Angie's List Review: WWYD

[Deleted]

We had a/c problems in May and called a reputable company in our area. They sent out a guy with severe ADHD, and I posted about that.  He got fired through no complaint of ours. The company contacted us, came out, and "fixed" our a/c at no additional charge.  We had only paid $69 for the service call.

We liked the guy (who was really a sales rep but who also knew how to fix the a/c) who came out the second time.  So when it stopped again in June, we accepted his suggestion that the hvac system needed replacing after 19 years.  It wouldn't even come on at that point.  It did take 2 days for him to come out, etc.

Installation was scheduled for 11 days later.  We totally screwed up accepting that.  Although they are a good company, no one is so good that they are worth 11 days of hell in humid, hot Alabama.  We didn't go with them for price; they are generally considered a little pricey.  We went with them based on their reputation.

We have really suffered the last 11 days.  Given DH's heart condition, we probably wouldn't have made it except that the sunroom has a window unit.  But it was still horrible. 

So now I'm wondering how to review this company . . . or whether to review them at all.  I have no problem with anything other than the time delay.  But as a potential client, I would want to know that they are so busy that you shouldn't waste your time.  I wouldn't call them again for a total install.  I even told the installer that no one was worth waiting 11 days for.  Imagine if it had been cold!  Later on, he told DH that he wouldn't have waited that long; he would have gone with another company even though he works for them.

What would you do?

[msventoux]

Give an honest review and note that the earliest appointment you could get was 11 days later.  Other people can judge for themselves if that's a problem or not.  As you've said, you accepted their timeline.  Some people wouldn't care about the delay or would accept it, as you did.  Others would have a problem with it or know from your review to clarify right up front if the company could meet their time frame.

If the owners monitor such sites, they'll eventually notice a trend of people being unhappy with the wait times.  They'll either continue on as usual, or increase their staffing.

[Tiny]

Well, you can't really fault them for the 11 days IF they had so much work scheduled ahead of your install. You can't really fault them since they were upfront about the delay/time frame.

The other thing is I'm sure the company has busy times and less busy times over which they probably have very little control.  Maybe you needed this done during a busy time.    

If I felt I should leave a review I'd probably try to review them on how well they accomplished what was in the 'contract' you signed. I'd also mention the 11 day wait and that the company was upfront about it. And that you went with them no based so much on price but reputation, but that maybe in hindsight the 11 days in the heat/humid was way more discomfort than you thought it be (I'm not sure I'd go into your hubby's health issue).

FWIW: If I needed my AC replaced in the heat/humidity of July/August (the hot weather here) I would have shopped around to other companies if given a 'installation date' of more than 5 or 6 days. The A/C hardware choices are often similar and I think they are somewhat "Plug and Play" on the installations IF you've already got an AC unit/furnace/blower. Not that it doesn't take time to install and prime and make sure that it's all working correctly - just that it's probably 'routine' for the installation guys. I would think as long as you don't get the disgruntled employee OR the one with a hangover OR the guy on his first day at a new job WITHOUT a 'mentor' riding shotgun I would think you'd get a satisfactory installation from just about any company.   And I suspect even the highly reputable companies have the occasional employee who "hates his employer/job" sometimes, or isn't feeling totally well  while working, or who is new to the job.


 

[Deleted]

If you were happy with everything except the 11 day wait, i would give them a good rating but note that they should be check on long wait times. It is not like they forced you to use them. They told you 11 days and you accepted.

[Deleted]

Jun 30, 2014 21:10:05 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Well, you can't really fault them for the 11 days IF they had so much work scheduled ahead of your install. You can't really fault them since they were upfront about the delay/time frame.

The other thing is I'm sure the company has busy times and less busy times over which they probably have very little control.  Maybe you needed this done during a busy time.    

If I felt I should leave a review I'd probably try to review them on how well they accomplished what was in the 'contract' you signed. I'd also mention the 11 day wait and that the company was upfront about it. And that you went with them no based so much on price but reputation, but that maybe in hindsight the 11 days in the heat/humid was way more discomfort than you thought it be (I'm not sure I'd go into your hubby's health issue).

FWIW: If I needed my AC replaced in the heat/humidity of July/August (the hot weather here) I would have shopped around to other companies if given a 'installation date' of more than 5 or 6 days. The A/C hardware choices are often similar and I think they are somewhat "Plug and Play" on the installations IF you've already got an AC unit/furnace/blower. Not that it doesn't take time to install and prime and make sure that it's all working correctly - just that it's probably 'routine' for the installation guys. I would think as long as you don't get the disgruntled employee OR the one with a hangover OR the guy on his first day at a new job WITHOUT a 'mentor' riding shotgun I would think you'd get a satisfactory installation from just about any company.   And I suspect even the highly reputable companies have the occasional employee who "hates his employer/job" sometimes, or isn't feeling totally well  while working, or who is new to the job. 

Good point because ours definitely wasn't "plug and play."  The old unit was under a deck that DH put on top of it when he moved here . . . ok because the unit discharged at the sides, but the new unit didn't.  So it was a 10-7 installation although they did take a lunch hour that DH "tipped" them $20 to cover.  I have said before that DH is much more generous than I am; I simply would never have thought to have done that, but they also removed a dead tv and a broken ladder left by a previous owner when they were cleaning up.

I think we were too patient.  The installer said, "You don't know how many people are saying, 'We need it installed today.'"

[8 Bit WWBG]

...:::"FWIW: If I needed my AC replaced in the heat/humidity of July/August (the hot weather here) I would have shopped around to other companies if given a 'installation date' of more than 5 or 6 days.":::...

I'd think doing this would eat up just as many days by the time you got your quotes.  Unless someone can come tomorrow to quote, and begin installation the day after (and you can be there to accommodate that), you would probably spend a week just trying to get other quotes.

I got phenomenally lucky when it happened to me, that it was about a month before severe heat.  I suspect A/C installers/repairmen hold ALL the cards when its in the high 90s and you have a broken unit.  If I'm ever in that situation, I'd seriously consider buying window units and waiting it out.  I HATE being at the total mercy of someone else.