Unique Landscapes By Griffin, Inc.

Revdex.com:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted]. Although the company's facts of the issue are totally false, as I have the emails to prove it. This company's response time speaks volumes. I find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me because it's at least half of my deposit returned. Providing an estimate should be part of doing business, and a customer shouldn't be expected to pay for one. This company is no better than any other landscaper in the area. I will wait for the business to refund 50% of my deposit, and once it performs this action and, if it does, I will consider this complaint resolved.PS. Please can you have this company mail the refund to;[redacted]Regards,
[redacted]

UNIQUE RESPONSE:

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We are truly sorry to have any problems or issues arise with our company operations, as we take so much pride in making sure our clients are happy.   As one may know, we operate one of Arizona’s most trusted landscape & design companies.  We regret when a client is not satisfied with our services – however, there is more information, on our end, that was not communicated in [redacted]’s concerns/complaint.

 

First off, we do not demand design deposits – we merely offer clients a way to have a professional design done for them, and released to them.  This is hard work, and intellectual property that should not be expected for free.  In this case, we’ve done quite a bit of work on a design, and clocked in countless hours on 3D imaging, AutoCAD drafting, and estimates.   All of these files have been released AND delivered to client on several occasion.  Secondly, we have email documentation where we have provided a full estimate for the work.   I truly feel there has been much more than $500 worth of work done & provided to [redacted].  For him to devalue this work & request a full refund is upsetting. 

 

Furthermore, Unique has at least 20 emails or more, with communication to [redacted] on his project.  On many occasions, emails & requests have gone unanswered on his part (leading us to believe he was un-interested in continuing work).  The large lapses in time from his communication have clearly caused him to forget the fact that we have invested days of time, with multiple designers, and provided intellectual property via designs to him (which he paid for).  It’s unfair to any business to request compensation for such work back – especially 18 months after it was completed.

 

With that being said, Unique takes pride in any dispute resolution – to help maintain our flawless business record.  We would be more than willing to modify the designs to meet [redacted]’s expectation.  We’ve offered this on other occasions (only to get a different reply months later).  We would also be willing to refund 1Ž2 of his $500 deposit ($250 total) on good faith that expectations were not set properly (and may not be able to be met with [redacted]).  As always, looking forward to a quick & reasonable resolution.

 

Regards,

 

Unique Landscapes / Unique Custom Pools, LLC.

114 S. Extension Rd. Mesa, AZ  85210

[redacted]

[redacted]

[redacted]

www.unique-landscapes.com

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted]. Although the company's facts of the issue are totally false, as I have the emails to prove it. This company's response time speaks volumes. I find that this resolution would be satisfactory to me because it's at least half of my deposit returned. Providing an estimate should be part of doing business, and a customer shouldn't be expected to pay for one. This company is no better than any other landscaper in the area. I will wait for the business to refund 50% of my deposit, and once it performs this action and, if it does, I will consider this complaint resolved.PS. Please can you have this company mail the refund to;[redacted]

[redacted]Regards,

We had a major pool remodel done by Unique. The project took a bit longer than expected and communication was not always ideal. However, the end result was spectacular and the workmanship was superb. The best part was the complete lack of any collateral damage to our landscaping, walks, etc. The Unique workers were VERY CAREFUL to avoid sprinker lines, lighting, shrubs, etc. The tile work was perfect and everything was returned to good working order. Unique was not the least expensive but all costs were finely detailed and there were absolutely no surprises.

Overall, Unique is by far one of the best companies I have worked with on large projects. I highly recommend them. A solid A.

Note, I found them from an ad in a flyer and have no relationship whatsoever with this company other than having been a customer.

This is the second time we have used Unique Landscapes by [redacted]. The first time was about three years ago when they re-did our entire back yard including sprinklers, lawn, rear lighting, new outdoor covered patio including fireplace and built in grill. This time he helped with proper drainage and front lighting. The work was excellent and his workmen are also well trained and very professional. If something goes wrong with a light for example, just a phone call prompts a quick response and repair. They really do honor their warranties. We have recommend his services to numerous people.

