WINDOW WORLD of Des Moines

I think the best way to judge a company is by how well they handle problems after you've paid for the services. This is why I give them an F. I had 3 windows and a storm door installed. Their storm doors are poor quality but they get a premium price for them. I didn't know that until it was installed. The door wouldn't close all the way on its own. Because of this and the poor quality of the door, I wanted them to take the door and return my money. I emailed several times before I got an answer. Then I had to wait for a couple of months before their "door expert" came out to fix it. It still doesn't close all the time and they have no intention of returning my money. I'm glad I learned all of this before I had them replace anymore windows. You can buy a high quality storm door and pay someone to install it for the same price of Window World's cheap crap. Remember that a company is only as good as their follow up service!!

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It was a very good experience. The window are awesome. The two installers were great and fun to interact with. I only got four windows this time and will purchase more from this company.

I had a pretty good experience with them. They were very good.

These guys gave me an estimate, and tried to overcharge me by $1000. The deal they advertise was any window installed $289, and for every 5 windows you buy, you get one free. I had 12 windows that I needed replaced and the estimate was $4214, which is way above the deal they proposed. It was a high pressure sales job, and I did not end up working with them.

Dave did my estimate. The estimate matched up to the exact price. They custom make the windows based on your measurements. The workers were extremely quick and efficient. They were very clean and I couldn't even tell they had been here.

unknown

It was a very positive experience from start to finish. The sales representative was very helpful in covering our needs and options. The installers were skilled and efficient. The finished product performs well an is pleasing to the eye.

I think they were very professional. They took the measurements quickly and got the windows installed quickly. One of the windows cracked about a year later and they replaced it. It took a little longer than expected to replace it, but overall we were very pleased with their service.

Before he even measured but managed to give me a price, he asked when I wanted it done. I gave him some preferred dates. That was responded to with a "well that's not going to happen, we're too busy. Mid-November at earliest". Ok-- then why not tell me when you can do it than play this game? I made a point of telling him we in the future were looking at windows and siding. He kissed that goodbye!

Vinyl sliding glass door is high quality and a great value for the price. Service varied depending on the person. Once I gave them my deposit, the scheduler failed to follow-up and let me know when they might come. I had to keep calling for about 2 months and catch the scheduler early in the morning in order to solidify a date. They finally scheduled me and arrived on time. 2 men came: the younger one had exceptional attention to detail and did fine work. The older one slowed the younger one down, got in the way, and botched most of what he attempted. The door was installed securely and works great, keeping all but the strongest north winds out. But the foot lock was installed incorrectly by the older one of course. So we don't use the foot lock, but are very pleased with the quality of the door. I plan to use them again for future window replacements, and will scrutinize the installer they send.

Sales presention was informative. Measurements made. Windows ordered and received in about 8 weeks. Chuck the installer came out---took about 3 days total. Chuck was great installer---windows look super. Replaced some framing on window with wood rot. Chuck took the time to explain how windows work. Showed up when he said he was going to. Cleaned up everything. Recommended windows to my parents who also ordered all new windows for their house. Highly recommend Chuck as the installer.

