Bob
Tuscola,#2Author of original report
Thu, January 03, 2013
First off, it's important to note that I contracted with Carstin Brands as an individual not as a business. So, one would have to ask themselves what motives Joe from Carstin Brands would have to list my private, and uninvolved, business into his rebuttal? It's obvious. Just like he was on the phone with me, Joe is going to hit below the belt any chance he can get and try to cause as much collateral damage as he can. In this case, he is now trying to harm my personal business. I will let my attorney handle that one.
Regardless, Joe shows that he still, despite the evidence to the contrary, shows that he does not know what he is talking about. He states that Carstin Brands countertops come with the sink already installed before arriving at the home. We never purchased a sink from Carstin Brands. His installers installed the sink on site and when they placed the countertops on the cabinets they realized that the sink was too deep for clearance. It was then, and this was admitted by both Joe and Emily, that the installers removed a portion of the plumbing (just so happened to be the portion that the dishwasher was attached to) in order to get the sink to fit.
If you check with the Missouri Better Business Bureau you will find that Carstin Brands does have a complaint filed against them and that their record is not without blemish. Lastly, my complaint in no way was spiteful. I informed Joe that I would make sure that everyone understands how Carstin Brands, Joe in particular, treats their customers and their vendors. They have thrown a long standing vendor under the bus and encourage us to sue the vendor, not Carstin Brands. When you have a business that admits to damaging your property, yet tells you that they are not responsible, wouldn't you file a complaint? Unfortunately, the actions of Joe alone, is going to be enough to cause a significant amount of collateral damage to Carstin Brands that should have never happened. In the meantime, my homeowners insurance is taking care of this situation and have already started the subrogation against Carstin Brands. Cincinnati Insurance has already been notified of the lawsuit and will ultimately pay this claim out. So, in the long run, Carstin Brands will be held responsible for the damage. Plus, their reputation will damaged due to how poorly they have treated a customer. It's a shame that there are people within Carstin Brands that care more about winning then they do about doing the right thing.
Carstin Brands
Arthur,#3UPDATE Employee
Wed, January 02, 2013
Bob Woodard of Illini
Community Insurance Group Tuscola, IL contracted with one of our countertop dealers to install new kitchen countertops in his home. We were the subcontractor. Carstin Brands does not do plumbing as a business practice, and it is the responsibility of the homeowner and our dealer to handle the plumbing. We recommend all plumbing should be done by a licensed plumber. In this case according to our dealer Mr. Woodard decided to do his own plumbing.
The day of our installation the plumbing was disconnected when our installers got to Mr. Woodards home. Our countertops come with the kitchen sink attached, but no strainers. We also drill the holes for the faucet. When our installers left Mr. Woodards home there was no faucet in place and no strainers attached to the sink, hence the drain which is a complete system was not hooked up as when we got there. We left a card that acknowledges waiting 24 hours before reinstalling the plumbing
so the silicone on the sink can dry. I contacted Mr. Woodard as asked by him regarding the situation. Mr. Woodard stated that he had been running his dishwasher without the plumbing drains hooked up for several days. I asked him who is plumber was and received no answer. He was belligerent and threating on the phone call. We are very clear that Carstin Brands has no involvement with plumbing. Carstin Brands has been in business for 25 years being the largest countertop manufacturer in the Midwest.
We have good standing with BBB, no complaints filed against us and no other bad reviews other than this spiteful complaint from Mr. Woodard.