Anybody? Is it not a frame I am looking for? What kind of person does this stuff? Any ideas???

I didn't answer this earlier because it's not an area that I'm familiar with.

You can get a replacement glass and frame system, they can be made th same size as your existing. I have no idea what the cost would be.

I'm not certain if you can just replace the frame and recycle the glass from the old frame into the new.

Several years ago I needed a certain look and took sheet aluminum, sanded it with a belt sander to get linear scratch marks in it, then spray painted it black. After the paint dried I sanded it with a finer grit paper on a random orbital sander, that took most of the black paint off but left a bit of black in the scratches. I then sealed it, it looked exactly like the brushed pewter that they wanted me to match.

Based on that experience, a few years ago friends asked me for ideas in recycling their metal framed shower. They needed a new look but with no budget.

They had a gold or brass-colored metal shower frame. They sanded and steel wooled the frame to get rid of the gold color and brought it down to bare metal, the sanding gave it a sort of brushed metal look. They then sealed it. It looked new, and fit their new decor.

Sorry I can't be of more help!

Best, Mongo

Thanks Mongo. Somebody around here said it costs $1300 to replace the glass with a new frame and I am shocked. Just didn't think it would cost that much to fix an ugly bright gold frame. I wish the metal idea would match but I need a blackened bronze look (or something close to that).

What kind of "sealant" did they use Mongo?

It was a spray-on from Rustoleum, I think it was a clear lacquer.

Lowes carries a brand named basco. The one I'm getting is frameless at the top and the railings on the sides and bottom. The cost is $273. This is for chrome. The brushed nickel may be a little more. The frameless on top and bottom is $400. I don't see much of a difference, but maybe I'll post it. They are special order so I haven't seen it in person. (Oh, those were contractors prices-which I'm not. I just asked for it.)

Interesting, lsudude.

Can anyone ask for contractor prices? I would think not but eh, I don't know much about these things.

Negotiating doesn't necessarily mean that you will get a lower price, but it never ever hurts to ask. Some people are afraid, as negotiating really isn't a part of Western culture. I lived in Asia for a year, I've spent too much time in the Middle East, and there, if you don't negotiate, it's almost considered insulting to the seller.

Even if turned down, you're back where you started. But don't be surprised if you get at least 10% off.

Even telling them "it's a bit out of my price range, when will it be going on sale" or "I've seen store advertisements for 20% off in the past, if you take 20% off now I'll buy it now" might get you a better price.

Remember, it doesn't matter what specifically you saw on sale in the past. They may counter your 20% request with a 10% counteroffer.

The sales person, if he/she is not a supervisor, will probably go talk to the supervisor.

Case in point, my teenage son plays guitar, last weekend we went to a music store and he was trying out a few. My son's budget was $160 out of his pocket, I'd already told him I'd match his budget, so we went shopping with a planned budget for a guitar of $320.

He played several but one that really fit the style and sound he was looking for was $460.

The store was having a 10% off sale on purchases over $500, my son asked if they'd apply that discount to that $460 guitar, the sales guy said "yes". That brought the price down to $414.

I told the salesman our budget, and asked if they could knock another $94 off the price to bring it down to $320.

He got the manager, the manager said "no". $350? "No".

He played a few more guitars but kept coming back to the $460 one.

I called the manager back over and we talked a bit more. I offered to buy the guitar in question, a quality hard-sided guitar case (list $90) and a guitar stand ($15) for a total price of $400. I asked my son if he could up his budget to $200. He agreed that he could.

The manager did some clicking on his computer console and agreed to the offer.

So we got $565 worth of list price goods, or with the advertised 10% off sale it would have been about $510, for $400.

We were happy with the deal and it obviously fell within the store's parameters, as the manager agreed to it, so he was happy with the deal.

When we got home I did some internet searching, and the lowest I found the same guitar for was $435, the case $70, some internet sellers had the $15 stand free with purchase of the guitar. So online the package would have cost $505.

I feel good, my son was happy as can be, so it worked for us.

As my son's guitar playing evolves, we'll be making future purchases at that store.

Sometimes you pay list, sometimes you don't. the only way to find out is by asking.

Mongo