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Empire Today Complaint - Warranty Ignored - Good Job Empire - Laminate install
Laminate install - Complaint
CALIFORNIA -- I had some work done in the house by Empire before, and I had no complaint about it, so I called Empire for some more business. I was under the impression that I will have a pleasant experience as before, but I was in for a ride this time. May 2011 is when it all started, the salesmen showed up, and gave me a pressure squeezer must spend money today or else all prices will skyrocket... Yeah I bought into it. Got the papers signed money was placed in the guys hand, and the rest upon completion of work. The crew showed up with one guy able to speak English and the rest, well, not too sure, but I cared less since I am more concerned about quality work, then if the installers can talk at all. They proceeded to tear out my good carpet, and start laying the laminate. The tools they used would make an OSHa representative pull out a thick pad and would have a field day writing up all the problems, no blade guards on saw, no protective eyewear, the cord they used was ductaped and electrical taped in several spots. I should have guessed how this will turn out... Anyhow, the foreman of the group explained that the floor must be level grinded all the highs, and the lows should be filled so the laminate will not "bounce". They spent a good hour and a half grinding, but no fills.
I guess it was all well, and they layed the padding and the laminate. It was getting into the afternoon, and I told them I was allergic to mosqueto bites, and to keep screen door closed. They managed to poke a big hole with their fingers through my screen door damaging it. At 10:30pm they called it a day, and wanted me to sign papers, which I did, but I told them I can't really look at it over since I am tired, and will look at it the next day. Next day I find that the laminate bounces in several areas, and the loining area to the kitchen its totally crooked. Manager came out takes pictures, sets up appointment for crew to come out to fix. Crew comes back (even after I told manager not to send same crew)... they tear up half the area, and hall to patch the lows, put cement down and try to smooth it out, replace laminate. They discover that the worker who was on the job where the kitchen meets the room has cut things short, and that is why the transition is crooked to "cover up" this mistake. While they were ripping the floors up to do this repair, they manage to scuff up my walls where the 4" wood toe boards go around the base of wall. After they left, I called the manager back up to complain about this terrible job. She looked at the screen, looked at the walls, looked at the way they placed one door stop so the door know would hit the wall. She took pictures, and left, but no call back. I re-innitiated the contact around Sept 2011 and supervisor said they were waiting for me to get a third party for estimate on repairs, which I did for the walls, and screen door. They said they will credit account. No credit. Called back. Oh now its a check they are sending. No check. The company insisted again on their third party to check what I was talking about, cause they probably had no clue what the manager did with the picture, and her notes on this issue. Third party comes out discovers laminate is defective. Empire decides to replace it. But in order for them to replace an In Warranty I must sign a form that I will promise not to post a gripe, I will not talk about my problems. I refuse to have my freedom of speech trampled. HERE IS MY GRIPE EMPIRE! They want me to sign a form prior to installation that says they did a good job! Amazing. I feel this is a threat, and let them know. The crew finally comes out, a manager is with them, and we talk calmly about this nonesense, and watch from 8am till 4pm as the laminate goes into the room. I watch as the crew removes molding and tear more paint off my wall further damaging my property, and I point this out to the manager. This is a different crew as before. (by now you could guess Empire has NO WORKING CREW, they SUB CONTRACT!!!!) These guys lack of OSHA safety is as the others. No safety what so ever, and I point this out to the manager. I inspect the install. Run my hand accross the laminate where is is supposed to be a smooth transition, but its rippled. I say nothing except to have the manager run her hand through it. Then the foreman... they both feel the same low quality of the material. (another bad batch???) Then I point out the flexing areas, and I ask one of the workers if that could be fixed, and he said, yes but the whole floor needs to be taken up. I said "go for it! Fix it" they look at each other as if I asked them how magnets work? The manager calls another manager on the phone we wait about 20 min for response. Offer on table is to pick a different material, maybe that is not impacted with low quality. A few days later she shows up with another sales representative and samples. We pick the material, and she said her manager still has to approve this. I get an email from the manager, with a contract attached (as before trying to get me to sign a "you can't talk, post about your gripe" paper, and that I will make sure the California State Licensing board will be notified that all is well PRIOR TO INSTALL. Come on.... if it was maybe AFTER, but before? No thanks! I sent a letter back stating that there were 4 options and I am willing to go either way. First option was to just replace the laminate with the laminat we picked originall, give me money to repair damages to house, and I will not sign any documents. Second was replace laminate with the new pick of laminate and they still give me money to repair my property, and I still do not sign documents. Third was to give me back my old carpet wich was in good to excellent shape, and give me full refund, and some money to repair my property, and I will not sign any documents. The fourth was lets go to court and see how a judge likes a company not honoring warranty they claim to support. The date was set up for install and it was January 19th 2012 nobody showed up. By not showing up she has made her statement well known to me, and now to the world where Empire Today stands. Their warranty is nonexistent, and a consumer must go to extreeme measures to get anyone moving in the way so the warranty is upheld.
