October 24, 2011

Blind Repairs

In-Store Pricing: We can repair most products unless they are old and discontinued. We can come to your home for a minimum trip charge or you can drop it off at our store:

The Blind Spot
10027 W Remington Ave., Ste. 200A
Littleton, CO 80127

Please call us for more specific pricing at (303) 973-1235.

Click here to read our Frequently Asked Questions about blind repair.

Blind Repairs & More:

Blinds & shades that can be repaired
Wood / Faux Wood Mini Blinds

  • Broken slats. Replacement slats can be ordered, best color match possible
  • Broken ladders / strings / pull chords
  • Broken saddles / drums inside headrail
  • Broken cord tilt / wand tilt tilter mechanisms
  • Replacement Brackets

Honeycomb / Cellular / Pleated

  • Broken strings / pull cords
  • Replacement brackets
  • Worn out cord locks
  • Broken ferrules / pockets on bottom rail / moving rail
  • Broken continuing cord loops & clutch mechanisms
  • Battery wand replacements
  • Troubleshooting battery operated / motorized shades $95 / hr.
  • Hunter Douglass cordless LiteRise® & Ultraguide® mechanisms

Woven Woods / Romans

  • Broken strings
  • Re-sew / replace broken rings
  • Replace cord locks
  • Replace cont cord loops & clutch mechanisms

Shutters

  • Replacement louvers
  • Replacement staples on tilt bars
  • Replacement hinges & magnets

Silhouete® / Vignette® / Pirouette®

  • Broken cont cord loops & clutch mechanisms
  • HD LR & UG
  • Replacement brackets / limit stops / end caps
  • Battery wand replacements
  • Troubleshooting battery operated / motorized $95 / hr.

Roller Shades

  • Replacement beaded chain & clutch
  • HD LR / UG
  • Re-tape fabric to roller

Pricing:

$75 minimum repair charge, including $20-25 per string re-string fee for most shades. The minimum charge does not include parts. We will call you with a quote prior to completing any work.

Hunter Douglas warranty repairs can be done for a $25 admin fee if the blinds/shades were not purchased from The Blind Spot.

Blind Repairs

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you charge for an in-home repair?

In-home repairs typically cost the minimum trip charge (currently $110) plus the minimum repair charge (currently $75). This is dependent on what repairs need to be done, how many shades/blinds need work, your location, and if we can ascertain up front what repair is needed. We add the cost of individual repairs to get your total. If you only need two strings re-strung or one cord loop replaced you pay the minimum $75. If you have multiple shades that need work we add the individual repairs together to get the final cost. If you cannot share exactly what needs to be done, then we will quote you an ESTIMATED cost and that cost will be revised by the repair tech on-site. Payment is DUE in full at the time of service. Any additions to the original scope of work would be an additional cost and completed ONLY if time allows & parts are available.

To re-string the costs are $20-$25 per string depending on manufacturer & type of product; cordlocks are $10-$20 each depending on manufacturer & type of product; tilter mechanisms are $25 each; outdated Levolor tilters are $40 each continuous cord loops are $15 each; replace clutch mechanisms on continuous loops or roller chains are $25 each plus parts.

How far out do you go for the minimum trip charge?

The current trip charge covers a 20 mile radius from our store location in Littleton. Add $25 per extra 10 miles. This minimum charge is an average of costs associated with the maintenance of the repair vans, gasoline, the repair employees time and knowledge – it is the charge whether you are 2 miles or 20 miles from our shop.

What if you can’t fix my problem on the first visit, do I have to pay two trip charges?

We will do our best to understand your problem before we come out for the repair. Sometimes it is just out of our control to know what needs to be done until we inspect the product. In the rare case that your blind/shade cannot be repaired on the first visit, or needs to be taken back to the shop to complete the repair, or requires parts prior to the repair being completed, we will reduce our trip charges to two $75 trips (current as of 12/1/17). You may also be charged a second trip if you add additional work “while the repair tech is there” and they are not prepared for it.

What if you get here and you determine the blind/shade cannot be repaired?

We request photos and information about your blind/shade. We require the age, manufacturer, type, etc, plus the photos to help us make that determination ahead of time. If we still come out, and are unable to complete the repair, we will discount the trip charge to $75 (as of 12/17). We will not charge you the minimum $75 labor fee.

My windows are 2nd story windows, do you carry ladders?

