US Remodelers for Home Depot - WARNING WARNING

[mrviper]

If you are thinking about using the Home Depot for a service - PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THIS!!

As many of you may know, the Home Depot offers many many services to the homeowner, but rarely do they do any of the actual work. They use sub-contractors and/or construction companies to do the work, while the Depot acts as the middle man.

Last year we contracted with the Depot to have cabinet refacing done, to help give our kitchen a much needed face lift that fit our budget. While trying to decide which company to go with, the sales man came out to our house, showed us the products, much the same as the other companies did. When I asked the question about the quality of work, I was told that the Depot in the past had issues with other companies work, but ever since they contracted with US Remodelers, everything has been great, and that they stand by their work. So we signed with them.....

And this is where everything went down hill. A guy by the name of John (who looks like Bob Vila) came out to do the measurements, and then set up a date. I was told it would take two full days with two guys working to complete the job. The two installers came out, and after 1 1/2 hrs on the 1st day one left ill, which I didn't think much of at first. Except the next day only one showed again, and he was gone by 3pm, and the disaster he left behind, actually left me speechless.

So I spent the next hour making up a list, that was 1 3/4 pages long of everything that was wrong. Stuff like, glue on EVERYTHING from the walls, window, appliances, and the hardwood floor (which still till today I have not got all the glue up); The quarter round trim molding was cut at a 90, even where it met the original wall molding which was properly cut at a 45; and the big one, because it was installed in a rush, there is lips where the laminate was improperly cut, which anytime you brushed up against a corner, or your foot went under the foot inlet on the cabinet and then was pulled out, a piece of laminate would chip off. This last one has been a reoccurring theme.

US Remodelers came out approximately 4 times to fix things, but seeing the install was the biggest problem, they were not going to do anything about it, except continually replace the pieces. Now the 1 year warranty is up, and they actually had the gull to tell me I would have to pay the labor!!

Home Depot, being the middle man, wants nothing to do with it, and their so called area managers will not even call me, let alone come to my house. In fact just the other day I was give a customer care number to have a ticket opened, but when I called surprise surprise it was a number for US Remodelers.

Another big surprise, when I called the so called Customer Care line, they couldn’t care less, and after a 45 minute conversation, I was told unless the Depot wants to pay for the labor, they were not going to do anything about it. Which I can assure you the Depot has no intention of doing.

[slik]

Call the BBB. or Attorney General. They can probably help you get results.

[mrviper]

As we speak I have the BBB website open, but I didn't think of the Attorney General.... Thanks!

[sunman1_67]

Originally Posted by slik

Call the BBB. or Attorney General. They can probably help you get results.

Sevin on your side.

[huntr1]

Originally Posted by mrviper

If you are thinking about using the Home Depot for a service - PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THIS!!

As many of you may know, the Home Depot offers many many services to the homeowner, but rarely do they do any of the actual work. They use sub-contractors and/or construction companies to do the work, while the Depot acts as the middle man.

Last year we contracted with the Depot to have cabinet refacing done, to help give our kitchen a much needed face lift that fit our budget. While trying to decide which company to go with, the sales man came out to our house, showed us the products, much the same as the other companies did. When I asked the question about the quality of work, I was told that the Depot in the past had issues with other companies work, but ever since they contracted with US Remodelers, everything has been great, and that they stand by their work. So we signed with them.....

And this is where everything went down hill. A guy by the name of John (who looks like Bob Vila) came out to do the measurements, and then set up a date. I was told it would take two full days with two guys working to complete the job. The two installers came out, and after 1 1/2 hrs on the 1st day one left ill, which I didn't think much of at first. Except the next day only one showed again, and he was gone by 3pm, and the disaster he left behind, actually left me speechless.

So I spent the next hour making up a list, that was 1 3/4 pages long of everything that was wrong. Stuff like, glue on EVERYTHING from the walls, window, appliances, and the hardwood floor (which still till today I have not got all the glue up); The quarter round trim molding was cut at a 90, even where it met the original wall molding which was properly cut at a 45; and the big one, because it was installed in a rush, there is lips where the laminate was improperly cut, which anytime you brushed up against a corner, or your foot went under the foot inlet on the cabinet and then was pulled out, a piece of laminate would chip off. This last one has been a reoccurring theme.

