GATES FENCING COMPANY

The entire process was a nightmare. The sales rep said that the fence would be installed within three weeks of the contract being signed. Three weeks later we started calling the company to find out when the installation would begin. We kept being told that we were slated to begin "next week". This went on for about three weeks and we finally threatened to cancel the contract. They suddenly managed to get a crew out to do the job. We were not given a discount or so much as an apology for the delay. Very unprofessional company.

They were supposed to come and install a gates; they were waiting for a permit and it took a really long time. I had to call them and ask when they would be here and they told me Friday May 30th between 930-10. They did not show, they called me and had a bunch of excuses why they weren't coming but then they promised me they would be here first thing Monday morning, June 2nd, to do the work. They never showed. I called them Monday and said you promised me that you would be out Monday morning are you coming and the receptionist said, I don't know if there are coming. I asked her why did they promise, and she stated that it wasn't up to her where the workers went and the owner said they needed to go somewhere else. Wednesday someone called me at 8:30 and said we will be there within the hour. They showed up at 1130, so not within an hour. They did half the work Wednesday and the worker said "I will be here Friday morning at 9:30 guaranteed." On Friday they finally showed up around 1. The owner blew me off, the receptionist huffed and puffed and her tone with me was not nice and the workers didn't show up on time. The workers were nice but the whole fact I was treated the way I was by the office staff and then the workers being late, it was just a bad experience. I'm still not out of the dark with this, the city of Parma has to do an inspection later this week so we will see how it goes. The workers were very professional and I would give them an A, but the office staff their professionalism is lacking and I give them an F.

Our overall experience was excellent. The salesman was punctual, friendly & not pushy at all. The installers were punctual & kept us informed of the progress along the way. Any phone calls we made were returned promptly. The installers were also very friendly and worked with us to make sure the project was completed as we wished.

1. The contractor said installation in 2 3 weeks when the contract was signed 11/08/06. No installation 12/6 (4 weeks.) No updating calls. I called 12/06 and was told 12/15. 2. No show 12/15. Called 12/15. Told he said "about 12/15" and he would call a couple of days before coming. 4. No word by 12/ 20. Called 12/20 and was told installation would be Fri 12/22 or Tues 12/26. Installed Thurs 12/28/06. 5. During installation crew broke the main branch of a 40 year old shrub adjacent to the porch and put 2 through cracks in of the sandstone step when driving the post anchor bolts. I called about the damage. Was told the bush would grow back (improbable) and that he would epoxy patch the cracks. I asked that he look at the damage. He indicated he would inspect but has not or called as of May 21. 6. One baluster pulled out of the socket in the rail; the cut in the rail was too small. The baluster could not be fully seated in the opening and the baluster was cut short.

It was really the subcontractors that he was using that were unreliable.

POOR; QUALITY OF WOOD WAS ONLY FAIR, WORKERS IN BIG HURRY WITH NO ATTENTION TO DETAIL. HAD TO WATCH LIKE A HAWK, THEN POINT OUT MISTAKES AND MAKE SURE THEY WERE REPAIRED. HAD TOO KEEP CALLING TO GET THEM TO COME OUT AND DO JOB.

EACH TIME, I LEFT MY NAME AND NUMBER, AND THE RECEPTIONIST INDICATED SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME BACK. I HAVE YET TO HEAR BACK FROM GATES. AT THIS POINT, I'VE DECIDED TO GO WITH ANOTHER COMPANY. I JUST WISH I HADN'T WASTED TIME CONTINUALLY FOLLOWING UP WITH GATES.

EXTREMELY QUICK CALL BACK. CAME RIGHT OUT FOR ESTIMATE AND THEN HANDLED EVERYTHING INCLUDING PERMITS. WORK WAS SCHEDULED AND DONE ON TIME. WHOLE THING FROM FIRST PHONE CALL TO THE COMPLETED WORK WAS DONE WITHIN A WEEK! EXCELLENT JOB, EXTREMELY NICE AND PROFESSIONAL. NO DISCOUNT FOR ANGIE'S LIST MEMBER AND PRICE WAS PROBABLY SLIGHTLY PRICEY BUT I WANTED AND NEEDED A FENCE NOW.

THIS WAS A DIFFICULT JOB AS IVY GREW THROUGH THE CHAIN LINK AND THE LAND IS ROLLING, NOT FLAT, BUT THE MEN WORKED VERY HARD AND DID A WONDERFUL JOB. THEY TOOK GREAT CARE TO CLOSE OFF OPENINGS IN CONSIDERATION OF THE SAFETY OF THE DOGS, SO THEY DID NOT GET OUT. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY. MR. GATES WAS VERY EASY TO TALK WITH AND RESPONDED QUICKLY TO NEEDS. DIFFICULT, HARD WORK.

TOM GATES AND HIS CREW ARE WONDERFUL TO WORK WITH, VERY RESPONSIVE, NOT TOO PUSHY AND COMPLETELY PROFESSIONAL. HIS BID CAME IN THE LOWEST OF 5 ESTIMATES RECEIVED AND HE PERFORMED THE WORK ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. I''D RECOMMEND HIS COMPANY TO ANYONE. I EVEN BUGGED HIM WITH A FEW DUMB QUESTIONS AFTER THE INSTALLATION WAS COMPLETE AND HE WAS ALWAYS VERY RESPONSIVE AND UNDERSTANDING.