What's the contract that you signed say?

Heck no, if you contracted for the Panorama windows that is what you should get. It’s unfortunate that someone who screwed up might lose their job but otherwise you’re stuck with windows you hate forever, or until you sell the house.

Tell them show you the invoice. Take the window's at cost and do not pay for installation. If you can live with that and they agree do that. If not make them replace the windows. Their someone' will lose his job answer is not your problem and a cop out on their part.

@ Windows on Washington Ltd the contract states "Panoramic" and the order is definetly Catalina. The salesperson pitched us the Panoramic and we clearly stated we wanted "as much glass as possible" - the installer was taking measurements at this time....It could have been prevented if they order was checked against the contract :(

AiFL offered us 3K discount on 12K of windows....I really dislike these windows and they block so much light, we lost 6 inches of glass (3 inches each side) from our previous windows.

@millworkman yes I felt they were really putting on an emotional ploy - the installer was a nice guy but they messed up not us!

" I really dislike these windows and they block so much light, we lost 6 inches of glass (3 inches each side) from our previous windows. "

There you go, tell you want what was agreed to and paid for. If a guy loses his job, oh well. Their fault for not putting in a system of checks and balances.

3K was a fair place to start. Tell 'em to make it 6K or you'll see them in court. They're getting a real beating, but it's better than the alternative. Mistakes like this are a cost of doing business; nothing more, nothig less.

well thank you all for feedback! we let them know we want the windows we ordered.....will update with how it turns out!

wondering what they will do with the Catalina windows they installed....will they be able to reuse them? would hate for them to go to waste :(

" wondering what they will do with the Catalina windows they installed....will they be able to reuse them? would hate for them to go to waste :( "

Garbage can. By the time they take the care to remove them carefully and clean the caulk off, protect them to take back to their shop, be quicker and cheaper for them to toss them. They were made to your openings and they are type windows. Or let the guy they fired for ordering them wrong take them with him.................

Ann:

Since its been several months, I'm assuming you no longer owe them money. This puts you in a position of less strength, like it or not. I don't care what your contract says; they've got your money.

If you think they are just going to replace all your windows, you're dreaming. You need to make settling with you just a touch less painful than the alternatives. The tough-girl-my-lawyer-says attitude won't be productive, believe me, no matter what you hear here.

If the company was clever, they’d take them out cleanly, replace with the windows you contracted for and then offload the wrong set on an online site. Someone will take them off their hands and be happy to pay cost price or less.
There are always bargain hunters out there.

If you dealt with a reputable company they will replace the windows if that is ultimately what you want --that is unless there is some other relevant information that has not been shared here.

I wouldn't get into all of this "legal talk" unless they resist. Its fair of them to offer a nice discount/settlement, but again, if you'd rather have the other windows than a few extra grand in your pocket, that is your choice to make.

I'm not intimately familair with that window line, but it appears that the model that they installed for you is a higher tier product than the one that you wanted? If so, the better window, a few grand, and far less hassle sounds more appealing to me than the alternative all for another 1/4" of glass.... Just my $.02

I'm wondering if the switch wasn't deliberate. It would make sense if the Catalinas were less expensive than the Panoramas.

No company in the world would "switch" windows in this case. It's the dumbest "steal" attempt in the world.

Someone screwed up and checked the wrong box is all here. If you contracted for "X", there is no reason that you should have to settle for something other than "X". I doubt you'll need an attorney to settle any of this and while it's a real kick in the shorts to the company...sounds like the error is entirely on them.

"It's the dumbest "steal" attempt in the world."

Only until you're caught. If you only get caught every 5th time you try, it's a moneymaker.

These 2 windows seem to be very close in price and performance according to Analin and price’s i have seen. This would be an very expensive gamble to take on something so easily caught.

So they are going to replace the windows… At least that’s what they’re saying! We’ll see in 6 to 8 weeks. I feel like it was likely just a really bad mistake and they need to put some QAQC methods in place to check the contract versus the order because it was pretty obviously a Panoramic order in the contract…. There’s a couple YouTube videos that compare the Catalina to the panoramic, and while most things Anlin about them are exactly the same. The big difference is the amount of vinyl frame, which was the whole reason we picked them, so will keep y’all posted!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy3Y3JlNaYI

@Joseph Corlett, LLC

It would be BEYOND stupid in this case. There is no way that a company would deliberately swap out a vinyl product to another vinyl product, from the same manufacturer, in an attempt to defraud the client of money.

This was an internal mistake and them replacing the windows is the right thing to do. There isn't any more Cloak and Dagger to this story beyond someone on the back office really messing up and costing themselves a bunch. If someone does get fired, it's terrible but possibly justified. Hopefully it will create some sort of safety check process on the ordering for the company so that they don't make this expensive mistake again.

Sounds like you have a resolution, but I was wondering if there is a compromise - like replacing the windows in the main area of the house, where the view out of them would benefit from the most glass. Perhaps the bedrooms and bathroom, utility, garage, etc., windows that have coverings on them when you are using the rooms (most likely) could keep the Catalina for a discount.

My eyes can’t see the difference between the two models. They both look like vinyl retrofit windows.

Sounds like a good solution!

I'd agree that this sounds like nothing more than a simple (but costly) mistake. There wouldn't be any nefarious reason to upgrade a customer to the next model level up (or so it appears) without their knowledge.

I think 9 out of 10 folks would've taken the cash back and kept these, but in the end you want what you contracted and they are standing behind it. This is what the good guys in this business do, kudos to you on choosing an upstanding contractor.

Stand up company, they took a heavy hit without much resistance. If I was them I would have countered with a much more aggressive offer.

Yes, it was awkward but it seems to have worked out… The installer came yesterday to measure and apologized… So he didn’t get fired after all… They installed our heat pump and did such an excellent job. That’s why we hired them again so hopefully things will all work out in the end!

Probably a good lesson here to deal with a company that tends to specialize in what they do. Maybe a lesson for them as well.

The reality is that the processes and ordering are so different over a wide range of products and projects that I wouldn't trust my HVAC company to either order or even know what a good window job and/or product are.

Ahhh... yes, definitely some light shone on how/why this may have happened. Heat pumps and replacement windows are not complementary services in terms of a given company offering both. Very different type of operation if one is doing any sort of volume.

Either way though, once again glad that they are attempting to make things right, hopefully all works out in the end.

Windows are being installed this week....the one on Left in the NEW window and Right is the old window....it is about 2 inches total more glass. We are happy we are getting this fixed....only issue is lack of attention to detail by window company - seem to be using a new installer (plus the head guy from last time) new guy is not doing the best work....post to follow.

So the kitchen window looks really sloppy… it’s Day 3 of install and no sign of fixing it…. Should we ask them to clean it up? The caulking is super wide and messy 😳

The issue above the tile is from our recent kitchen remodel and will be fixed with drywall