BI-CITY BLINDS

So the requirement to pay such a large chunk up front should have been my first indicator to not trust them....and while it took him less than an hour after leaving my house to cash the nearly three thousand dollar check...it took me 6 months, the BBB, and the police to track down this scam artist! I placed my order on 4-02-10...the check was cashed that same day. I patiently waited the 4 week...and when I heard nothing from them, I called and asked about when I should expect them to come do the install. A date was set and came and went...without them showing up. They stopped returning my phone calls...they wouldn't answer when I called from my phone, using caller ID. I got them to answer only when I used numbers they didn't know. After 8 weeks I went to their store front and...surprise surprise..it didn't exist!!! The address that was supposed to be the store was an auto repair shop. So there I was...out $3,000 with not a single thing to show for it and no way to find them. Several months after my original order was placed and having gone weeks of no returned phone calls or arrival of my merchandise, I contacted the police. An officer called the owner and left him a message to either call me and resolve the matter or return his call about it. Instead of calling me or the officer, the owner called the police department, inquiring as to if the officer was actually a real officer there!!! In other words, he thought I was trying to scam HIM into doing what he was supposed to do! To his dismay, the cop was, in fact a real officer. The next day, the owner called me and apologized profusely..making up stories about how they had my whole order except the arch piece..which had broken during shipping 3 times and he was so sorry it slipped his mind to call me....he lost my number...he got so busy...a million excuses that didn't work given I called him daily and left my number on his voicemail daily. He offered to bring me my partial order while the arch was still being built and given that would be at least something for my money, I agreed. He actually showed up this time, with everything except the arch and 2 panels for the front doors. Installation went smoothly, the products that he brought were satisfactory...I refused to pay the rest of the balance until I had -all- the pieces given that the pieces I had were still worth LESS than the check I wrote him! He assured me that he was going to drive up to Atlanta himself to bring in the arch this time and it would be ready in a week or two. Again..waited...and same song second verse. Nothing from him for weeks, no returned call. I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and they got involved as mediators. I was eventually given back the money I had paid him that was in excess of the merchandise I received so I did end up paying for what I was actually given. But 8 months of daily calls, police involvement, correspondence with the BBB, and flat out trying to track this man down was not at all worth the products I received. This company still offers discount coupons in the local money mailer and their website boasts that they are "committed to exceeding customer expectations by providing quality products and services" and have proudly been "serving" the area for over 12 years. I think they meant "scamming" the area for 12 years. Check the BBB and keep in mind they have only recently added the ability to see the filed complaints. Mine was before complaints were available to be seen...but there are 6 complaints filed with the BBB against them for similar things. Stay far far away from this company and warn everyone you know to not use them!

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The sales person that came to see me was Troy Watson. It is locally owned and operated. I ordered the blinds on 02/12 and the sales person called me up & said that he would be getting the fan for the plantation blinds. He said he would keep in touch with me and would let me know when the blinds would be in. He called me up once to let me know about the fans and since then he hasn't called me. I called him yesterday, but didn't receive any response from him. I called today and he answered the phone. He told me that all the fans are in and it shouldn't be any longer; but he did tell me from the beginning that it takes a while. I am waiting for the blinds to come & see what kind of work they did. They quoted $6000+ for 27 windows.

I am glad to be finished with this experience. Angie's List was very helpful in bringing this company to see their need to be true to their word and warranty the work they state in writing has a lifetime guarantee.