Clements Landscape Construction

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.

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.

clipped

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 :o), 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

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

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

: 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 C> Dear readers,

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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: ...

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

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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