- Report: #295976
Complaint Review: Jeffries Electric - Denton Texas
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Jeffries Electric
PO Box 941 Denton, 76202 Texas, U.S.A.
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Jeffries Electric - Bait And Switch Program Denton Texas
I hired Jeffries Electric to repair some landscape lighting that was installed in my yard at my home. The repairs were performed, at (8 hours @ $155 per hour; 1.5 hours at $85 per hour; and 1.5 hours at $205 per hour) plus parts ($1,330) to the tune of $2,900. Which I agreed to and paid. During the three occasions that the representatives visited my home to do the repairs, we discussed my lighting and desires and I was quoted a price of $250 per light.
I had agreed for them to make the repairs and discussed their installing four additional lights (at $250 per light). Following this discussion I contacted Jeffries office and ordered the transformer necessary to add the additional four lights I wanted installed. I was told it would take a week to get in the part. At the time the order was placed there was no discussion of a change in price for the lighting. From the date we initially discussed the additional lighting through and including the ordering of the transformer, there was never a discussion about an increase in pricing for the lights I wanted.
In fact, during all these discussions, this purchase included a lifetime warranty on any issues with the lighting. We awaited a transformer to come in so that it could be installed as a part of the repair.
After placing this order and prior to delivery, the owner then came to my house and was immediately abrasive and rude with me, referring to my existing lighting as having a pig and he is putting lipstick on it. It was not until he came to my home that I realized that years ago I had spoken with him regarding lighting, but went with someone else. The representatives returned to my home, and when we discussed their installing the additional lights, for some reason the price per light was increased to $425 per light, plus an additional charge of $7.00 per foot for the wire. When the representative told me this, I was shocked that the price had increased and by such a great amount. I asked if there was the possibility of perhaps a 10% or 15% discount. He called Mr. Jeffries, the owner of the company, and then the price went up to $500 per light.
Although I attempted to reach Mr. Jeffries the next day, I was told he was gone for the weekend and would not return until Tuesday. However, he called me back sometime later, and was even more rude and belligerent with me on the phone, and told me again, I had a pig and he was putting $2,900 lipstick on it, that he had enough business and did not need mine and to lose his number and never call him again. He said he'd do the job for his cost and he'd put them in so long as I never called him again, and that there would be no warranty (lifetime or otherwise) on this purchase.
I paid this company their asking price for all the repairs performed. I never questioned their charges, and they were paid promptly. However, as a business owner myself, I know that when someone is quoted a price for something whether it be a product or for services, a GOOD businessman honors the word of his representative. They do not raise the price out of spite, and then insult the customer who just paid you almost $3,000.
I believe that Mr. Jeffries attempts at bait and switch should be investigated so that other customers are not compromised, and that everyone looking for an electric company in Denton, beware Jeffries (Bait and Switch) Electric.
Victim of bait and switch
Denton, Texas
U.S.A.
I had agreed for them to make the repairs and discussed their installing four additional lights (at $250 per light). Following this discussion I contacted Jeffries office and ordered the transformer necessary to add the additional four lights I wanted installed. I was told it would take a week to get in the part. At the time the order was placed there was no discussion of a change in price for the lighting. From the date we initially discussed the additional lighting through and including the ordering of the transformer, there was never a discussion about an increase in pricing for the lights I wanted.
In fact, during all these discussions, this purchase included a lifetime warranty on any issues with the lighting. We awaited a transformer to come in so that it could be installed as a part of the repair.
After placing this order and prior to delivery, the owner then came to my house and was immediately abrasive and rude with me, referring to my existing lighting as having a pig and he is putting lipstick on it. It was not until he came to my home that I realized that years ago I had spoken with him regarding lighting, but went with someone else. The representatives returned to my home, and when we discussed their installing the additional lights, for some reason the price per light was increased to $425 per light, plus an additional charge of $7.00 per foot for the wire. When the representative told me this, I was shocked that the price had increased and by such a great amount. I asked if there was the possibility of perhaps a 10% or 15% discount. He called Mr. Jeffries, the owner of the company, and then the price went up to $500 per light.
