Buy One Get One Free offers aren’t always good value
If a company offers you a free window for every window you buy, what should you say? Should you welcome it with open arms, or run very fast in the opposite direction?
As experts in double glazing, we certainly have our own opinion of these deals – and it isn’t good. Despite the jolly, ‘shouty’ adverts and catchy slogans, you might end up very miserable indeed.
Read on to find out why BOGOF may be a false economy.
The Origin of BOGOF Deals
‘Buy one get one free’ is a sales tactic that started out in supermarkets to encourage shoppers to buy in bulk. This was almost always cheaper.
When it comes to your home, buying in bulk sounds crazy. With something as critical as home security, it isn’t always a good idea to buy cheap, and it’s certainly a bad idea to make a purchasing decision purely on price.
The first BOGOF deals appeared in the late 1990s, which is about the same time that consumers started to kick back against the dreaded ‘double glazing salesman’. High pressure sales tactics and unbeatable freebies often create a potent and tempting offer, and it’s important to put these window deals into context before you buy.
Pitfalls of BOGOF Windows
Buy one get one free windows tend to come with some snags that the sales people won’t point out.
There are stories about the ‘free’ windows not being guaranteed, because technically, they were a gift. This has thankfully been stamped out, but it makes you wonder what kind of loopholes the glazing companies use to get out of their legal requirements.
In addition, you might wonder how the company can afford to sell windows at half price. Why are they so cheap? How can they make a loss?
Simple: the windows in these offers are probably sold at inflated prices in the first place. This gives the window company massive margins and space to cut prices and make ‘deals’.
When you compare the price of a big-brand BOGOF with a local supplier, you will probably find there isn’t much difference. It’s not unusual for the supplier to give a price that’s three times higher initially and wait for you to barter them down. With a big glazing company, you’re paying for the windows and installation, plus their huge marketing costs – and potentially, the cost of a glossy TV advertising campaign.
Buying Quality Windows
Buy one get one free is an age-old marketing tactic that’s been employed by travelling sales people and supermarkets for years. It isn’t really a sign of quality glazing, though, and it’s usually nothing more than marketing hyperbole.
Rather than going for a BOGOF, look for quality in windows that you can afford. Steer clear of offers, time pressures, pushy salesmen and offers that ‘must end today’.
Hamiltons has been in the business of supplying and fitting windows for decades. Our customers come back to us time and again because they trust us to do a good job. And we don’t need to use clever marketing to prove that our windows are worth buying.
If you’ve been offered BOGOF, call us today and let us talk you through the Hamiltons alternative.
