Is Select Blinds Legit? My 6-Month Motorized Shade Test

I used to be a window treatment snob. After years of installing high-end, custom-wired Lutron systems that cost more than my first car, I viewed the blinds select ads that followed me around the internet with extreme suspicion. 50% off? Buy three get one free? It felt like the fast-fashion equivalent of home automation.

Quick Takeaways

• Value: Significantly cheaper than local custom shops, but you trade off on white-glove service.
• Motorization: Surprisingly quiet, though the bridge setup can be finicky.
• Build Quality: The Signature line is the sweet spot; avoid the Essential tier for high-traffic windows.
• Reliability: Six months in, I have had zero motor failures across four units.

Why I Finally Gave In to the Select Blinds Hype

The breaking point was my guest bedroom. I couldn't justify $1,200 for a single motorized shade in a room that gets used four times a year, but I also didn't want my mother-in-law wrestling with a tangled cord at 6 AM. I started digging into selectblinds reviews and select blinds reviews consumer reports to see if the horror stories were real. When you look at select blinds google reviews or the select blinds bbb page, you see a mix of 'best value ever' and 'it arrived broken.'

Is select blinds a good company? They operate out of select blinds chandler az, and unlike some fly-by-night dropshippers, they actually have a massive footprint in the US. I decided to treat it like a technical experiment. I ordered a set of select blinds roller shades to see if a budget-friendly, DIY-installed motor could actually survive daily schedules without losing its limits or burning out its battery.

Blinds.com vs Select Blinds: The Budget Showdown

If you have ever Googled window treatments, your sidebar is likely a battleground between blinds.com vs select blinds. I have used both. In my experience, the blinds com vs selectblinds debate comes down to the specific sale of the week. Select Blinds USA tends to lean harder into the 'always on sale' model, which can be annoying to track, but their sample process is faster. I had ten fabric swatches in my mailbox within three days.

When comparing select blinds vs blinds.com for smart features, Select Blinds often wins on the entry price for motors. While the other guys might have more brand-name partnerships (like Somfy), Select Blinds uses proprietary motors that are surprisingly snappy. Are select blinds good quality? For the price, yes. But don't expect the heavy-duty metal components you'd find in a commercial-grade Hunter Douglas install.

Essential vs. Signature: Decoding the Jargon

This is where most select blind reviews get confusing. The company offers different tiers: Essential, Signature, and Premier. If you are debating select blinds essential vs signature, let me save you the headache: get the Signature. The Essential line feels thin, the plastic components are lighter, and the light-blocking isn't as tight.

For anyone wondering why choose smart blinds, the motor upgrade in the Signature line is the only way to go. It offers better torque and much quieter operation. The Essential motors tend to have a high-pitched whine that sounds like a stressed mosquito. If you are installing these in a bedroom, that sound will drive you crazy during your morning routine.

Unboxing and My Biggest Installation Fears

My order arrived in about ten days. The packaging was sturdy enough, though one box had a significant dent. Luckily, the aluminum headrail was unscathed. One of the most common select blinds installation problems is the hardware. The screws they provide are... fine, but if you're driving them into old growth oak, you will strip them. Use your own high-quality wood screws.

I spent about twenty minutes per window. If you're a renter or just hate your drill, you might look at a Select Blinds no drill installation. These use a tension mechanism that is surprisingly robust, though I still prefer the security of a bracket for heavy motorized units. For the rest of us, if you want to install Select Blinds like a pro, the key is ensuring your brackets are perfectly level; if they are even slightly tilted, the fabric will 'telescope' and fray against the side of the bracket over time.

Testing the Smart Motors: Are They Actually Quiet?

I installed motorized dual layer roller shades in the living room. This setup is the ultimate test because you're moving two layers of fabric. The pairing process involves a small button on the motor head. You hold it for about five seconds until it jogs, then sync it to the remote or the bridge. It is a 433MHz signal, so it doesn't need your Wi-Fi to work with the remote, which is a huge plus for reliability.

In the bedroom, I went with motorized blackout cellular shades. These are the real winners for insulation. The motor noise clocked in at 38dB on my phone app—about the volume of a quiet library. It’s not silent, but it’s a low-frequency hum rather than a grind. Integration with Alexa was handled via their proprietary bridge. It’s not the most polished app in the world, but once I exposed the shades to Alexa, I could just say 'Alexa, movie mode' and watch them drop in unison.

Six Months Later: Is Selectblinds.com Legit?

So, are select blinds made in china? Most of their components are, though they are assembled in North America. After half a year, I haven't had to recharge the batteries yet. They claim 6-12 months per charge, and based on my twice-daily usage, that seems accurate. I did have one select blinds review complaints moment where the bridge lost its connection after a power outage, requiring a manual reboot, but the shades kept their upper and lower limits perfectly.

Is select blinds a good company for the long haul? If you want a bespoke experience where someone measures and installs for you, look elsewhere. But if you are comfortable with a screwdriver and want to automate your whole house without taking out a second mortgage, they are absolutely legit. Just avoid the 'Essential' tier and buy your own screws.

FAQ

Where are select blinds made?

Most products are assembled in the USA and Mexico using globally sourced components, primarily from China. This is standard for almost all major online blind retailers.

Is select blinds legit?

Yes, they are a massive, established company based in Arizona. While they have the typical customer service hurdles of any high-volume retailer, they ship real products that match the advertised specs.

What is the difference between Essential and Signature?

Signature shades use higher-quality fabrics, sturdier headrails, and superior motors. The Essential line is designed for budget-tight rentals or low-use windows.

Can I use Select Blinds with Home Assistant?

Yes, if you use their bridge or a Bond Bridge, you can integrate their 433MHz motors into most smart home ecosystems, including Home Assistant and Hubitat.