I have a beautiful yard thanks to Unique!!! The designer came out immediately the day after I called which happened to be New Years Eve. I expressed my frustrations of trying to work with another company, only to still not have a finalized plan after 3 months. My designer began drawing up plans immediately. He never hesitated to show up in person to iron out each detail and he got the plans to just what I had envisioned within 1-2 weeks. The crew showed up and put in a full day's work, day after day. The backyard is better than I ever could have imagined and we are so happy to be spending time out there every day! I would highly recommend Unique Landscapes

Review: I first contacted this company back in March of 2013 for a design and quote for new landscaping in my back yard. I met with [redacted], their company rep at my home on April 10, 2013. I informed [redacted] that I would like to have plants with nice colour and some that attracted humming birds around me new swimming pool. [redacted] didn't seem to have any knowledge of landscaping or plant selection or even carry pictures of landscape designs that he could show me. He didn't measure my yard, but instead walked around with an I-Pad. He claimed that he was using it to measure my yard. [redacted] was then pressuring me to come up with a price range for the landscaping, and was throwing around figures of 100K, 150K. I told him to keep the pricing close to $36,000, as I couldn't fathom spending any more for trees, plants and gravel. [redacted] then demanded a deposit of $500.00 Dollars in order for his company to prepare the landscape design and estimate. I was quite shocked at the demand, but wrote [redacted] the check for the $500.00 as I felt that [redacted] was trying to humiliate me. Upon departing, [redacted] asked me for a plot plan of the home. I emailed him a builder plot plan, and a pool design for my back yard the same day. Both plans had detailed measurements on them.

Over the next couple of months, I exchanged emails from [redacted], mostly apologies on his part for the delay in sending me the estimate for landscaping. [redacted] finally sent me some avatar looking cartoons that looked like a three year old had drawn. There wasn't a plant list or actual landscape design of my yard, only cartoon charachters sitting on chairs and loungers of what was "supposed" to be my back yard. At this point I contacted Unique Landscapes and requested to work with another representative as I felt that [redacted] wasn't providing me with a simple estimate. I was then referred to [redacted] Papazian. I exchanged a couple of telephone calls with [redacted], and as I work out of State, I arranged to fly into Phoenix in early June, 2013 to specifically meet with [redacted] at his office in Mesa. After my meeting with [redacted], more months had gone by, and I seemed to go through the same exchange of emails and apologies from [redacted] as to why he couldn't come up with a design or estimate for my landscape project. On August 19th, 2013, I sent [redacted] an email again requesting an estimate. No estimate yet. At this point I was already interviewing other landscape companies, as Unique Landscapes seemed too busy to take on my project. I notified [redacted] by email on September 11, 2013 that I had already found another landscape company, and was requesting my $500.00 Dollar deposit back. [redacted] did not respond to my request. Instead he finally sent me a landscape design and estimate in late September. When I notified him again that he was way too late, and that I had hired another company, he did not respond. [redacted] sent me another email on 10/14/13 asking me if I had any questions in regards to his estimate, I again replied to him stressing that too many months had passed and that my back yard was already completed. I again requested my $500.00 deposit be returned, but there was no response from [redacted]. [redacted], the owner of Unique Landscape by [redacted] had been copied on all of my correspondence with [redacted]. Neither one has offered to refund my original deposit of $500.00 Dollars. Your assistance would be greatly appreciated in this matter. Thank you.

As for the delay in filing a complaint against this company, I have been out of the country for several months assisting my sick sister in U.K. and only returned back to Phoenix about a month ago.

Sincerely,

[redacted]Desired Settlement: I would like for this company to return my initial deposit of $500.00 Dollars due to their painfully slow response time in providing a simple landscape estimate, which most landscape companies are able to provide in one week or less...

Business

Response:

UNIQUE RESPONSE:

We are truly sorry to have any problems or issues arise with our company operations, as we take so much pride in making sure our clients are happy. As one may know, we operate one of Arizona’s most trusted landscape & design companies. We regret when a client is not satisfied with our services – however, there is more information, on our end, that was not communicated in [redacted]’s concerns/complaint.

First off, we do not demand design deposits – we merely offer clients a way to have a professional design done for them, and released to them. This is hard work, and intellectual property that should not be expected for free. In this case, we’ve done quite a bit of work on a design, and clocked in countless hours on 3D imaging, AutoCAD drafting, and estimates. All of these files have been released AND delivered to client on several occasion. Secondly, we have email documentation where we have provided a full estimate for the work. I truly feel there has been much more than $500 worth of work done & provided to [redacted]. For him to devalue this work & request a full refund is upsetting.

