Terrible Customer Service:
I generally do not take the time to give reviews for services but today, after my conversation with Fernando Magal, I strongly feel the need to express the poor customer interaction I had with this individual. This is not an attempt to prevent this individual for continuing to provide a service that many of us need but to stress to others the need to do extensive back ground research on an individual as well as businesses that offer a service you are possibly in need of.
I came across Fernando Magal, owner of Brick&Stone Pavers via the internet because I was needing to have flower/tree bed borders replaced due to a previous independent worker doing such a terrible job. After viewing Fernando Magal's website and viewing photos of previous work, which appears to be of high quality, I reached out to Fernando Magal. Based on our phone conversation, Fernando Magal advised there would be a $50 charge for him to come up, which there is no indication on his website of a consultation charge and subsequently, I have had several other individuals/businesses come out to provide bids/quotes, and no one else has charged a fee, but ok, I agreed to the charge.
Fernando Magal shows up on Saturday, May 23rd, 2015 and appeared to be a likable guy, very patient, answered our questions, we felt good about the visit. He took the measurements of the possible 5 projects we were looking to have done, which 3 of the 5 were needed to be done immediately because of the terrible work which was done previously, and Fernando advised he would provide a quote/bid by the following Monday but no later than Tuesday, this is where the lack of customer service and professionalism comes into play.
Monday and Tuesday goes by, I receive no bid from Fernando Magal, so, I assume, ok, he is busy with other projects, allow a few more days. Wednesday, Thursday go by, still no bid from Fernando, finally, Friday, the 29th of May at 5:48p.m., I send Fernando a text message, no response, Saturday, the 30th of May at 6:34p.m., I follow up with another text requesting bid and advised Fernando that if he is too busy with other projects, I understand, please send back my $50 check. I finally receive bid at 7:58p.m. on the 30th of May with the following comment:
"Hi Rick
Thank you for your patience as I talk to you, I have your quote ready .
Please let me know if you have any question .
Hope to see you soon"
As Fernando's response states, "please let me know if you have any question", since I did, I responded, via e-mail on the 31st of May with 3 questions pertaining to the bid that I needed clarified. I NEVER received a e-mail response or call!!! I followed up with Fernando via phone call a few days later, which Fernando stated, "Yes, I received your e-mail but I guess I was waiting on you to call me to discuss your e-mail". I was shocked at his response and asked him, why would I call or chase you after I sent you an e-mail, outlining my concerns and/or questions that needed clarification from you, I am the customer! Fernando, as it appears to be a pattern, explained how busy he has been, hadn't had a chance to read and/or reply to all of his e-mails, etc...however, he would reply to my e-mail at the end of the day, guess what? I still have not received a reply to my e-mail and today is the 23rd of June!
So, today, I called Fernada Magal at 9:36a.m. to inquire why no response to my e-mail from the 31st as well as to request my $50 be refunded. Fernando, once again, advised how busy he has been, that he is "overwhelmed" with work, with all of the recent rain, which caused delays, etc...and I advised Fernando, I understand but I still had questions regarding the bid that were left unanswered from weeks ago. I communicated with Fernando, no hard feelings, I have found another company to do the work I needed but since he had not completed his "consultation" process, please refund my $50.
Fernando advised that he WOULD NOT, that he had done his part of the consultation and that he did not feel that if I, the customer had questions pertaining to the bid, which went unanswered, he had and has done his job to justify the charge.
I advised Fernando that this is such an unprofessional way of conducting business, which his reply was, "your money, your money for the projects you wanted/needed, will NOT affect me", which based on his bid, were upwards of $10,000.00 plus. This comment suggests to me that Fernando does not appreciate or value his customers as well as potential customers, he is and has taking for granted the word of mouth as a key component for positive advertisement for a business or an individual in business for him/herself.
It appears that, based on his website, the physical work his workers provide is good but the overall experience, mainly, customer service is absolutely terrible and as I advised Fernando Magal, I hope my $50 that you took for an incomplete consultation buys you some honesty and morality!
by RICK C on June 23, 2015
Brick Pavers, Concrete, Demolition, Haul-off, Retaining Wall installation...:
Brick Pavers, Concrete, Demolition, Haul-off, Retaining Wall installation
by f.magal on February 25, 2008