This is a cautionary tale. The other day I was at a job replacing some window coverings for a client who wanted to change products. When looking at her existing window coverings, I noticed that the product she had ordered did not match the product that was installed. To be honest, I was angry. I don’t know who did the “bait and switch” on her. Was it her designer or the previous window coverings “professional”? Either way, the fact is that she ordered Hunter Douglas Silhouette Shades and received a similar product from another company. This was all done originally in 2002, so all this time she was living with a substituted product. In the end, the family was not hurt by the switch, but it wasn’t honest. If you pay for a certain branded product, you should get it, right? A while ago, there were similar cars that were branded differently, though the basic vehicle was the same. One was a Toyota and one was a Chevrolet. If you bought one, and they gave you the other, do you think you wouldn’t care? I sure would.

How can you identify that you are getting what you pay for? The easiest way to tell, especially with the world leader in window coverings, Hunter Douglas, is by branding. They spend a lot of money to make sure that you know they are the best. Therefore, all of their products are clearly marked with the name Hunter Douglas. You can find the name emblazoned on the tassels at the end of the pull cords; the caps on bottom rails; placed on a sticker on the bottom of the bottom rail; as well as other places on their various products. With this customer, the tassels were unbranded and the sticker on the bottom rail had been manipulated from “Alta Window Fashions” to simply “Window Fashions” by cutting off part of the sticker and replacing it back on the bottom rail. The simple fact that they did this last part shows that they intentionally defrauded their client. Aughhhhhh!

So, if you order a branded product, make sure that the branding on it is as advertised. It will be easy to find. There are many products that are similar, but they are NOT THE SAME. In the end, you should get what you pay for and if you have been dishonestly treated, I would end the relationship with the person who installed a different product than you paid for.