US Remodelers came out approximately 4 times to fix things, but seeing the install was the biggest problem, they were not going to do anything about it, except continually replace the pieces. Now the 1 year warranty is up, and they actually had the gull to tell me I would have to pay the labor!!

Home Depot, being the middle man, wants nothing to do with it, and their so called area managers will not even call me, let alone come to my house. In fact just the other day I was give a customer care number to have a ticket opened, but when I called surprise surprise it was a number for US Remodelers.

Another big surprise, when I called the so called Customer Care line, they couldn’t care less, and after a 45 minute conversation, I was told unless the Depot wants to pay for the labor, they were not going to do anything about it. Which I can assure you the Depot has no intention of doing.

Buddy of mine had issues with a door install by Lowes. Took 18 months or so, 4 different sets of french doors and yelling and screaming on his part to Lowes, Lowes headquarters, the installer and the company that made the doors, but eventually they got it right.

Moral of the story, don't stop at the local manager, go to his boss' boss' boss.

[PJumper]

Originally Posted by mrviper

If you are thinking about using the Home Depot for a service - PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO READ THIS!!

As many of you may know, the Home Depot offers many many services to the homeowner, but rarely do they do any of the actual work. They use sub-contractors and/or construction companies to do the work, while the Depot acts as the middle man.

Last year we contracted with the Depot to have cabinet refacing done, to help give our kitchen a much needed face lift that fit our budget. While trying to decide which company to go with, the sales man came out to our house, showed us the products, much the same as the other companies did. When I asked the question about the quality of work, I was told that the Depot in the past had issues with other companies work, but ever since they contracted with US Remodelers, everything has been great, and that they stand by their work. So we signed with them.....

And this is where everything went down hill. A guy by the name of John (who looks like Bob Vila) came out to do the measurements, and then set up a date. I was told it would take two full days with two guys working to complete the job. The two installers came out, and after 1 1/2 hrs on the 1st day one left ill, which I didn't think much of at first. Except the next day only one showed again, and he was gone by 3pm, and the disaster he left behind, actually left me speechless.

So I spent the next hour making up a list, that was 1 3/4 pages long of everything that was wrong. Stuff like, glue on EVERYTHING from the walls, window, appliances, and the hardwood floor (which still till today I have not got all the glue up); The quarter round trim molding was cut at a 90, even where it met the original wall molding which was properly cut at a 45; and the big one, because it was installed in a rush, there is lips where the laminate was improperly cut, which anytime you brushed up against a corner, or your foot went under the foot inlet on the cabinet and then was pulled out, a piece of laminate would chip off. This last one has been a reoccurring theme.

US Remodelers came out approximately 4 times to fix things, but seeing the install was the biggest problem, they were not going to do anything about it, except continually replace the pieces. Now the 1 year warranty is up, and they actually had the gull to tell me I would have to pay the labor!!

Home Depot, being the middle man, wants nothing to do with it, and their so called area managers will not even call me, let alone come to my house. In fact just the other day I was give a customer care number to have a ticket opened, but when I called surprise surprise it was a number for US Remodelers.

Another big surprise, when I called the so called Customer Care line, they couldn’t care less, and after a 45 minute conversation, I was told unless the Depot wants to pay for the labor, they were not going to do anything about it. Which I can assure you the Depot has no intention of doing.

I'm sorry to hear about your kitchen misadventure. I used to work for Home Depot and as far as I know, the customers were informed that the work will be done by a third party (Subcontractors). Home Depot nor Lowes have their own installers, carpenters, and the like.

I just bought some appliances from Lowes with install job and yes, a sub contractor will be used, and for a pretty hefty price. So I cancelled the install and did it myself, save me some $300.

[mrviper]

[quote=PJumper;2857298]I'm sorry to hear about your kitchen misadventure. I used to work for Home Depot and as far as I know, the customers were informed that the work will be done by a third party (Subcontractors). Home Depot nor Lowes have their own installers, carpenters, and the like.


I didn't mean to imply I didn't know that subcontrators were used, I was just stating a fact and setting the stage for the rest of the post!


Thanks for the suggestion of '7 on you side' I hadn't thought of that either!