I couldn't help that my customer wanted to purchase Milgard Windows.in fact, I was quite happy to have the opportunity to use them on a project. I was directed to Seal Guard Systems through the Milgard Website, as Seal Guard happened to own the Minnesota Milgard sales territory at the time (October '08). I contacted Mike at Seal Guard Systems to get a quote on the project, which was only 6 windows and a french inswing patio door. The total on the quote came to $8532.81 and included an extra window that had been quoted in case my customer would like to purchase a fixed casement (picture window) rather than a triple casement window. The cost of this triple casement was $1585.86 plus 6.5% sales tax.
When it came time to place the order, Mike was out on vacation (It was mid-December). He asked me to reach Rich or Ken at Seal Guard to place the order. I forwarded the order to their fax number and Jim A. Reached me. He was very thorough and we went through the order line by line. He addressed all my concerns and told me that the windows INSTALLED would cost less than $8000. I was thrilled! He assured me that the price was correct and that he would charge my card the 50% deposit and send me a confirmation of the price and mail my receipt. My card was charged $3000 the first day and $1000 later that week. I thought nothing of it at the time, but when it came time to receive the windows 4 weeks later, the windows were not there!
I rode my sales rep, Mike C. For weeks and was given weak excuses as to why the windows were not arriving. My customer was LIVID by the 6th week and I was being threatened with legal action by week 12.
The windows that were ordered in December arrived in late March. So much for a 4 week lead time. To add insult to injury, I was called by the person sent to pick up the windows and told that Seal Guard was going to charge my card the remainder of the $8532.81 originally quoted! Remember that I have an extra window on this quote that was NEVER ORDERED and also given another price by Jim A. Again the price of this window as per the original quote was $1585.86.
I called the office at Seal Guard and talked with Kathi Wolfbauer, VP and wife of President, Ken Wolfbauer. She told me that it was all too confusing for her and that she felt she charged the correct amount. I asked her to back this up and she sent me MIKES ORIGINAL QUOTE WITH HIS HANDWRITING STATING "SAME OPENING-DIFFERENT WINDOW" RIGHT ON IT!!! It told us all that there was an extra window on the quote. She had no copy of my order or packing list or anything at the time.
I also asked Kathi about Jim's price and asked about installation and such, but she told me that Jim was out that week. I kept following up and the next week I was told that Jim was no longer with the company. This was in March.
I have followed up since then through numerous telephone conversations with Kathi and she continues to tell me that it's all "too confusing". She also threw Jim and Mike under the bus for some personal problems that she had with both, but the bottom line is that I am being lied to by all parties and I am so incredibly fed up with this that I am left with no other option than this to try to get my credit back for the window. I am not fighting for anything I cannot prove (i.E., the installation and such, as I was never given proof of this pricing...)
I ran into Mike at another company about two months back and I was told that the company was "imploding" and that they are taking as much money from customers and insurance companies as possible. I cannot support this claim other than with my own personal experience and a conversation with Kathi where she revealed that they are "down over $800,000 for the year", but I think this experience speaks for itself.
A representative of Milgard has informed me that Milgard no longer sells to Seal Guard and that they are very happy with their decision to change distributors in this market. He has told me that I am not alone, and that he has heard multiple stories like mine in recent months.
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