Renewal by Andersen
Reviews and Complaints

Snake oil
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Snake oil is an expression that originally referred to fraudulent health products or unproven medicine but has come to refer to any product with questionable or unverifiable quality or benefit. By extension, a snake oil salesman is someone who knowingly sells fraudulent goods or who is himself or herself a fraud, quack, charlatan, or the like.
Eric Minkiewicz is the owner of RBA of Eastern New York. This company was previously known as Huff N Puff.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Despite what you may have been led to believe with all of the advertising, ordering replacement windows thru RBA of Eastern NY is ordering with Eric Minkiewicz and NOT Andersen Windows and Doors nor Renewal by Andersen. You are actually ordering with Eric Minkiewicz who then orders the windows with RBA.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
RBA also manufactures 2 other replacement windows: The Andersen 100 and The Woodwright. You can get these windows at places like Home Depot, Erie Materials, 84 Lumber, Curtis Lumber, Williams Lumber etc. With a few slight style differences, The Andersen 100 is the exact same window as the franchise window. The Woodwright having a wood frame with Fibrex veneered to the outside is stronger and more attractive than the all Fibrex franchise window.
The Andersen 100 costs 75% LESS than RBA Eastern NY window. So, a house of 20 windows roughly would cost $30, 000 with RBA Eastern NY and $7, 500 with The Andersen100 window.
The Woodwright costs 50% LESS than RBA Eastern NY window. So, a house of 20 windows roughly would cost $30, 000 with RBA Eastern NY and $15, 000 with The Woodwright window.
According to The Times Union newspaper, RBA Eastern NY makes 85% of its money with replacement windows.
If you are a potential customer for replacement windows, it makes no sense to go to RBA Eastern NY
If you are an employee of Eastern NY understand that you are like everyone else, you have free will. You have no excuse to work for such a place.
If you are a friend of Eric Minkiewicz, you should reexamine your ethics.
If you are family of Eric Minkiewicz, especially his parents who started Huff N Puff as a regular home improvement company, my condolences.

Since 2009, Renewal By Andersen has been marketing thru a separate list of dealers than their own privately owned franchises, basically, the same window - The Andersen 100. I repeat, the same window that their own franchises sell. It makes no sense to me, but hey, if Andersen won't back their own franchises then why should WE. What is even more remarkable is the price difference between the franchises and the other outlets. Read the following article:

Andersen Fibrex® Window Frame Information
andersen100series.homestead.com/.../Our_Andersen_100_Series_Fibrex...

then go the following website and find your Andersen 100 dealer near you:

100 Series - Andersen Windows
www.andersenwindows.com/products/.../100-serie...
Andersen Corporation
Andersen 100 Series windows and patio doors are come in deep, rich colors outside and are made with our unique, revolutionary Fibrex® composite material.

The huge price difference reveals the following: THE FRANCHISES ARE WAY OVERPRICED FOR A VERY BASIC WINDOW.

We purchased 4 windows and were told we could add additional windows later at a set price.
I was not excited about the overall price but decided to start with 4. About a year later another rep came out
(I was told the other rep no longer worked with the company) Bottom line I was quoted a number almost 35% higher
than my original quote and told that this was as discounted as it gets. After this I started comparing notes with some friends and a neighbor. I am glad I didn't waste any more money with these people. I have just completed All of my windows with a comparable product that looks great and has a superior warranty. Happy to not be throwing anymore money away!

I was given the wrong date (3/18/2014 included Sunday) on the cancellation part of the contract. The following Wednesday and Thursday I tried to call the salesman to cancel but he never answered my calls. I know that I missed the 3 day window by speaking to someone in their Renewal by Anderson office on Friday, March 21st after signing the contracts on Saturday, March 15th. I did speak to a secretary and told her that I wanted to cancel the contract and the measurement appointment. She told me that the person I needed to speak to was away and she would have her return my call the following Monday. On Tuesday the manager told me I couldn't cancel. I think I have been scammed by Renewal by Andersen in Northborough, MA.

The Manager at Renewal by Anderson was already holding half the loan, $3, 407.33 from a company called GreenSky. A $100 check given to them for a building permit but that was finally returned. They are trying to keep 25% of the loan amount! This is over $1600 for nothing. NO ORDER WAS EVER MADE FOR THE WINDOWS AS NO MEASUREMENTS WERE EVER TAKEN. I feel that this cancellation penalty is very unfair.

The window replacement cost was supposed to include a 20% discount for buying five windows plus an additional 5% discount for signing the contract that same day that the salesman was there. I feel that the price ($6714) of these windows to TOO high. The manager of Renewal by Anderson claims their pricing is regulated by the government.

This whole situation has been a nightmare for me. I now find myself unemployed and facing a debt that should not even exist!

