Thatcher Retractables
About us
Thatcher Retractable Awnings is the only local company that manufactures and installs Retractable Awnings for decks and patios. We are also the leader in traditional awning services such as replacing fabric on existing awnings, washing, and installation services. We also offer Amish Made Pergolas with Pergola Shade Systems.
Business highlights
41 years of experience
Services we offer
Amish-made Pergolas and Pergola Shade Systems. Vertical Exterior Shade Systems and Weather Protection Systems., Door, Installation Services, Residential Window, Retractable Awnings for Decks and Patios, and Fixed Patio Awnings. Wash
Amenities
Free Estimates
Yes
Accepted Payment Methods
- CreditCard
Reviews
4.021 Reviews
| Number of Stars | Image of Distribution | Number of Ratings |
|---|---|---|
| 71% | ||
| 0% | ||
| 5% | ||
| 5% | ||
| 19% |
Showing 1-21 of 21 reviews
B E.
Sep 2020
On 11/12/2019 a representative came to our home. He took the order for a retractable awning for our home and an $1800 deposit and a promise for an early Spring 2020 installation. We have not heard from them since. When i call I get a recorded message saying Thatcher Retractable has gone out of business and the customer list, contact information and Thatcher phone number was purchased by Exclusive Retractable. They also do not return phone calls. There is a letter on line from Rodney Alott, owner of Thatcher, that says he sold the business in December 2019. When you call the number you get a recording saying it's now Exclusive and they will get back to you, but don't. It also says that Thatcher filed bankruptcy in February 2020. If that is really true, I should have been notified as someone that is due a product/service from Thatcher. I have a contract from them for a $3699 awning that i never received. I question if Exclusive Retractable Awnings, Matthew Short - owner even exists. Possibly a fictitious company to help Rodney Alott avoid making restitution for the accounts that he owes money and services to.
Matt C.
Sep 2019
Buyer beware.. The owner Rodney has no integrity! He will say whatever it takes order to get the job done. I should have know when he was almost 1 month late from the promise date of installation. The awnings are not what he promised and don't work as he says they would. When he was at our house he also pitched Adirondack chairs, which he said he wanted to trial. The were the wrong color and they weren't put together correctly. They are already falling apart. Once the sale is done, he does not answer for weeks. I had to drive to his office on a Saturday were he admitted that he messed up and that he would help us resolve the issue. We didn't hear from him for 4 weeks, so we had to wrote a letter. no response. After almost two months of mo response to any calls or emails, he finally sent an email turning the blame on us. He is unwilling to fix any of the issue described. I see that in the other reviews on his site others have had the same issues. I hope more people read this , so they don't fall into the same trap. It's nor surprise to me that he is rated a 3.5. I'm in the service business myself. I've never been more disappointed with a customer experience in my life. DO not trust this guy. it's almost creepy how this guy operates
William B.
Nov 2018
9/18/2018 Previous review Back in June i called Thatcher to replace the awning we have had on the house for 10yrs.Considering the time i was satisfied with the material and workmanship .We were out of town in mid July when it was installed and i noticed the outdoor grill was damaged and a part of the awning was on the ground .I called Rodney and explained the damage His reply was" OK I`ll have to talk to the crew but we will stand accountable for any damage .Another month goes by and no reply Called Rodney again "Oh Sorry must have forgotten Please send pictures of the damage and the model number " Pictures sent the next day-- No reply- Two week later re sent Pictures with message to Rodney-- No reply Called main number and left message at Rodney's extension-- No Reply Called next week asked to talk to Rodney was transferred to his voice mail-- No Reply Ok we`re done !!
Crandall K.
