Yeah, I almost went Costco too, but ended up deciding against it. They're solid for a lot of things, but with windows, you're right—selection just wasn't there. I found that going local gave me more flexibility in terms of brands and custom sizing. Plus, the local guy spent a good half-hour explaining all those ratings to me (U-factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient...who knew?). Turns out, lower U-factor means better insulation. Didn't realize how big a difference it could make until we got our first winter heating bill afterward—definitely noticeable savings.
One thing I'd recommend is checking if your state or utility company offers rebates or tax credits for energy-efficient windows. We were able to get a decent chunk back by submitting paperwork after installation. Worth looking into if you're going down this road anyway.
"One thing I'd recommend is checking if your state or utility company offers rebates or tax credits for energy-efficient windows."
Did you find the rebate process straightforward, or was it a hassle with paperwork and waiting? I've been skeptical about Costco for windows too—great for bulk groceries, but windows...? Not sure. Did your local installer handle all the rebate paperwork, or did you have to chase that down yourself? Trying to gauge if the savings are worth the extra legwork...
I went through a similar rebate process last year—not with Costco, but another local installer. Honestly, it wasn't as tedious as I expected. The installer handled most of the paperwork, though I did have to follow up once or twice to confirm submission. Costco might surprise you; I've heard mixed reviews, but their warranty and customer service tend to be solid. Might be worth giving them a shot, especially if the price difference is significant enough to offset any minor hassle...
- Costco can be hit or miss depending on your location and the subcontractors they use.
- I've seen some great work done through them, but also a few jobs where communication was lacking.
- Definitely check who's actually doing the installation—Costco itself doesn't handle the labor directly.
- Curious, did your previous installer offer any special warranty or follow-up visits included in their package? Sometimes that's worth more than a small price difference...
- Had Costco do windows at my place a few years back... quality was solid, but communication was a bit spotty.
- Subcontractors showed up late twice, and I had to chase down updates myself.
- On the plus side, pricing was competitive and warranty coverage decent.
- Agree with checking who handles the actual install—makes all the difference.
- My previous local installer offered annual follow-ups included in their price, which honestly was pretty valuable over time.
Interesting to hear your experience—I’ve been thinking about Costco for windows too, mostly because of the warranty. But yeah, communication hiccups can be pretty frustrating, especially if you're juggling a busy schedule. A friend of mine went with a local installer recently, and they threw in some extras like annual check-ups and minor adjustments for free. She said it’s been great for catching small issues before they turn into bigger headaches. Makes me wonder if Costco offers anything similar, or if it's strictly installation and warranty coverage? Would be nice to know if anyone else has gotten any follow-up perks from them down the line...
"Makes me wonder if Costco offers anything similar, or if it's strictly installation and warranty coverage?"
From what I've seen, Costco's mostly about the upfront install and warranty—you know, the "set it and forget it" deal. They don't really have the small-town charm of a local installer popping by for check-ups (or coffee breaks 😉). If you're handy enough, though, minor tweaks and adjustments aren't that big a deal. A screwdriver, some caulk, and maybe a YouTube tutorial or two, and you're golden...
Costco's warranty is solid, sure, but honestly, not everyone wants to DIY window adjustments. Had a neighbor who went local precisely because he didn't wanna mess around with caulk or YouTube tutorials—sometimes convenience means having someone else handle the small stuff.
Had a similar thought when I went with Costco for windows last year. Warranty is great, but yeah, found myself on YouTube more than I expected tweaking little things. Wasn't terrible, but if you're not into DIY at all, local installers might save you some hassle. My brother went local—paid a bit more, but zero headaches. Just depends how much you value your weekends...
Went through Costco for windows about three years ago myself. Overall, pretty satisfied with the quality and warranty coverage, but yeah, the install wasn't exactly plug-and-play. Had to fiddle around quite a bit with alignment and sealing—nothing major, but definitely more involved than I anticipated. If you're comfortable with basic DIY and don't mind spending a few weekends tweaking small details, it's not a bad way to save some cash.
On the other hand, if you're busy or just not into messing around with caulk guns and shims, I'd probably lean toward local pros. My neighbor went that route, paid a little extra, but he was done in a day and hasn't touched them since. Personally, I'm fine trading a bit of weekend time for savings and knowing exactly how things were installed. Just depends on your comfort level and how much you trust your own handiwork...