"central_scrutinizer" wrote in
oups.com:

Yes... The day I got the doors, I emailed them about a 20% refund
for the "scratch and dent" quality of the product. I don't care if
they will replace it (I doubt they will - this is a custom made
product. I was told there is no return policy for it)... That will
cost me extra in labor. It's been 5 days, and I have no reply at
all. Sometimes emails are ignored or go to the wrong person. I
will escalate this by sending a registered letter to them and cc:
the BBB (they are members). If I don't get a partial refund, I
will file a small claims case. My contractors will testify that
this was not damaged in shipping, but at the factory. It's easy to
prove - there were no glass chips embedded in the foam that covers
the edges of the panel.

It's a matter of principle. As a rule, I don't pay full price for
floor model, "scratch n' dent sale" quality products. And I refuse
to pay my own money for the labor to return the panel, and have my
contractors pick it up again in 4 weeks... Who knows, the next one
could be worse... That is, if they even do that. Like I said, when
I ordered these, they stressed that there is no return policy for
these...

It wasn't just one chip... We tried to invert the panel, so the
chip would be covered by the support railings. The other side was
even worse! It had quite a few chips and it looked like the glass
was cut by a dull blade... The lack of glass chips in the
packaging, or damage to the packaging is further evidence that
this happened at the factory... This is a custom made product, and
I don't think they have the high standards to cut another panel
because they messed up and chipped this one.

It's funny, because my contractors installed some glass mosaic
tile in the bathroom, and were able to cut it without chipping it.
It can be done. You'd think people in the glass shower door
business would know how to do this right... Maybe they are too
cheap to replace their diamond saw blades? I don't know... when
you pay top dollar, you expect quality... At least I do...

The next day, after I took my first shower and saw the huge puddle
on the floor, I called them and asked for the same piece that goes
on the bottom of the shower door. I wanted to put that on the side
of the door panel. It would not only prevent the leakage, but
cover the chip in the glass. They told me this is not a suitable
part, and are sending me what I understand to be some type of
weather stripping. They said this would cover the chip, but how
would they know? If it's weather stripping, it will not do that.
It's some cheapo self-adhesive thing that will probably peel off
in a few years and look like crap.

They could have designed these doors better. The way they are
designed, there has to be a small gap between the panel and the
door. Seems like it should come with some rubber edge so the door
closes tightly with the fixed panel. This is not rocket science
here. If some people find this aesthetically displeasing, they
could make it optional. Some people will take form over
function... Even these people would be dissatisfied by chipped
glass, though...

I've learned a lot by this whole experience. Usually, you do get
what you pay for, but not always. In the case of these shower
doors, I spent 50 times as much as a shower curtain, rod, and
hooks, and received a product that is inferior in performance.

The only cool thing is the Hydroshield treatment. The water just
sheets off, and you don't need to wipe down the shower doors. I'm
interested to see how this holds up over time. Hydroshield is not
Holcam's invention... It's a value-added resale option, and it
made by another company. There's nothing clever about Holcam's own
products. They're just two pieces of glass with some support rails
and hinges. A 3rd grader could have designed these things...

But I cannot recommend these shower doors, which brings me to the
point of this post. My mother was going to buy Holcam doors to
replace her shower doors, but after I told her about these issues,
she decided against it...

So, to get back on topic, can anyone provide me with another
vendor of quality shower doors that are 5/8" thick tempered
glass... I mean, these have to be made by a competent company that
can cut the glass without chipping it. I'm sure one can get better
product for less. I was lazy and went to the Home Depot, and
that's the only swinging shower door product they sell... I've
found the sliding ones always build up gunk in the tracts and are
impossible to clean. It's like a breeding ground for mold.

So please let me know of another company that makes these
products. I would be happy to avoid the Home Depot. During my
whole remodeling project, I have found the HD to be overpriced and
while they have everything, they don't have a good selection of
top quality products with elegant design. For example, if you buy
a bathroom vent at the HD, it looks like something from a Motel 6,
and it costs 30% more than something you would get at an
electrical supply store... If you live in a big city, there is
always an industrial neighborhood with specialty stores that sell
quality products at marginal cost. These stores are often in scary
neighborhoods and are basically warehouses, and are open from 9-5.
This makes them a bit inaccessible for some, but I highly
recommend shopping around at smaller businesses. All of the
problems I have had with products have been resolved quickly, and
I return to these places again and again, and recommend them to
family and friends.

I was able to get natural stone tile that was 30% less than the
HD,
better quality, and it looked like nothing you'd see at the HD.
The HD has some pretty cheesy looking tile, hardwood, and plumbing
fixtures. Maybe if you're remodeling for the Waltons?

So all of those people worried that the HD would put smaller
stores out of business, I can tell you, they are no competition.
Their products are cheesy and overpriced. The HD is OK for some
things, but they don't even have a good selection of something
like grout!

Anyway, any recommendations for 5/8" tempered glass shower doors
made by a company that can deliver quality products? My current
recommendation is to go to Target and get a rod, hooks, and shower
curtain. If your shower looks nice to begin with, it will still
look really nice with a shower curtain...


Why do you want 5/8" thick shower doors ? Are you going to use the
shower door for a blast shield ?

We went to a glass contractor and he custom made and installed one in
our new bathroom. You didn't specifically say so I assume yours was
hinged ? You said the sliding ones always got dirty, etc. Ours is a
sliding door system, without the traditional doubleU channel at the
bottom, but instead used an "L" shape, withthe foot od the "L" slanted
toward the shower pan. After 2 years, no build up, etc.
Our shower is 3' x 5' with a seat across the back, a fixed and a hand-
held head, so the water flus all around the stall, and to this day we
have has NO leaks or puddles on the floor.

Do some checking locally other than the HD or Lowe's. I bet you can
get exactly what you want with total satisfaction.