Sep 2018
Installers were new. Was a good thing we sat in our yard & watched the installation. Had discussed details with the co. owner during quote but was never relayed to installers. They had to pull up part of our siding to install, had hard time finding studs, left greasy finger prints on the whole length of dormer. They reluctantly removed after we insisted. Installer wanted to cut stability feet to fit deck or leave hanging over. We told them to change limit of opening so the feet would fit properly. Installer measured for new side screen but came too short. I refused screen. Sent email to owner who called yelled & screamed at me. Told me I was not a nice person. Told me installers complained we watched every move. Said they did not want to come back. Tried to explain we even gave them a case of water & $20 tip. All he wanted was the balance paid & send an email saying job was completed satisfactory. We had pd half deposit, balance at completion. When I refused, he hung up on me. I sent him another email explaining the problems we had (there were more but too many to mention) Couple hrs later, he sent an email, apologized for yelling (not for what he said) Told me to measure & he will make. Next day very nice lady came to our house & measured for screen. (She actually makes them) Eventually they got it right. But it took a couple of more trips. I paid but did not like the treatment & never heard back from owner, once he got his money.
Joan M.
Aug 2017
Very well-they did a Great job
Response from Thatcher Retractables
"Thanks [Member Name Removed]! It was a pleasure doing business with you too."
Thomas G.
Aug 2017
All went very well and I felt an excellent job was done.
Response from Thatcher Retractables
"Thank you for the kind words. It was nice working with you on your project."
CHRIS G.
Jul 2017
Awesome.Went to visit the showroom and got $100.00 off the price.Not pushy.The estimator was on time and gave the options.The awning has reduced the heat on the back of the house tremendously.This was our 4th estimate and we were treated the best.The price given was valid until the end of the year.Other estimators tried to "give a discount if you sign now". That is not a useful strategy!! The installers were efficient and friendly as well.It took 4 weeks for delivery.The awnings are made here in Illinois,one of our requirements.No overseas stuff!!! Oh- the showroom closes at 3pm on Friday.The online info says they are open later,so call first to confirm the latest info.The woman working there let us in and was patient showing us everything even though we arrived at 3:15 and she was ready to leave...and this was a FRIDAY! We all know what that feels like.Thanks for being patient!!
Response from Thatcher Retractables
"Thanks for the nice review! We are working on updating all hours on all sites. Your experience has helped us catch an error. We appreciate your business !"
DIANNE W.
May 2017
Rodney told us about the company, showed us where the awnings are sewn and assembled (on-site), demonstrated how the retractable awnings operate using the display models in the showroom, and answered all of our questions. He was knowledgeable and friendly and took all the time we needed to satisfy us. We made an appointment for the representative to come out to measure and write up our order: 18' x 10' retractable awning, front vertical screen, remote control and winter cover. The awning was ready about 5 weeks later and 2 installers came out, installed the awning, made the necessary motor adjustments, and instructed us how to operate the awning, both with and without (i.e., power outage) the motor. We've had it for almost 3 weeks now and we're very happy with the awning and our entire experience with Thatcher Retractables. I gave them an A for Price although we did not get another quote for comparison, but we are quite satisfied with the quality, appearance, and operation of the awning. We especially like that they are a local company, we could see what we were buying, the awning is made locally, and they are available if and when necessary in the future.
Response from Thatcher Retractables
"Thank you for nice review! It was a pleasure helping you. -Rodney"
Lynne P.
Mar 2016
unknown
Stephanie M.
Jul 2015
We researched several options and providers and chose Thatcher. I read several reviews and decided their product and company would be the best. The installation went fine except they couldn't do the installation on their first visit because one team member was not strong enough to assist in carrying the awning up to our third floor condo. One member was complaining about this. Probably should have kept that to himself. A new team member came back a couple days later and the installation went fine. However, I had to call Thatcher to find out when they were coming back out. They should have called me. It's been two months, and no issues. We love the product. I would recommend this type of awning to anyone living in a condo with a deck because it adds a new room and more space to enjoy.
Response from Thatcher Retractables
"Thanks for the kind words [Removed Member name]. We agree that it was a mis-step not to reschedule your installation the same day. We apologize for our mistake. Glad you are enjoying your awning."
Ed S.
