4 Replacement-Window Myths in Minneapolis

These Tall-Tales About Windows That Have Been Around So Long That Homeowners Just Assume They’re True.

Looking for awesome replacement windows in Minneapolis for a great price? If so, here’s the most important piece of advice you’ll receive while window shopping: Don’t always believe what you see, read, and hear.

There are a lot of “urban legends” in the window industry—falsehoods, misinformation, and tall-tales that have spread like wildfire over the course of decades. And the worst part is that these urban legends are typically started by the window companies themselves as a way to squeeze every precious penny they can from unsuspecting homeowners.

Talk about scary.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at—and dispel—4 of the most prominent urban legends in the window industry. Since it’s close to Halloween, we’ll rate how preposterous each one is on a scale of 1 to 5 boogeymen—1 being “mild” and 5 being “Ridiculous with a capital R.”

Let’s get started…

The $189 Window Exists

Much like a pink unicorn or the Loch Ness monster, the $189 window is a mythical creature. Replacement windows advertised for $189 are simply a get-a-foot-in-the-door sales trick.

Here’s how it works…

The window company touts “amazing, beautiful, energy-efficient” windows for a shockingly low $189 price tag. This naturally piques your interest—think of all the money I’ll save!—so you set an appointment.

That’s when the ugly truth is revealed.

The $189 price is for the lowest of low-quality windows. We’re talking a 1 out of 10 in every category—energy efficient, durability, performance, and so on. Complete garbage.

By the time you add on all the features that make a window higher quality (multiple glass panes, better frame material, etc.), you could be looking at $800 or more per window. This happens to homeowners all the time.

Urban Legend Rating: 4 out of 5 boogeymen

The Best Replacement Vinyl Windows Cost More Than $700

Sort of opposite to #1, some replacement window companies weave tall-tales about how high-quality vinyl windows cost upwards of $700, $800, or even $1,000.

Don’t buy it. (Figuratively and literally.)

The truth is that the highest-quality vinyl replacement windows in Minneapolis should run you no more than $499 to $599 per window, including installation. The only reason to spend more is if you need something like custom-made wood windows for a custom-made home. (Wood is typically the most expensive window material to manufacture, even though it tends to lag behind vinyl in key categories like maintenance and energy efficiency.)

On the other hand, it’s possible to spend too LITTLE on windows (see #1). Anything under $400 is likely not going to get you the looks and performance you demand.

Urban Legend Rating: 3 out of 5 boogeymen

“Big-Brand” Windows Perform Better

Sure, you want windows that are made by manufacturers with a proven track record for quality. But a “prestige” brand name does not automatically mean quality. Far from it.

Big brands can charge higher prices because they’re more well known. They’ve pumped millions of dollars into their advertising to convince people that they are the best of the best. Even if it’s not accurate, their slick marketing tactics have persuaded people to believe it’s true.

As a result, the most well-known brands have less incentive to improve their products—they’re already on top of the world, after all.

It’s when you get to the companies that are “just below” big-brand recognition that you start to find the best quality. There’s a passion for innovation and a hunger to strive for perfection you don’t see with the giant national companies.

Take Soft-Lite, the company that manufactures our exclusive windows. We didn’t choose to partner with them because they have the most name recognition or fattest advertising budget. We chose them because they have an 84-year (yes, 84!) track record of making ultra-high-quality replacement windows. We’d rather provide our customers with the absolute best window for the absolute best value than sell overpriced products with tons of “brand appeal.”

Urban Legend Rating: 5 out of 5 boogeymen

In-Home Quotes Are Necessary

This is the granddaddy of replacement window urban legends. Roughly 99.9% of people believe that an in-home quote is necessary to get an accurate price for their window project.

It’s not.

To provide an accurate quote, all a window company needs to know is…

How many windows you want
The number of windows you want
Any upgrades you want

That’s it. Things like the size of the window, don’t actually matter.

But replacement window companies make you believe that in-home quotes are required. Why? Because they want to sell to you face to face, since it’s easier to pressure you into buying.

Urban Legend Rating: 17 out of 5 boogeymen

Get A Firm & Fair Online Quote On Superior Replacement Windows In Minneapolis

Now that we’ve slain some of the replacement-window industry’s most notorious urban legends, it’s time to look at the best way to get TRUE value for your money.

At Zen Windows, we provide online quotes on cutting-edge replacement windows.

Our prices? Ultra-reasonable.

Our quality? Second to none.

Our stance on sales pressure? We’re completely, 100% OPPOSED to it.