This is only reviewing the cost & sales pitch of Champion Windows in regard to replacement windows…read more If you're in need of a good laugh for some absolute ABSURDITY...welcome!
I began researching and contacting local window replacement companies in the greater Cincinnati area as I need five vinyl windows replaced.
Prior to Champion coming out, I had one other company, Windows Plus, come out. Windows Plus quoted just over $6000.00, triple-paned, double-hung, lifetime warranty.
Champion arrived at my home, a male sales rep & another male sales rep-in-training. Explained what I needed due to current state of windows, then we got down to the nitty gritty. Sales rep goes back outside to get his bag of tricks and then we got going. This is my favorite part...
Do you know how a window works? Do you know the purpose windows should serve? (I rather think that most average people have the basics down. If not, at least Google the general properties of a window.)
Sales rep proceeds to show me what Champion windows are made of, Virgin vinyl vs Recycled vinyl, what makes them better than other companies, then explains the novel idea that windows serve the purpose of keeping cold air out/heat inside in winter and vice versa in summer. Gosh...who knew??? Don't forget the binder showing how other well-known companies pale in comparison...
Then he proceeds to bust out the cold compressed air can with a temperature gauge from the bag of tricks to show me the purpose windows serve...you know, keeping the cold air outside. Groundbreaking stuff.
Now let's get to the pricing, because this was the best part. For five windows, rectangular, nothing unique:
Initial quote: just over $22, 000.00.
BUT, I called at just the right time, for the great deal of BUY TWO GET TWO FREE. With that timely miracle, it is now just over $13,000.00.
(insert my astonishment and laughter here)
To be followed by the line essentially asking if Champion can sign me up for this fantastic deal right now, because if I sign right now, I can get another 10% off.
My steadfast reply: "I will not be making any decisions today".
So as the sales rep is packing up, he then proceeds to ask if he makes a phone call, if he can get it down to around $9,000.00, would I be willing to sign up today? My reply is the same as before, "I will not be making any decisions today".
This gives the same vibes as a car salesman, trying to make a deal, trying to get this thing done today, and it's very off-putting. While I get this is how someone makes their living, the ridiculousness of that initial quote is actually insulting. Inflating costs to make it seem as if the "deal" you are presenting, the buy 2 get 2 free, is a fantastic deal, is 100% a joke. To so easily go from over $22,000.00 to offering around $9,000.00, you must think most people are suckers. Which maybe some people aren't good with face-to-face interactions, or standing their ground, and if you're not, then have a friend with a backbone with you so that you don't get bamboozled.
I did also make it a point to explain to the sales rep that the windows in my kitchen had been replaced with vinyl windows in 2011, and those cost a whopping $330.00 a window, totaling around $1000.00 (a retired contractor friend). Even given "INFLATION", which is a favorite word of sales reps to throw around to justify increasing costs, which has actually gone up around 43-45% from 2011-2025, even if inflation doubled the cost of those windows, that is nowhere near the price he was trying to sell me on.
Champion sales reps may try to explain away the exorbitant costs by emphasizing how they make their windows in-house, virgin vinyl is better than recycled vinyl (which is true but not unique to Champion), their lifetime warranty that can be transferred to the next homeowner (also not unique to Champion), the felt-lined bottom of the window (also not unique as my current vinyl windows have that).
It is all a curated sales pitch that they follow, along with asking you questions such as "What was your favorite part of what I have told you so far about Champion?"...though this question is posed before you are given the price.
Well my favorite part was when I got to go into work the next day and have all my coworkers (a few of whom are also looking at getting windows replaced) guess the quote I got from Champion.
And this is why I am getting in touch with contractors instead of these "big name" companies who try to pull a fast one or think potential customers are really that gullible.
At the very least, save yourself the headache of getting a quote from Champion.