In the Future Take Your Business Elsewhere!
After over 1 year of cabinet damage/replacement by the manufacturer and by the installer I was finally able to have my Porcelain kitchen countertop and backsplash installed.
In August 2022 I purchased from CalTile 2 Porcelain slabs along with installation services in the amount of $12,705.61. During that time period I had cautioned Joann Carter NUMEROUS TIMES about the delicateness of this material, that it is subject to crack or chip on fabrication/installation and that if they were not qualified to install it to let me know so that I could secure the services of someone qualified. Each time I cautioned her she would say that Hugo (fabricator/Installer) would do an excellent job and that I would be happy with his work.
Right after installing the countertop I noticed a crack in the corner. It wasn't until the next week when Hugo came to install the backsplash that the crack was actually 6" in length.
Hugo was NOT QUALIFIED to handle this material because he slapped 1" of Thin-Set Mortar on top of the Hardiebacker board and shoved the Porcelain countertop on top of the mortar causing the 6" crack. This material needs reinforcement underneath to prevent it from cracking along with seaming it. I took a drawing of the countertop into Joann before fabrication, we approved a seam and Joann sent it over to Hugo who acknowledged getting it. According to the General Manager, Matt Gibbons he said that I was Adamant in not-seaming the countertop.
After the installation I immediately went into the showroom and both Joann & Andy told me that Hugo had just left and that they knew about the crack and to "Keep an eye on it and let them know if it cracks anymore." That's when Joann admitted to me that this was their "First time installing a Porecelain countertop", so Joann LIED to my face! Joann also asked me WHY Hugo did not seam it like we had approved? Really?
Joann needed that sale to make herself look good to the management because she is worried about her job and said that the dysfunctional management is something she deals with on a daily basis.
It wasn't until 3 weeks later when I decided to put a Dispute on the last $2,000 I had paid them that Joann sent out a Porcelain Specialist to fix it. He took one look at it, called her and told her that section would have to be cut out and replaced. I also consulted with another Porcelain Specialist who confirmed the same.
2 days later I went back into the showroom to check on the status of the repair when I was confronted by the Finance Manager. She was ARROGANT, RUDE and started yelling at me in front of the staff. She asked me WHY I did not try to work it out before filing the Dispute when all along Joann knew about my concerns from the time I secured their services and Joann just sat there afraid to say anything because she is worried about losing her job. Its obvious that the Owner Mimi Sayegh condones this behavior because she watched all this unfold and Said Nothing!
The Finance Manager also said that I had purchased from them 2 years ago and that "I was a problem then." My only purchase with CalTile was 5 years ago and if she knew how to read she would have seen there was no problem and I gave them an Excellent review.
When I mentioned this to Joann and that I would like to contact the owner regarding this Derogatory remark Joann told me "Don't Bother." She said that the Owner needs this woman to run her business and besides they are from the same Country so she won't do anything about it.
After receiving a copy of the letter from CitiBank that was generated by CalTile and signed by Owner Mimi Sayegh stating that I always had a reason not to pay was a blatant lie. I PAID THEM 83% UPFRONT before any services were rendered via CitiBank and American Express. So either the Finance Manager doesn't know who she is being paid by or CalTile was so desperate to get that $1,000 from CitiBank that they had to falsify the information to a Financial Institution.
The next week I received a voicemail & text from Joann indicating that CalTile would make it right, that she had talked to the Owner's son, Joseph and he told her to tell me not to worry, that CalTile would make the repair.
3 days later I received a call from Matt Gibbons, General Manager saying that I was to consider this Business Transaction Closed, CalTile would not be fixing my countertop and with the money I was paying them I can hire someone else to make the repair and "IN THE FUTURE TAKE MY BUSINESS ELSEWHERE." When I tried to explain to him what happened he would just cut me off and repeat the same verbiage.
This just shows the Arrogance, Unprofessionalism and Disrespect that Matt Gibbons has for the customer and instead of BULLYING the customer he might want to pull up his Big-Boy pants and act like a General Manager.
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