If you do not do the work correctly, then a warranty does not mean much. If a warranty does not mean much, then why stand behind it? Or so that seems to the philosophy of Walker's Fence.
We are Florida homeowners (living in another state) and are renting out our Florida home. We wanted some privacy for our tenants and had Walker's Fence install a fence on the property. They did this in Mid-September 2017 (after hurricane Irma passed through) and it seemed to be a good job. Then came the first repair. During the first week of October, our property manager saw what seemed to be some loose screws (literally, several screws for the hinges had ripped free on one of the gates). Scott, a representative from Walker's, did an inspection a week later. They told us the pilot holes in the vinyl were the wrong size and so were the too-small screws. Larger screws we installed as their fix on October 20, 2017.
Four months after that (on March 20, 2018), our manager noted that the new screws had also ripped out because the first repair had damaged the vinyl. Our manager took pictures and sent copies to us. We sought another repair from Walker's since the materials are supposed to be warrantied for 25 years, and the work for at least one year. When we called them to ask about this, they said any work would now cost more money. The fight was on.
Their rude representative (Carl) tried to blame Irma (the calendar denied that approach). Then it was misuse of the gate (although the tenant does not use that gate and it is opened once every fourteen days or so for lawn maintenance). Then it was faulty materials from the manufacturer. Carl's boss and company owner, David, backed up whatever Carl was saying. The owner refused to even look at the fence, then refused to work with our legal representative and agent. We were then told, by David, that they would not honor the warranty and would talk to the owners only through Jane. Per Jane, "We are no longer doing business with the owner." This seems extreme for what seems a small repair that was needed because they erred on the installation.
We contacted the Better Business Bureau and the BBB did their best. All we wanted was the loose hinge repaired (as per the alleged warranty) and the name of the manufacturer so we could contact them about their faulty materials. Even with the help from the BBB, Walker's refused to do anything by deny responsibility and refuse to honor the warranty. We have another (more reputable) company doing the repair.
Walker's seemed to be a good company and seemed to have a good reputation. We were wrong. We do not know why they refused to stand behind their work, acted rudely, and lied (or at least tried to). This is not a company with which you want to work. Maybe we were just too small a customer for them. Maybe we were seen as out-of-staters. Maybe this is how they always do business. Whatever the story, if we can give them zero stars, they earned it. read more