Dear readers,

I wanted to relate my poor experience with a particular landscape
construction company located in Alta Loma, CA (Lic# C775851) called
Clements Landscape Construction. Initially, the wife (Laura) gladly
picked up a copy of our plan so that her husband could do an estimate.

To keep the story somewhat short, the company never followed through
with an estimate, in spite of three phone conversations with promises
to schedule a follow-up appointment to go over the numbers.
Additionally, four voice messages were left to remind them of this when
days had passed with no response--not even a phone call.

So, weeks later, we finally left another voice message for the company
to either call back or mail our plan back to us. Of course, another
week passed and nothing happened. I made a final call today and was
able to speak to the wife in person--she was not very helpful and even
had the gall to say she "did not need to be told twice" about returning
the plan. Funny thing was, we had already left multiple messages and
had verbal promises to schedule a meeting for an estimate.

Anyways, she said she would come by later this evening to drop off the
plan. But it is already passed the stated time she promised. So
again, the company blew us off and kept our landscaping plan.

I am very displeased with this company and wanted to warn potential
customers to look elsewhere for landscaping construction work, because
you will probably have a hard time even getting an estimate!

I don't know whether it's because the real estate market is so hot
right now that these landscape construction folks are able to provide
such poor service and think they can get away with it.

If you've had a similar experience, I would also like to learn about
it. Am I alone in this?

Thanks for your time to read this post.

John

Your experience is not unique. I live on the east coast in a similarly
hot real eastate market. I've had electricians and plumbers stand me
up and it's common knowledge that with the most sought after
contractors you have to call at least 5 times just to get a call back.
I also run a small home improvement business so I know how easy it is,
as a contractor, to take on more work than you can handle when demand
is so high. In your case it seems to be a not very well run
mom-and-pop outfit (my wife is NOT involved in my business and I'd
think it unprofessional to have her run my errands). Not to excuse what
you've been subjected to, but even the most well-meaning contractor can
come off as rude or flaky if they're overworked and/or disorganized.
That said, if they can't even apologize or offer amends, take your
business elsewhere. Ask your neighbors for recommendations before
contacting any contractors again.

"siralfred" wrote in message
ps.com...
: Your experience is not unique. I live on the east coast in a
similarly
: hot real eastate market. I've had electricians and plumbers
stand me
: up and it's common knowledge that with the most sought after
: contractors you have to call at least 5 times just to get a
call back.
: I also run a small home improvement business so I know how easy
it is,
: as a contractor, to take on more work than you can handle when
demand
: is so high. In your case it seems to be a not very well run
: mom-and-pop outfit (my wife is NOT involved in my business and
I'd
: think it unprofessional to have her run my errands). Not to
excuse what
: you've been subjected to, but even the most well-meaning
contractor can
: come off as rude or flaky if they're overworked and/or
disorganized.
: That said, if they can't even apologize or offer amends, take
your
: business elsewhere. Ask your neighbors for recommendations
before
: contacting any contractors again.
:
And always have copies of anything you give them. You have to
assume that anything you pass on to someone else is lost because
that's probably what happened. It either got tossed right away
or laid aside where it won't be seen for years if they've no
interest in the job.

You're apparently capable of writing down the details without
being ilbelous, so perhaps a letter to the Editor of the local
papers would be good too.

Did you contact the BBB?

No offense meant to "legit" contractors; there are lots of good
ones and most know how to pick up a phone or jot off a note
saying "no". Those that can't do that shouldn't be in business
anyway, IMO.

Pop

When I was contracting back in late 80ties, I can't count the times I went
to look at a job and how many times I heard " you showed up" and that's just
to look at a job. Well I see things haven't changed. If I looked at job were
I didn't feel good about it or did not like the customer. I would bib it
high enough to put with anything. In reality the guy is just a flake one of
many. You might keep in mind the lower the contractor Lic. # the longer they
have been around.




wrote in message
oups.com...
Dear readers,

I wanted to relate my poor experience with a particular landscape
construction company located in Alta Loma, CA (Lic# C775851) called
Clements Landscape Construction. Initially, the wife (Laura) gladly
picked up a copy of our plan so that her husband could do an estimate.

To keep the story somewhat short, the company never followed through
with an estimate, in spite of three phone conversations with promises
to schedule a follow-up appointment to go over the numbers.
Additionally, four voice messages were left to remind them of this when
days had passed with no response--not even a phone call.

So, weeks later, we finally left another voice message for the company
to either call back or mail our plan back to us. Of course, another
week passed and nothing happened. I made a final call today and was
able to speak to the wife in person--she was not very helpful and even
had the gall to say she "did not need to be told twice" about returning
the plan. Funny thing was, we had already left multiple messages and
had verbal promises to schedule a meeting for an estimate.

