Pemco

I can't remember how they first got in touch with us, but the Pemco guy came round this afternoon to quote for some double-glazing. But it wasn't quite as simple as that. First of all a guy called to make the appointment and to give us a code number. Then another guy called to check that the appointment was okay. And then when the rep came round, he measured everything and sang his windows' praises, and then the trouble started. I ought to have guessed when he started asking me what I did for a living, and what M did for a living, that he was planning to stay for more than 10 minutes. Then all sorts of info about the guarantees and (aagh) financing.

We've been here before, with Amber, and then with Sharps. It's not possible for these people to come round and give you a quote. What they want is your signature. Oh, it's okay, they say, you've got plenty of time after you've signed to shop around if you want to, and cancel if you need to. But if you don't sign today, you won't get the special price! Ah, the magic price that is going to disappear if you don't sign today.

Pemco rep (nice guy, by the way, who didn't seem cut out for his hard-sell career) first quotes me £4000, but says if we sign, agree to the financing, and agree to one of three special dates for the installation (he goes through the charade of phoning his boss to get these dates and to find out what our discount might be) they can do the job for £3000.

Why do some firms choose this method of selling? Why can't they just give a quote? Am I really supposed to believe that now that I've thrown the rep out they'll refuse to do the job for £3000? Yeah, right.

p.s. We have had work done by both Amber and Sharps, having gone through one of these hard-sell sessions, been persuaded, and signed on the dotted line. Both did adequate work, but not so good that it justifies the prices they charge. And in both cases we got a special deal for using their financing, changed our minds about the loans and paid the lower price in cash.