What You Need to Know

Protect yourself by recognizing & avoiding unethical “Bait-and-switch” deceptive advertising business practices.

From the Beginning

Since 1979 our family has provided a wide range of custom made exterior sun control products throughout California with Stationary Awnings, Retractable Awnings and Drop-Shade Systems. We also remove thousands of awnings and fabric awning covers which were made by other companies each year. Because we use the highest-quality components, as well as superior quality-control products tested twice before they leave our factory, our awnings look better, work better and stand the test of time. Unfortunately, not all awning companies can make the same claim. In fact, most awnings we inspect that come in for replacement to our factory have used cheap, off-shore hardware and fabric.

All Accent Awnings systems and fabric awning recovers include a full-service warranty covering all defects in materials during the warranty period. Please reference our warranty here.

Post- Sales Support is Everything

Accent Awning Company’s post-sales support is second to none. We offer repair and warranty services on our products — all completed by our factory-trained installation technicians. We provide superior technical support, care and cleaning information, replacement parts for all of our custom retractable awnings, stationary awnings & Drop Shade Systems. We stand behind our workmanship and services to give you the best Accent Awning experience possible for the life of your product.

Of course, consumers want the best awning products with a recognized company that stands behind them. In our experience, it is often not until after they encounter a service or warranty claim, they discover the company doesn’t stand behind their warranty or even offer repair services. This is especially true for cheaper, imported products that don’t have warranties. One more reason Accent Awnings always provides their warranty in writing.

A major concern for consumers is when companies use blatantly deceptive practices with their warranty polices. Although the Federal Trade Commission’s Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act requires manufacturers and sellers of products conducted inside a consumer’s home to supply a detailed written warranty, many do not or even less provide it on their website. These companies typically lead with lower priced options but lack the foundation or future to stand behind their products.

Confirming Bait-and-Switch

Accent Awnings® replaces thousands of awnings and awning fabrics made by other companies each year. Before scrapping these old awnings we inspect the hardware, motors and fabrics in order to know what our competitors are actually supplying. We estimate as many as 75% of local awning companies are using cheap off-shore hardware. Additionally we estimate as many as 40% of local
awning companies are using off-shore fabrics when solid colors are selected.

Consumers always want the best products on the market at the best possible price. Unfortunately a Bait-and-Switch victim will most likely not realize they have deceived until they encounter a service or warranty claim. Cheap & inferior imported products are less reliable and typically don’t offer the same warranty as American and European materials. One way to know if you’re dealing with a Bait-and Switch company is to ask for their warranty in writing.

Although the Bait-and-Switch problem isn’t limited to Southern California, we first started seeing the influx of off-shore awning products shortly after a free-trade agreement deal with a Far East country. Even though the first local company to use these sub-par products was able to quickly gain a foothold in the market based purely on price, they folded in a few years. Offering a high-quality warranty with inferior quality products predictably resulted in excessive warranty costs which the company couldn’t afford to cover.

The next incarnation of the company supplied the same inferior products with a new twist: deceptive warranty practices. Although the Federal Trade Commission’s Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act requires manufacturers and sellers of products conducted inside a consumer’s home to supply a detailed written warranty, this awning company continues not provide a written warranty to consumers or post one on its website. By being able to refuse warranty claims and not providing warranty documentation, the company was able to continue selling low-quality items for substantially less than its competitors.

The Bottom Line

Accent Awnings knows the awning industry inside & out, and we make the highest-quality products as well as provide the best customer service. We can actually prove it and there is no doubt about that.

You can come to our showrooms in Santa Ana & San Diego anytime and see what we do – and check out our awning showroom while you’re there! Call us today in Southern California at (800) 332-2866. We look forward to seeing you soon.