Business ProfileforIllinois Energy Windows & Siding, Inc.

BBB promotes truth in advertising by contacting advertisers whose claims conflict with the BBB Code of Advertising. These claims may come to our attention from our internal review of advertising, consumer complaints and competitor challenges. BBB asks advertisers to prove their claims, change ads to make offers more clear to consumers, and remove misleading or deceptive statements.

On 5/6/2022, BBB contacted the business regarding a promotion that they were advertising on their website and on Valpak Coupon Ads that stated:

As of 5/25/2022, after speaking with the business and getting a better understanding of their prices, the BBB finds that the business is meeting Section 3 of the BBB Code of Advertising.

"SPECIAL WINDOWS OFFER: Buy One, Get One 50% Off!"

"SPRING SPECIAL 25% Off"

The BBB requested modification of their advertisement and/or substantiation to meet Section 3 of the BBB Code of Advertising which states (in part):

3. Comparison with own former selling price
3.1 The former price must be the actual price at which the advertiser has openly and actively offered the product or service for sale, for a reasonably substantial period of time, in the recent, regular course of business, honestly and in good faith.
3.2 Where the former price is genuine, the bargain being advertised is a true one.  If, on the other hand, the former price being advertised is not bona fide, the bargain being advertised is a false one. 
3.2.1 For example, where an artificial, inflated price was established for the purpose of enabling the subsequent offer of a large reduction, the consumer is not receiving the usual value expected.  In such a case, the “reduced” price is, in reality, probably just the seller's regular price.
3.3 Offering prices, as distinguished from actual former selling prices, may be used to deceptively imply a savings. In the event few or no sales were made at the advertised comparative price, the advertiser must make sure that the higher price does not exceed the advertiser's usual and customary retail markup for similar products or services.
3.4 Descriptive terminology often used by advertisers includes: “regularly,” “was,” “you save $ _____,” and “originally.” If the word “originally” is used and the original price is not the last previous price, that fact must be clearly and conspicuously disclosed by stating the last previous price, or that intermediate markdowns may have taken place, for example, “originally $400, formerly $300, now $250,” “originally $400, intermediate markdowns taken, now $250.”