I very rarely write reviews, especially about companies in my own industry, but my experience with this FastSigns was unprecedented and shocking. I have worked with a high number of sign companies during the past 11 years, owning a sign company myself, in outsourcing services to them. This experience was a very first for me. The ownership here has demonstrated questionable business practices, and a massive lack of support for their staff, leaving me feeling empathic to the individual they had communicating with me. Clearly the employee had little to no support from ownership, asking the employee to do things I would never ask of my own team.
This is what happened:
FastSigns of Bellevue was hired to install signage we shipped to them. The scope was for two locations. They were given two opportunities to quote the job based on preliminary information (opportunity 1) and then confirmed information (opportunity 2).
We paid the requested deposits we were sent for both install quotes. We lined up shipping a pallet to them and let them know the expected arrival date. The install date was scheduled. On the arrival date of the pallet, FastSigns closed early without notifying anyone. The pallet couldn't deliver. This delayed the installation by 3 additional days after the initial install date and pushed it to the final allowed date by our client.
The day before the new install date, FastSigns called stating the quote was no longer valid as they misunderstood the scope. They needed to charge me over 100% more (yes more than double) than was quoted if I wanted them to proceed. They already had the signs in their possession. My client's deadline was now the new date of install (the next day), giving me little choice to make any other arrangements. We conceded to splitting the increase with them - they had our signs and the client's deadline wasn't moving so I needed to keep integrity with my client. The install date was Friday. As part of paying the increase, it was agreed that both locations would be completed that day.
The day before the installation, I questioned the people power they were putting behind the installation, doubting it will get done in one day. They insisted it would be ok. On the day of install (Friday), FastSigns didn't complete the install - only completing one of the locations. They requested to go back the following Monday. Again, we had no choice. The day after the installation (Saturday - when we were not open), we get an email from FastSigns saying they require payment in full if they are to return on Monday. If we didn't pay before Monday, they would not return to complete the work. Thankfully, I happened to be working briefly that day. The invoices were paid. Again, we had little choice as we needed to keep our client happy.
The installation was completed but with the second location having significant issues to the installation. FastSigns was notified on June 2 of these issues. They thankfully, finally went back on June 9 to fix them.
I reached out to FastSigns corporate in order to investigate these business practices with them and report this information to them. I have yet to receive a response after multiple attempts. read more