Lou B.
11/08/2011 12:00:00 SA
This was my twelfth estimate I received for replacing my broken furnace, and it was the FIRST that did NOT provide a free estimate. Furthermore the fact they charge for an estimate was not disclosed when I called. Given that the other eleven estimates were free I would believe it is an industry standard and when an estimate is not free it would make sense to disclose that prior to getting the estimate.
I immediately called the office and was told that they do not in fact provide free estimates, and they were sorry they did not provide that information previously. Now, this business is joined with US Veterans Construction Service which is the reason I called in the first place. Being a veteran myself I always give other veterans the business when I can. When I mentioned this I was put in contact with the owner whom I was told is a disabled veteran. The owner said he would give me credit if I went with his estimate, but would not refund the charge despite being a veteran myself.
Even if this was the lowest estimate I would not go with this business because there was no free estimate, no disclosure of this, and the owner would not give a fellow veteran a refund. On top of this, the man who came out could have been an expert in the field, but he was less than personable and hardly enticed me to put this place at the top of my list regardless of the price.
I guess veteran brothers aren't as tight as I thought. Happy Veterans Day.
- Lou Bordonaro
11/8/11
