I contacted Bison Constructors via their website that I found through the BBB. I did not receive a phone call nor email for better than a week. We are in the process of finding a contractor to replace our deck. This is not going to be a small job by the very nature of its location. I finally called a week later to follow up and only got through to a voicemail system. I did, as most people do, left a message detailing information for the scope of my project. I then received an email from an individual who did not begin his email Thanking me for our interest in his company. His email came, instead of a telephone call to establish that very first communication with his company. It read:
Hi:
Please Include as many details about your deck, and what you're looking to achieve. The size, the type of materials you want to use? Is it a second story deck? Property location?
J***** C*****
I thought it rude to respond to my request with this email communication, He was looking for us to do his job as an Estimator. When I'm ready to hire a contractor to IMPROVE our HOME, I would like to meet the individual representing his company. I would have appreciated his imput as a professional in his industry. I decided to not respond to his email because it really did not reflect well on him nor his company. When he realized there was no response, he called me.
He initially prefaced his line of questioning by telling me that he wanted to talk to me on the phone as opposed to a personal visit because he was "Busy, and didn't want to waste his time nor mine". (I took this to mean that he didn't want to meet me if my budget wasn't large enough for him) Poor guy is too busy to personally meet his clients, to sit down with them to determine how best to meet their needs? Really? I played along knowing that the call probably wasn't going to end well.
I did my best to explain our needs, not being a contractor, I guessed how big the deck is and then I tried to answer the questions he posed regarding potential materials I might want. Here's the best part.... He asked me what I wanted to spend! Considering that I'm not a deck builder, how do I know what "I want to spend" to build a deck! I, like many people don't want to spend a ton of money, however, we are happy to part with our hard earned income with the knowledge we are hiring a professional who cares as much about our home as he does for his own. At this point in our telephone conversation, I'm feeling frustrated and a little angry. So I throw out what I think is a reasonable number and this "professional" LAUGHS at me and informs me that one of the materials I desired would cost more than my whole "budget".
Then I say to him, "well that just crushed my dreams of having a new deck built", followed by "thanks anyway". The point of this whole exercise in futility was to solidify my initial sense that this particular individual wanted me to do his job; to measure the deck, to explain its position in relation to my home and to select the best materials to complete the job. My family, in large, works in an industry that requires meeting with homeowners, listening to their needs and going over their ideas on how to achieve their goals. More often than not, we (professionals in OUR industry) find that much of our time is spent educating our clients and after doing so, presenting solutions which will get their wishes met while saving them money. Is it out of the question to expect the same time and respect from individuals in their trade? I Like to write about good experiences with people who have gone over and above in customer satisfaction. Unfortunately, I'm really disappointed in this company and their representative. I'm still awestruck that he flat out told me he was too busy to make the trip to my home, and that he didn't want to waste his time or mine? REALLY? In the end, the "waste" in this case is my precious time on the one day I have off work to write this review :(. Thanks Bison Constructors for that truly disappointing experience! read more