I have recently been getting a lot of questions from customers about what makes a good shutter company. There are several key factors to consider before making this purchase, but what I have listed below is what I find to be the most important.
1) Are the products being manufactured in USA?
Many companies are selling products made overseas. This means having to wait 6-8 weeks for your shutters to be shipped, and even further delays if something is not measured or manufactured correctly. Additionally, the materials being used in the shutters is questionable. What type of wood? Most wood shutters coming from overseas are made of wood pieces which are finger-jointed and edge-glued, and not whole basswood. The process and the materials used in finishing is also questionable. Local manufacturers are regulated by AQMD and we have to follow stringent requirements as to what types of paints we can use, and how much we can paint.
2) Reputation of the company
Do some research on the company that you’re thinking about doing business with. How long have they been in business? Check out their rating on Better Business Bureau. What are others saying about this company? Will they stand behind their products 10-20 years from now? Some companies offer a lifetime warranty, but their lifetime may only be 2-5 years! After that if there is an issue with your shutters, they won’t be around to do any warranty repairs.
Wholesale Shutter Co has an A+ rating and over 80% of our business is through referrals and repeat business. The company was established in 1985 and under my ownership since 2000.
3) Customer Service
Companies may promise the best customer service but you can judge the quality of their service by the employees who answer the phones. If the person answering phone sounds abrupt or isn’t helpful, then most likely their customer service will not be much better.
I receive calls and letters from clients about how pleasant, helpful and professional all our staff is. Clients have told me that they deal with a lot of vendors and our customer service is by far the best. We live up to this expectation and do our very best to provide to provide the best, personal service.
4) Price
When shopping around for shutters or other window treatments, try to get a written quote that details what it is that you will be purchasing. Type of material, price per square foot, does it include installation, etc. Be cautious of companies who quote a price that is significantly lower than other quotes. Do some research about the company’s reputation, read on line reviews, etc.
Wholesale Shutter Company has always been a low price leader in the industry for local manufacturers. We have kept our prices low but maintained high quality standards.