Jun 2015
This company installed a motorized Awning for me about 2 years ago. I was impressed by the salesman who raved about the fact that this was a local company and prided itself on reliability and service.I then decided on Thatcher instead of another nationally known brand I was considering. Two weeks ago the motor stopped operating. I called the company and they promptly set up a repair date for me at a mutually agreed upon time. The service lady told me there would be a $30.00 Labor charge which I was a bit surprised at since the Motor had a 10 Year Guarantee but I figured it a reasonable fee.. The repair technician showed up on time and replaced the Motor as promised. He then presented me with a bill for $179.00 which included a $149.00 Service Charge added to the $30.00 Labor charge. I asked what the difference was between a service charge and Labor charge and he promptly put me in touch with the Main Office who did a poor job explaining the difference and which I now assume is just another way to rip off the customer post sale. She told me she would have the Service Manager call me to explain, and I am still awaiting a call which I doubt will ever come. .This experience has really soured me on a company which I really had a high opinion of before this incident. Several of my friends have admired my awning and while I used to recommend Thatcher I will surely stop doing so.
Response from Thatcher Retractables
"First of all, we sympathize with [Member Name Removed] frustration. It is never our intention to have something go wrong with our products. Defective motors occur in less than 2% of our installations over the entire warranty period. It is very unfortunate that [Member Name Removed] had to experience this issue. On the other hand, [Member Name Removed] was able to make a phone call, set up an in-field service appointment, and have two qualified service technicians come to his house in a reasonable time frame. Additionally, we came to his home and completed the repair in one visit, because we stock replacement parts on our trucks. These motors and other replacement parts are purchased in advance of repairs at the cost of the company. We do this so that our customers do not have to wait for us to send the motor back to the manufacture, wait for a replacement, and come back to complete the repair. This stands in stark contrast to the national brand that requires the homeowner to remove the defective part, ship it back, and reinstall the part when it is received. In terms of our warranty and cost, I agree with [Member Name Removed] that we did a poor job of explaining the charges. FIrst of all, the motor/ part was covered under warranty 100%. The cost of the motor is approximately $325. He was never charged for this. Thatcher Retractables offers a 1 year head to toe labor/ service warranty. [Member Name Removed] purchased his awning in April of 2013 and it was installed soon after. This means that the product was in service for the 2013 and 2014 season. After the 1 year warranty expires, we do charge a service charge. Our base service charge to do service throughout the Chicagoland Area is $149. We charge an additional $30 to perform services such as motor changes/ fabric changes/ and major part changes. The reason for the additional $30 is that we require a second technician on the truck to complete the service in one trip. Bringing this conversation full circle, I guess what I would like to say is that while it stinks to pay a service charge of $179 to have your motor replaced after two years, at least the repair was done correctly in a reasonable time frame. While that may be little solace for you [Member Name Removed], the Chicagoland area is full of awning owners that bought their awnings over the internet or through unreputable dealers and received no service or parts to repair their awning. We do countless services a year for those customers who ended up paying the $179 plus the $325 for their motor. At the end of the day, you can tell your friends and neighbors that Thatcher Retractables may charge for service, but we here to service them."
Christine B.
May 2015
They did a great job. If there's any issues I just call them. It was a great experience.
Response from Thatcher Retractables
"Thanks for the great review! We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience."
Nancy G.
Apr 2015
Contacted the company through their website email. Received a call the next day from Russ and we set up a date of our choosing for him to come to the house. He showed up on time and explained the difference between the 3 different awnings they sell. He was very pleasant and low key, no pressure. He explained everything thoroughly and had samples of the awning material for us to choose from. We ended up ordering a motorized awning for our deck and were told that it would be installed sometime in the next month, which was fine as it was still March when we ordered. They called a little over a week later to install, which was so much sooner than we thought. We picked out a Monday and it ended up snowing 5 inches! As the awning was going to be installed on our roof, we asked them not to come out due to safety concerns. They agreed and set a date for a week later. Two men showed up early to install, did a very professional job, cleaned up completely and explained how to operate it manually should we lose power. We have had a few nice sunny days now and have opened the awning to shade our kitchen. It works quietly and beautifully. We are completely satisfied with our purchase and everyone we have met from Thatcher Retractables.
Response from Thatcher Retractables
"Thanks! You were a pleasure to do business with too!"
DOMINIC C.
