本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛购窗
因为对窗户一无所知，这次化了近三个月的时间做咨询和研究。其中最大的感受是购窗应是二部曲。50%的工作在选产品（product)，另外50%的工作在选安装（installer)。经过8到9间上门寻价，又去了几间厂家的showrooms,终于明白了窗户的生产过程。这样选prodoct也容易了。选安装（installer)是最难的。只好去安装工地 或者要installer提供references。现在终于下了order了。因为安装排在秋季，还不知道安装质量，现在只分享一下我的购物经验。现还不能推荐installer,主要怕误人子弟，见谅！
Following is my shopping notes:
Installer PELLA / Product PELLA
Pro: superior customer service, excellent reputation. The sale rep. is very friendly, and had excellent follow up calls.
Con: pricy
Estimation: ~ $40000
Decision: NO after the 1st round selection since the price is too high.
Installer BROCK / Product North Star
Pro: North Star windows has excellent CSA rating and ER rating. The window frames are strong (I am talking about casement window). Windows are well built overall. It is the window that I liked most.
Con: Met a sale rep who was emotionless. Sale persons do not give their cell phone numbers to customers. So if you want to change your booking schedule, you have to call Brock first, and wait for the sale man to call you back (waiting time 1 C 3 days).
Estimation: ~ $34000
Decision: NO after the 1st round selection since I don’t like the service.
Installer Case Bella / Product Case Bella
Pro: None although it has high rating on homestar.ca
Con: basically cheap products
Estimation: did not bother ask the price after visiting the showroom
Installer Mr. K (Chinese) /Product WindowCity
Pro: Speak Chinese.
Con: not good at the paper works. Sent the written estimation three times, but items are either wrong or not fully described.
Estimation: ~ $21000
Decision: NO after the 1st round selection.
Installer Consumers Choice /Product Consumers Choice
Pro: Well established company.
Con: Not really. But be careful and ask for what product to be installed. They have the window under their own name (OEM) and other brands.
Estimation: After visiting one neighbour’s house and look at the product. I decided not to ask for estimation.
Installer Baltic /Product: Baltic
Pro: Excellent CSA rating, Window Wise program certified, very impressive.
Con: Relatively newer in the industry. Went to a house to look at the quality of the installation (installed 1 yr ago), did not get positive responses from the owners.
Estimation: ~$29000
Decision: NO after the 1st round selection.
Installer Mr. E / Product: Miranda
Pro: Miranda has been in business for quite long time. Excellent CSA rating (again casement windows) which means the frame is very strong. Mr. E has been doing the window installation for many years. One of my neighbour had him installed all the windows. Excellent workmanship.
Con: 10 yr warranty on glass sealed unit, no good paper work
Estimation: ~$24000
Decision: I had to say NO in the final round.
Installer Vinyl City /Product: Window City
Pro: Vinyl city is the premium dealer of Window City products. Good record on BBB. I visited the job site to look at the workmanship. The job is done in good quality. Sale person was very nice to give me price several times due to changing the options.
Con: not really
Estimation: ~$23000
Decision: I had to say NO in the final round. If I did not have the other choice, I would go with Vinyl City.
Installer Mr. J /Product: Window City & SunView
Pro: Have done one of my neighbour’s windows and doors. Good workmanship.
Con: not very good at paper work.
Estimation: ~$23000
Decision: Ordered finally. Window City Casement Windows, Awning Windows, SunView Sliding Doors
你能读到这里，我是很佩服你的耐心了。这也是我用英文的原因-太长！Last but not least important tips： Window City是中档产品。我个人很不喜欢它的Slider Window，因为它的frame不够牢固。这点你可以从CSA rating 上看出来。这也是我只用Casement和Awning windows的原因。最后选什么窗户是预算，产品，及安装质量的trade off。我相信根据你的实际情况，你会有更合适的选折。这里只是分享选折窗门的经过。更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
因为对窗户一无所知，这次化了近三个月的时间做咨询和研究。其中最大的感受是购窗应是二部曲。50%的工作在选产品（product)，另外50%的工作在选安装（installer)。经过8到9间上门寻价，又去了几间厂家的showrooms,终于明白了窗户的生产过程。这样选prodoct也容易了。选安装（installer)是最难的。只好去安装工地 或者要installer提供references。现在终于下了order了。因为安装排在秋季，还不知道安装质量，现在只分享一下我的购物经验。现还不能推荐installer,主要怕误人子弟，见谅！
Following is my shopping notes:
Installer PELLA / Product PELLA
Pro: superior customer service, excellent reputation. The sale rep. is very friendly, and had excellent follow up calls.
Con: pricy
Estimation: ~ $40000
Decision: NO after the 1st round selection since the price is too high.
Installer BROCK / Product North Star
Pro: North Star windows has excellent CSA rating and ER rating. The window frames are strong (I am talking about casement window). Windows are well built overall. It is the window that I liked most.
Con: Met a sale rep who was emotionless. Sale persons do not give their cell phone numbers to customers. So if you want to change your booking schedule, you have to call Brock first, and wait for the sale man to call you back (waiting time 1 C 3 days).
Estimation: ~ $34000
Decision: NO after the 1st round selection since I don’t like the service.
Installer Case Bella / Product Case Bella
Pro: None although it has high rating on homestar.ca
Con: basically cheap products
Estimation: did not bother ask the price after visiting the showroom
Installer Mr. K (Chinese) /Product WindowCity
Pro: Speak Chinese.
Con: not good at the paper works. Sent the written estimation three times, but items are either wrong or not fully described.
Estimation: ~ $21000
Decision: NO after the 1st round selection.
Installer Consumers Choice /Product Consumers Choice
Pro: Well established company.
Con: Not really. But be careful and ask for what product to be installed. They have the window under their own name (OEM) and other brands.
Estimation: After visiting one neighbour’s house and look at the product. I decided not to ask for estimation.
Installer Baltic /Product: Baltic
Pro: Excellent CSA rating, Window Wise program certified, very impressive.
Con: Relatively newer in the industry. Went to a house to look at the quality of the installation (installed 1 yr ago), did not get positive responses from the owners.
Estimation: ~$29000
Decision: NO after the 1st round selection.
Installer Mr. E / Product: Miranda
Pro: Miranda has been in business for quite long time. Excellent CSA rating (again casement windows) which means the frame is very strong. Mr. E has been doing the window installation for many years. One of my neighbour had him installed all the windows. Excellent workmanship.
Con: 10 yr warranty on glass sealed unit, no good paper work
Estimation: ~$24000
Decision: I had to say NO in the final round.
Installer Vinyl City /Product: Window City
Pro: Vinyl city is the premium dealer of Window City products. Good record on BBB. I visited the job site to look at the workmanship. The job is done in good quality. Sale person was very nice to give me price several times due to changing the options.
Con: not really
Estimation: ~$23000
Decision: I had to say NO in the final round. If I did not have the other choice, I would go with Vinyl City.
Installer Mr. J /Product: Window City & SunView
Pro: Have done one of my neighbour’s windows and doors. Good workmanship.
Con: not very good at paper work.
Estimation: ~$23000
Decision: Ordered finally. Window City Casement Windows, Awning Windows, SunView Sliding Doors
你能读到这里，我是很佩服你的耐心了。这也是我用英文的原因-太长！Last but not least important tips： Window City是中档产品。我个人很不喜欢它的Slider Window，因为它的frame不够牢固。这点你可以从CSA rating 上看出来。这也是我只用Casement和Awning windows的原因。最后选什么窗户是预算，产品，及安装质量的trade off。我相信根据你的实际情况，你会有更合适的选折。这里只是分享选折窗门的经过。更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net