Anyways, she said she would come by later this evening to drop off the
plan. But it is already passed the stated time she promised. So
again, the company blew us off and kept our landscaping plan.

I am very displeased with this company and wanted to warn potential
customers to look elsewhere for landscaping construction work, because
you will probably have a hard time even getting an estimate!

I don't know whether it's because the real estate market is so hot
right now that these landscape construction folks are able to provide
such poor service and think they can get away with it.

If you've had a similar experience, I would also like to learn about
it. Am I alone in this?

Thanks for your time to read this post.

John

clipped

I don't know whether it's because the real estate market is so hot
right now that these landscape construction folks are able to provide
such poor service and think they can get away with it.

If you've had a similar experience, I would also like to learn about
it. Am I alone in this?

Thanks for your time to read this post.

John


There are lots of reasons they may not be able to tend to things timely
- death in family, major work load, illness, kid ran away ), etc. If
you NEED the plan, send a nice letter with a return envelope telling
them you need it. Then do business elsewhere.....I wouldn't do biz with
them, and it isn't worth a lot of time venting about it.

wrote
Dear readers,

I wanted to relate my poor experience with a particular landscape
construction company located in Alta Loma, CA (Lic# C775851) called
Clements Landscape Construction. Initially, the wife (Laura) gladly
picked up a copy of our plan so that her husband could do an estimate.

Ok, it's a copy, not the original. No big deal.


To keep the story somewhat short, the company never followed through
with an estimate, in spite of three phone conversations with promises
to schedule a follow-up appointment to go over the numbers.
Additionally, four voice messages were left to remind them of this when
days had passed with no response--not even a phone call.

You sound like a royal PITA. You had (called?) three phone conversations,
and left four voice messages within days.

Any reputable company would give you the cold shoulder. Their time is
valuable, you didn't mention any initial cost, which may/could come off the
price if you decided to go with them. Having to assume, they didn't charge
you (since you made no mention), you sure are pushy for a freebie.

Do you really think you're the only one in CA that wants an estimate? Did
you even consider to ask when such an estimate could be expected? Do you
realize, plants/shrubs/trees etc. must be priced out? Some shrubs must be
found through certain growers, and the contractor doesn't get an immediate
response from the wholesaler for pricing, since the wholesaler doesn't know
if they can get such items. Some items can't be dug this time of year.
There's a lot of factors that go into landscaping besides just throwing a
price out there.

I'd give you the cold shoulder also, I wouldn't even consider you as a
potential client.

First off, thank you all for your posts regarding my experience. I
appreciate the honest feedback.

To Tony, I hear what you're saying. But we had already paid big
dollars for the plan from another company, so even though it was a
copy--it still meant $$$ to me. And regarding the phone calls, this
was over the course of weeks, not days. I do feel that I was being too
nice and accomodating rather than being a PITA as you put it.

Anyways, I have moved on. And again, I've appreciated everyone's
responses.

Be well,
John

Laura had written this in response to
http://www.thestuccocompany.com/main...ion-22677-.htm
:
Hi John, first of all I'm sorry that you were so upset that you felt the
need to post this diatribe on the internet. It was never my intention, nor
is it ever, to inconvienience or insult anyone, particularly a potential
client. I don't remember the details of our interaction, it was three
years ago after all, but I am genuinely sorry to have put you out. I know
we never charged you a nickel, and never had a meeting with you to discuss
your project.
As sorry as I am to have caused you any distress, I think your reaction is
way out of proportion.

PS - I'm always proud to be Harold's wife, but I'd like to be recognized
as a legitimate part of our family-owned company as well.

Laura Clements
Clements Landscape and Pool Construction
-------------------------------------
wrote:




Dear readers,

I wanted to relate my poor experience with a particular landscape
construction company located in Alta Loma, CA (Lic# C775851) called
Clements Landscape Construction. Initially, the wife (Laura) gladly
picked up a copy of our plan so that her husband could do an estimate.

To keep the story somewhat short, the company never followed through
with an estimate, in spite of three phone conversations with promises
to schedule a follow-up appointment to go over the numbers.
Additionally, four voice messages were left to remind them of this when
days had passed with no response--not even a phone call.

So, weeks later, we finally left another voice message for the company
to either call back or mail our plan back to us. Of course, another
week passed and nothing happened. I made a final call today and was
able to speak to the wife in person--she was not very helpful and even
had the gall to say she "did not need to be told twice" about
returning
the plan. Funny thing was, we had already left multiple messages and
had verbal promises to schedule a meeting for an estimate.

Anyways, she said she would come by later this evening to drop off the
plan. But it is already passed the stated time she promised. So
again, the company blew us off and kept our landscaping plan.