Set up an appointment for Window World to come out Tues., May 17th, to write up and sign a contract. Half of the payment was needed up front ($402). Window was ordered and installed five weeks later on June 22. After the installers were done installing the front window, they had me look over the window. Initially, I just did a quick look at it. Luckily, I saw a nice big gash on the side of the window frame outside on the right sash of the window or else the installers probably wouldn’t have said anything. I made them look at the gash and the caulking that was pushed in and they took a picture of it and said that they would have to re-order a right sash. They asked for the rest of payment that was due (other half, $402) after completion…BUT, I was not comfortable paying the second half (and I told the installers that as well) because there were defects on the window and I wasn’t satisfied. They told me that everything on the window is lifetime guaranteed and whatever needed fixed would be free of charge. After the installers left, I wasn’t happy that I had to clean my new window from the sticker residue left over on both of the glass panes. After I cleaned the left window pane, I went to put back in the screen and noticed the screen frame was bowed!! It did not sit flush against the window frame like the other one. After already being upset about the gash in the right sash, sticker residue on the glass panes, and now a bowed screen frame, I thought I better check every little detail to see if I noticed any other defects. Sure enough, I noticed that the installers did not install the window properly on the top right corner as there were gaps between the window and the wooden frame. They weren’t big gaps but it was noticeable because of how nicely flush the rest of the window sat against the wooden frame. I also noticed that my right screen frame was scratched up a little, towards the top, and you could see metal already showing. Disgusted of the quality, I immediately called my sales rep, Eddie but he wasn’t available and I was told that he wouldn’t be able to call me until the following afternoon. Five minutes later, the manager called and I talked to him about my disappointment in the product and all of the problems I noticed. He said that he would take care of it and order me new parts (free of charge since the window has a lifetime warranty) and it would be a couple of weeks before they came in and could get the window fixed. The following day, I went to crank open the right window and the crank came off and completely fell apart. A pin and a metal piece came off of it. I tried putting it back together but the pin wouldn’t stay. So, again, I placed a call into the manager or my sales rep. at 10:30am and was told that the manager was on a call and that one other person was on hold to talk to him. 1:30pm rolled around and no call! So, I went to the store myself and asked for the manager. I asked him if he got my message that morning (when I called at 10:30am) and he said that he didn’t. The receptionist had just told him that I called (at 1:30! 3 hours later). I took him the broken crank that was in pieces and he gave me two new replacement cranks that they had in stock. My sales rep, Eddie, had walked in and said that he heard about the troubles I had from the installation and I told him that I wasn’t happy. We probably would have talked longer about it but his cell phone rang. I plan on contacting Eddie after they fix the window and talk to him about the “product” he’s selling and that they have already lost one customer due to my facebook posting (one of my friends was considering using them but has decided to go with someone else because of the problems I had with them). Called salesman, Eddie on 6-28-11 for him to come and see the “quality” of the product he was selling and to tell him my disappointment in the ONE window we ordered. Said he would stop by the following day after his appointment in Pella. 6-29-11 came and went without a visit or a phone call to explain why he couldn't/wasn't showing up. Called the office for him again on 7-5-11 to see why he didn't show up or call and he never returned my phone call. 7-7-11 the installer came out to FIX the problems on the window and tried to fix most of the gap problem that was left when they initially installed it. Still not pleased with the new sash they installed. This one has more visible defects than the last one did. Indentations on the rubber weather strip inside the glass and noticeable things on the outside. Called Chad, the manager and told him how disgusted I was that they couldn't get ONE window right! We are requesting for the whole thing to be re-done! At this point, I'd rather have my old window back and just use a different company! We are re-considering having them install the rest of the house windows next year and possibly siding because of the problems we experienced with just this ONE and ONLY window. Neighbors just had their windows done by another company so plan on calling them and looking into their business. *UPDATE 7-12-2011* Eddie (sales rep.) stopped out on 7-11-2011 and looked at the window and said they "rush ordered" a WHOLE new window to be installed. *UPDATE 8-8-11 Installers came out and replaced/installed a NEW window. These guys worked TWICE as long (2 hours compared to 1 hour) on the window as the first installers did. I am now FINALLY satisfied with the window however, because of all of the hassle I had with this ONE window, I am planning on using a DIFFERENT company next year to replace the rest of the windows in the house.

The salesperson was very knowledgable and was able to explain in detail all the features and operations of their various windows. He took time to answer each question we had and didn't seem to be making up answers as he went along. He also told us that there was about a 6-week lead time because of making the windows, but also because the federal rebate available at the time had the installers very busy. The lead-time was about right and we got about a week's notice to schedule the actual installation. I was told that the installers would arrive between 8am and 9am. They arrived just before 10. After I showed them which windows to replace, they told me they would start with the bedrooms. Since I knew I would have to remove the curtains, I started with those rooms. They started with the dining room and removed not only the curtains, but also the curtain rod. Unnecessary. It took me an hour to replace because this was a large triple window. I was told that I needed to remove the blinds, but not the brackets holding them. After they left, I found that they had removed the brackets. The installation itself seemed to go with only a slight hitch. Plastic covers were put over the window openings before the old windows were removed. I thought this was to help keep the heat in as it was November, but was told this was part of the lead abatement process. I didn't see anything I could readily identify as lead abatement, but when I asked it was explained to me that the plastic covers were to keep particles out as vacuuming was being done from outside. One window had apparently not been measured quite right, but they were able to do a little carpentry and make it fit. There was a half-hour period during which all work ceased which I can only conclude was lunch. Otherwise work went on non-stop. The workers were courteous. They offered good explanations for any questions I had and left the house the way they found it other than the aforementioned window treatments. All-in-all, a good experience.