Please inform us in advance if we require more than an 8’ ladder. For any windows where the top is 12’ or higher, we charge a $25 ladder charge per window. We do not regularly carry tall ladders, and not having this information may require a second trip charge. We know this sounds expensive, but tall ladders are difficult to maneuver, inherently more risk. Working high up on ladders takes additional time, caution & experience, and sometimes two repairmen, so worker’s compensation is insurance we MUST carry.

My blinds/shades are motorized? Do you service these?

Yes, we are experts on most motorized products. The minimum repair charge is (currently $95). Continued trouble shooting is charged at $95 per hour after the first hour. We will always request photos & information upon the initial conversation such as the age of your window treatments, type of remote, any brand names on the product – as motorization technology & hardware has continuously changed over the years. Most products manufactured previous to the year 2000 do not have repair parts available anymore. If you just need batteries changed, this will be charged at $20 per shade (unless you are under the $95 minimum), and includes a quick checkout, not including the batteries. If we supply the batteries they are charged at $1 per battery for standard Alkaline AA batteries. We recommend Energizer batteries, and we DO NOT mix battery types – it is not good for the battery wand. Lithion Ion AA batteries are sold for $4 per battery.

I have Hunter Douglas Shades. Should they be covered under their lifetime warranty?

We are an Authorized Service Center for Hunter Douglas products. Hunter Douglas’ warranty is a Limited Lifetime warranty. Specifically it only applies to the original purchaser. Secondly, it only covers internal parts that fail, not any labor or trip charges. Strings are warranted for the first seven years from date of install. Motorized components are covered for the first five years. If you have a Hunter Douglas product and you are the original purchaser you may only have to pay us the trip charge to repair your shade in-home and an administrative fee to process the paperwork for your warranty repair (currently $25). If you purchased your products from us, The Blind Spot, you do not pay the administrative fee – this is our service free of charge to our customers. Just a note: some products cannot be repaired by us or any other Authorized Service Center and must be returned to Hunter Douglas for repair. In such cases shipping charges may apply. Any other questions can be directed to Hunter Douglas at their consumer hotline 1-800-789-0331.

Do you offer a guarantee on your repairs?

We do offer a 1 year guarantee that the SAME repair should not fail again in that time period. Sometimes the older blinds/shades have brittle parts, and working in one area can trigger a failure in another area down the road. Obviously, we will repair all failures we see at the time of the original in-home service. Unfortunately, a different failure is beyond our control and not covered under our guarantee. For example, if we came out to repair an UltraGlide mechanism failure we would replace the mechanism. Down the road there could be a pocket/ferrule failure requiring a re-string. This is a different failure and not covered under the 1 year guarantee. It could be the same shade, but it is not the same failure. If the guarantee is used during the 1 year term it DOES NOT start over again, it will end 1 year from the original repair date.

Why do I need to send a photo?

We have found over time that the terminology in our industry can be confusing. To make sure that we are communicating about the correct product and necessary repair, we are requiring customers to email a photo of their product in the window and a close up of what is wrong or needing repair. There are many manufacturers and many lift systems and all of them change over time. As the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Repairs will NOT be scheduled without a photo.

I was told my non-Hunter Douglas blind has to go back to the factory for repair? Is that a separate cost?

Unfortunately, some products we cannot repair and must be returned to the manufacturer. Some cordless products are proprietary and we cannot get parts, some headrails have rivets and we cannot open them. We try to understand the nature of the repair prior to entering your home. If you end up in this situation, you will incur the trip charge and an additional cost as well as for shipping, manufacturer repair charge, and our boxing/administrative time to process the repair. At a minimum these charges will be: $30 shipping charge, $25

How far out is an in-home repair scheduled?

Typically we are scheduling 1-2 weeks out for an in-home repair. Usually the repair tech sets their own schedule to accommodate repairs mixed in with installations. After an exchange of information and email photos we ask the repair tech to call within two business days to schedule an appointment. If they call three times without response from the customer they will stop calling and you will have to re-initiate the repair process. You can also bring your products to our store Monday-Friday 10am-6pm or Saturday 10am-4pm and not incur the trip charge and most likely reduce your turn-around time.

By scheduling an appointment, you are agreeing to have read and understood the above information, and agree to pursue an in-home repair with The Blind Spot, Inc. Customer also agrees to payment IN-FULL of the appropriate fees upon completion of work and prior to the technician’s departure.