R&J tree service

Tree service seems well done. Clean up was fair. Could have been more diligent.

My complaints are: 1. They dropped a large branch on a 5 ft. tangelo tree, breaking off the main system and reducing it to a 2 ft. tree. The owner/supervisor claimed it was an "unavoidable accident". (He did not at any time warn me of the possibility of this "accident" even when I had asked him to be careful of the tangelo tree, which he assured me was in no danger). I checked with the nursery where I had bought the tree and asked for the price difference between a 2 ft. and a 5 ft. tree and was given a quote of $300. The owner of R&J's refused to pay more than $50 for the damage. 2. The owner gave me an initial quote for $2450 but when they were finished and I was writing the check, he asked for $2550 minus $50 for damaging the tangelo. I reminded him of his quote and he reminded me (about the 4th time that day) that he was a deacon at his church, implying his high character and honesty. I insisted on the original price and he complied. I found it offensive that he felt it necessary to get in my face about his religious devotion every time we discussed any matters of price. On hindsight, I should have withheld payment until he agreed to take off $300 for the tree damage. But the stump grinding had not been done yet - he was sending his brother to do that the next day but insisted on payment for his services today. I was afraid that the stump grinding would not be completed if I did not pay the full $2400. Lesson learned: don't pay anything for a service until it's 100% completed to your satisfaction, subcontractors non-withstanding.