quote for replacement windows - hard sell?

Hi all, Having met a salesperson from a well-known, highly-advertised window/home improvements company at a local shopping centre, I arranged for a visit to get a quote. He took measurements but didn't give me a quotation because he "wanted to go through everything" when my other half was also there and he "wanted to give me the best price possible". He claimed that they had special offers available of up to 50% off the usual price but because he'd met me at the shopping centre he had "a bit more play", but - here's the punchline - the quotation he gave me would only be valid for that day (i.e. 24 hours). I replied that I thought this was a ridiculous hard sell tactic and I wondered what the consumer protection people would say about it...
My question is whether this is considered to be an acceptable approach, is it common and is there anything I can do about it? (other than not buy his windows, of course!). He really annoyed me, especially as I'd wasted all of that time staying in so that he could call etc. I still need new windows though.
Thanks for your advice on this.

So he didn't want to talk to the little lady(no offence meant) but rather the man of the house. Does he not know women are the decision makers on things like this anyway?

Personnally, anytime I've got quotes for windows, I've always found a local supplier who was cheaper and better then any of the national firms. Suggest you tell him you'll think about it for now, go out and get some quotes in, and if his reduced price is still better, then ring him up and tell him that you'll do business with him, and the price quoted and he has 24 hours to accept, otherwise you'll go elsewhere.

I'm sure if you post where you are on here, you'll probably get some names of firms that people would recomend

We had this with a well know company who sell doors and windows. The reason they say the quote is valid for 24hrs only is to panic you into accepting their quote. They want to try to stop you arranging other companies coming to your home to measure up and quote. The price we were quoted for a basic enough hall door made me laugh out loud and to say the salesman was not pleased would be an understatment. He was not happy with me for "wasting his time getting him to coming out to do a quote when we didn't really know how much these things cost" I thought that was the reason for getting a quote you numbskull!!!! and 5k for a hall door that's not made of solid gold is fantasy even during Celtic Tiger days.

mapgirl said:

My question is whether this is considered to be an acceptable approach, is it common and is there anything I can do about it? (other than not buy his windows, of course!). He really annoyed me, especially as I'd wasted all of that time staying in so that he could call etc. I still need new windows though.

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I think you know yourself what the best course of action is here. Walk away and do not deal with this company.

Such pressure tactics are designed to prevent you shopping around, if they were good value, they would have no need to do this!

Take a look in the Recommend tradesmen and suppliers. forum for reputable suppliers.
Leo