Simonton is the best window in the group. Your mistake was getting the estimate from Sears. Find a local contractor who sells either the Simonton Reflections 7500 series or the 7300 series. This is the same window Sears sells without the outrageous markup.

I stumbled across this posting while learning a bit more about LowE3, and just can't walk away without a comment. First of all, I am part owner of a window company in the Seattle, Washington area. I'm not trying to drum up business, and we only do apartment and condominium buildings anyhow.

For a house-package, I don't think that homeowners should be paying any more than $700 per window. That leaves more than plenty of money in the contractor's hands for a job well-done. If a sales'man' pulls out any weasel words like, 'this price is just for today.', or, 'ok, then how about this new lower price?', then tell them to 'GET the *&^% out of MY *&^% HOUSE!' These are not humans, and they are not redeemable in the context that they should be anywhere near your windows. They're crooks who'll sell out their own grandmothers if they can make a dollar. The same thing goes for anyone who stays for hours while trying to make the pitch and get you to sign a contract right then and right there. A decent contractor has respect, and an indecent one has no business being in business and should be told so at every stop.

My other suggestions:

Get a comprehensive list of the last ten jobsites of all non-crook companies, and go drive by them to make sure that their installation looks most-excellent.

Check their insurance, bond, license info out at your state's government websites.

Google their names and try to find any complaints about them.

Please do your homework. Don't be too rushed to realize that you'll be living with your new windows (be they good or bad) for many years to come.

-John

Not knowing anything about windowws I found this window forum and am glad I did. I got a few estimates from the above companies mentioned and found out that Door and Window Plus actually sells alot of different window brands that were listed in this forum. They carry the Simonton, Amerimax, Milgard as well as others. What I liked was that I got to see each window side by side. I could look at the features and frames of all the windows. I liked the Simonton 7300 the best. The frame is so much smaller and saving glass was important to me. I got all the insurance and references before I bought. Installation went well and I will be getting the $1,500 tax credit. Door and Window Plus was great. Their phone number is 1-626-399-1569.

I would like to thank skydawggy for the Simonton information and this forum for helping me get buy windows without going crazy. I had never heard of Simonton or Amerimax before and Milgard was the only window brand I knew of. Window buying process is horrible. Salesman are way too pushy.

Simonton and Amerimax are top notch windows. Milgard Tuscany is a step lower in my option.

Can't go wrong with any of these brands.

Installer is very important part of the process.

Simonton
Milgard
Green World
Superior