I don't usually write reviews, because I don't like to take the time to do so. However, when I have an exceptionally good, or an exceptionally bad experience, I might take time to write one. Such is the case here.
After getting several countertop quotes through Angie's List, someone told me about Yelp. I was impressed with the reviews of Stone Works, so I contacted them. It took me several tries before I was ever able to reach someone, but when I did, I got an appointment for someone to come and give me an estimate.
Sebastian arrived at the appointed date (10/28/13), and he did his measurements, and talked with us about what we wanted. He was courteous, and seemed knowledgeable. When he left, we had a written estimate, and a verbal agreement that we would go to a showroom nearby (to which Sebastian had directed us), in order to see other granite choices. He said that we could pick one there, and that within two weeks it would be installed.
The next day my wife & I went to the showroom, and picked the granite that we wanted. We tried to reach Sebastian to let him know we had picked our granite choice, but he didn't answer his phone, so we left a message. Over the next week or so, I attempted numerous times to reach Sebastian, leaving messages, but he would not return my calls. I was concerned about getting a job only partially finished and having a mess during Thanksgiving, or about not getting it done at all, and getting pushed into the next year.
Finally when I spoke to Sebastian, he stated that there would be no way to get our job done before Thanksgiving. I was OK with that, but I clearly expressed that I wanted to have an appointment for early in the week right after Thanksgiving, to be sure our countertop project would be finished before Christmas. He promised that he would call me the week of Thanksgiving, and let me know what day of the following week they would come.
Thanksgiving came and went, and Sebastian did not call. On the Monday following, my wife and I began attempting to contact him. We called several times a day, leaving kind messages, and asking that he call us back, so we could know the status of our project, or otherwise make different plans if necessary. This went on for about 4 days. Finally, I decided to call from a different telephone number, and immediately Sebastian answered. He gave me a lousy excuse for not returning our calls. Then he explained that Stone Works was not taking any new jobs. I explained that mine wasn't new, because the process had begun with a written estimate on 10/28. He said that it was not a current job, because I had not made a down payment. I explained that nobody had asked for one, and that I was more than willing to make the payment. Still the answer was no.
Still wanting to use Stone Works, I asked for a firm date - even in January - that I could put on my calendar, and know that they would come. He firmly stated that Stone Works couldn't give me any such date -- just that they would not be taking any more new jobs until the new year. I asked him to be honest and just tell me if for whatever reason, they didn't want to do our job. He wouldn't make such a statement, but just kept saying that Stone Works wouldn't be doing any new jobs before the new year. Even so, there was a refusal to give me any kind of an appointment to get our job rolling in the new year.
Having been misled, lied to, and blown off like that, I decided not to risk waiting till January, only to be put off a few more months once again. That same day (12/5) I called some other companies for some estimates. One, Half Price Countertops, came to give me an estimate the same day that I called (12/5), and gave me a reasonable estimate, even lowering it some to come very close to Stone Work's estimate. He promised, even writing it in the contract, that the project would be completed no later than 12/14.
Today as I write, it is 12/9, and Half Price has been here, and already completed the installation of our granite countertop. They did a good job, even though I was a little nervous because of the Yelp ratings that were not so high. They explained everything, did their work professionally, and cleaned up after themselves. Although I paid about $80 more, I got a job that from first contact, to finished job, took only four days. Compared to Stone Works, where six weeks after my written estimate, I couldn't get anything but wishy washy excuses, I am quite pleased.
My advice: If you want a great price, and good promises that might not be backed up with any action, choose Stone Works. I found Sebastian to have great salesmanship skills, but to be dishonest. I'm glad that I didn't let him keep up his deceptions with our kitchen. read more