+1 830-445-4500

Investing in Patio Enclosures: Quality vs. Bargain Prices

That old saying “You get what you pay for” is true with many purchases we make in our daily lives, including patio enclosures for your home or business. While being frugal is appropriate, in certain cases, there are times you should focus on quality, not the price.

To illustrate this point, consider the brand names of products you use at your business or in your home. Why do you purchase this brand over another? If it is a brand name product, chances are you buy it because you desire a quality product. On the other hand, if it is a bargain brand, it might be one you compared to a brand name product and determined the quality is similar.

For cleaning products, groceries, toiletries, and other such items, comparing the quality versus the price is relatively easy to do. You only have to buy one of each to evaluate whether the lower price provides the same quality as the brand name.

However, when it comes to major purchases, you do not always have this luxury. You have to decide if you want to save some money or invest a little more upfront for a better-quality product. For this reason, let’s look at why investing more in brand name quality products can be the right choice.

Patio EnclosureWhy Do Brand Names Cost More?

The reason brand names tend to cost more is related to the level of craftsmanship and quality that goes into making each product. Brand names establish themselves by delivering consistency in both craftsmanship and quality, whereas bargain-priced brands focus more on price and not so much on consistency in these areas.

A good rule of thumb is to not to fully base your purchasing decisions on the brand name alone. Rather, you want to pay careful attention to the quality of the product. In order to establish the quality of the product, you need to know what to look for when evaluating quality over bargain prices.

For example, high-quality clear vinyl patio curtains are durable and designed to last for numerous years. Nor will high-quality curtains lose their shape, warp, fade, or stretch from continued use. With bargain priced curtains, all of these things can occur—sometimes in a matter of a few months to within a year of buying them.

Focus On QualityHow Do I Evaluate Quality in Patio Curtains?

The best place to start is to ask for samples from each vendor you are considering for their patio curtains. Reputable brands will be more than happy to send you a sample, sometimes for free or for a nominal cost to cover shipping. The thing to remember is the vendor wants to earn your business.

If they refuse to send you a sample, this should raise some red flags right away. It should also tell you that the quality of the goods may be less superior than other brands. If this happens, mark the vendor off of your list.

Once you receive your samples, compare them side by side. Does the vinyl feel thick or thin? Thicker vinyl means it will be more durable and help block out the elements and cold better than thin vinyl. How pliable is the material? Quality products should be easy to roll up without the vinyl ceasing. Lower quality vinyl can crease, bend, and even crack.

If there is a zipper or border sewn on the sample, take a look at the stitching used. Is the stitching uniform and tight? Is it single or double stitched? The better the stitching, the less likely the zipper or border will cause the vinyl to tear or rip.

Wise Guys Patio EnclosureHow Does Investing in Quality vs. Bargain Prices Pay Off?

Going for bargain prices may end up costing you more in the long run than paying a little more upfront for a quality product. Bargain prices are normally not the way to go for major purchases like automobiles, appliances, furniture, and energy-efficient products. The same is true when you are shopping for clear vinyl drop curtains for your home or business.

To demonstrate why paying more now for a better-quality brand is worth the investment, consider the following:

You find a set of bargain-priced vinyl curtains for your patio for $300. A comparable set of brand name curtains costs $1,000. The bargain brand says it will last for five years, while the brand name lasts fifteen years. You’re thinking that even if you have to replace the bargain brand twice, you will still come out $100 ahead in the long run.

This type of thinking is what gets many people in trouble and leaves them less than satisfied. You order the bargain brand. When you receive it, you discover it does not include the hardware needed to install and hang up the curtains. You contact the company, and they inform you to get the hardware it is another $300.

Looking At Your LaptopYou go ahead and spend this money since you already have the curtains. Now you are out $600. If you need to replace the curtains twice, that is another $600, so your total cost of ownership has now gone up to $1,200—$200 more than the brand name.

On top of that, you didn’t request samples, and now you notice the vinyl is thin, flimsy, and low quality. Sure, it will help keep out the rain and wind, but it doesn’t do any good at helping maintain consist patio temperatures on those hot summer days and cold winter days when you still want to enjoy the patio.

Then, in month 13, you notice, after a cold winter, several of the panels are cracked. You call the bargain brand vendor and find out your panels are out of warranty. Now you have to invest even more money to replace those panels. But, wait! You also find out the ones you purchased were discontinued, so you also have to purchase an entirely new set of curtains and all new hardware, too, because neither is compatible with what you already own.

As you can see, with bargain brands, these types of problems can be quite common whether we are talking about vinyl drop curtain or some other product. In the long run, had you invested the initial $1,000 for a higher-quality product, you could have avoided all the added costs.

Group Of FriendsNot to mention, you would have still been able to use your patio on hot summer days and cold winter days. If you are a business owner, this means you would not have lost potential revenues since you would be able to use your patio year round.

  • NOTE: Please keep in mind, the prices used in the above example are for illustrative and educational purposes only and do not reflect the actual costs of vinyl drop curtains.

Why Buy Patio Enclosures from EnclosureGuy?

You can rest assured we take pride in creating quality products for your home or business. All of our patio curtains, enclosures, clear vinyl drop curtains, sun shades, and other products are made by hand from the best materials available today to provide years of use and enjoyment. Plus, each of our product lines is made here in America, not some overseas facility in China.

Outdoor Patio EnclosureSince we make our products by hand, it can take between four and six weeks before your patio curtains will be shipped to your home or business. All of our customers have not minded this waiting period because they know they are getting superior products compared those they have found at bargain prices.

In addition, many of our product lines provide flexibility and can be interchanged with one another, depending on the time of the year. For instance, you can swap out our clear vinyl curtains with our custom sun shades and vice versa.

If you want to start using your patio while it is still winter or in early spring before it warms up, then you should not delay and should order your drop curtains and shades now. To learn more about our quality, durable patio enclosures, shades, and other products for your home or business, or for assistance in selecting the right ones, please feel free to contact Enclosure Guy at (830) 445-4500 today or visit our website to fill out your FREE ESTIMATE form!