Furthermore, Unique has at least 20 emails or more, with communication to [redacted] on his project. On many occasions, emails & requests have gone unanswered on his part (leading us to believe he was un-interested in continuing work). The large lapses in time from his communication have clearly caused him to forget the fact that we have invested days of time, with multiple designers, and provided intellectual property via designs to him (which he paid for). It’s unfair to any business to request compensation for such work back – especially 18 months after it was completed.

With that being said, Unique takes pride in any dispute resolution – to help maintain our flawless business record. We would be more than willing to modify the designs to meet [redacted]’s expectation. We’ve offered this on other occasions (only to get a different reply months later). We would also be willing to refund 1Ž2 of his $500 deposit ($250 total) on good faith that expectations were not set properly (and may not be able to be met with [redacted]). As always, looking forward to a quick & reasonable resolution.

Regards,

Unique Landscapes / Unique Custom Pools, LLC.

114 S. Extension Rd. Mesa, AZ 85210

www.unique-landscapes.com

They did a great job on my BBQ island. I wish the job super duds closer job not hectares though.. I had to act as a job super many times when errors we reoccurring . Overall at the end I am very eased with the quality and workmanship. I wish [redacted] would have come out for a visit. Unique was they highest priced but I have no regrets. The engineering of my project was so high quality .

How do you give a company a combination rating of F and A? Let me explain. After interviewing over 7 hardscape companies, we chose Unique Landscaping by [redacted] to redo our backyard. We added/modified an existing 50’ house-length concrete patio by adding block walls, retention walls, a good sized paver patio, and outdoor kitchen/lounge area. We knew exactly what we wanted, providing CAD drawings, image renderings, and dimensions to the designer who bid the job – [redacted]. However, we expressed that we were open to any suggested changes he might have. We met repeatedly with [redacted] to fine tune the design and the bid price stressing that we only had two major non-negotiable requirements. One- that we be able to sit on our new paver patio and see our horses in the pasture area without standing, and two that they leave a “drive through” area between the retaining wall and our existing garden arbor-greenhouse. During that initial time, received very nice email communication from [redacted], the owner, checking on the progress of the proposed design and contract. Signed contract and paid start- up fee.
Construction start – [redacted] arrived with our project manager [redacted]. We walked the proposed site so that once again everyone would be on the same page. [redacted] informed us that from that point on ALL communication should go through [redacted]. The next day the work crews arrived. We did not see or hear from [redacted] or [redacted] for many days. We were not given a set of plans to review or approve. We just had to trust the guys knew what they were to do. Here’s the “A” part. The work crews were wonderful, professional, quality artisans who treated us and our property with respect and consideration. I can’t say enough kind words for them. Quality people, quality work.
Half way point- we finally hear from [redacted] who wants a half point pay. Obviously his job was to get the money! We expressed concern that the wall towards the horses was too high and insisted that he AND [redacted] come for a walk through prior to ANY more money submitted. Up to this point, neither had been on site. During that meeting we expressed our concerns. [redacted] was rude, dismissive, and basically said the wall was fine and was exactly what the blueprint called for. What blueprint, we said. Are you sure it will be low enough we said? Yes, we were told. We also expressed concern that the one retaining wall looked too close to the greenhouse. [redacted]’s response- you might need to move the arbor and greenhouse! We were angry and confused, and should have called [redacted], but instead trusted that the issues would be resolved and paid the money.
Near the end of the project, when it became frustratingly obvious that no one was listening, we demanded that [redacted] and [redacted] return. During this walk around when again [redacted] became rude when he attempted to put me in my place by talking over me. This 70 yr old Gramma lost her temper and raised he voice at him. He informed me he would not be spoken to in that manner – whereupon I informed him (finally) that we were the owners of the property, he was at OUR house, and that I would speak to him in any manner I damned chose. After that meeting, I called [redacted] and shared our frustration over the project. He listened politely but offered no resolution. I understand that tons of concrete was now in place and the issues should have been resolved much sooner. We were given no opportunity to do that and were now being made feel that the problems were ours and caused by us. [redacted] said he would come by to see the issues and the project - - he hasn’t called or shown. We did receive a $100 gift card to a local restaurant thanking us for our business and the completion of our project.
Work done – A
Design and management of Project F
Take my advice if you hire this company. Work directly with the owner. Insist on a set of owner approved blueprints clearly defining EXACTLY what will be done prior to that first shovel hitting the ground.