I am very displeased with this company and wanted to warn potential
customers to look elsewhere for landscaping construction work, because
you will probably have a hard time even getting an estimate!

I don't know whether it's because the real estate market is so hot
right now that these landscape construction folks are able to provide
such poor service and think they can get away with it.

If you've had a similar experience, I would also like to learn about
it. Am I alone in this?

Thanks for your time to read this post.

John







##-----------------------------------------------##
Delivered via http://www.thestuccocompany.com/
Building Construction and Maintenance Forum
Web and RSS access to your favorite newsgroup -
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##-----------------------------------------------##

"Laura" wrote in message
news
Laura had written this in response to
http://www.thestuccocompany.com/main...ion-22677-.htm
:
Hi John, first of all I'm sorry that you were so upset that you felt the
need to post this diatribe on the internet. It was never my intention, nor
is it ever, to inconvienience or insult anyone, particularly a potential
client. I don't remember the details of our interaction, it was three
years ago after all, but I am genuinely sorry to have put you out. I know
we never charged you a nickel, and never had a meeting with you to discuss
your project.
As sorry as I am to have caused you any distress, I think your reaction is
way out of proportion.

PS - I'm always proud to be Harold's wife, but I'd like to be recognized
as a legitimate part of our family-owned company as well.

Laura Clements
Clements Landscape and Pool Construction
-------------------------------------
wrote:




Dear readers,

I wanted to relate my poor experience with a particular landscape
construction company located in Alta Loma, CA (Lic# C775851) called
Clements Landscape Construction. Initially, the wife (Laura) gladly
picked up a copy of our plan so that her husband could do an estimate.

To keep the story somewhat short, the company never followed through
with an estimate, in spite of three phone conversations with promises
to schedule a follow-up appointment to go over the numbers.
Additionally, four voice messages were left to remind them of this when
days had passed with no response--not even a phone call.

So, weeks later, we finally left another voice message for the company
to either call back or mail our plan back to us. Of course, another
week passed and nothing happened. I made a final call today and was
able to speak to the wife in person--she was not very helpful and even
had the gall to say she "did not need to be told twice" about
returning
the plan. Funny thing was, we had already left multiple messages and
had verbal promises to schedule a meeting for an estimate.

Anyways, she said she would come by later this evening to drop off the
plan. But it is already passed the stated time she promised. So
again, the company blew us off and kept our landscaping plan.

I am very displeased with this company and wanted to warn potential
customers to look elsewhere for landscaping construction work, because
you will probably have a hard time even getting an estimate!

I don't know whether it's because the real estate market is so hot
right now that these landscape construction folks are able to provide
such poor service and think they can get away with it.

If you've had a similar experience, I would also like to learn about
it. Am I alone in this?

Thanks for your time to read this post.

John







##-----------------------------------------------##
Delivered via http://www.thestuccocompany.com/
Building Construction and Maintenance Forum
Web and RSS access to your favorite newsgroup -
alt.home.repair - 309565 messages and counting!
##-----------------------------------------------##

John, after reading your rant and Laura's eloquent response to it, I can
possibly guess what has occurred. I too am a contractor. I too give
estimates and proposals for jobs I'd like to get. On occasion, albeit rare,
I find myself face to face with a person that just gives me an uncomfortable
feeling. A feeling that working for them would be a big mistake. I don't
want to refer to people like this by nasty names, but they generally have
real attitude problems, and give every indication that working for them
would be a tenuous affair. When I encounter folks like this, I find myself
in an awkward position. For me, the kindest thing I can do or say, is
nothing. I walk away, make no contact, return no phone calls, and eventually
they get the hint. I'd suggest you take the hint

RBM wrote:
....
... For me, the kindest thing I can do or say, is
nothing. I walk away, make no contact, return no phone calls, and eventually
they get the hint. ...

It would be _FAR_ more professional to simply say, "Sorry, I can't
accept the work just now."

--

"dpb" wrote in message ...
RBM wrote:
...
... For me, the kindest thing I can do or say, is nothing. I walk away,
make no contact, return no phone calls, and eventually they get the hint.
...

It would be _FAR_ more professional to simply say, "Sorry, I can't accept
the work just now."

You wouldn't be in a face to face meeting if you weren't able to accept the
job
--

"RBM" wrote in message
...

"dpb" wrote in message ...
RBM wrote:
...
... For me, the kindest thing I can do or say, is nothing. I walk away,
make no contact, return no phone calls, and eventually they get the
hint. ...

It would be _FAR_ more professional to simply say, "Sorry, I can't accept
the work just now."

You wouldn't be in a face to face meeting if you weren't able to accept
the job
--
Let me rephrase that. I wouldn't be wasting my time in a face to face
meeting, ostensibly to try to get a job that I wasn't in a position to do