Giving one star because 0 is not an option. In evaluating sources for a Tornado Shelter, Atlas Safe Rooms came to our attention. I used the Atlas web page to send some questions regarding their products. In return I received an email, sender seemed to be Emily Dunavent, Director Development. Emily's email stated that she would help me determine whether or not I needed a shelter. I replied that I would prefer to have my questions answered and that I was annoyed to be told I needed someone else to determine whether I needed a shelter or not. A day later I received a second email from Emily stating that I should watch the attached video. Rather than play email tag, I called the 800 number requesting Emily call me about my questions. Another day passed and I received a call from a gentleman at Atlas, he stated that he heard my voice mail and asked how he could help. I told him he could help by answering the questions in my email. He said he didn't have the email and demanded that I tell him my questions or email my questions to him. I explained I was driving and that since I used his computer system to send my email, that he contact Emily, his coworker, and get the questions from her and one of them answer my questions. I explained I am not in the business of begging a company to sell me their product, that I was not sending anymore questions since they already have them. He hung up the phone.
Emily finally did email answers, then called to say that I had been confused. I emphatically explained that I was not confused, that I was looking for answers to my questions not a pile of junk mail. Emily did not or would not listen to me, she frequently interrupted and talked over me.
All in all, terrible customer treatment.
In reviewing Emily's answers to my questions, I learned that the shelters are very very small. When dividing square feet of the shelters by the number of people advertised as the shelter capacity it appears Atlas shelters do not comply with the FEMA code for square foot per person in a shelter. Atlas shelters seem to be dangerously undersize for the number of people they say will fit in the shelter.
The price of the Atlas shelter per square foot is equal or higher than most of the other vendor shelters I am considering. In other words, I can get a less cramped shelter (a bigger shelter) for the same money Atlas will charge.
Plus, I can get a shelter that includes shelves and benches for the same money Atlas would charge to be jammed in like sardines.
Poor customer service, undersized, overcrowded shelters, and high price is not worth the risk. I recommend looking for another source for a tornado shelter, you'll find a better product at the same or lower price than Atlas. read more
