Complaint Review: Joe Hernandez - Surprise Arizona

Had searched for countertops using craigslist to just check if there was cheaper company’s out there that don’t advertise as much and also find a local company to support since I am a small business owner myself. Which I’ve found a few amazing deals doing so for other things so gave it a shot.

Well I came across a few company’s that seemed okay for pricing for the granite and the install for the house I’m doing. A few of them wouldn’t make the drive out to see where it would be installed let alone to get dimensions for where the countertops would go Per the job is in Casa Grande. So I called this number, a man answered and said he would call me back in a few hours per with a client at the moment so i said sounds good. I went down the list and a few other company’s would but with their schedule, wouldn’t have time until after the new year. A day goes by and I get a call back from the number I called the day before. Stated his name was Joseph but everyone calls him Joe. He’s been working with this "company” for a few years and they back their work 100 percent and quality as below none. Explained what I needed to Joe and asked when he could meet me down at the job. Joe had told asked me if Thursday the 28th of September would work to meet at the job and I said unfortunately Friday the 29th would work at 8 or 9am. Joe agreed that the 29th of September would and would be there no later then 830am.

September 29th 2017, Joe shows up around 820 maybe 830am. I told joe I would need to make this quick as possible because I had some running around to do for the job and so he took all his measurements for the countertops. I gave him the colors the owners wanted for the tops and the sink size for the under the countertop mount and the tops had to be granite to be within their budget for the kitchen. Told him budget wise we’re I would like to be over all on labor and for the pieces needed. After he wrote everything down all the information he started in his spill about the company.... this is were I should have maybe questioned him a little more but didn’t because I just wanted to keep moving forward.... so he stated he worked for American Granite which from just word throughout the contractor world I knew they used to be a different company and switched names. Great, amazing company to get countertops from but never used them because they were just so far from me to use. So after hearing Joe say that, I said "Well d**n! It’s awesome that they don’t mind sending guys all the way here for a job. I hope you guys don’t charge extra for the trip because I’ll have to find a different company unless your total works number wise.” Joe told me no they don’t unless up north or in actaul Tucson, which made sense to me. So joe tells me he will get the numbers together by the end of lunch and will be in the chandler area so if possible to meet up to go over numbers. I said I’ll be free after 1pm maybe 2pm.

So around 2pm September 29th 2017, joe and I meet at a restaurant which I was already at for lunch in chandler to go over the bid for the countertops. Now this isn’t just for the kitchen but also for the master bathroom. Total came out to $3381.66. Now wasn’t to bad of a price for what is needed and he explained the grade of granite and the edging I wanted done and cut and everything to a T without labor. With labor it was like 3800 which was over our budget so figured I could just do the install. Everything else Sounded great so I asked when it would be ready and if I can have them store it till the kitchen and bathroom were ready for the Install? Joe told me that they can hold it up to 90 days free of charge and charge a dollar a day after that. Still sounds great right?!?

So now to the payment part... I ask joe if they do a cash discount because well it never hurts to ask. Joe said they do but can’t not charge tax, which I’m totally fine with and get it. Joe then turned his tablet around showed me the discount is applied of $200.00 making the total $3181.66 and To sign the document electronically or he could print it out and bring it to me when it works best. I signed it then and there and he said he’d email the invoice to me. I then told him to follow me to the bank. So having full Faith in Joe and seeing everything on the tablet made me feel like I was conducting business with a legit company. I’ve handed more cash to another company before and never EVER had this happen to me.

So here we are in December and ready for the countertops.... customer also wants another little piece made to match the other pieces too. They call to place the order and American Granite needs the order number to pull up the order to make sure everything matches... so customer calls me asking for the order number. I call American Granite asking where I’d find the order number on the receipt... American Granite looks up my information and don’t find the order. Nor does a Joe Hernandez work for them. I have a receipt with their name and address and number on it. How did this happen? How takes that much time out of there life to scam someone that is working their butt off to make a living? I deal with cash transactions everyday for the past 15 years doing this type of work and never once been scammed out of money and even meeting new company’s and all never once worried. Joe Hernandez or Joseph Hernandez as I have found is his name. The info I have found of him was that his from Texas, scammed at least 5 other people the past 6 or 7 months here in Arizona. I am filing a police report with all my details that have lead me to this point to write this to hopefully protect someone else. Luckily I have insurance but it won’t be easy to get these funds back if at all.

But for normal customers please do your research on people so you don’t end up in my shoes or like the other people that have been scammed by this guy. I will add that American Granite has nothing to do with Joe and never has and don’t even know who he is. I guess this is a normal thing that happens and just never myself experienced it till this. The cops will handle this how they do from here on out but if anyone has any more info about Joe Hernandez please send it my way as I will forward my information that I have of him also.