Here's a business review for you:

At the Tri-State Home show a week or so ago, Jason and I signed up for information or prizes from the various booths that had to do with things we were considering for our home in the future. One such company, THV Primax, did windows and doors. I would like a new front entry way someday. So I signed up for info. They called me last Friday and asked if I was interested in windows, blah, blah blah. I said I was interested in a door someday in the future, but not immediately. She said people from the home show get a free estimate and a coupon for 33% off that was good for an entire year if I decided to go with them in that time. I thought it couldn't hurt to at least hear the prices and see what they had (otherwise I was just going to save up and do it myself). So she said Monday at 11 am. We leave for Abby's school at 12. I explained that and said I would only have 45 minutes tops. She said that was fine. Then she asked if I was married. I answered honestly (yes) and she said they want the husband there for the presentation. Now if you know me and Jason and who is in charge of what, you already know this is a silly demand. I do all of the home repair and improvement. Jason pays for it. I always check with him before I do stuff and he always says yes. I think thats because what I say makes sense and I'm pretty frugal with money. Anyway, our system works. I knew Jason did not want to be there and was going to go along with what I said was the best way anyways (and by the way, I really wasn't going to buy a door from them. I was mainly collecting information. I don't pay others to do stuff when I can do it myself.) Back to the lady on the phone. I told her that Jason did not need nor want to be there and that I am in charge of the home stuff. She said again that they wanted him to be there and said is 5:30 pm good. I was getting a little ticked so I said that "11 is fine, ma'am". I thought she understood my meaning.

Someone called Saturday to confirm it. No big deal.

So here we are on Monday. It's 11:25 and the two guys in business suits finally decide to show up. I had been waiting for 25 minutes. I told them when they got here that I now only had 20 minutes. He said I was interested in windows. No, doors! So they wanted a place to sit down. I thought they would measure the door and give me a brochure. No, they want to give a lecture of some sort. So we start heading up the stairs. Along the way he asks if my husband is here. When I said no and he didn't need to be here, he stopped in his tracks. I kid you not, we never made it to the living room. He refused to do business with me without my husband there! I explained to him in detail the phone conversation and basically what I wrote earlier about how our system works. He asked if I were to get a price I liked would I have to wait and talk to him. Well, duh, I said I would talk to him but I would also need time to think about it myself. I don't buy things right when someone tries to sell it to me (especially something this big). Well, he didn't like that answer. He also told me that I wouldn't possibly be able to relay to my husband all of the information that he was going to give me. Okay, now the gloves are off. I said if you don't want to be here, that's fine. (I mean, I'm doing them a favor as the potential customer, not the other way around.) So he starts back down the stairs. I said, if I were single would I need to go find a man and put him in my living room? Then this dude has the nerve to suggest that I had wasted his time and that "time is money". Are you serious? You were 25 minutes late and chose to refuse to talk to me because I'm a woman. Who's time was wasted?

So when they left I called the company and eventually spoke to the president in Louisville, I think. He apologized for the guys being late but all he really cared about was whether or not I made it clear on the phone that my husband would not be here. He then sided with the salesmen. He gave me a few specific stories of how he got in trouble because he agreed with the wife on some things and the husband who wasn't there wanted something else. So he makes it his policy not to talk to one without the other. And here's a good one! He said if they talk to an elderly person, they make sure that a there's a younger representative like a son or daughter there. Can you imagine being that elderly person and being told by a business that you were no longer capable of making your own financial decisions like buying a window or door! You will need a representative who is not as senile.

I told this guy that those are good suggestions but if the customer makes it clear that that is not how it works, then you should proceed with business. You can't tell people they are not in a position to handle their own finances and will therefore not do business with them. I made it clear that signing the contract and hearing the presentation are different. I have no problem having all names on the property deed signing off on the work to cover your butt. Then the "man" can't get mad when he says his wife didn't tell him some detail. It's in the signed contract. But my husband doesn't need to be here for a silly commercial. I wasn't going to sign a contract at the presentation anyways. That's dumb financially (and remember, I told both the phone person and the salesmen upfront that I would not be making an immediate purchase). Well he said most of their customers do buy at the presentation. Is that supposed to make this alright?

I'm still shocked by this. THV Primax refused to to even discuss business with me because I'm a wife. What if my husband was dead, separated, in the service or something else? What if I was in my 60's or older? Do you think they tell the husband that they won't do business with him without his wife present? Stop and picture that... That would go over really well. (And they claim they have done that too.)

So in conclusion, THV Primax is an awful company who treats their customers (other then middle aged men) like garbage in their own homes.

Thank you.