There are ways to do business respectfully and there are not. This is the first negative review I have ever done and I stand by it 100%. I only hope it helps others choose a better company and avoid the experience I had with Specialized Tree Works.
First, let me say I called this company for a half-day "yard clean-up". I was told they did these and was quoted IN WRITING $725. I was subsequently "up-sold" in person to hire the same two person crew for an entire day. We walked the property, I explained all areas I wanted to one day have addressed and the owner said that if I had his crew for the full day, all of these issues would be addressed and more. I was assured that "you will be looking for more for them to do by the end of the day" more than once. I then received two more estimates, one for a half and one for a full day. The half-day had increased to $1450 and the full day was $1850. The $1450 quote was for the exact same 8 items specified on the original $725 quote, with the $1850 quote only adding two more items.
When I inquired as to all of these things, I was assured that the $1850 was the best way for me to go regardless and that if I did not use a credit card with additional fees, he would take another $75 off the price. I was also assured that one of the team members would be in communication with me during the day and speak English.
Of the 10 line items specified in the "proposal", only half of what was promised was completed. Most importantly, the clean-up I originally came to them for was not done. Dead plants, bushes, trees were not removed, shrubs were not shaped or trimmed, the entire back area, driveway, and front slope were not touched. Moreover, they were even damaged by the half day focus on an oak tree that wasn't even in the proposal or a priority at all. I called mid-day (no response), and then asked the owner at 2pm when he finally stopped by as to my concerns and was assured they were "making their way" to what was on the proposal. I was not able to exchange even two words with the worker who supposedly spoke English, as he was in the trees most of the day, when the goal was cleanup.
The most disheartening part of this experience was how my concerns were addressed in the end. After sending a detailed email as to my disaticefaction, I was told he felt they did nothing wrong and that he would come up the house to go over this with me. Not only did he NOT come, but missed two appointments which I took off work for and then finally sent his other manager Andrew. This was the most disrespectful interaction I have ever had upon sharing concerns on a job with anyone in my life. Not only was he dismissive, defensive, and abrasive when, in fact, he WAS NOT EVEN THERE, he dismissed all of the proposals as meaningless. He said that he didn't care or believe what I shared regarding his crew because he "knew them". He said that I wasn't charged enough four times, that I should have been additionally charged for dump fees (which were specifically included in both quoted fees), that all of the written details of what would be done meant nothing and that they were willing to do only ONE thing to rectify the situation: remove one large dead bush.
To add insult to injury, when I said I would simply pay the total specified less the $75 by check, he said that I could only have that discount with cash, when we both knew it was not a cash issue but a credit card fee accommodation. As he was leaving, he then pretended to backpedal, asking if he could do anything else, and when asked again what that might be, he simply said again that I was actually given too good of a deal to begin with and he would have never quoted any of that to me.
BUT THE OWNER DID. AND HE DID IT IN WRITING.
If a businesses does not intend to back any facet of a proposal, one shouldn't be given.
Finally, I must say that this last interaction felt demeaning and echoed every possible reason people go with larger companies where they are treated with more respect and the work is backed. read more