration.Obstacles are the things you see when you take your eyes from the goal!

3. 
   Piffin | Oct 28, 2003 03:01am | #10

   Was that maybe around 7-8 years ago?

   Andersen heads got stuck up their cracks for a couple years but theior back on track again and working hard to overcome the loss of customers that happened.

   If I remember right, Andersen is still a family business and not corporate/publicly held. As the original fmaily aged and were ceding authority, I think there was a turf war within that created fallout.

   That's surmising and reading between the lines...not trying to be a gossip but it explains that way things happened..

   Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   BossHog | Oct 28, 2003 03:11am | #11

   I think it was in 1999.My mind not only wanders, it sometime leaves completely.

1. 
   Piffin | Oct 30, 2003 05:18am | #13

   '99 may have been about the turning point. I have a work jacket with a lapel patch reading Andersen road trip 2000. They flew me out there to see how great they are and topur the factory and a couple other night spots. One thing I remember from the speil is the statement, "We are working hard to overcome any bad feelings from mangement decisions over the past couple of years" as they drummed it in that they were the best window company in the world and one reason why was how well they stood behind product.

   My own experiences bear that out. one of my customers called them for a repacement sash of a large picture window thirty years old. He was perfectly wiling to pay for the thing - it had fogged after all that time and was one out of a set of four so he wanted it from them and not any local shop so it would match.

   I only met him after he had the unit and he contacted me for installation based on my attendance on the Road Trip. Since then, I have done another sixty or seventy thopusand worth of work on his home.

   Anyway - They sent him the replacemnet unit free plus cost of shipping but would have sent it totally free if he had waited for truckload.

   I get those impatient types sometimes....

   ;).

   Excellence is its own reward!

2. 
   MisterT | Oct 30, 2003 01:32pm | #14

   About 5 years ago we did a window replacement job involving Pellas.

   Jambs had started to rot.

   Pella replaced 15-20 winnows, piad for our labor and even covered the cost of the scaffolding!

   Andersen has always given great service.

   But this is a function of using a real lumber yard and having a GOOD REP.Mr T

   Do not try this at home!

   I am an Experienced Professional!

4. 
   Schelling | Oct 28, 2003 05:48am | #12

   We have had troubles on at least three jobs with the Anderson rep for our area. It has gotten to the point where our supplier refers to him as the Marvin salesman. I don't know what arrangement Anderson has with their distributors but these guys are giving them a bad name around here. It's too bad because the service used to be their strong point.