michael1482's Profile
- Michael
- 1952
- Brooklyn
- Park Slope
- House
- Accountant
- Male
- 57
Author's Posts
October 3, 2009
Good Stair Guys?
I just had my floors sanded and refinished, and I'm now looking for a stair company. I'm just looking for a basic oak staircase with oak spindles, but definately want someone who is attentive to detail and will give me a staircase I can be proud to have in my home. Any suggestions?
October 2, 2009
Verrazano Flooring NOT WORTH IT
Just wanted to share my experience. I called three companies for competitive bids on my flooring job. The three quotes varied with Verrazano Flooring being the highest and some Brazilian company being the lowest. I went with Verrazano because I see their vans all over and I was willing to pay for a better job. Turns out, the same Brazilians who quoted me at LESS THAN HALF of Verrazano's price came and did my floors for Verrazano. I guess they have a subcontractor agreement. The floors came out OK, but it seems like robbery that I had to pay double just so Verrazano Flooring could make some money as a middle man. I guess it's true that larger companies just don't do the work themselves anymore. I am really VERY upset about this. I wouldn't have paid in full except that it doesn't seem they did anything wrong - we as consumers just need to be more educated in the process and ask if it will be actual employees or subs doing the work. I've learned my lesson. An OK job at double the price gets 1 star as far as I'm concerned.
Verrazano Flooring NOT WORTH IT
Just wanted to share my experience. I called three companies for competitive bids on my flooring job. The three quotes varied with Verrazano Flooring being the highest and some Brazilian company being the lowest. I went with Verrazano because I see their vans all over and I was willing to pay for a better job. Turns out, the same Brazilians who quoted me at LESS THAN HALF of Verrazano's price came and did my floors for Verrazano. I guess they have a subcontractor agreement. The floors came out OK, but it seems like robbery that I had to pay double just so Verrazano Flooring could make some money as a middle man. I guess it's true that larger companies just don't do the work themselves anymore. I am really VERY upset about this. I wouldn't have paid in full except that it doesn't seem they did anything wrong - we as consumers just need to be more educated in the process and ask if it will be actual employees or subs doing the work. I've learned my lesson. An OK job at double the price gets 1 star as far as I'm concerned.
Author's Comments
Denton, I'm not looking to protect Verrazano and I have no interest in trying to hurt some guys who've immigrated to this country to make a better life for themselves. I think you've missed the point. Again, VF acted within legal limits - there was no mention either way on the contract of who would actually do the work. My only point is this - Why would anyone hire Verrazano Flooring to do their floors when they simply hire out cheaper companies to do the work for them? If you were buying a TV, would you buy it from PC Richards for $1500, or would you buy it from some guy sitting outside the store who bought it from PC Richards for $1500 and now wants $3350 for it? I understand your point that the work gets done, but if people are going to pay their exorbitant prices, we should be getting more, not the same. In fact, coupled with VF's miserable customer service, I actually got LESS. Verrazano Flooring is complete hype and I can't imagine their business model can continue to be successful through this recession. Even though things are getting better now, people are going to be very careful because we have all been reminded how our high paying jobs can suddenly be taken away from us, or how our longstanding businesses can suddenly start to struggle. I for one will start to go with low bids as you have said I should have. My only concern is what can of worms will this open up?
Posted by: michael1482 at October 3, 2009 9:55 AM in response to Verrazano Flooring NOT WORTH IT
The Brazilians are not people I would even want to promote. As much as I wouldn't mind seeing Verrazano suffer, I cannot with a clear conscience give free advertising to the Brazilian company taht did just an OK job. They weren't very friendly either. Next time, I wouldn't hire either them or Verrazano. I did do a search on Verrazano Flooring, but the opinions are so varied, how do you know which is right? But I do know that I wouldn't go to a surgeon with mixed reviews so it's my own fault for hiring them. Rick - Who was the 100 year old company that dissapointed you? And who can refer me to a high end flooring contractor for next time?
Posted by: michael1482 at October 2, 2009 7:47 PM in response to Verrazano Flooring NOT WORTH IT
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
Michael that's sucks. But put yourself in the Brazilian guys' shoes... Here they are on a job site that they lost to a higher bidder because of trust, and they will now perform the same task for less than their bid. Wouldn't you be salty if that was your trade?
