I was looking for a washer to replace one that I bought in 2012 which went bad. I did my own research into recommended models, and found them on Jacobson and other local appliance stores' websites. I chose Jacobson's because they were the closest and were in a UEZ area, so less taxes to pay. For reference, there was another in Roselle with the same UEZ qualification, but I can't recall their name.
In my first call to Jacobson I confirmed they had the models I was looking for in stock, and Tarek, the gentleman who picked up, was a very fast talker that had plenty to say about everything, and I could ask for him when we arrived. My wife and I arrived and Tarek wasn't available, but the guy who helped us was somewhat hostile and off-putting.
To elaborate: I had asked for one particular model of washer, and he said that wasn't the one I wanted. I told him I'd done some research and found sites that had tested its components and the unit itself extensively, and he said it was no good - I didn't want it. "I can't tell you that it's a piece of junk, but it's a piece of junk." He then said "Look, let me educate you in what you want." I replied "I'd like to see model X, then." To which he pressed the issue: "no, no, listen, I've been doing this for 20something years, and I know what it is you're going to be looking for."
I was about to do a 180 and leave then and there - this tactic smacks of used-car salesman and doesn't really have a place when I could just take out my phone and find the exact same models on my list for the same price elsewhere. I can't speak for everyone but I have no problems driving 20ish minutes to a competing local place for a pricey purchase.
I heard him out, let him do his shpiel, and asked him where model X on my list stood. He demoed it, we looked at a few others, and decided on a GE model.
I should have known something was up when I saw how he was taking our order down. A pad of carbon paper. Not the computer where he had looked up and printed out tech spec sheets on the washers - a pad of carbon paper.
We told him that we couldn't take delivery during the week, since both my wife and I work. We had availability until noon on Saturday the 9th, but we had to be done by noon. He said it would not be a problem, and he'd let his drivers know.
Saturday came. We didn't get any kind of call after we left Jacobson's. 9:30ish came, and we got a call from the delivery guy: "I'll be there between 11 and 2." My wife and I were performing in a concert starting at 2 PM, hence our noon departure. I told the guy that wouldn't work, they had to be done by noon. He said he'd talk to his dispatch and call back.
10:30 came, no word. I called the guy again: "I'm in Cranford, I don't know when I can get to you, but I can be there by 11:40." "Okay, but will you be done by 11:59?" I asked. "I can't say," he replied.
I called Jacobson's, asking for them to reschedule. I again spoke with Tarek, who proceeded to rapidly explain that the trucks left from Monroe Township, and they don't get the schedule until the morning of the delivery, how they had to pay a penalty for missed delivery, and a bunch of other factors. He proceeded to literally continue talking down my attempts to ask questions, going into detail about how they can't always give a time window for delivery. I normally don't like to be rude but I had to say "Please stop talking and listen to me!" before I could try to sort things out.
He initially said he couldn't commit to a time, I only asked for a time window. Again, he said he couldn't. I had to ask "you can't even give me a six-hour range of time for me to be available? What am I supposed to tell my boss if I have to ask to leave early?" That seemed to get him to understand what was going on. He put me on hold and said he could commit to the coming Monday, 1-3.
I got a call from the delivery guy on Monday. He said he'd be there for 12:30. 12:30 on a 1-3 window. I tore my hair out, told him I could only be there for the 1-3 window, and he said he'd be able to wait for me. I got home at 1:05 - no truck. Nobody. I called, he said he had to run to Jacobson's and will be directly to me thereafter.
By 3:00, I had nobody show up. I was looking up the same washer on PC Richard's website and planning to call Jacobson's to cancel everything as of around 3:30, when the guy and his helper arrived.
Fortunately, the driver and helper knew what they were doing and the removal/installation went flawlessly. That was the only thing turning this into a 1-star review - in the end, it worked out.
Listen to all the negative reviews over the years for this business. It's old school in all the wrong ways. Pushy, unhelpful sales people, poor organization, lousy delivery. I'm trying other local appliances sales places next time. read more