If I could go back in time and not ignore the red flags I saw, I would never work with Steve again…read more I had purchased my granite directly from a different supplier close to me, and he was on their recommended installers list. I got an estimate from Steve and also another company. The man from the other company was extremely professional and had a digital contract. But I chose to go with Marble & Granite Imports because there was less of a language barrier, even though he doesn't offer a formal contract (first red flag). He just writes down the numbers and job on a piece of paper and lets you photograph that with your phone. No written agreement, holding him down to doing what he says he will do.
The second red flag was, once he received the granite I purchased from a separate supplier, he was harder to get in touch with. He doesn't typically answer his phone and his voice mailbox is full. I almost had the other company just come and pick up my granite from him, and I wish I had.
He came back to my home on a Monday and removed the existing countertops. He didn't put down any temporary plywood, leaving me with just exposed drawers for almost 5 days. He said it would be a 3-day turnaround, so I was expecting him by Thursday, but he didn't come until Friday.
When he showed up with his crew, he pointed out that he had forgotten to cut one of the side splashes for my kitchen. When I asked him when he would have that ready, he smarted-off to me and said he'd have it to me within the next year. How disrespectful!!! I don't care if you think it's some kind of a joke, but when a customer is paying a total of 5k for a project (including materials -- granite, sinks, and faucets, labor to cut and install granite, and plumbing to connect the faucets) you treat people with more respect. When I pressed him to tell me when he would have my side splash cut and installed, his reply was, "Next week, when I get around to it...." Not acceptable!!!!
So, get THIS now. He and his workers had the job halfway installed. No backsplash and the sinks were not connected yet. And he whips out his bill for the entire amount and demanded that I pay it right then. I said, "I'll pay you when the job is complete." He goes APE SH*T and started yelling for his crew to pack up, that they were pulling out of there.
He literally used my granite that I had already paid for and that he had already cut as leverage to bully me into paying him before the job was complete. Seriously, who does that?!!!
And he continued to yell at me for not trusting him, that he would finish the job next week (though he was demanding that I pay him in-full before the job was done).
He agreed to "let" me hold out $500 from the entire balance, payable upon installation of the last piece.
I was shaken so badly from this man yelling at me and bullying me into paying him before the job was complete that I tried calling my neighbor to come over, but my hands were shaking so bad I couldn't work my phone while he was yelling at me. I had to go upstairs and cry after I paid him.
He did come and apologize for yelling at me, and proceeded to tell me what a fun guy and what a great guy he really is, but I wasn't having it. He tried to smooth it over, as if he didn't just bully me into paying him and yell at me in my own home.
He did come the following Monday and installed the last piece and I paid him the balance I owed.
Honestly, this man's lack of professionalism and the bully-tactic he used to extract payment from me before the job was complete left an incredibly bad taste in my mouth. I was literally traumatized by having to deal with this strange man yelling at me and bullying me in my own home.
Oh, and I have a small ding in my stainless steel refrigerator as a momento of my experience with him. My kitchen is small and I know accidents happen...but this just takes the cake.
I would never in a million years recommend him to anyone, except an enemy. Seriously. When I look at my new countertops, I remember the trauma I experienced being bullied in my home. So not worth it. I regret the day he darkened my doorstep.