Although I attempted to reach Mr. Jeffries the next day, I was told he was gone for the weekend and would not return until Tuesday. However, he called me back sometime later, and was even more rude and belligerent with me on the phone, and told me again, I had a pig and he was putting $2,900 lipstick on it, that he had enough business and did not need mine and to lose his number and never call him again. He said he'd do the job for his cost and he'd put them in so long as I never called him again, and that there would be no warranty (lifetime or otherwise) on this purchase.
I paid this company their asking price for all the repairs performed. I never questioned their charges, and they were paid promptly. However, as a business owner myself, I know that when someone is quoted a price for something whether it be a product or for services, a GOOD businessman honors the word of his representative. They do not raise the price out of spite, and then insult the customer who just paid you almost $3,000.
I believe that Mr. Jeffries attempts at bait and switch should be investigated so that other customers are not compromised, and that everyone looking for an electric company in Denton, beware Jeffries (Bait and Switch) Electric.
Victim of bait and switch
Denton, Texas
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Redd
California,United States of America
The price of Copper and a changing Economy
#2Consumer Comment
Tue, August 02, 2011
I am based in Los Angeles and I sell electrical equipment.
After reading this story, I had no doubt that this is a customer who makes a point of finding fault for anything he must pay for.
Couple of things to remember folks:
1) Transformer= Big a*s block of Copper or Aluminum.
... therefore if you need a transformer, whether it was quoted or not; THE PRICE IS GONNA CHANGE BUSTER!!! Dont be an idiot!
2) Wire is made out of COPPER!!!! and at $7.00 per "additional foot" (considering this includes additional piping and additional trench digging) is ONE HELL UVA DEAL!! again: DONT BE AN IDIOT!
.... these are two points I picked up on right away from reading the original post.
Then I read the rebuttal from the electrician. He further states that:
#1) the original plans changed: Change in scope of work means change in quoted price: (did I mention dont be an idiot?)
2) damage to pre-existing equipment by the end user is not the fault of the electrician- (so refer to # 1)
3) Taking a bidders price to a competitor, and then calling back the original bidder for a job a whole year later after the contractor you chose screwed the job up means: PLEASE RIP ME OFF BECAUSE I AM A BACKSTABBING d****e! (and refer back to # 1)
4) the Electrician obviously DID NOT rip you off, but you did try to rip him off and it back fired.
So quit crying because you are an idiot.
Sandmann
Denton,Texas,
U.S.A.
Tainted Information
#3UPDATE Employee
Tue, February 17, 2009
I just saw this report after over a year has gone by and still remember this customer. I was the lead electrician that did this job and also quoted it. Before any work started on the 1st part of the job the customer was given a price. He agreed and everything was fine. The second part of the job had to many unknows to give an exact price before some other work was done. So we said we would come back to bid it. The customer had a tree that was possibly going to be moved and landscapers coming in to re-do landscaping before a final plan and price for the lighting was done. He called and said he wanted the rest of the work done. However,when we went back out we gave him prices BEFORE anywork work was to be done so that he would know before we started. When we saw the exact scope of work to be done everything on the job had been changed. The landscapers had cut the existing wiring that was going to be used and he changed the amount of lights and were he wanted them. After all of this was discussed and we gave him a price he wanted to know why it was more than the 1st job. I tried explaining it to him and he got very intimidating and beligerant. He could not understand that we now had more materials to use,the wire, and he wanted them further out in the yard. Plus we gave him a discount on the 1st job because when you order more lights from the manufacturer they give price breaks on them, so we passed that saving on to him. I explained when u order a few lights it cost a lot more. Especially when u give life time warrenty.The price of the $250.00 per fixture was never quoted! I tried to go back out and come to some agreement that would make him happy. However, I was unable to do that and when I left I told him I would never work for him again after the profanity and insults that he said to me. I conducted myself in a professional,honest manner and no one should ever have the right to treat someone that way even if they are just "hired help" to quote him. I am a licensed electrician that takes pride in his work. I am not the owner so I cannot comment on what took place between them. But I do know that he called us back out after he went with the first company because "they didn't do a good job and had a cheap product". He specifically said to me he called us because we were so professional the 1st time we bid that same job. The company I work for has a list a mile long of praise reports and will give referances to anyone at anytime. I know i was honest. I would have never given the price upfront if I was trying to rip him off. And my boss was sticking up for his employees with an out of control customer. Besides a bait and switch doesn't give the customer a chance to approve or reject work before it ever starts.
