Complaint Review: Surface Encounters - Macomb Michigan

We recently had new granite counter tops installed in our home by Surface Encounters and the experience was excellent. The salesperson, price, selection, quality of the product and quality of the installation was far above anything I have previously experienced with regards to home improvements.

Does it matter where a person (Charlie) worked before? Or where the assetts of the company came from?

We became aware of Surface Encounters through one of their mailed flyers and our great experience began the minute we entered the fabulous showroom on 23 mile road.

This is our first experience buying granite counter tops and the salesman was more than patient and helpful during our buying process. He also offered many suggstions which helped us out as well.

Surface Encounters it's owner, Chuck Russo and their employees are not ripping off anyone. In fact, we feel that they are doing the opposite, that is, providing home owners with great products and services and reasonable prices.

My recommendation is that if you receive a flyer from Surface Encounters, please visit their showroom and talk to Chuck Russo Jr. or any of his employees. I believe this will clear the air of any doubt of what this company's intentions are rather than rely on the opinion of a former employee of some other company.  

Andrea is clearly welcome to her opinion. I suggest that Andrea is the exception to the rule. If anyone would like a more clear insight to this company irregardless of ownership you may contact me and I will introduce you to real ex clients (not employees) ! I beleive the bottom line is we all have choices and companies like this operate daily and one happy customer whom seems to be very adamate about protecting this company should raise a red flag

First off I am not an employee of the company nor do I ever think I will be since I am a woman, and don't feel that I could do a job like that. 

I had a good job done in my home.  It seems like the two of you who are bashing this new company (Surface Encounters) really should be bashing the old one (Rock Tops...I think).  You both are speaking on a subject that you have not had any experience with, which is absolutely outrageous. 

In fact I thought that one of the requirements of creating a report stated that you must have had work done or some affiliation with the company.  FYI:  You are reporting on "Surface Encounters"  not Rock Tops.  How does anyone know if what you are saying about the new company is true?  If you are indeed an ex-employee how would you know who is calling the shots at Surface Encounters and "really running" the company and why would you even care? 

I feel that both your report and Mike's rebuttal should be taken off of this site because they are clearly and admittedly filed under the wrong business name.  If you still feel angry enough for whatever reason may I direct you both to a few sites in which you can vent your anger in  a seemingly more age appropriate way for you:

www.myspace.com
Or
www.facebook.com

Once again Surface Encounters did an excellent job in my home and when I get ready to do my upstairs bathroom will be my first and only call.

Thanks for your time. 

Andrea
"Satisfied Consumer" from above

I am a fabricator located in Cincinnati Ohio and dealt with the rip off tactics of Rock Tops / Surface Encounters. I dealt with no less than 12 families ripped off and mis led by the ownership. Their tops were produced in Michigan (poorly I must say, from less than acceptable material by standards I am accustom to) were to be installed. Instaed they sat in a warehouse in West Chester , Ohio where the true owners (the twelve families) could not gain access to them even at an additional cost to themselves. This was after they paid for their work 100% up front. So the guy telling of a great job they did is obviously tied to the company somehow is a liar and the kid who worked his butt off selling and not getting paid makes sense. I can back up my rebuttal with a list of customers whom we helped out of this jam personally. 

I will tell you the real situation here. I'm not going into detail but overall the work that surface encounters did for me was excellent and Chuck is a great guy. The real deal with this man who posted above me is that he is the real crook. He is angry over some altercation that probably got him fired because he comes to work everyday with something up his rear end. All of his facts are not true and anyone could whip up all that BS he just talked. He even says he has no family, so he's sure got a lot of time to figure out ways to get at Chuck and the company he used to work for. I recommend everyone in need of any work done to have Surface Encounters do the job for you because you will only get the best in a very professional style.

First of all, Yes I am A former employee, and sounds as if you are to.  I know first hand how they ripped off people from several states, out of thousands of dollars. 

Let me guess, you had to pay half up front?  Well imagine that your beautiful, custom cut kitchen was in the window of a closed down store, you can see it, but cannot touch it. Sounds to me like a rip off.

Bob,One of the owners skipped town in a matter of days after closing, And was on A local news channel denying any envolvement with this company.  He owned it, and took thousands of customers money with him.

I was not an Installer as you guessed earlier. I was a salesman, And I'm not mad about the 2 thousand dollars in pay they owe me, big deal. I was more upset that I put my name and got families to entrust me because I was misled. I feel that I ripped my customers off, and I apologize to any customers of Rock Tops Cleveland.

I sure your "experience" with the new and improved company was delightful, I had quite of few satisfied customers myself. But all in all they are just 1980's used car salesman.  Thats Charlies background, And i'm sorry the flyer sucked you in.

And as far as creating jobs, How about all 15 stores that closed down 2 days before christmas.  Now I don't have a family, but I know I didn't have a very Merry Christmas that year. 

Recommend them all you want, they still are crooks!

You have to love a place where you can bash your ex-employer and try to run out yet another business in this dying Michigan economy. 

First off, I would like to point out that while "you say" this company was ripping people off you do not support your statement with any facts or examples of how exactly this is happening to the consumer.  Which does nothing for me, "the consumer" because I have no idea where I am getting ripped off at, for one, and two I have had work done by this company and will say they are neat, well mannered and do a fantastic job for a decently competitive price. 

Secondly, you state that you "were mislead" by this company.  I really wonder how this happens in your line of work.  I mean the job seems pretty simple you go to work, pick up tools, go to the jobs lined up that day and install or tear out.  Kinda a stright forward kind of job, so just wondering how did they mislead you and rip you off?  Again, no facts stated to back up your statement. 

Third, why do I the consumer care who owns the company or how they aquired it?  As long as they come in do the job they quted me for and do it well why would I?  In fact you should be happy that this Russo guy bought it and saved and or created new jobs for people in Michigan. 

Did you happen miss the real point of this website. This website is here for people to use when they are getting work done to make sure they are making the right decision.  I mean if you were really a witness to people getting ripped off you need to state how and the facts surrounding it.

The way in which you represent yourself makes me wonder how old you are.  I mean it is very childish to come on a public forum and file a report without any facts to support any of your statements. You sound more like a dissastisified ex-employee trying to get even then someone who is actually concerned for the well being of the consumer.

In closing I would like to state that I have had work done by this company and have recomended them to many of my personal friends and also business associates.  It takes a lot for me to recomend a business to anyone, I was impressed from start to finished product, and may I mention the best clean up I have ever had done at my home. 

I believe that if there is an injustice then people should report it, however, there are no facts stated for anything mentioned in the original report.  I have stated facts based on the service I recieved from this company and would encourage others to use them. 

Thank you for your time.