TL;DR: A promising new chapter thanks to Grayson!…read more
I originally left a one-star review after a very disappointing experience with Rick. However, I want to recognize Grayson, Rick's son, who reached out the very next day after I posted my review. He has been genuinely apologetic, responsive, professional, and proactive throughout multiple conversations. He has made a sincere effort to address our concerns and rebuild our trust, and I am very appreciative of how he has treated our family. I look forward to updating this review as the process continues.
UPDATE: Grayson has made a genuinely positive impression.
I want to start this update by giving credit where credit is due. Grayson reached out to me the day after I posted my original review. He left a sincere, apologetic voicemail, and we have since spoken multiple times.
What impressed me most was his approach. Grayson asked what it would take to make our family feel positive about our experience with his company, explaining that this is his goal for each and every customer. Our conversations have focused on finding a constructive path forward. He has been attentive, responsive, and willing to engage with our concerns rather than dismiss them. After how frustrating the original experience was, this was a genuinely welcome change.
Grayson will be taking over the company soon, and I sincerely hope this level of professionalism, accountability, and customer care is representative of the direction he wants to take it. He deserves recognition for making the effort to reach out and work toward a resolution.
I will update this review as things progress.
ORIGINAL EXPERIENCE: Why I initially left a one-star review
During a door and window installation at my mother's home, the crew knocked her Starlink panel off a table beside her Traeger smoker. Fortunately, the Starlink wasn't damaged, but we immediately noticed that a knob on the smoker had been completely sheared off. My family had recently used the smoker, and it had been fully functional before the crew arrived.
I called Rick that same afternoon. He initially accepted responsibility, assured me he would make things right, and offered $150 off our nearly $5,000 project while promising to arrange the repair. I specifically explained that I did not have time to manage the repair myself, and he agreed his company would handle it.
The following day, Rick reiterated by text that his crew was apologetic and that the company would take care of the repair. Unfortunately, after repeated follow-ups and weeks of delays, the situation changed dramatically.
Eventually, Rick disputed responsibility, questioned our account of what happened, and refused to cover the repair. He characterized the smoker as old and rusty and suggested the repair wasn't worth the expense. This was particularly frustrating because he had initially accepted responsibility and committed to resolving the issue.
I ultimately spent hours contacting Traeger and researching repair options myself. Traeger confirmed that the sheared component could not simply be glued back into place and helped me locate the replacement part. I paid $160 for a replacement temperature controller box and received a $450 quote for a handyman to travel to my mother's home and complete the repair.
The financial cost was frustrating, but the larger issue was the way the situation was handled. We expected accountability after an accident, especially after the initial promise to make things right. Instead, we experienced weeks of follow-up and a complete reversal of the original commitment.
We had been considering this company for a substantially larger project, and this experience seriously undermined our confidence.
WHERE THINGS STAND NOW
My original experience with Rick remains an important part of this story. At the same time, Grayson's subsequent outreach and efforts deserve to be recognized on their own merits. I believe it's fair to acknowledge both experiences, and I intend to continue updating this review as the next steps unfold.
