Choosing a garage door company can be a daunting task, especially with so many options available. Unfortunately, there are companies out there that engage in dishonest practices to take advantage of customers. Here at Superior Overhead Doors in Broken Arrow we are sad to learn of people getting scammed and want to help alert our neighbors on what to look for to protect themselves. This guide provides key insights to help you avoid garage door scams and select a legitimate garage door company for installation, repairs, or services.
1. Watch Out for Misleading Company Names To Avoid Garage Door Scams
Just because a company has a name that implies they offer cheaper prices doesn’t mean that they do. It’s crucial to compare quotes from multiple companies before deciding. If a company’s quote is significantly higher or lower than others, it’s a red flag. High prices can indicate overcharging, while low prices might be a tactic to lure you in and charge more later. The pricing should be fair.
2. Be Wary of Price Changes After You Mention Competitors
If a company offers you a discount or coupon after you mention a competitor’s lower price, question their credibility. Why didn’t they offer the discount upfront? This can indicate that they are manipulating prices to maximize profits and may not be transparent about costs from the start.
3. Call Centers and Outsourcing: A Red Flag
Some garage door companies are marketing companies with no local employees. They outsource work to whoever they can find to do the work the cheapest. One day they may find a good person to send out and the next time they may send out someone who is unscrupulous. Without long term employees they have no real control on who you get and the quality of work. Also when you hire them, you are dealing with a middleman who adds their own markup, resulting in higher costs for you. One way to help determine who you are dealing with is to ask where their office is located. If they can’t tell you the location quickly, then the person you are talking to could be out of state or in another country. If they do give you a location, verify the company really is there because sometimes they say something hoping you will not fact check them. Remember, if it doesn’t seem legitimate, reconsider using them.
4. Regional or National Companies: Expect Higher Prices
There is a trend for private equity firms to buy up businesses in multiple locations and create a large regional or national company. These companies need to recoup their investments and usually have a playbook to increase revenues through either higher prices, or upselling customers, or both. At least one national company measures their service techs success by the tech’s “conversion rate”. The “conversion rate” is how they describe how successful the service tech is at selling the customer something more than what the customer requested when they called for service. We have heard that a national company was not satisfied that their tech’s conversion rate was 70% but they wanted it to be 90%. It is hard to believe that nine out of ten customers need something other than what the customer initially called about. Beware of companies that seem more focused on getting the most out of a customer rather than providing value for reasonable compensation.
5. When You Avoid Garage Door Scams: Low Service Call Fees Are Often Bait
Be skeptical of service call fees that seem too low—usually under $100 in the Broken Arrow area. This is often a tactic to get a technician into your home, where they can upsell you on additional, overpriced services. A reasonable service call fee typically reflects the cost of travel and labor, so if it’s too low, expect hidden costs. Avoid these garage door scams.
6. Don’t Approve Work Without a Full Quote
Always get a full quote before authorizing any work. Some disreputable companies may start work without providing a clear estimate and then overcharge you when the job is done. If you don’t pay them immediately then they will pressure you for payment before they leave or put a lien on your home. Protect yourself to avoid garage door scams by ensuring you know exactly what services you’re paying for, and don’t feel pressured to make a decision on the spot.
7. Be Critical of “Perfect” Reviews: Avoid Garage Door Scams
While a high rating on platforms like Google can be reassuring, be cautious of companies with an unusually high number of perfect 5-star reviews. Some companies hire services to generate fake reviews. Look for these signs:
- Reviewers all have profile pictures (many people don’t have a profile picture).
- Reviewers have left reviews for home service companies in multiple states. (Maybe the person has houses in multiple states, but it is suspicious.)
- The language in the reviews seems generic or overly positive.
Some companies may charge a higher than normal fee for a service and if they get a complaint they offer to give back some amount for the complainer to remove the bad review or change it to a good review. As an example, maybe the company charged $300 for a $100 service. If the customer complains they offer a $100 discount for a 5 star review. The customer ends up paying $200 for a $100 service and giving the company a 5 star review.
Legitimate businesses often have a mix of reviews, and some less than perfect feedback is normal. Use reviews as part of your research but rely on other factors as well to avoid garage door scams.
8. Excessive Advertising Costs Are Passed On to You
Companies that spend heavily on advertising need to recoup those costs—often they are passed on to customers as higher prices. Don’t assume that the most visible company is the best option. Instead, balance the company’s visibility with its reputation and pricing compared to competitors.
9. Avoid Garage Door Scams With Weekend and After-Hour Service Fees
Many locally owned companies operate during regular business hours. If you need after-hours or weekend service, beware of companies that inflate prices during these times. Although they may have to pay their workers overtime for after hour calls, some take advantage of knowing customers will find it harder to compare prices with reasonably priced local businesses closed after hours and on weekends. If possible, wait until regular business hours to avoid unnecessary surcharges and compare prices.
10. Extended Warranties Aren’t Always a Good Deal
Extended or lifetime warranties may sound appealing, but they often come with strings attached. Many require you to have yearly maintenance performed by the company offering the warranty, which can be costly. Additionally, if you let another company work on the door, your warranty may be voided. Be cautious of warranties that seem designed to lock you into paying ongoing fees.
11. The Risk of Hiring Individuals Over Companies
While hiring an individual contractor may be cheaper upfront, it comes with significant risks. Many independent contractors don’t carry liability or workers’ compensation insurance. If they get hurt on your property, you could be held responsible for their medical expenses. Moreover, if they do poor work and the garage door falls on your vehicle or your loved ones, it can be difficult to get compensation. Larger, legitimate companies are more likely to have insurance and can send other employees if one worker is unavailable when you need them. Although an individual may show up one day to start a job, marital problems, addictions, health issues are just a few of the things that can happen to keep them from finishing a job or coming back to fix a problem.
12. A Company Without a Shop Location Is Risky
Always ask where a company’s physical office or shop is located. A legitimate company should have a location where you can find them if something goes wrong. If they only provide a PO Box or seem evasive when you ask, this is a red flag. You want to be able to visit or contact the company if there are issues. The last thing you want is for the person to take your deposit and never be seen again.
13. Research the Company’s History and Legal Standing
How long has the company been operating in your area? Tools like the Wayback Machine allow you to see past versions of a company’s website, which can help verify their history. Have they been around for more than five years? The website history may help you in your research.
Also, check local court records to see if the company has been involved in lawsuits. In Oklahoma you can search court dockets at oscn.net There are legitimate reasons for garage door companies to sue their customers, such as collecting unpaid bills. Companies can also be the victims of meritless lawsuits. You should read the court documents to see if you really want to do business with the garage door company.
Conclusion To Avoid Garage Door Scams
Choosing the right garage door company involves more than just comparing prices. Look for companies with transparent pricing, a local presence, reasonable service call fees, and good—but not too perfect—reviews. Avoid companies that pressure you into quick decisions, try to upsell unnecessary services, or outsource their work. By following these tips, you can protect yourself from scams and ensure that you’re getting a fair deal for quality work. If you liked this article, please check us out at www.superioroverheaddoors.com for your garage door needs in the Tulsa area.