Conservatory sales tactics

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It's a bit of a cliché to have the hard sell from double glazing and conservatory sales people but it still happens. Here I will tell you of a few typical approaches they will make to convince you that this is the best deal and that you should sign now.

Common conservatory sales techniques

• Sit in. They are in your home and drinking your coffee. It's up to you to get them out as they will not leave voluntarily. My advice is
  • It's your house. Ask them to leave. If they don't they are breaking the law and can be forcibly removed. It's their job to try and sell you a conservatory, so don't feel bad if you don't buy one. You are not wasting your their time. They are wasting yours if they don't have the right conservatory for you. Be gone!
• Your safe! They have left your house after discussing telephone number prices which eventually came down to prices, which although reasonable didn't convince you to sign the deal. However, the next day, out of the blue you get a call from his or her boss saying that they know how much you want that conservatory and seeing as they've had a good month we can drop the price just this once (making you feel all warm and special inside). They won't make any money, in fact, they'll only just cover costs - yeah right! Its not really a con, but annoying that they start at such ridiculously overpriced quotes. My advice is
  • Go into the sales meeting with some rough pricing worked out based on the design and size you desire.
  • Try not to be flattered, which is much easier now you know this tactic exists and is tried in many industries (e.g. car sales)
• 'Look, I've had a word with my boss and we can do a you a special deal, but you would have to make your mind up now.' So, if he/she walks out of the door and you phoned up 1-2 days later saying you wanted the conservatory at that price and had the cash ready they would say no? Not likely is it? If they are such a good company and proud of their product, pricing and service why would they not give you a bit a time to think through this very expensive purchase? My advice is
  • This sort of pressure sales is giving the conservatory installation industry a bad name. Don't encourage it by buying off them.

Advice on avoiding the hard-sell

Here is some more advice that will help you avoid getting ripped off by the hard sell.

• Never take out their finance deals for a conservatory as it is almost always the case that a better deal can be had by going to a recognised lender
• Don't be blinded by 'conservatory science'. Chances are that they do not have a clue what they are talking about when describing how triple glazed units are so much better than double glazed. A good question is to just ask 'why?'.
• Don't be surprised if the price for your conservatory can fall by more than 50% during the negotiations. Chances are the starting price was inflated depending on how expensive your car looked anyway.
• They know its a waiting game. You feel slightly obligated for taking their time and they will just sit there and talk until you agree to buy something just to make the situation feel better. Done it myself.

Conservatory Sales Tactics: Summary

To summarise, take your time. This is a very competitive business and there is no need to buy from the first person who shows you a conservatory brochure. Shop around, research approximate prices and know what you want and how much you are willing to pay.