Andersen Windows

Dear Anderson Windows, My name is Sarah Bernardi, I am writing to tell you about a situation which occurred when I was trying to buy Anderson windows for my home. I wanted to replace the Anderson windows that were original to my home. The windows were the 400 series slim line type, being 44 years old they needed replaced. I called Renewal by Anderson because it seemed like the logical thing to do. I made an appointment and a man from the Monroeville PA branch of Renewal by Anderson named John Lucadamo came to my home in May 2022. I showed him the windows that I wanted replaced, and I told him I wanted the same size windows with the same wood trim and metal exterior framework/not that I had. The salesman, John Lucidamo told me that Anderson windows no longer made the metal exterior framing. He claimed that style of window was discontinued because they were found to be defective. He said Anderson windows used fibrex now. I never heard of fibrex, but I figured he must have known what he was talking about considering he worked for Anderson Windows. The salesman assured me that the fibrex would only be on the outside of the house, and wood would be on the inside, the same as I had. The only difference was going to be that fibrex was going to be replacing the outside window construction. Jon Lucidamo then measured all the windows and started easing me into the price. I asked what my kitchen side by side 50-inch window would cost. He said $5,000. I thought that was a lot, but I figured Anderson windows were not cheap. Then he came up with some $50,000 price to do 6 double windows 2 single windows, a smaller double window and my 9-foot bow window. He proceeded to knock that price down by adding special offers and a coupon he had in his pocket. The price came to $37,022.00. I agreed to the sale. I needed windows and I had the money from my husbands life insurance to pay for them. The window installers arrived August 22. Ironically that was my late husbands birthday. The installers were cutting the trim work in my driveway. You could smell the pine scent as they carried the windows into the house. As it turned out, the pine trim was the only real wood being used. The windows I was sold by Jon Lucidamo were fibrex with a veneer covering on the inside of the window which gave the appearance of real wood, but it wasnt. On closer inspection, over the following week, the veneer looked like compressed sawdust with lines drawn on it to imitate wood, certainly not furniture quality. My point in writing this letter is to let you know that I was scammed into buying windows I did not want by a man who claimed to work for you. He knew I wanted to buy the exact same Anderson windows I had and he purposefully lied to me to get me to buy the fibrex windows he was selling. The thing that really makes me mad is the fact that he lied and said the Anderson windows I wanted to buy were discontinued. They werent, you still make them, as I later found out. I cant believe this happened to me. Mr. Lucidamo knew the windows I wanted to buy existed. He told me they didnt because he wasnt selling Anderson windows, he was selling Renewal by Anderson windows. Apparently, Renewal by Anderson is a sister company of yours. Im still not sure what this means because I cant figure out why a quality window company like yours would want to replace your windows with a substandard material like fibrex? Not only am I left with windows that arent real wood, but Im also left with 3 windows that dont lock. All the windows were installed incorrectly. The sash on every window moves from side to side and you can see outside to the screen. It takes two hands to force the windows open. They all leak air, and one of the windows was installed with a crack. Jon Lucidamo claimed he would replace the cracked window, and fix all the other problems. but I told him I wanted all the windows removed from my home so that I could buy the Anderson 400 series windows that I originally asked for. Id like to know how you feel about this? Did you know that your sister company that claims to be under your umbrella (whatever that means?) is stealing the sales from your product and selling their fibrex instead? At this point Ive stopped payment to Renewal by Anderson, and I made a complaint to the Attorney Generals office. They reviewed my complaint but were unable to help me. Im unsure as to what they did, but it appears to be nothing. After reading comments online, it is apparent that many people have the same problems with Renewal by Andersons windows as I do. It isnt legal for a company to misrepresent its products. Renewal by Anderson also added pages to our electronic contract that were not numbered. I asked Renewal by Anderson many times for a base price on the windows I purchased, but they refused to provide me with that. I have no idea as to what the bow window cost, or what I was being refunded by not purchasing it. I figured I would write to you in the hope that maybe you might be concerned by the fact that Renewal by Anderson is claiming your windows are discontinued so they can sell theirs. Does it bother you at all that I am a loyal customer of yours who got ripped off? Or that Renewal by Anderson is also stealing your sales? It was a blessing in disguise that the window Renewal by Anderson brought to replace my bow window didnt fit correctly. After calling your customer service I was directed to a contractor who installed the Anderson 400 series bow window I originally wanted. Its beautiful. (photos below) I wish I could say that about these other windows. Im not sure of what Im going to do. Renewal by Anderson claims they are going to put a lien on my home if I do not pay them the remainder of my balance. I will probably end up in court with them. Is there anything you can do to help me, and if not, can you please forward my letter to someone else in your company who possibly can? Thank you, Sarah Bernardi Araslyn@***.com 724-523-**** 1022 Dahlia Lane, Jeannette PA 15644