I would just like to state upfront that I looked at the reviews for Canadian Choice on HomeStars and was curious I and was wondering how this company got such a HIGH rating after the hassles we had dealing with them. At first I thought it was because they were established out East and they were just trying to get their foot into the Western Canadian market and they were having trouble getting reliable workers. But then I recalled that they had us fill out a comment/questionnaire form when they had finished the install, and at the bottom of the form was of asking if they could post a review on our behalf on HomeStars. So our positive review and feedback may have already been entered onto that site (though, it was much more positive than this one as they made us fill out the feedback form right after they were done the install and before we had to deal with them with all the issues we ran into and before we got a really good look at the quality of the install and windows). I just want to warn others that CC might be skewing their rating by posting only the positive reviews they get on paper.
My wife and I had just moved into an older home and all of the windows (except two) were original steel-frame single pane and we knew that we wanted to replace them to reduce the amount of heat we would lose over the coming cold winter.
I had contacted several windows companies around Calgary and made appointments for each one to come in and give us a quote. Canadian Choice was the first one scheduled and they had sent a salesperson over and gave us his sales pitch which involved seeing a sample of their windows which seemed OK (I don't really know much about windows), and he measured all of the windows and gave us a quick quote on paper. We told him that we wanted to think about it (so we could see what other offers the other companies could give us). He then told us that he would knock $500 off if we decided right then and there. My wife and I discussed it as it would have brought down the total quite a bit, but I really did want to see what other companies would offer…but we also didn’t want to see an opportunity to save $500 fly out the window. So we ended up deciding to go with CC right there, which in hindsight I highly regret as I found out later than we should have gone with better quality windows from a better quality company for only a bit more.
I had nothing but problems trying to get the issues we had resolved. We had several issues that took me over a month of hassling them to get to resolve:
1) damaged screen frame
2) old, rotting window frames left in (they just installed the windows over top the old windows, but just took out the frames/guides of the old windows). Taking them out would have made for larger windows and would have helped retain heat
3) rusting screws
4) missing flashing/trim around all but one window
5) wrong crank handles installed
After all the hassling and leaving voicemail messages and e-mails, I was able to get them to replace the damaged screen frame (but not after sending someone out to try to "repair" it with some sort of filling compound. I've uploaded photos of it with the link below as it's quite amusing) and the wrong handles, but I'm stuck with the rest of the issues.
I've given up trying to get my issues resolved with this company as they basically ignore you after the windows are installed. Basically, when they've got your financial info to be able to charge you for the windows, they're done with you. I'm not going waste any more time to chase them down as I'm pretty sure that we'll probably tear these windows out in a decade or so and replace them with quality windows as we aren't seeing any difference in our heating bill (after replacing 8 windows throughout the house?). This was by far the WORST experience I have EVERY had with ANY company in my life. The sales person was rude and applied very high pressure sales techniques, the installers didn't speak English so it was impossible to communicate the concerns I had with the installation or try to explain to them the trim we wanted. Avoid!
I've posted some photos
http://imgur.com/a/62CB3
EDIT: In response to Company Response
It's odd that you have no recollection of this, as within hours of me posting my review, I was suddenly getting calls from CHOICE WINDOWS over and over for several hours.
After these windows were installed, I've made many attempts to try to contact your company to resolve these issues (just talk to Alex or your receptionist, as they will probably remember all of my unanswered voicemails), but I absolutely do NOT want to ever deal with your company ever again, even if it was to fix issues, which is why I didn't answer your calls.
Yes, some of the photos are during the install as I was quite upset that the windows were being installed overtop the wood frame from the old, original sliding windows, as I was told when I was being sold the windows that the old, rotting windows would be torn out. But when the installers starting just pulling the panes and slider tracks and started installing the windows right over top. When I asked about it, they said it would cost extra to tear it out, so it was pay more to tear the old rotting window lumber out, or get windows in the holes in my house now. This was one of the biggest bait and switches I've ever been suckered by.
We've learned a hard life lesson, but we are currently saving up and pay a bit more to eventually replace them with quality windows with a decent install. I'm only leaving this review because I cannot believe that the company that sold and installed these windows have honestly received the reviews they have have gotten on Homestars honestly. Which is why I brought up the review sheet they give customers to post on their behalf. I believe that it gives them an inflated rating on this site if they're the ones putting in their own reviews for customers.
***UPDATE***
After I had originally posted this review, the company had posted a response that they had no record of me as a customer (had since been changed).....but within hours, my phone was ringing constantly for half a day and the call display said Canadian Choice. I chose to ignore your calls as I've had such a negative experience with this company that I do not want ANYTHING more to do with you. For some reason it took me weeks of calling and harrasing to get a hold of someone to get a damaged screen frame (that they hoped I wouldn't notice) replaced and the handles I wanted installed delivered, but suddenly when I post a review online you're willing to now help?? Hmmm, that's suspicious.
Also, another one of my window handles broke last month: http://i.imgur.com/n4idkoR.jpg
These windows are absolute lowest quality I have ever seen. Makes me cry that I'm going to have to replace them again soon.