If the representative of Empire Today dares to write any smart comment to contact her on phone or Email, its pure fradulent, and I have tried over the past months to get results. It is not working!
I do hope Lawyers are reading these "gripes" if you want work, please contact me. Los Angeles, California area. Looking forward to discussing legal action against Empire today with you.
I guess it was all well, and they layed the padding and the laminate. It was getting into the afternoon, and I told them I was allergic to mosqueto bites, and to keep screen door closed. They managed to poke a big hole with their fingers through my screen door damaging it. At 10:30pm they called it a day, and wanted me to sign papers, which I did, but I told them I can't really look at it over since I am tired, and will look at it the next day. Next day I find that the laminate bounces in several areas, and the loining area to the kitchen its totally crooked. Manager came out takes pictures, sets up appointment for crew to come out to fix. Crew comes back (even after I told manager not to send same crew)... they tear up half the area, and hall to patch the lows, put cement down and try to smooth it out, replace laminate. They discover that the worker who was on the job where the kitchen meets the room has cut things short, and that is why the transition is crooked to "cover up" this mistake. While they were ripping the floors up to do this repair, they manage to scuff up my walls where the 4" wood toe boards go around the base of wall. After they left, I called the manager back up to complain about this terrible job. She looked at the screen, looked at the walls, looked at the way they placed one door stop so the door know would hit the wall. She took pictures, and left, but no call back. I re-innitiated the contact around Sept 2011 and supervisor said they were waiting for me to get a third party for estimate on repairs, which I did for the walls, and screen door. They said they will credit account. No credit. Called back. Oh now its a check they are sending. No check. The company insisted again on their third party to check what I was talking about, cause they probably had no clue what the manager did with the picture, and her notes on this issue. Third party comes out discovers laminate is defective. Empire decides to replace it. But in order for them to replace an In Warranty I must sign a form that I will promise not to post a gripe, I will not talk about my problems. I refuse to have my freedom of speech trampled. HERE IS MY GRIPE EMPIRE! They want me to sign a form prior to installation that says they did a good job! Amazing. I feel this is a threat, and let them know. The crew finally comes out, a manager is with them, and we talk calmly about this nonesense, and watch from 8am till 4pm as the laminate goes into the room. I watch as the crew removes molding and tear more paint off my wall further damaging my property, and I point this out to the manager. This is a different crew as before. (by now you could guess Empire has NO WORKING CREW, they SUB CONTRACT!!!!) These guys lack of OSHA safety is as the others. No safety what so ever, and I point this out to the manager. I inspect the install. Run my hand accross the laminate where is is supposed to be a smooth transition, but its rippled. I say nothing except to have the manager run her hand through it. Then the foreman... they both feel the same low quality of the material. (another bad batch???) Then I point out the flexing areas, and I ask one of the workers if that could be fixed, and he said, yes but the whole floor needs to be taken up. I said "go for it! Fix it" they look at each other as if I asked them how magnets work? The manager calls another manager on the phone we wait about 20 min for response. Offer on table is to pick a different material, maybe that is not impacted with low quality. A few days later she shows up with another sales representative and samples. We pick the material, and she said her manager still has to approve this. I get an email from the manager, with a contract attached (as before trying to get me to sign a "you can't talk, post about your gripe" paper, and that I will make sure the California State Licensing board will be notified that all is well PRIOR TO INSTALL. Come on.... if it was maybe AFTER, but before? No thanks! I sent a letter back stating that there were 4 options and I am willing to go either way. First option was to just replace the laminate with the laminat we picked originall, give me money to repair damages to house, and I will not sign any documents. Second was replace laminate with the new pick of laminate and they still give me money to repair my property, and I still do not sign documents. Third was to give me back my old carpet wich was in good to excellent shape, and give me full refund, and some money to repair my property, and I will not sign any documents. The fourth was lets go to court and see how a judge likes a company not honoring warranty they claim to support. The date was set up for install and it was January 19th 2012 nobody showed up. By not showing up she has made her statement well known to me, and now to the world where Empire Today stands. Their warranty is nonexistent, and a consumer must go to extreeme measures to get anyone moving in the way so the warranty is upheld.
If the representative of Empire Today dares to write any smart comment to contact her on phone or Email, its pure fradulent, and I have tried over the past months to get results. It is not working!
I do hope Lawyers are reading these "gripes" if you want work, please contact me. Los Angeles, California area. Looking forward to discussing legal action against Empire today with you.
Comments:
Posted by At Your Service on 2012-01-19:
Interesting read.
You state towards the end of your complaint, "The date was set up for install and it was January 19th 2012 nobody showed up." How was this installation date set. Was this something Empire agreed to and scheduled or was this an ultimatum you placed?
Please keep us updated.
