Business ProfileforFeldco Windows, Siding & Doors

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, remove misleading or deceptive statements and comply with the BBB Code of Advertising. 

On 3/11/2022, BBB contacted the business Feldco regarding its advertised promotion of "Buy One Window Get One Free!" found on their website and various other media. The BBB requested that Feldco  modify its advertisement to comply with the BBB Code of Advertising, which states in relevant part: 

14. “Free” 
 

14.3 In a negotiated sale, no “free” offer of a product or service should be made where it would likely mislead consumers, such as where: 
14.3.1 The product or service to be purchased usually is sold at a price arrived through bargaining, rather than at a regular fixed price; or 
14.3.2 There may be a regular price but other material factors such as quantity, quality or size are arrived at through bargaining. 
 

14.4 Offers of “free” products or services which do not meet the provisions of this section may not be corrected by the substitution of such similar words such as “gift,” “given without charge,” “bonus,” “complimentary” or other words which can convey the impression to the consumer that a product or service is “free.” 
 

14.5 Because the consumer continually searches for the best buy and regards the offer of “free” products or services to be a special bargain, all such offers must be made with extreme care so as to avoid any possibility that consumers will be misled or deceived. Representative language frequently used in such offers includes: 
 
“Free” 
“Buy 1-Get-1 Free” 
“2-for-1 Sale” 
“50% off with Purchase of Two” 
“$1 Sale” 
“1/2 Off” 
“Gift with Purchase” 
Literally, of course, the advertiser is not offering anything “free” (for example, an unconditional gift), or 1/2 free or 2 for 1 when making such an offer, since the consumer is required to purchase a product or service in order to receive the “free” or “2 for 1” item. 
 
 

Feldco updated the offer to "2 For 1 Windows!" which does not meet Section 14 of the BBB Code of Advertising for the same reasons as the original claim.  Feldco requested guidance on how to advertise specific discounts/promotions and the BBB provided Section 6 of the Code of Advertising, List Prices, to assist.

As of 4/19/2022, the business provided a response to the BBB that it will not change its advertising practices due to the competitive environment.