For the third year in a row, builders and remodelers voted Simonton Windows the best window and patio door manufacturer based on a variety of factors, according to a recent study by J.D. Power and Associates. Andersen, Pella, and Marvin followed Simonton in the fifth-consecutive annual ranking.
More than 2,300 builders and remodelers evaluated 10 window and patio door manufacturers based on seven factors: product quality; warranty and repair service; price; customer service and support; credit and billing process; delivery; and ordering process, according to J.D. Power. Simonton scored well in six of the categories, and Andersen earned high marks in the product category.
“With the continuing shift toward remodeling and away from new construction, the product, warranty, and repair factors are becoming increasingly important,” Jim Howland, senior director in the real estate industries practice at J.D. Power, said in statement.
However, the study found building professionals’ overall satisfaction in manufacturers declined by 1.63% since last year.
“Despite the slight decline, window manufacturers are still doing a fairly good job of satisfying builders and remodelers, as demonstrated by improvement in order delivery times and accuracy from 2009,” Howland said. “Although there were some signs of recovery in 2008, many builders and remodelers are experiencing another downturn, and the decline in satisfaction may signal their uncertainty about the future of the industry.”
In J.D. Power’s consumer study, votes from more than 3,000 recent window buyers also put Simonton on top, ahead of the next closest competition, Window World. Consumers said they chose a brand based on price 38% of the time, and 58% said they took advantage the federal tax credits.
J.D. Power and Associates is a California-based market research firm that polls millions of consumers and professionals each year to study customer satisfaction, performance improvement, and market forecasting globally. The most recent builder and remodeler study was conducted between March and May 2010 and the consumer study between March and April 2010. –Evelyn Royer
