Consumers should always be on the lookout for scams, and the garage door industry is no exception. At Price’s Guaranteed Doors, we’re proud to provide residential and commercial garage door services backed by a satisfaction guarantee and years of reputable service in the industry.

Not all vendors are reputable in this space, however, and con artists can use a few techniques to convince you that they’re legitimate when, in fact, they aren’t. Here are some signs of a garage door scam, plus how to prevent them from happening to you.

How They Work

Scammers in the garage door space are more common in larger cities – this is where more providers of garage doors are available, making it easier for these fakes to blend in without being noticed. A couple strategies these scammers will take include:

• Advertising: Just like a normal business, scammers will invest in advertising, both in print and online. They’ll reach consumers and appear to be a normal, reputable garage door company.
• Low-priced services: Scammers lure you in with the promise of low prices. They may initially deliver on the price, too, but they’ll get you down the road with inflated labor charges or “find” new items that need to be replaced on your door.

Who is at Risk?

In general, scammers look to target those who aren’t knowledgeable about the subject matter. It’s easy to take the advice of someone who seems like a professional when you aren’t an expert on a given product. For this reason, scams for emergency service are some of the most common.

Preventing Scams

Here are some tips for avoiding garage door scams:

• Don’t always call the first company that comes up when you search. Scammers are notorious for buying digital ads to keep these calls going.
• Listen for background noise when you call. If it sounds like you’ve reached a call center, this could be a red flag.
• Search online to find a building address or showroom.
• Read customer reviews on known, reputable sites.
• Get estimates from multiple companies and prepare prices. Be wary of a technician who presses you to commit too soon.
• Make sure the employee matches the company – is driving a truck with their logo, wears a shirt with their logo, etc.
• When you call, ask the representative what the name of their company is. Do not provide the name for them – many scammers use multiple generic names as cover.

For more on garage door scammers, or to find out about any of our garage door or entry door services, speak to the pros at Price’s Guaranteed Doors today.