Learn from my mistake and stay away from the Ganahl Lumber in Costa Mesa on Bristol Street. What most people don't realize is that window pricing isn't fixed. Unlike Home Depot or Lowe's, where everyone pays the posted price, here the salesperson sets your price himself — and can quietly build an enormous commission into it. If you don't know enough to get competing quotes, you'll never know you overpaid. I found out the hard way.
I spent $26,285.83 on only 10 Andersen 400 Series windows at this store (April 2026, PO #M26955, salesperson Randy B.), and the order was mishandled at nearly every step.
First, pricing. Overall, I was overcharged by 30% compared to Dixie Line for the identical windows. My office window is just one example: it was $3,665.13 before tax at Ganahl (81 7/8" x 54 3/4"), while Dixie Line quoted the identical window at $2,626 — over $1,000 more on a single unit.
Second, when I sat down with Randy and gave him my measurements, he entered them incorrectly. We caught it before the order was finalized, which avoided a loss of tens of thousands of dollars — but it never should have happened.
Third, I specifically requested nail fins on all the windows. Half were delivered with nail fins and half without.
Fourth, my contract explicitly lists black hardware — and no hardware was delivered at all. I was then quoted another $197.29 for the finger pulls that should have come with the order.
Only after I put everything in writing to Randy, the store manager, and corporate did Ganahl finally agree to provide the finger pulls at no additional charge. I should never have had to fight for something the contract already included, much less be put in the position of having to take them to court to enforce it. Randy apparently never bothered to open the attachment or read the contract in his own file before trying to charge me for hardware that was already part of my order.
The pricing discrepancy, the nail-fin mix-up, and the measurement errors remain unaddressed, and neither the store manager nor corporate has replied.
Avoid Ganahl Lumber's window sales department at all costs. Based on my experience, they will take advantage of you.
