Description of Work: We purchased a top of the line quadrafire wood burning insert. By all accounts, the purchase started off ok, with the owner, Tom, showing up personally to measure the opening of our fireplace. |There was an encounter afterwards when I spoke personally to one of the installers regarding the upcoming installation. Without going into detail about the conversation, I found the man to be unreasonably rude (which I relayed to the owner). I was told by the owner that that's just "how he is", "we hear that a lot". He was rude enough that I asked that the man not perform our installation. Which he did not. |The installation crew that did come, were professional, kind, courteous, cleaned up afyer themselves and would be welcome back here anytime. I suspect they are private 3rd party contractors. The only complaint with the initial installation is that they would not start a fire before they left. They went through what seemed to be detailed instructions on the operation of the insert, but I would recommend a proper training from them for future installations of this product. |The installers left without taking the balance of the payment due, which turned out to be a stroke of luck, as the insert did not operate per manufacturer implied advertisement. |Once we started a fire in the fireplace insert, the large glass door went black with soot and remained that way for the duration of the burn. After two days of consulting the mfg instructions on operation, YouTube videos and recommendations from other users, it seemed the problem was with the gasket seal on the door. |When the owner called me for payment the following Monday, I told her of this issue and she was only concerned with receiving the final payment. She called me back to explain that the "dollar bill" test was not really accurate and all their inserts in the store failed that gasket test, yet still operated efficiently. I explained to her over and over that I wanted the insert that was advertised and sold to me by their sales team and frankly, felt weird about paying them. The one with the beautiful fire that you could actually SEE through the glass door. Her attitude made me believe that unless I withheld the final payment, I would not get the gasket replaced. At least not without considerable effort. |I have to say that while the right words were there in most of my direct interactions with Rhea, the attitude was all wrong. Instead of a "no problem, whatever it takes to get it right attitude", I got all kinds of excuses why the mfg instructions were wrong and then the rude installer that I was told would not be appearing at my home showed up to tell me all the reasons why the gasket change would not work. He was beyond rude, arguing with my husband and I nearly the entire time he was here, shaking his head at our expectation of it's use and raising his voice repeatedly. He had to be asked to leave our home in the end. But that wasn't before he made a call to the quadrafire manufacturer and spoke to him on speakerphone in front of us. During that call, he asked the mfg repeatedly about the validity of the dollar bill gasket test. The mfg stated many times that if the dollar bill did not stay firmly in the door, it could cause air to enter and blacken the door. |Eventually the door gasket was replaced and I paid fireside the balance of what was owed, but we are definitely not satisfied customers by any means. We continue to struggle with the blackening of the door and are coming to find that perhaps the unit's air wash system does not operate properly. |That vendor KNEW we were dissatisfied, KNEW we were struggling with this unit and yet, once they got their money, we haven't heard one word from them. Steer clear of Fireside and maybe even Quadrafire. Unless you want to pay $6k+ for a fire you won't have the pleasure of viewing or you want a nasty installer it a big fight if you're not satisfied. |All end this review with this: I am very reluctant to leave negative reviews, especially when it comes to small businesses that are local. But I feel like I would be a lousy Angie's list member if I didn't accurately review this company. We spent a lot of money, invested a lot of our time researching this mfg and licensed dealer, only to have this lousy experience and continued stuggle with the unit. People should be made aware before they go in that store looking to spend their hard-earned money. Rhea and Tom should know so that they can make the necessary changes to remain a successful small business owner in our community. The mfg should be made aware so they can monitor their products and customer issues.