They deserve zero stars. After buying top appliances from Marsillios, I expected their recommended delivery service would not have been the worst hire ever experienced over the last 45 years of renovating homes. I experienced damage to floors, cabinetry, copper water supply line cut and crimped necessitating a SubZero service call upon installation...unprofessionalism, rudeness, no response to phone calls until Bill's was prompted by Sub Zero area representative Joe K. I contacted to refund the installation charge and take care of the floor damage (once that's known). I told Joe and another Sub Zero rep who both agreed: Bill's has DISDAIN for the customer who expects delivery without damage...Katie S., Bill's assistant said "We don't provide floor protection, that's up to the customer"...so why didn't you let me know this by email or phone when I called the week before scheduled delivery and left a message: "I'm sure if Marsillios recommended you for a Sub Zero delivery, that you bring floor protection...please call me to confirm." I never heard from them so was shocked when the delivery team demanded I provide sand so they wouldn't slip on the 2 wet steps leading into the foyer (which took hours to vacuum up after scratching the wood floors) and my own floor protection which I expected they would provide. I didn't have brown masonite board on hand. They don't have them on their trucks (unless they have since been pressured by Sub Zero to conform to their standard practices). When the dolly holding the Sub Zero...not the right equipment we now know for this size refrigerator but is all Bill's has... pivoted, the floors were deeply gouged to the point of requiring $1300 of labor/materials to replace the boards to reinstate me to my former position (a reasonable expectation all agreed). The attitude of Marsillios, whose owner never returned my calls in spite of staff who say things like "mistakes happen in the course of deliveries" and "I'll have him get back to you"...my response: "mistakes don't have to happen if they're professional and take steps to avoid damages by being prepared for the delivery...and abide by the Sub Zero delivery guidelines since Bill's is a certified installer". And then I tell them about my research with the California equivalent of Clarke's: Bill's should have floor protection on his trucks, he should get photos of the job -- kitchen, spaces between delivery entry point and kitchen location of appliances, outdoor entrance -- so they come prepared. They usually make a site visit before installation but photos are needed at a minimum. These sound like the steps Bill's should take. Perhaps now he does have floor protection on his trucks at a minimum, since I called Sub Zero to oversee this so future customers don't go through what I did...but if you still choose to hire him to install an appliance of any quality/price point...I wouldn't let him step foot in your house unless there is advance attention given to your job. By the way, our refrigerator location is only 5 feet away from the foyer back door...so damage can happen in a short distance.
Joe K.'s boss contacted Bill's and then responded to me (no phone call to discuss; just a terse email repeating Bill's lie to him) that nothing needed to be done because Bill told him that "I've been trying to work with her". "Working with her" means talking with me; didn't happen. The boss obviously wants to keep Bill's happy and not make waves, as does Marsillios who likes the arrangement that Bill's comes to their warehouse to pick up the appliances prior to to delivery using a box truck for a package price that includes taking away the old appliances. Some installation folks want the appliances to be on site before they arrive to install. This Bill's advantage to the appliance stores is what keeps him getting more jobs...so everyone is complicit: Bill's can get away with not playing by the Sub Zero rules. The appliance stores don't want random delivery people picking up appliances and risking transport damage. Delivery and installation people require different skill sets however.
Regarding Bill's lie that "I've been trying to work with her". I spoke with Bill twice. The first time was when the damages were acknowledged by Bill (probably after Joe K. called him): "I hear you aren't happy with my job...I can send my repair guy to touch up (I declined, opting for my cabinet guy) and reimburse your installation (amount $810)". I told him makes sense given overall experience and damages, but what about extensivefloor damage cost which may take a while for floor guy to get here and do estimate. He said he would take care of it. 2nd call was to tell him the total floor amount of $1292.46, I said that his paying $1K labor would be fine, I'll cover the wood ($292.46)...I will mail you the estimate. Shockingly, I received a check for $190 ($1K-$810). I hired another installation person with that $810...who was to pay for the gouged wood floor labor? read more