The estimator came out on 9/13/10. He did a good job and offered lots of options. I had had 3 other companies come out and give me estimates, and Window World turned out to be the cheapest. A measuring technician came out some time after that. I signed the agreement on 10/1/10. My windows were built and ready to be installed on 11/8/10. The installation coordinator called me on 11/9/10 to set up an installation date on 11/10/10. I wanted to be at the house for the installation, and it was a little shor notice, but the coordinator was willing to work with me on the date. I was able to get time off so I agreed to proceed with the installation on the 10th. The installers (2) showed up around 8:30 and began working. The truck they came in didn't have a working muffler, and did not have a window world logo on it....first bad sign. They thought they would be able to complete the work in a day and a half. My old windows were aluminum and the installers didn't know how to get them out of place without breaking them out...demolishing them. On the first window they worked on, when they were ripping out the frame, they damaged the surrounding woodwork / plastering. They worked first on the double hungs. The installed 4 out of the 5 double hungs and left saying something about having to complete another job elsewhere. The were going to return the next day to finish. They left the broken aluminum frames in my garage saying they would clean them up the next day. On the morning of the second day, I went around and looked at the windows they had installed so far. 3 out of the 4 were crooked (more space from the edge of the sill to the beginning of the window on the left of the frame than on the right) by about a half an inch. I pointed this out to them when they arrived on the 2nd day, and they said they would fix them. I called the installation coordinator and asked him to come out and inspect the job that had been done so far. He showed up around noon and I showed him the crookedness and a few gaps between the window and the window frame. He said that it was all a part of the installation process, the installers weren't through and that all would be corrected by the time the job was done. He left after being here about 10 minutes. They did straighten the windows, but I'm not sure if the gaps were filled (stuffed with insulation) or if I could just no longer see light through them because of the flashing (siding) that was installed on the outside. The installers continued and were asking if they could install interior molding only around three sides of the window, leaving it off at the bottom. I asked them to install it all the way around. One of the installers kept saying how hard the job was, and how he had never encountered windows like mine before. This did not give me a lot of confidence in their work. The other basically quit speaking to me after the installation coordinator left. By noon of the second day, I could tell that they weren't going to be finishing any time soon. They barrowed a tarp of mine to collect broken glass on as they were busting them out. Of the broken glass that didn't get scattered over the yard and left in the flowerbed....it wound up in my recycle bin because the installers didn't want to put it in their truck for fear of the mess it would make. 5:00 came and they couldn't get out of there fast enough. They left flashing, broken glass, strips of shimming wood and insulation in my backyard, and sideyard. They had begun to pick up some of it, and put it in a cardboard box they had found in my garage (that I WAS going to use for shipping presents back home for Christmas), but it appears they got distracted by the time and left the box..still full of trash...in my sideyard. They even left their own ladder in my front yard. I took pictures and sent them to the window world address that you get when you type "window world des moines" into google and asked that they be forwarded to the installation coordinator. I've yet to hear anything back. One of the installers came back the next day and did clean up the mess in the backyard (in the rain), but left plenty of broken glass. The flowerbeds in the side and frontyard have a lot of glass in them. And the cardboard box full of trash is STILL in my sideyard. The caulking job that was done on the windows is horrible....gaps and messy spots. I had to ask one of the installers to go back and put caulk on the double hungs along the side of the tin flashing or siding he had installed. He said he didn't do it because "it would have to rain sideways" in order for any water to get into the space between the brick and the siding. Window World may be able to manufacture quality windows, but a window is only as good as it's installation. And these installers were the worst. The other estimates I had may have been more expensive, but I wonder it that's because they have professional installers instead of #&# unprofessionals. I have no confidence in the installation, and am going to have a professional (different company) come out and evaluate the work they did, I'm sure he will find mistakes that I haven't noticed. I'm getting a loan through Mid American to pay for the windows and work window world did....and the bank won't be sending Window World a check until I'm satisfied with the work. I will keep Angie's List posted on my progress.

We received a quote from Window World for replacing the original windows on our 1929 home. The representative quoted us and did a lead pain test on a window. He showed us the results of the test on a window and the tester was red, indicating lead paint. According to newly enacted federal regulations, home owners with lead paint will incur additional charges for the handling and disposal of the lead paint. The Window World representative told us that the company charges $55-$65 per opening for lead paint. (This does appear to be the standard in the industry based on other quotes I obtained). The representative further stated that he didn't feel right charging that amount, so he would charge $25. We decided to go with another window supplier for our project. When that company came over to conduct the final measurements, the represntative tested for lead paint. We tested the SAME window that the Window World rep tested. The test was NEGATIVE. We tested this window in five different spots, including the SAME location that the Window World representative tested. It came back NEGATIVE each time. In other words, the Window World representative attempted to scam us into paying an additional $25.00 per window that he would likely pocket under the pretense that we had lead paint in our home. In our house, this additional $25.00 would have netted the representative a few hundred dollars since we are looking at a large project. Based upon my experience, BUYERS BEWARE. I would not trust this company.

Very professional and excellent installation experience. The installers were clean and fast. The price I was charged was the price estimated. Quality of the windows is acceptable. You can get higher quality windows elsewhere, but these were just right for my purposes, and the quality/price intersection was appropriate.

Great. They did everything they said they would and more. Came on time and did a professional job.

They promised us the world and it took them forever just to get them to build us a room. They would not show up on a regular basis. The management was the pits. No one would ever call you back to tell you that they would finish the job. They said the job would take 4 weeks. They started in July and finished in January. I thought it was over priced for the work and headache we got. When they did show up the guys were pleasant and did good work, but that was few and far between.