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CB Home Decor and Furnishing Review of Hunter Douglas Vertiglide
Hunter Douglas Vertiglide

Hunter Douglas Vertiglide review: Poor quality products, unethical company 10

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Author of the review
12:00 am EDT
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My complaint is against Hunter Douglas and the product, before it was improved, called Vertiglide. I was building a home in [protected] and needed to get window treatments for the 18 windows to discourage vandalism while the interior finish was being completed. The 13 duettes have been fine, and in my previous home the $12000. worth of Hunter Douglas product worked well.

These Vertiglides have been a nightmare. I have paid to have them repaired repeatedly. They are not designed to withstand any opening or closing of the shade except at a perfect 90 degree angle. If the wind blows or you need to maneuver them around the sliding glass door handle, they jam. When I say jam, I mean they do not budge.

My repair person refuses to work with them anymore because he knows that in the current design, these Vertiglides present a problem without a solution.

So, I got tired of talking to my installer. It's not his fault. I found my warranty and called Francis who recommended a "Warranty Investigation." What a joke. Wait, wait, wait, and then, "so sorry... not our fault, misused." Hey, well if you can't get in and out of your slider to your patio or balcony, what's the solution? Perhaps a frustrated moment of misuse? I know, I should have let the steaks burn and walked around through the front door to the outside, around the house, and finally to the BBQ. Sure, that makes sense.

Now, my installer, and the repair guy, both said gently nudge them from the very top (they are 98") and I might be able to get them open with a total jam where there is no hope of movement. I tried this, but I always end up calling for repair.

This publication on ComplaintsBoard.com is only my first attempt at justice. I meet with my attorney in 3 hours, but he'll then advise me that since he is filing a lawsuit that I can't express my frustration in public forum.

The crazy thing is that Hunter Douglas had every chance to make this right. It makes me want to punish them that they rate right up there with all the scam artists. Over the years I have spent over $50,000. on their products because I thought they were a superior company in terms of quality and ethics. Wrong again.

I may CC Chris Outlaw, their corporate attorney with this scathing review of the Vertiglide (unupgraded) product. I suppose HD upgraded this product just for fun, not because it was defective! Okay, I'm done. Email me if you have any similar situations and I'll let you know how the lawsuit worked out...

10 comments
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Barbara Parler
, US
Jun 10, 2017 9:19 am EDT

I think all priority dealers are fools for purchasing their products, especially now as. a dealer has to pay for samples that could cost up to $5, 000.00 per year. Now they are in Home Depot and Lowes which they had told me when I was a dealer would never happen. I would love to know if they charge the big box stores for their samples, I DOUBT IT. Good luck HD your product line has gone down hill and reading these comments I know I'm not the only one that feels this way.

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Fed up with Hunter Douglas
Martinez, US
Mar 26, 2015 1:42 pm EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Hunter Douglas finally resolved our complaint regarding our Vertiglide blinds after two years. Not sure if the delay was caused by the retailer we bought the blinds from or Hunter Douglas. The metal frame (that attaches to magnetic strips on the blinds) were replaced and the problem solved. If the repair had been made two years ago, we would have been happy customers. But because of the aggravation and time, we won't purchase Hunter Douglas again.

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Chas Runyon
Rochester Hills, US
Oct 14, 2014 12:00 pm EDT

I can't purchase a replacement head rail for a pre 2004 veriglide, in auto industry the after market is huge, how can the blind industry restrict after market?

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Fed up with Hunter Douglas
Martinez, US
Sep 24, 2014 10:27 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Has anyone had problems with the magnetic strip on the Vertilgide blinds?. The magnetic strips, which locks the blinds closed, continue to peel off. Won't buy Hunter Douglas in the future.

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jovk
Washington, US
Apr 11, 2011 5:58 pm EDT

Anyone else have issues with Comfortex? I recently had their product installed and the bottom rail is horrifying. It's totally unfinished with the strings hanging out! It looks like there should be a slide that goes in from the side but the installer says there isn't anything and that's how they are all being made now. I have other brands in my house and they all have a finished rail at the bottom. If you are thinking of buying these, make sure you see what t looks like before they get installed.

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Windowman217
Medford, US
Jan 09, 2011 3:32 pm EST

I have to totally disagree with any negative comments regarding Hunter Douglas! I am a priority dealer for their product line in the South Jersey area. I have been selling and installing their products for the last 10 years. They are the most innovative company in this industry as evidenced by their product line. I have problems with less than 1% of my orders and I can attest that they have handled any complaints or issues quickly. I have returned shades that were more than 10 years old to be restrung at "no charge" and they were returned within a week. Springs which manufactures the Graber line charge $45 plus shipping and handling both ways!

The bottom line is that the product must be measured correctly and installed properly!

Without Hunter Douglas the windows of the world would still be covered with mini & vertical blinds!

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none4me
none, US
Jul 14, 2009 12:08 am EDT

I have experienced the same issues as the original poster and I received the same treatment -- nothing but an offer to sell me a replacement. I too expected that Hunter Douglas would stand behind their product under normal use conditions. I am looking for an alternative as I do not wish to support Hunter Douglas any further.

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just one victim
West Hills, US
May 12, 2009 5:14 pm EDT

I can attest to the lack of ethics within the Hunter Douglas organization. It goes well beyond the failure to stand behind products and warrantys, it is a point of view that springs from arrogance and an inability to move its business model out of the 1980s. You don't have to go far to learn more--just ask the hundreds of former employees who were laid off in the past two years as a result of the company's poor management and corporate greed practices.

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Mary Shannon Baim
Crested Butte, US
Feb 18, 2009 4:31 pm EST

For those of you rethinking vertiglides after this post, I will say that I am in the window covering business where we do a lot of rental units in a ski town. This is by far the best product to put in homes where people carelessly open and close things. They are idiot-proof. If I sold something that turned out to be defective I would go to bat and make it right. Whoever sold this should have taken that responsibility. The advantage of buying from a dealer instead of Home Depot, etc., is that the dealer IS responsible--the box stores could care less.

The only caution you have to be aware of with vertiglides is if you want to leave your slider partially open for fresh air, DO NOT close the blind in front of it. If a door opens elsewhere in the house the draft created will "suck" the vertiglide to the outside, and the torque on the working mechanism at the top can damage parts. That is the rare repair we have to make. The most common adjustment ever needed is simply sliding the cord tensioner with your finger (we've done this exactly once in over 12 years on our home vertiglide). It takes all of 3 seconds and we show the homeowner how to do it.

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Denise
,
Mar 24, 2008 3:49 pm EDT

As a blind dealer I feel your pain...It is a piece of junk, I will not sell it. Just writing you to let you know: Hunter Douglas owns ALOT of small companies, so if you buy blinds in the future, wanted to let you know who Hunter Douglas owns.

At Lowes: Vista Products: NEVER BUY VISTA, Very BAD company to try & deal with.

They also own, Comfortex, Timber, M&B

Good luck with your lawsuit...Hope it goes your way.

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