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You're ready to buy some new shutters but you've just spoken with the salesman. You are sure that they know more than you, but you are not sure if you really need the $25.80 per square foot shutter plus extras instead of the $14.00 shutter your neighbor is getting. Do some research on shutter quality and service before you 'save' nearly $12.00 per square foot.
When do you need a Z-frame versus an L-frame for shutters and why do manufacturers have surcharges for bi-fold, bypass, arches and other specialty shapes?
Answers to questions like these may only be obvious to professionals. Your time is valuable so here are some tips on what you may need:
Discounts are relative. One shop offering an 85% discount may have a different 'list' price than others. List and discount prices vary by retailer. Rather than look at the discount amount offered, ask for a price on a specific treatment size with the options you require. Catalog and Internet prices always look good until you factor in the cost of risk, measuring, installing, shipping and other fees. Warranties on internet products require you return them via UPS or FedEx at a cost higher than most products.
Should you pay extra for expert knowledge? That depends on your desired/expected outcome and your 'experts' knowledge and risk.
Most shops will provide the same price for the same brand name product within 25% of each other. While that may seem like a lot, keep in mind the total of your purchase and your time involved. If you price-shop one product at 10 different shops at 1 hour per shop and you earn $20 per hour at your job, you've just added over $200 of cost to your purchase. Unless you will save well over $200 on the treatment, you might be better off emotionally but have lost on the cost-benefit value.
The dealer you do business with should offer you the best value for your time and money. Set your priorities and make your shopping strategy work for you. There are 3 factors you need to consider: 1) Price, 2) Your Time and 3) Your Needs. From a seller you need to balance those items in terms of Cost, Service and Product Quality. Product installation and estimation is a service factor cost that you also need to tally.
If your needs are purely functional, you can focus primarily on cost. If you need help finding or visualizing the right treatment, service becomes a major factor. If you want a durable brand name product that will be backed by a leading manufacturer as well as a dealer you feel you can trust, product quality becomes a strong factor. Logically, price is a factor that is balanced by the service you need and the quality of the treatment you want.
Metaphor: If you go out to dinner at a fast-food restaurant, cost is low and you get limited service and selection. If you go to a high-end restaurant, you expect to pay more for the service, selection and quality of your meal improving accordingly.
While window treatment service and product quality do not always have as big an impact on cost as with dining, do not make the mistake of bargain shopping to the point where you are wary of the seller. You get what you pay for and pay for what you get.
Unless you are dealing exclusively with a professional designer or builder's home design center, you should be able to find significant discounts from retail prices everywhere else.
Price shop three to four retailers to find what they charge and what they offer for service and support charges such as estimates and installation. You should settle on the one you feel most comfortable with getting the best value; not simply the lowest price.
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