Two complaints on craiglist 9 - 5 - 14

**caution huff n puff *****
This company does not perform to what they claim. Poor leads and few of them. Sales manager ricky lies and does not pay earned commissions caution huff n puff ****
Do not trust the management of this company. They do not pay for work performed. They lie about the number of appointments you will get. A huge waste of time. The sales manager, ricky, it a liar. Trust no one here. This has been happening for years. Ricky is despised - hated universally. As a customer, consider how you will be managed

We replaced our old windows with renewal about 8 years ago...they are the worst windows i have ever had...every window ices up..i have called but nobody wants to help... my old windows never iced or had moisture built up on all windows... never buy them...they are the worst...

I had ordered 6 windows by renewal by anderson, they've only installed 2 windows, now granted i've only paid for 2 windows but the agreement was after each window was installed I would pay the balance, and it worked just fine. but they never came back to install the other 4 windows, i've called over ten times and I even called and left a nessage on the co owners cell phone, and still nothing. it blows my mind, me having over 30 windows in my home and they don't want my money. i'll never refer this lousy company to my worst enemy.

I have spent the past 13 years trying to get Renewal By Andersen to
replace their defective windows. After after the first winter of 1999, it was obvious
that the windows leaked around the moving parts. It took multiple call and emails
to get them to finally recognize that this was a basic design flaw for which there was no fix. I have had taped windows for the past 13 years. Some years I had to put duct-tape in the windows.
I had also contacted Andersen Windows and also filed a complaint for which I received an Andersen Corporate Complaint Number in June, 2000!

In 2010, they offered to replace the windows with an upgraded window ans screen set along with a New Window Warranty.
Very Nice, .

Except the Local Installer, Window Place, knowing the market very well, refuses to supply pictures of the proposed exterior finish for submittal to Homeowners Association. Instead Renewal Corporate has proposed to repay my original ~7000.00 price of the install done in 1999. Except, the local installer mistakenly sent me an email indicating the price was ~13, 000.

I have just recently contacted the local installer with a potential solution, with no response. Typical of Window Place in Washington, D.C.
Do not be fooled by this bunch. They will screw you at every turn and then claim
ignorance.
BEWARE!

When I was hired at RBA (Renewal By Andersen or Southard Corp) I was told a portion of my commission would be put into an account also known as a black book. I was also told (along with a few other sales employees) that at any point in time the funds in this black book could be requested and withdrawn. After I was terminated by voice mail I found out the only way this black book money can be withdrawn is either by claiming mileage or by termination. Needless to say I haven't worked there since the 1st week in June and guess what... no check yet. (I wonder who collects the interest on the black book account?) continuing on...

After working for RBA and going through countless gallons of gas (that would not be reimbursed) while going out on non-screened leads, trying to sell someone 10 windows for $19, 000 or more depending on the window. When I wasn't meeting the monthly quota for one month my "tools" or my leads were taken away from me. It seems as if they wanted to get rid of me before the 90 day probationary period ended so it would be impossible to claim unemployment.

Going out on my last lead (which was a lead that was going to be canceled) myself and a co-worker spent four hours in the home to close the sale. I was told I didn't sale the door properly and needed to mark up the price 5 to 6 times. I was informed of this after I had already returned to the home 2 too 3 times on my own time to fix small words or use a different color ink on the paperwork and re-writing all the paperwork at least two times. I never knew anything about marking the door up from retail price of $830.00 to commission price of $3000.00 it wasnt in the price book nor was it in my training. It was not noted anywhere in the pricing book that was given to me, So now I'm told my co-worker and I lost our $800.00 commission. Later I found out after a meeting that we may get $250.00 a piece. Needless to say 6 weeks later and after a sale when I checked to see if my payroll was there, the paperwork cannot be found. How convenient.

As for the consumer, if employees are treated this way well ... you can fill in the blanks.

After catching the salesman in a lie (shocking, I know), and lack of confidence in their contractor who came to my home smelling like whiskey, I was actually sent an email where the owner Mike Watson at Renewal by Andersen of Greater Philadelphia insulted me personally. Nice business you got going there.

Currently (fall 2011), this franchise is advertising $100 per window discount sale as their greatest sale ever. This is a lie! With the average price of a window being $1500, this constitutes a 7% discount. They routinely discount their windows 25%. In addition, you can purchase and have installed a RBA window (The Woodwright) at any of the Andersen retail outlets for 50% of the franchise cost. Stay away from RBA!

This franchise is currently (fall 2011) advertising "Their Biggest Fall Sale Ever". This is a ;lie. With the average price of a RBA window installed being $1500, this sale is for 7% off the list price. Routinely, they discount their windows 25%. In addition, you can buy a window made by RBA (The Woodwright) at any Andersen outlet costing approx 50% less than the ones sold thru their franchises. Stay away from RBA!

