Thank you for using the Better Business Bureau’s Online Complaint System.

Your complaint has been assigned case # 90164053.

Correspondence regarding this complaint will be emailed to : WHATABTMARY@YAHOO.COM

Please print a copy of this for your records.

 

Filed on : August 2 2012

 

Filed by :

MARY JEAN ZISKA

5632 WHISPERWOOD BLVD. 1601

Naples FL 34110

 

Filed against :

Empire Today, LLC

1320 SW 32nd Way

Deerfield Beach FL 33442-8110

 

Complaint Description:

Letter to Empire today company concerning their estimate for wood floors. To whom it may concern: I called empire today company when I saw their as on the television. The had a buy one room and get one room free for flooring advertisement and called from my home to see how much this would cost as I would have loved to have wood floors in my current condo and in the two bedrooms that presently are covered with carpeting. I spoke with a rep.( gentleman I believe his name was barney ) who set up an appointment for creating an estimate. I was told that no estimates were quoted over the phone. I tried to call when I was at work to confirm the fist attempt of a consultation and to see if I could get any further information as to the costs involved in a buy one room and get one room for free. This time I spoke with a woman . I went online and on the website I saw an opportunity to set up an appointment so I confirmed my appointment online. I set up an appointment over the phone. I set up appointment on line, I set up or tried to confirm the appointment on the phone and got completely different information,The person who came to my home had a card that said his name was Alex Novak and his estimate for a dark wood floor that was pressed wood not actually solid real wood was approx. $7000.00 that was for one room and one free room totaling in approx. 491 square feet for both rooms. I do not believe that this gentleman was from your company and I want to notify you that such scam artist exist. He drove a navy blue saab car. He was probably in his 50 or 60’s he was white male with blue eyes . He brought sample boards that had wood samples … he had a note book but he could not read the fine print for the estimate. He asked me to read the paperwork in the notebook that listed the estimated cost per square foot price when he quoted me a price. If you do have an employee that resembles this description he had better check for any identity theft. I am a victim of identity theft and believe me, these insidious criminals will stoop to any level to commit crimes and steal jobs at any cost to their victims and for any profit for themselves. He came into the estimate with a new York accent wanting to know how much I wanted to spend and told me that if it was not at least $ 4000. He may as well leave. I told him to leave but asked him whether or not he even wanted to see the rooms that I was thinking of changing into the wood floors. When I asked him if he wanted to see the rooms I also asked if he was going to measure the rooms to gain the square footage for his estimate. I also told him that I had in the past had my own business where estimates were based on square footage and wanted to see if he needed a tape measure. I had drawn basic sketches of the rooms and had measured the rooms myself. His estimate of $7000.00 was outrageous especially when I later when to Lowes and for $1000.00 the same pressed wood with the same tint including installation. For both rooms!The gentleman who came out to do the consultation also mentioned that the choice of color for wood wouldn’t be his selection and that I was a smart woman who would be able to bet a better price at lumber liquidators… not the normal endorsement for a loyal employee.I have had the unfortunate experience of having con-artist construction/handyman people in my life before. I met a conartist named gerard ahler who claimed to be from Brooklyn new York and claIMED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE MAFIA! HE ALSO SAID HE OWNED pro line contracting. These con-artist have in the past presented themselves from legitimate companies by having an initial consultation so they can get business cards, paperwork and various samples then go to other legitimate customers hoping to obtain the contract for the legitimate business…. At a very increased price. I believe this was most probably the motive of this con-artist.

 

Your Desired Resolution:

I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE EMPIRE TODAY COME TO DO A REAL ESTIMATE AND GIVE ME A THE BEST OFFERED PRICE FOR THE TWO ROOMS. WITH WOOD FLOORING AND I WOULD EXPECT THAT BUY ONE ROOM AND GET THE OTHER ROOM FREE THAT WOULD MEAN WHAT IT SAID THE ENTIRE ROOM INCLUDING INSTALLATION WOULD NOT COST ANYTHING! THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND ATTENTION TO THIS SITUATION AND TO THIS COMPLAINT SINCERELY MARY JEAN ZISKA

 

This case will be reviewed by a complaint specialist at the Better Business Bureau, and then forwarded to the business for their response. It is our policy to allow the business 30 working days to respond to your complaint. You will be notified when the business has responded.

 

What would you like to do next?

View the status of your complaint

Return to the BBB Homepage BBB Privacy Policy