Doors and Windows - Purchasing New Construction Windows

Can anyone offer any tips on purchasing new construction (not replacements) vinyl windows at a reasonable cost? I'm doing a small upgrade (windows/siding) and I'm trying to avoid spending a fortune on top dollar materials. Just looking to replace old single pane wood double hungs with decent vinyl units.

I priced out Andersen 200 series at HD, and the fellow helping me indicated that it would be cheaper to order them directly from Andersen. He mentioned something about a flat $75 fee that is added to the order of any number of windows (for non contractors I assume). I thoroughly searched Andersen's website, as well as google for any mention of this and found nothing. Anyone heard of this or how to do it?

I've priced out Andersen, Pella, Jeld-Wen and MW so far. The jeld-wen and andersen 200's seem to be in the same price neighborhood (J-W slightly cheaper). Pella was way high, and MW was lowest (but I've read bad things about them).

Can anyone recommend any other brands/outlets to check out? (I'm located in Western MA)

Any help is much appreciated!
Thanks!

Andersen does not discount, to anyone. Maybe to high volume retailers like HD. As far as I know, you can not buy direct. Have you looked at Certainteed New Castle line??? New construction vinyl at a reasonable cost.

Thanks for your reply!

I had a feeling that he was mistaken. He actually caught me off guard with the recommendation to NOT buy from HD. He simply looked up one of my largest window sizes (~42x42) and quoted a price of ~$235. He immediately said you're probably better off ordering directly from Andersen and gave me what I can only assume is HD's wholesale price of ~$200 or so. I thanked him and went on my way assuming it was a standard practice to order direct (this was the beginning of my search). However, that doesn't seem to be the case!

I haven't priced out Certainteed windows yet, but I definitely will. I have one of their small sliding units in my bath that was installed by the previous owner and it seems to be in line with what I'm looking for.

Home depot has a line of vinyl windows called American Craftsman. Their new construction models would be their 3000 series. It come with an intragal J-channel and rates comaparably in performance with the Anderson.

As far as the Anderson pricing. Generally they have 2 different ways of pricing them. Vanload and warehouse. In Vanload, they litteraly send a van load of items to a 3rd party that packages up the orders and delivers them. That's where the $75 comes from.

Warehouse would be where they have it sent to the store and you would then pick it up.

Vanload option is slower,but way cheaper.

ONe last note. Both Anderson and American Craftsman get glass from the same place. In reality they are both Anderson, becasue Anderson bought out the Silverline Company that makes the American Craftsman

Not to get into a shouting match, but IMHO, Am. Craftsman windows are junk, as is most stuff sold at big box, be it big orange or big blue. Much of the merchandise is of lower quality or they skip quality clontrol checks to get better pricing.
The above is correct about Andersen pricing. They do have two prices, one is next truckload, usually in about 6 wks, the other is right away delivery. Next boxcar/truckload, is cheaper, if you can wait.

Thanks guys! I had the guy price out the American Craftsman windows at HD at the same time he gave me pricing on the Andersens and they were within dollars (based on the vanload pricing) so I didn't spend any time looking at them. I figured if it came down to $10 a window it would be well worth getting the name brand.

It surprises me that I can't find any online options for ordering windows. It seems nowadays there's usually always a few companies that decide to go factory direct and provide a decent product without paying for all the marketing/sales staff/shelf space that goes along with a retail brand.

I'm trying to track down Certainteed right now... Looks like I'll have to call or send an email since their website only has options to "contact a contractor in your area".

Another option I'm considering is having my uncle open a cash account at Harvey windows. He owns a landscaping/home improvement business and I'm thinking it may be worth a shot to see what kind of pricing he can get from them. From past experience they won't even TALK to a non-contractor. I practically got kicked out just trying to take a look at what they had!