Gold Star Windows And Doors

I recently purchased a house with 18 windows. Nine were replaced in 2006 by the previous owner with energy efficient double hung, dual pane vinyl windows. The other nine were old single pane wooden windows that provided nearly no protection from the outside elements. I researched all the window providers that serviced my area and got a few quotes. I knew ahead of time that I was looking to spend roughly $400 per window.
I called "GoldStar window" to book an estimate. A few days later, a sales rep showed up and gave us a rundown of their products (they are the manufacturer as well as the retailer) and gave us literature. He showed us the various types of glass, and demonstrated with a heat lamp how each reduces heat transference. He also tested these on both my old windows and my 2006 replacement windows, which was nice to have a comparison. After the demonstration, he said he would write up an estimate. I showed him the coupons from flyer, and he gave me back 3 numbers- the full price, the discounted factory dealers price, and the price if I buy that night. The last was the cheapest. While it's always tough making decisions without having time to consider it, I do understand the tactic. They try to lock you in now, before you shop estimates from every other company. Fortunately, I did my research ahead of time, and GoldStar's 'that night only' price was the cheapest for high quality windows (I was relying on other reviews to expect good quality). Plus, the price was close to my original goal of $400 per window. There was a mark up for disposal of lead paint windows. I don't know if my old windows had lead paint, but better safe than sorry I suppose. I signed the contract agreement that night, paid 15% the total upfront, and scheduled a date to have the windows measured.
A few days later, guys from Gold Star came to measure my windows. They also measured my exterior doors, because I was considering having them replaced as well. One guy noted that my 2006 windows were poorly caulked, and that they could re-caulk them if I wanted to add that. I declined, because I wanted to see the difference after they put in the new windows. I then set a date to have them install the windows.
On the date of the install, three guys showed up on time from GoldStar. They knocked out my old windows, and installed the new ones. When they were done, I inspected everything before they left. First, they matched perfectly with my windows (this was a concern of mine). They looked great, the install was clean, they opened and closed nicely, the security tabs were easy to use, the locks work well, the sashes were easy to remove to clean. On the outside, the caulking looked significantly better than my 2006 replacement windows. An added benefit: the windows are guaranteed. But how well do they work? It has been a few months since the install and 1 day since hurricane, and these windows are great. I can finally manage the temperature of my entire house, because my rooms aren't affected by the outside temperature. Incredible noise dampening, and perfectly air sealed. These windows have made a drastic improvement on my house. I can't report on any power cost savings; I don't have air conditioning. I will be calling GoldStar again when I'm ready to replace my doors.
Fantastic windows for sound/noise/wind reduction. Great price, excellent service.