As a subsidiary of Andersen Windows & Doors, RBA has several functions.
1) They manufacture replacement windows for their own list of privately owned franchises that have names like Renewal by Andersen of the Hudson Valley & Huff N Puff.
2) They manufacture a replacement window and a new construction window (The Andersen 100) for a list of privately owned construction companies located in most areas of the country.
3) They manufacture a replacement window and a new construction window (The Woodwright) that is sold in all the Andersen retail outlets in the country.
The franchises charge the most and have the high pressure selling. The Andersen 100 costs 1/4 of the cost as a franchise window while The Woodwright costs 1/2 the cost of the franchise window. The Woodwright anyone can install (Andersen even provides instructions) while the 100 and the franchise windows must be installed by the retail outlet. The Woodwright is a wood frame window with Fibrex (wood composite) on the exterior and the 100 and the franchise window are all Fibrex. With just a few slight differences in manufacturing, the 100 and the franchise window are basically identical.
The franchises market themselves as the "exclusive" replacement window division of Andersen Windows & Doors.
This is false and misleading marketing.
RBA manufactures replacement as well as new construction windows.
RBA sells to not only to their privately owned franchises but also to other construction companies as well as to thousands of retail outlets (like Home Depot) nationwide.
RBA has only one exclusivity - their privately owned franchises have an exclusive territory to sell RBA franchise windows in.
RBA makes no patio door nor entry door. The franchises sell Andersen (main company) doors just like thousands of retail outlets nationwide. The franchises also sell Pro Via entry doors without informing the customer it is a seperate and privately owned company that has an extensive marketing and distribution system of its own.
With The Woodwright being stronger and more attractive, less expensive, no high pressure selling and install friendly, I see no reason to give your hard earned money to a franchise that misrepresents who they are as well as what they do. Stay away from RBA franchises.

2 men came to solicit business at 8:30PM. I felt that is too late in the day to be doing this. Next morning I called the company and spoke to Christina, the Manager, she said they were "Canvassers" and that they are out in the field until 9PM. I told her that I felt it's a little late to solicit business at that time and she hung up on me. RUDENESS is not tolerated! If this is how they respond to a phone call, can you imagine once they start a job for you?

I am just starting my window shopping and I'm not one to post things on sites whoever, window man, you are not doing shoppers like me a service. You obviously have a grudge or you work for a competing window company. All I gather from this site is that you hate renewal by andersen and you are not a consumer looking for windows or someone who has purchased windows like the rest of us, which is obvious as you post about dealers in kansan, colorodo, ny, maryland etc. you could not have possibly done business with all those dealers.

I appreciate your gusto but you are making it harder for me to learn from real customers with real experiences and that's what I want to read. Start a blog, go to anger management (kidding) or something, I'm sure you have good intentions but your posts are not relevant to real shoppers.

For what it is worth, here are my experiences window shopping so far: I called renewal by andersen and I agree with others, they are very high pressure but that did not bother me as you really can't pressure me into doing something I don't want to do (just ask my husband :)) . I likes some of what they had to say and I'm putting them in the running. I have friends that have andersen windows and they have had no issues. That's what I'm lokking for, I am not expecting to "love" my windows, I want to have them installed and never have to think about them again.

I'll try to remember to keep posting my experiences and who I choose as well as the final outcome so others can read a real customer experience.

I have just spent a frustrating 6 mos trying to get quality replacement windows in my house. Short story, I was charged $15, 000 for 10 windows, and they are worse quality than standard Andersen windows that you can get from Home Depot for less than $500. The temperature is about 10-12 degrees Fahrenheit colder at the base of their window-the windows are leaky and drafty. They look like crap with glued and stapled vinyl covering the old wood frames that they said they would replace. I have tried to get them to renegotiate the price to one that is more equitable for what they installed but got nowhere. Now I'm headed to litigation. Save yourself the trouble and don't buy Renewal by Andersen. They're a predatory company. They promise you quality work, but I'm left with glass and debris covering the property.

Just to give some back ground here I live on some acreage in a 1 Story and half house. It is not uncommon to get 30 - 45 knot gust. At the time of installation my home was 12 years old. The previous windows were a Marvin builders grade which was starting to fail. We did our homework and went through numerous window replacement companies. RBA came out and did their sales pitch and we loved the windows. We bought 26 windows at a cost of $22K. We went with the Window inserts instead of the full replacements. With the installation process we were a little concerned when we saw the RBA team doing their work. The team was being very frugal with the foam. We raised concern that it gets very windy out here where we live and they need to be very plentiful with the foam. We were assured what they were doing would suffice the need for the installation. Throughout the summer the windows were good. The real problems are starting to now. With heavy gust (30-40 knots) the windows leak air, especially around the double hung windows. Which for our case we only got 2. We have several picture windows that are fixed. These windows leak air worse than our old windows. So we are going to see how good the warranty is for this company. From what we have seen from the replacement windows these have the best ratings over other competitions. From what I have read about the replacement windows it is all about installation. My wife and I are getting ready for a long haul battle. For this amount of money we SHOULD not be having these issues. I know for people this can be emotional, however I am pretty calm and always look at the facts.

This is more of a whinge than a complaint. I've been contacting window replacement companies in our area to get quotes on a job. When i got in touch with rba, i was told that both 'decision makers' must be present for the presentation in order to qualify for a discount. What is this, 1956? Even after confirming that i was well educated, intelligent and owner of a company accustomed to making 'decisions' i was still given the brush - off by this bozo. Rba will not be getting any business from me now or in the future. They must be doing very well in this economy to ignore potential customers.