The nightmare that is my story with Empire Today, LLC, I just do not know where to start. It has been nearly a year since the installation and the work started falling apart within a matter of a couple of months.
Sad to think this is the company ran by Keith Weinberger (CEO) that used to stand for its integrity & craftsmanship; been around 60 years now!
Douglas J Riley was my sales person. He brought over samples and the sample he showed me for Northbrook (Plaza) "Luxury Vinyl" was solid, nothing like the card-board like floors that were later installed.
It cost me around $7,000 to do a small area between the entrance and upstairs living and kitchen areas, and a small half bathroom; totaling around 700-ish square ft, maybe?
Gerardo Serrano (believed to be the licensed contractor sent by Empire Today, LLC), & Alex (a man of 18 or 19 years of age).
When I saw the flooring they were planning to place, I contacted my salesperson, Doug, with pictures insisting I do not believe this to be the same product. He called, insisting it was the correct product, and pointed me to their website's warranty and what-not to try to convince me this was the same product he sold me. I was in the middle of the whole thing, with bare floors, a toliet on my balcony, and missing important work. I took his word for it.
This all was in middle-to-late October of 2020 in the midst of Covid-19. We noticed some areas with a little gap here, a little gap there, some exposed glue. Over the following months, there were areas that the floors look to be lifting a bit. Into early 2021, we noticed some areas lifting really bad, and then, the sides of the floors lifting and PEELING. It started to peel off like cardboard. I contacted my salesperson, Douglas J Riley in March. He said someone from the support department will call. This was documented, as I still have it, in my text, not just over the phone. No one called me. I again informed him a few days later that no one had called me, he acted as if he did not know who I was, then went on to say someone would call me. No one called me, again. We are now at the end of March.
Now the end of June and I text him again. He again acts like he doesn't know who I am. I send him pictures of the cardboard-like floors peeling off, and after he collects my information, suggests again that someone will call. Someone finally calls, her name is Melissa White.
I am going to keep this short, but Melissa White schedules someone to come out 2 weeks out. This person cancels the day off, as they have an assignment they couldn't finish in time. Again, she schedules another 2 weeks out, same result, cancels on the day of. Then she schedules me for a week or two out again, and then calls back that it needs to be moved. I am extremely frustrated by now and we are somewhere in late July to early August. She goes on to schedule someone on her own, without confirming with me, and this guy shows up at my house, unmasked, at or around 8am in the morning. I am home alone, I don't know who he is, so I refuse to let him in. I call her back and let her know, she tries to schedule me 3 weeks out!
I emailed their corporate office, CEO Keith Weinberger, Peter Korda VP (neither of them or corporate never responded), their inspection email for San Diego, etc. Finally I get Ernie, who is the head inspector or something, to schedule and come out to do the inspection. He takes pictures which clearly show the condition of the floors.
After expressing my frustrations regarding Melissa White, I was directed me to Bill Allivato, who she suggested was my only contact with the corporate office, and that there was absolutely no one above him I could talk to, which he reiterated to me. He confirmed he will be making the decision if I get my money back or not.
When I wanted information regarding the contractor's CSLB licenses from Bill Allivato, I was then directed to the Market Manager in San Diego; Venus Castro.
Venus Castro lied to me. She gave me the wrong contractor's license information. When I informed her of this, she denied it, then I told her I knew exactly who did my floors, she said she will have to go to her warehouse to get the paperwork, as Empire Today LLC has not gone electronic until just March of 2021. I find that extremely hard to believe and a very weak excuse for a lie.
When Venus was finally able to gather her "facts" and called me back, she insisted that Gerardo & Alex were both employed by this other contractor. Which was a lie, as I know the facts & have the proof that they in fact have their own business, while waiting for their license with the CSLB to be approved, which only happened this year. When I asked for proof she just points to what she knows "according to her (warehouse) records." I have pictures, videos, phone conversations, and text messages.
For now, I will not continue publically, as I am still giving them a chance to refund my money before the homeowner is compelled to take legal recourse. read more