Cedarbrook Nurseries Inc. Charged exhorbitant fee for simple work; marks up labor over 300%; inflates cost of materials Powell Ohio
I had two white pine trees (original cost $120 each) that were leaning over and needed to be righted and staked. I asked Cedarbrook how much it would be, and the owner Larry Birchfield quoted me $48 per hour for labor plus cost of materials.
I subsequently received a bill for $429.14 from Cedarbrook, and thought there must be some mistake. I went in and spoke to Birchfield, who referred me to the foreman that oversaw the work. The foreman would not budge, told me it took a crew of three, two hours to put in three metal stakes, and wrap to cables around the trees, for which I was charged $114 plus tax for "materials."
I went back to Birchfield and said I would pay "under protest," and paid him in full, but wow, what a ripoff.
Charles s
Dublin, Ohio
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
cstein@sdsecdev.com
Dublin,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Cedarbrook Corrected the Problem
#3Author of original report
Sat, April 02, 2011
Cedarboork Nursery owner Larry Burchfield came out to my property and looked at the trees thatat were staked and wired. Once he saw what was done, he offered to make it right, and adequately compensated me. To his credit, he admitted an error in pricing had occurred, and made it right.
M. Baker
Powell,Ohio,
USA
Clarification of project
#3UPDATE Employee
Thu, October 15, 2009
As the foreman on Mr. Charles S.'s project, I would like to fill in some facts missing from his report.
First, the trees that were originally $120.00 were most likely 6' tall when they were installed. Those same trees are now 20' tall with 8"-10" diameter trunks. I would guess that they have been in for over ten years.
Secondly, the trees are in the back yard against a fence. In order to attempt to straighten the trees my men had to dig the soil in a ball shape along the good side of the tree to prevent the roots from tearing away from the trunk when moved. I mentioned to Mr. Charles S. that this would take some time and that once we staked the trees the cables could not be taken off. I also suggested that he may want to consider taking the trees out.
Finally, I made it clear to Mr. Charles S. that the large size of the trees would require heavy cable instead of tree wire. I quoted him $48.00 per man hour, not per hour. This is normal landscape rates. It took 3 of my men 2 hours each to upright the trees and install the cables.
Although I regret Mr. S's disappointment, I believe I was clear on the scope of the work and the possible cost.
M. Baker
Cedarbrook Supervisor