Complaint Review: Eastern Refinishing - Charles "Charlie" Gayler And Tracy Gayler

I work for a GC on the MS Gulf Coast and we used this company to redo a tub unit on a remodel job. This was a purely "color-change" job - the tub was in perfect condition, just a dated color. The first trip, on April 25th, 2009, resulted in Chris, the tech, hitting the just-sprayed surface with a grocery bag. He acknowledged it and stated that he would return in about a week to redo the unit. The bathroom was sealed by his wife/helper, and no one moved the plastic sheeting over the door for 6 days. When the client and I inspected the work, not only was the area where Chris had hit the surface with the bag in obvious need of a redo, but there were several areas of missed coverage and lots of particles in the finish. When he finally arranged to come over, he called at the last minute and said he wasn't coming, but was sending his wife and a helper. They attempted to fix the mess, but made it worse - runs, drips, puddles, etc. and even acknowledged they missed some spots that would need a third trip. When we attempted to schedule this, we were unable to reach them for days, and when my boss finally reached Chris, he hung up, without saying a word, as soon as he heard our company name. He then contacted the "home office" and got all sorts of excuses - they are not anywhere as large as their somewhat amateurish website would try to make it seem. They have refused to fix the mess they made and the tub will need another contractor to come in, completely resand, redo, etc. or a complete removal and replacement.

We could not find any physical address (or even a mailing address) for them on the website. Furthermore, a look the dates of the reviews is pretty suspicious. My boss had our people do some basic research on this company and the results are not comforting: they have apparently been in and out of business in several states, including Florida (long-lapsed incorporation, and the people involved, the Gaylers, etc., having multiple companies, all also lapsed). There are no business licenses (or active corporations) for them in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana or Michigan. There are a number of BBBs that have VERY negative files on them, for example:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4185/is_20050603/ai_n14653598/?tag=untagged

Also, note the conflicting information in articles prepared by Charles Gayler as "PR":

http://www.c3i3.net/category/charles-gayler/

We are filing complaints with appropriate authorities. I am not at liberty to discuss the client's decision, but suffice to say they will not be recommending them to anyone, either. I will supply pictures of the complete mess made by this company to anyone thinking of using them, but we would strongly suggest avoiding them.

You can request pictures at: easternrefinishingrippedusoff@yahoo.com

This email is not a joke - my boss had me create this account specifically for dealing with this company. He is REALLY pissed at these people and intends to see they are not allowed to prey on folks down here or anywhere else he can help.

Here is the last address we were able to find for the "headquarters":

Eastern Refinishing Inc.
917 Bruce Rd. 9 R R #6
Wiarton, ON N0H 2T0
800 463-1879

(They have had several past addresses all over the US)

And for the "National Sales Manager," (or whatever his title de jour might be), Levi Weppler:

(734) 568-0145 This number is also answered by Tracy Gayler as "Eastern Refinishing"
7069 Ridgedale Ln
Lambertville, MI 48144

A look at GoogleMaps' view of this address might give one an idea of just what kind of company this is - it's a very modest little house in a residential neighborhood. And yes, Google (and law enforcement) associates this address with Eastern Refinishing.

Easternrefinishingrippedusoff
Biloxi Gulfport Mobile New Orleans, Mississippi
U.S.A.