Dec 2014
After getting estimates of several thousand dollars from handymen when we needed the decades-old canvas awnings from our newly-purchased duplex, another vendor referred us to this company. I explained the situation to Rodney over the phone, and he said it was something he could easily take care of for anywhere from $149-179 dollars. He drove out a couple of days later to look at the task and said he would send out some guys to do the work within the week (because of weather, they came out the next week.) Initially, he said that the awnings could be taken down and stored at their location in case we changed our minds, but after seeing the condition of the awnings, he agreed that they should be removed. Thatcher recycles the canvas and metal frames for you and it's included in the cost.
His guys came and had five awnings down within half an hour. Couldn't have been easier. Extremely pleased with the service.
His guys came and had five awnings down within half an hour. Couldn't have been easier. Extremely pleased with the service.
Martin M.
Dec 2014
unknown
Edward P.
Sep 2013
They repaired it beautifully. They had to take the whole thing apart and put it back together again and did a wonderful job. The brand of awning that we have is not one that they provide or promote. But, still they were able to repair the awning and attach it to our home in such a way that a storm would not cause the same damage again. I felt they went out of their way to work with us even though we were not carrying their product line.
Richard G.
Aug 2013
We visited their showroom and were given information on their products and the installation was discussed. We were lookin at several options and Randy made an appointment to come out and make recommendations that would serve our needs. On the date of our appointment he called and explained he would be 15 - 20 minutes late which was appreciated. After surveying our options he recommended one that would work best for our needs and felt we would only be wasting money with our second option and felt only one awning would serve our needs. Two weeks latter they called to set up an appointment for installation and two workers showed up on time and did a very professional job. They took the time to instruct on the use and care of the unit and answered any questions we had. I would recommend this company. I am not sure they are the cheapest but their service is worth the cost.
Ed S.
Jul 2013
Everything went smooth. No pressure sale. Installation was quick and workers were very neat. They explained everything about how to operate the awning. We ordered a side screen option. This had to be measured when the awning was installed and mailed to us later. It took a little time and we contacted Barbara (salesperson) to see if we could get it before we were to have company. Barbara had it delivered to us in a couple days. Great work! If you are looking for an awning I would recommend Thatcher. Some of the other companies hire handymen or general contractors to do their installations. Thatcher has installers that do nothing but install awnings. The awning is of high quality
Pam H.
Jun 2013
The owner, Rodney, came to our house to meet with us. He was our original sales associate about 12 years ago when we bought the awning. He brought books of sample fabrics for our selection. His crew removed our awning, took it to the shop in Burr Ridge, where they tuned up the motor, cleaned the framework and put the new awning in place. A 2-person crew reinstalled the awning - which we LOVE! Of all the projects we are doing this summer to the inside and outside of our home, this job was by far the most pleasant,.
We highly recommend Thatcher Retractables! They do all the production in their own facility, they have very friendly personnel, and Rodney truly cared about giving us exactly what we wanted for our awning.
We highly recommend Thatcher Retractables! They do all the production in their own facility, they have very friendly personnel, and Rodney truly cared about giving us exactly what we wanted for our awning.
Christine B.
Jun 2013
Russ came out and gave me an estimate after explaining all my options. The awning is made right here in the USA in Burr Ridge. Dan came out to install the awning 6/8 and explained how to work it, what to do in the event of a power outage.
Liz O.
Feb 2011
They have a nice showroom and explained everything in detail. They came and did the installation. They also offer some other services like coming to cover it in the winter and some other extras. We picked them because they are a local company and we will be able to call them if something happens with it. We also used them because we can have the put the sun setter when we want. Sun setter are cheaper but you have get someone to put that for you. However, the price was the same and that is why I went with them.
Licensing
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FAQ
Thatcher Retractables is currently rated 4.0 overall out of 5.
Thatcher Retractables accepts the following forms of payment: CreditCard
Yes, Thatcher Retractables offers free project estimates.
No, Thatcher Retractables does not offer eco-friendly accreditations.
No, Thatcher Retractables does not offer a senior discount.
No, Thatcher Retractables does not offer emergency services.
No, Thatcher Retractables does not offer warranties.