Budget Blinds

[Triggerfish]

The transaction isn't complete but I thought I'd post things as things happen while it's still fresh in my mind.

I went to http://www.budgetblinds.com/ and entered my info. A couple of days later I got a call from the local representative and made an appointment.

He was a few minutes late but he called soon after telling us he would be over in about 5 minutes. The time he was late was insignificant.

I felt that he was very friendly and helpful. He showed us what we wanted and never pushed anything we did not ask for. With the coupon we got from the mail we got I think 25% off the original stated price. The price is installation included and it was not much more expensive than measuring by myself, specially cut at Lowes, and installing it myself. The only thing is that it takes about 3 weeks for the blinds to arrive but I think that is why they're so much less expensive. They don't need a huge storage area and they don't have a store that they need to pay rent and furnish. Also they fill out the invoice so it's very clear how much you're paying up front. I've had problems before with carpeting and finishing the walls in the basement where they kept on chamging the price up down up down up....up...up....
I'll post again once they get installed.

 

[vraiblonde]

Did you get Ken Turing? He's one of our sponsors and a very nice guy. Mention you saw it on Somd.com and he'll give you 30% off their Signature Series blinds.

 

[Triggerfish]

Did you get Ken Turing? He's one of our sponsors and a very nice guy. Mention you saw it on Somd.com and he'll give you 30% off their Signature Series blinds.

Yes, it was Ken and we talked about his SOMD advertisement. I got his coupon in the mail. I forgot what it's called....it's the evelope with bunch of coupons including ones for the Vietnamese restaurant Hot Noodles and Monterrey.

 

[kom526]

My BIL and his wife used Budget Blinds to do their new house. Like you said extremely helpful and responsive. If the windows in their house are any indication, then you will not be disappointed.

 

[ocean733]

This is great to know. We are in need of blinds/window treatments.

 

[PJay]

The transaction isn't complete but I thought I'd post things as things happen while it's still fresh in my mind.

I went to http://www.budgetblinds.com/ and entered my info. A couple of days later I got a call from the local representative and made an appointment.

He was a few minutes late but he called soon after telling us he would be over in about 5 minutes. The time he was late was insignificant.

I felt that he was very friendly and helpful. He showed us what we wanted and never pushed anything we did not ask for. With the coupon we got from the mail we got I think 25% off the original stated price. The price is installation included and it was not much more expensive than measuring by myself, specially cut at Lowes, and installing it myself. The only thing is that it takes about 3 weeks for the blinds to arrive but I think that is why they're so much less expensive. They don't need a huge storage area and they don't have a store that they need to pay rent and furnish. Also they fill out the invoice so it's very clear how much you're paying up front. I've had problems before with carpeting and finishing the walls in the basement where they kept on chamging the price up down up down up....up...up....
I'll post again once they get installed.

You posted this a couple days too late for me. Moving into new home soon. Chose plantation shutters for my window treatments. Stayed away from Lowes, not the way to go for sure. I went with a local company. Very nice and helpful. Will take 5 weeks before can be installed. I was surprised to learn they put up blinds for you while waiting for your window treatments.

If I had known of these people I would've got an estimate.

 

[Triggerfish]

Ken Turing, of Budget Blinds called me on Friday to let me know my blinds have arrived and to set up the time to install them. He is supposed to come in at Monday between 11:00 and 11:30.

 

[vraiblonde]

Ken Turing, of Budget Blinds called me on Friday to let me know my blinds have arrived and to set up the time to install them. He is supposed to come in at Monday between 11:00 and 11:30.

Yee ha! I'm in the market for new window treatments and I'm thinking just blinds. After all the work I put into making my curtains, I've decided I don't like them and want something that doesn't look so fussy.

You should take pics and post them so we can see!

 

[Triggerfish]

I meant that he will be here between 10:30 and 11:00.

 

[Triggerfish]

You should take pics and post them so we can see!

Good idea, since I want to inform people of my experience with Budget Blinds. A lot easier showing people a pic. OK, I'll take the pic with my new digital camera I got on father's Day and post it.

 

[John Z]

I meant that he will be here between 10:30 and 11:00.

Thanks for the correction. Please let us know Ken's actual time of arrival.

 

[Triggerfish]

Thanks for the correction. Please let us know Ken's actual time of arrival.

Yeah, I realized it was really insignificant.

 

[Pete]

Yeah, I realized it was really insignificant.

Someone call for me? :shrug:

 

[Triggerfish]

OK, Ken arrived on time and my wife, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and I are all statisfied. I've been trying to post some pics but I've been having problems. As soon as I can I will post the pics.

 

[Triggerfish]

OK here are some of the pics. I do not think they really do justice.


Hmmm.......looks like that one basement window needs to be washed.

 

[Triggerfish]

Only thing the wife did not like is in one room Ken installed rope type controls like the first pic and not the wand type controls to rotate open and rotate close the blinds. It looks too much like the ones you pull to raise and lower the blinds. Ken has ordered the wands and we are waiting just for the wands.

 

[Triggerfish]

Within couple of weeks he had the items in and called us. We made an appointment and they were great A+ for Ken Turing's Budget Blinds.

 

[Triggerfish]

BTW What we picked was faux wood. We were interesrted in either faux wood or real wood (more expensive.) He recommended faux wood if we keep the windows open often.

 

[jazz lady]

If you're not opposed to installing them yourself, you can order them online and save $$$. I ordered from www.justblinds.com and they were great. It took about a week to 10 days to get the blinds. They will also send you samples of the blinds so you can color match. The installation was easy and I got real wood blinds for my windows for under $80 apiece.

 

[Bruzilla]

I worked as the VP at Atlantic Venitian Blind and Drapery Co. down here in Jacksonville for a year in 1992, and my wife's family all work in the window treatment business. An order for blinds, if made though the factory, shouldn't take more than 3-4 days to complete. If orders are taking two to three weeks it is most likely that the company you're dealing with is not making the blinds themselves and they are re-ordering through a third party.

I used to shudder over shutter orders because they were a major PITA. Most shutters are made of basswood, which is light and inexpensive, but very easy to pit... even by just them on a holding table with small teeth to work on them. We were always getting returns of shutters because of all the marks on them, but people kept buying the cheap-azzed bass wood instead of hard wood shutters, which cost about four times as much.

I think the best window treatments made are the Silhouette shades that Hunter Douglas makes. They're like a combination between shades and blinds... with a little drapery thrown in. They're more expensive than a blind or pleated shade, but worth it.