Treat That Spot

I found this company through Service Magic. The owner called and emailed with in 20 minutes of my query. He quoted me the price, site unseen, for both couches at $139. We set up a time and I came home from work during the day to meet them. Thirty minutes went by with no sign of them. I got his number from the email and called him. He said they were running late and he was "just calling Service Magic" to get my number because he didn't have it with him. He let 30 minutes go by before trying to find my number? He said they were on their way and "the GPS says they'll be here in 30 minutes" then asked what my address was! I was having company the next day and needed to get the couches cleaned, otherwise I would have canceled then and there. I had a pressing deadline at work and was helpless to do my job while waiting for them at home, increasing stressy levels. FORTY minutes later he called me and said he was "downstairs." In my basement? -I asked. He paused, and realized he was at the wrong address. He then swore loudly, and said he had to pack the truck back up. He and his partner had unloaded all the equipment at an apartment building four blocks away. By the time they arrived they were 90 minutes late. When I opened the door I was greeted with a smile and an introduction, not an apology. I expected this guy to be on his knees begging my forgiveness. Before he came in the house I told him I would have to go to work as soon as possible, and could he leave the bill in the house. He looked at me like an alien and said he only accepts payment at the time of service. My head almost exploded. I launched into a mini-diatribe about "you are an hour and a half late, you came to this job without my phone number or my correct address, I have never seen your work and frankly I don't usually leave strangers alone in my house which I will have to do today. So could you make an exception today??" He reluctantly and after too many minutes of conversation, agreed. Upon entering the house he took one look at my couch and began shaking his head. "This is much bigger than I thought. This one couch alone will be $73." Near explosion #2. I apologized if my description of my couch over the phone led him to believe it was smaller than real life. He said he would honor the quote, but I could have done without the head shaking and the attitude. When we went to the basement to see the other couch ?which I told him on the phone had a dog sleeping on it for years and might be challenging to clean to which he responded "oh, no problem"? he looked at it, hemmed and hawed, and once again began shaking his head. "Well....we'll do the best we can...." What was this guy thinking!? Given his woeful excuse for preparedness, in my estimation, once he got off his knees at my door apologizing he should have sprinted into the house, sized up the job very quickly and sent my happily on my way back to work with a handshake of assurance. Instead I had to hear how disappointed he was for not making more money on one giant couch and one really dirty one. (He didn't *say* that, but....) They DID do a fantastic job on both couches. But the can-do first impression did not match the day-of-service experience. The price could not be beat, but since I will never get that killer deal again and I spent 2 hours of my life stressing over this service provider, I will not hire Treat That Spot again.