I would triple check every square inch if I were you.
And, I think you should have called Verrazono, and stated the conflict of interest when you saw the Brazilians at your door.
Posted by: jack slade at October 2, 2009 9:18 PM in response to Verrazano Flooring NOT WORTH IT
I's quite possible that the 'Brazilians' are employees or subs of Verrazzano trying to hustle up some extra money on the side, and that complaining about them to Verrazzano will have some serious repercussions for them.
Posted by: denton at October 3, 2009 7:11 AM in response to Verrazano Flooring NOT WORTH IT
Denton, I'm not looking to protect Verrazano and I have no interest in trying to hurt some guys who've immigrated to this country to make a better life for themselves. I think you've missed the point. Again, VF acted within legal limits - there was no mention either way on the contract of who would actually do the work. My only point is this - Why would anyone hire Verrazano Flooring to do their floors when they simply hire out cheaper companies to do the work for them? If you were buying a TV, would you buy it from PC Richards for $1500, or would you buy it from some guy sitting outside the store who bought it from PC Richards for $1500 and now wants $3350 for it? I understand your point that the work gets done, but if people are going to pay their exorbitant prices, we should be getting more, not the same. In fact, coupled with VF's miserable customer service, I actually got LESS. Verrazano Flooring is complete hype and I can't imagine their business model can continue to be successful through this recession. Even though things are getting better now, people are going to be very careful because we have all been reminded how our high paying jobs can suddenly be taken away from us, or how our longstanding businesses can suddenly start to struggle. I for one will start to go with low bids as you have said I should have. My only concern is what can of worms will this open up?
Posted by: michael1482 at October 3, 2009 9:55 AM in response to Verrazano Flooring NOT WORTH IT
"Why would anyone hire Verrazano Flooring to do their floors when they simply hire out cheaper companies to do the work for them?"
Capitalism is a beautiful thing... everyone has different reasons to make decisions. For example, if I were doing a 5mil brownstone in the Heights, I might want a company like VZ doing my floors, because I might want to be sure they have liabilty insurance, workers comp, and so on. I might want to know if they screw up I could take them to court and sue them. I might be interested in seeing their showroom, and in their expertise. It would be immaterial who exactly was doing the work, it would be more material in having a big company to stand behind it.
THen again if I was doing a 500k row house in Bushwick, I might be less risk averse and more interested in the price.
Something for everyone...
Posted by: denton at October 3, 2009 7:59 PM in response to Verrazano Flooring NOT WORTH IT
live and learn. that is the way with a lot of larger outfits whether flooring, plumbing, elec, whatever.
You can get great references and people have had great experiences...but next job could be done by a newbie on their staff or whatever. I suppose you could argue that at least they guarantee their work and rectify if not done well.
Posted by: Petebklyn at October 5, 2009 10:16 AM in response to Verrazano Flooring NOT WORTH IT
As an accountant, I've worked with people who do various types of home construction. I happen to know that a $2,000,000 liability insurance policy, which is pretty much standard for specialty trades) costs anywhere from $5000 - $10,000 per year depending on all the incidentals. Any contractor that has a legitimate business should be able to afford that. That's also not to mention that the other companies were insured (I asked). I actually didn't see VF's showroom, and I'm sure it's nice, but I still didn't get my money's worth. So who can recommend another flooring place for me - I still have some more work to do next month.
Posted by: michael1482 at October 5, 2009 5:32 PM in response to Verrazano Flooring NOT WORTH IT
As an accountant, I've worked with people who do various types of home construction. I happen to know that a $2,000,000 liability insurance policy, which is pretty much standard for specialty trades) costs anywhere from $5000 - $10,000 per year depending on all the incidentals. Any contractor that has a legitimate business should be able to afford that. That's also not to mention that the other companies were insured (I asked). I actually didn't see VF's showroom, and I'm sure it's nice, but I still didn't get my money's worth. So who can recommend another flooring place for me - I still have some more work to do next month.
Posted by: michael1482 at October 5, 2009 5:32 PM in response to Verrazano Flooring NOT WORTH IT