- Report: #471928
Complaint Review: Exterior Design Studio - Mark Ritter - Edina Minnesota
-
Author Confirmed
Why?
Exterior Design Studio - Mark Ritter
5780 Lincoln Drive, Suite 125 Edina, 55436 Minnesota, U.S.A.
Phone:
952-922-4445
Web:
N/A
Categories:
Business Rating:
(0)
Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good?
Exterior Design Studio, Exterior Design Studio - Mark Ritter WARNING!!...Run As Fast As You Can From Exterior Design Sudio!! Edina Minnesota
While attending the Minneapolis Home and Garden Show my wife and I came in contact with Exterior Design Studio and it's principle owner Mark Ritter. We were looking for a premier landscaper to overhaul our back yard ever since we moved in last June. At first Mark seemed nice enough and we agreed to meet with him later in the week for a first consolation.
Upon entering his office I notice the many photos on the wall, hundreds of them. It looked more like an art gallery rather than a working office, no designers drawing, no secretaryhell, I didn't see an employee in sight.
Our first meeting felt awkward and I should have used my better judgment before giving him $1,000 up front to come up with a design and drawing for our back yard. I could see the greed in his eye as he proclaimed to know what we wanted without us uttering a word. After the meeting my wife mentioned that she was kind of creped out by the way he would look at her.
Our follow up meeting was just as much of a disaster as the first. We arrived a little early and apparently Mark did not know that we had entered the building because upon entering we heard him screaming obscenities over the phone. I'm 54 years old and to be honest I think I'd heard it all up until that afternoon. Whom ever was on the other end of that phone got a tongue lashing that was so bad I felt embarrassedwe should have walked out right there - very vulgar, very unprofessional!
From the beginning our budget was set at $45,000 and Mark know this very well. When Mark showed us the design, the expense sheet was TRIPLE our budget! After arguing with him for several minutes we finally gave up and told Mark that we would not like to continue. He then shouted obscenities at us and told us that he was the expert and that he was the best in the business Best at what!, I told him. I demanded my $1,000 back and he assured us that he would mail it the following week. That was a year ago!
Avoid this company at all costs! This man is at least completely crazy and at best a sophisticated con man.
David
Orono, Minnesota
U.S.A.
Upon entering his office I notice the many photos on the wall, hundreds of them. It looked more like an art gallery rather than a working office, no designers drawing, no secretaryhell, I didn't see an employee in sight.
Our first meeting felt awkward and I should have used my better judgment before giving him $1,000 up front to come up with a design and drawing for our back yard. I could see the greed in his eye as he proclaimed to know what we wanted without us uttering a word. After the meeting my wife mentioned that she was kind of creped out by the way he would look at her.
Our follow up meeting was just as much of a disaster as the first. We arrived a little early and apparently Mark did not know that we had entered the building because upon entering we heard him screaming obscenities over the phone. I'm 54 years old and to be honest I think I'd heard it all up until that afternoon. Whom ever was on the other end of that phone got a tongue lashing that was so bad I felt embarrassedwe should have walked out right there - very vulgar, very unprofessional!
From the beginning our budget was set at $45,000 and Mark know this very well. When Mark showed us the design, the expense sheet was TRIPLE our budget! After arguing with him for several minutes we finally gave up and told Mark that we would not like to continue. He then shouted obscenities at us and told us that he was the expert and that he was the best in the business Best at what!, I told him. I demanded my $1,000 back and he assured us that he would mail it the following week. That was a year ago!
Avoid this company at all costs! This man is at least completely crazy and at best a sophisticated con man.
David
Orono, Minnesota
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Alex P in Wayzata
Wayzata,Minnesota,
United States of America
Exterior Design Studio and its owner Mark Ritter have been great to work with
#2Consumer Comment
Mon, March 19, 2012
I felt compelled to file a rebuttal to this posting by David of Orono, MN. I stumbled upon it after doing a Google search of a company I have been working with - Exterior Design Studio of Edina, MN - since I did not remember their URL. When I saw the firm mentioned as the subject of a "Ripoff.com" report, I decided to read it. Not only was I taken aback by what was written, but the longer I thought about it, the angrier I got ... not against the owner, but rather against the poster of the report. I feel this post by "David" is completely without merit and libelous.
My wife and I have been working with Mark Ritter and Exterior Design Studio (EDS) on an extensive landscaping project at our home in Wayzata for almost a year. I am a very discrminating consumer and did my research before engaging EDS. We met with Mark at our home and at his office nearly a dozen times before finally signing an agreement late last year. We also checked references and visited dozens of his prior project sites. There was not one single hint of a problem with any of the people we talked to and the landscaping projects were the best we've seen anywhere. If Mark's estimates seem high, it is because his work is among the best.
In addition, we have gotten to know the sub-contractors Mark uses pretty well and without exception they not only speak highly of him but they have been with him for decades! That speaks volumes. No independent sub-contractor would stick around for that long unless the man they work for is honest and the working relationship is terrific.
Lastly, we have gotten to know Mark and his wife since our project began and they are both delightful people. Mark Ritter knows his stuff and he is good at it. Contrary to what "David in Orono" said, we would encourage anyone to engage Mark Ritter and Exterior Design Studio.
Not so anonymously,
Alex & Denise Plechash
Wayzata, MN
Businesses against unregulated slan
Edina,Minnesota,
United States of America
Internet Fraud and Slander Fake Report
#3REBUTTAL Owner of company
Mon, February 15, 2010
BAIF (Businesses Against Internet Fraud) has been contacted to investigate this report. First EDS has not done the Home and Garden Show in 5 years let alone in 2009. Client could not have me EDS at a Home and Garden since they have not done one in 5 years. Secondly EDS has not charged $1,000 for a design since the housing boom in 1999/2000. Thirdly, I have contaced Eds and they have no records of a David in Orono or any other client charged $1,000 in any town. Fourthly, accusing Mr. Ritter of "looking at your wife" creeped her out, "greed in his eyes" (this comment also showed up in another slanderous unregulated online report with the exact same comments wich we are investigating). 5th Eds DOES have admin and sales staff (I have personal me them). BAIF (Businesses Against Internet Fraud) is looking into this report and the origination.
