BlindsExpress
Author: Kaitlyn Short
BlindsExpress was founded in 1973 and is a purveyor of made-to-order blinds, shades, and shutters in metal, wood, faux wood, and vinyl. Located in New York, the company offers a variety of blinds, shades, and shutters and pricing depends on your choice of brand and customize specifications. It works with known, brand-name manufacturers such as Bali, Levolor, Norm Blinds, and others. BlindsExpress also has its own in-house brand called Our Brand that offers customers a more affordable price point.
All products on its website are made and shipped directly from the brand manufacturing plants and are warrantied under manufacturer warranty only. BlindsExpress prices are in line and beat some of its competitors. It also offers a price match policy. For those looking to update their home with a large number of blinds, or for larger commercial customers, BlindsExpress has a 2 percent quantity discount available on orders with 10 or more blinds. Orders with a large amount of square footage can be eligible for a contract quote from certain manufacturers.
Customers shopping with BlindsExpress should be prepared to do some work to ensure they order the correct blinds and that they are installed properly. You will need to follow precise directions in order to measure accurately. Customers also will need to install the blinds themselves with directions that are included or they can hire an installer. BlindsExpress has compiled a list of installers in many states (but not all) that it has pre-screened and that customers can hire to install their blinds.
The Good
- Free Shipping
- Helpful Resources
- Good Variety of Products
- Price Match Promise
- Satisfaction Guarantee
Free Shipping
BlindsExpress prices include freight charges to the contiguous United States. Items sold on BlindsExpress.com are shipped directly from the manufacturer. Most items will ship free; however, different manufacturers may charge for larger items. Its manufacturers will ship to Alaska and Hawaii. This is a big deal since many competitors do not offer shipping to these two states. Residents of Alaska and Hawaii will be charged various amounts for shipping by different manufacturers.
Helpful Resources
Many online purveyors of blinds and shades offer an array of helpful resources to assist customers in selecting and installing their products. BlindsExpress has a large resource guide section that can guide customers on topics such as how to measure your windows for proper blind installation. It also has trained customer service representatives who can assist with questions related to its products.
The company provides installation information from the manufacturer on each product page. One area that BlindsExpress falls short in is its lack of inspiration on its website to assist customers in making design decisions. It can be hard to know which blinds to select and many of its competitors offer significant help and inspiration in this area.
Good Variety of Products
BlindsExpress offers customers a solid selection of blinds, shades, and shutters. Customers will be able to easily navigate through all of the many options using the filter function. You can filter by brand, slat size, popular features, room, and more.
Price Match Promise
Like some of its competitors, BlindsExpress offers a price match promise. If you find a better price on any custom made blind, shade, or shutter on the internet you can contact the company's customer service line. It will verify the published price, and if all specifications including shipping are verified then it will match or beat the final price.
This price match does not mean that it can honor any other site's warranty that is not compliant with the standard manufacturer's warranty (example: guarantee fit, etc). It also reserves the right to void this promise if the price on the website is in error or manufacturers are offering promos that BlindsExpress is not participating in.
Satisfaction Guarantee
BlindsExpress has a satisfaction guarantee on all of its merchandise but its guarantee isn’t as robust as some of its competitors. It guarantees that your order should arrive free of any manufacturing defects or flaws. It also guarantees that you will receive first line products and not seconds or “off” goods.
If your merchandise is defective or damaged, the company will arrange for return of the original merchandise at no charge to you. You must notify them within 30 days of receiving your order. Other companies provide a satisfaction guarantee with less limiting factors or disclaimers.
The Bad
- No Financing Available
- Limited Return Policy
No Financing Available
BlindsExpress does not offer any financing options. If you are installing a large number of blinds or shades the cost can add up to a substantial amount and you may want to finance. It is inconvenient that it does not offer any financing. It does allow payment with MasterCard, Visa, Discover, money orders, certified checks and Paypal. It does not accept American Express.
Limited Return Policy
Window treatments from BlindsExpress are custom-made to fit your windows and therefore are not returnable unless they are in need of warranty repair. Of course if you are unhappy with the product you can contact its customer service team to discuss the issues and it may be covered with BlindExpress’ satisfaction guarantee. However, you will not be able to return your blinds or shades for other reasons beyond 12 hours from the time the order is placed.
Any rare instances of returns/credit warranted by the manufacturer only, shipping charges are the responsibility of the consumer. All product cancellations and changes will be subject to a 30 percent manufacturers restocking fee, where applicable. BlindsExpress will refund your money minus the restocking fee if it applies and a 6 percent administrative charge. While these types of limitations are common on items that are custom-made regardless of the industry, they could prove inconvenient if you make a mistake when measuring, ordering, or installing your product.
The Bottom Line
BlindsExpress sells a large selection of blinds, shades, and shutters that are custom-made to order for you by several top industry manufacturers. You will find its website easy to navigate, and the filtering options should help you narrow down options by material, features, and style. If you are looking for design assistance, you may want to look on another site first before shopping at BlindsExpress as it does not have any real design or inspiration information.
The company offers customers a price match and satisfaction guarantee which will give you peace of mind as you shop. After you have selected the blinds or shades you would like to purchase, you should shop around online to make sure you have the best price. The company's price match policy ensures that you will be getting the best deal on your custom blinds or shades. Before ordering, you should be very confident that you have measured your windows or doors accurately using the advice provided by BlindsExpress. If you have any issues 12 hours or more after you place your order, then it may prove very difficult to return the items.
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Review Source
Christopher Milke Olney, MD
3 years ago