You state towards the end of your complaint, "The date was set up for install and it was January 19th 2012 nobody showed up." How was this installation date set. Was this something Empire agreed to and scheduled or was this an ultimatum you placed?
Please keep us updated.
Posted by face it on 2012-01-19:
Interesting read indeed,
Without going into a long drawn out explanation of this and that. The basic simple truth is as evident here as ever. And that is that these corporations rely on there advertising to reach people and convince them that this is there best choice. What do you think of that opinion now?
Simply said corporations / organizations like Empire operate as such : sell the customer on an idea. Get as much money out of the customer as possible. Hire less than professional people to do the installation and pay them minimum wage. In a nut shell that's who is behind the barrage of commercials you see. It is not the little smiling cartoon guy you see on the screen, It is the absolute definition of corporate greed at work here folks. They preach customer satisfaction? sure they do. Much the same as a used car salesmen would. There intent has nothing to do with your satisfaction however. You will NEVER find a true seasoned professional installer at an organization like this. Why you ask? they have systematically reduced the profession to those willing to work for pennies. Regardless of what the charge is for the customer, the installation crews make an equivalent of minimum wage. As consumers we need to stand together and boycott places like this. As professionals in this field of work we also need to take a stand and stop letting companies like this run our name and livelihood in the ground! Imagine working a trade for 20-30 years, expecting to make a better living for yourself as you grow in experience, to only be told that you do not deserve to make more than minimum wage. What most people do not realize is that you will actually spend more with a company like Empire than if you hired a private contractor for your project. Does hiring a private contractor insure that you will get the quality job your looking for? If you hire the right one it does! This is unfortunate for this individual as well as countless others out there that get drawn in by the advertising. But until people take a stand and force companies like this to close there doors issues like this will continue to grow.
Without going into a long drawn out explanation of this and that. The basic simple truth is as evident here as ever. And that is that these corporations rely on there advertising to reach people and convince them that this is there best choice. What do you think of that opinion now?
Simply said corporations / organizations like Empire operate as such : sell the customer on an idea. Get as much money out of the customer as possible. Hire less than professional people to do the installation and pay them minimum wage. In a nut shell that's who is behind the barrage of commercials you see. It is not the little smiling cartoon guy you see on the screen, It is the absolute definition of corporate greed at work here folks. They preach customer satisfaction? sure they do. Much the same as a used car salesmen would. There intent has nothing to do with your satisfaction however. You will NEVER find a true seasoned professional installer at an organization like this. Why you ask? they have systematically reduced the profession to those willing to work for pennies. Regardless of what the charge is for the customer, the installation crews make an equivalent of minimum wage. As consumers we need to stand together and boycott places like this. As professionals in this field of work we also need to take a stand and stop letting companies like this run our name and livelihood in the ground! Imagine working a trade for 20-30 years, expecting to make a better living for yourself as you grow in experience, to only be told that you do not deserve to make more than minimum wage. What most people do not realize is that you will actually spend more with a company like Empire than if you hired a private contractor for your project. Does hiring a private contractor insure that you will get the quality job your looking for? If you hire the right one it does! This is unfortunate for this individual as well as countless others out there that get drawn in by the advertising. But until people take a stand and force companies like this to close there doors issues like this will continue to grow.
Posted by trmn8r on 2012-01-19:
This is a great advertisement for why not to choose Empire for anything.
Posted by ok4now on 2012-01-20:
As soon as I heard "must spend money today or all prices will skyrocket" I would have thrown the salesman out. This is a pressure tactic to get your money. Window Wizzards (now out of business) tried this tactic on me. Big mistake. He instantly lost the sale. Reputable businesses don't have to resort to this. They give you an estimate and will honor the price if you want to do business with them. Stay Away From Empire!!
Posted by Venice09 on 2012-01-20:
"But until people take a stand and force companies like this to close there doors issues like this will continue to grow."
Welcome to the Revolution, UnhappyConsumer 242!
Welcome to the Revolution, UnhappyConsumer 242!
Posted by dan gordon on 2012-01-20:
I've posted some advice here before as I was in wholesale carpeting and know Empire well. They work on an extremely high markup, there certainly is nothing 'free' no matter what the ad says. Also none of the salespeople are 'employees' just contractors who are trained on an aggressive one stop close. High pressure, high profit, and lousy service. What else would you want'
Posted by UnhappyConsumer242 on 2012-01-20:
The 19th was stipulated on the day when the supervisor came out to have us re-select a different material. And it was a supervisor who decided that without a signature on a contract which would stipulate my silence, amongst signing a complaint "that the install was done properly" prior to install. Also to notiy the California State Licensing board that Empire has done its job and things are resolved within 7 days of job completion. Now with this stipulation I would have had to do all this EVEN IF THE JOB was not to my satisfaction. I do not sign things that stomp on my rights, or written in such way that it does not make any sense. Hope that clears up that date that was set at the end of "my gripe"
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