Archive: Around Town

Ask IMOAsk IMO

 Lansing's Advice Column


Dear IMO,

I recently purchased several combination heating/air conditioning units from a national hardware store in Ithaca. The purchase price included installation by one of their subcontractors. I felt really good about the whole process and went home to await the arrival of the workmen and the new units.

I’m not sure how they determine who works for them, but the team that installed my units behaved a lot like Abbot and Costello. Every move they made was a comedy of errors, but I wasn’t laughing. From the scratches on my hardwood floors to the cracks on the newly plastered walls, my house now resembles a physical relief map of the Cayuga Lake drainage basin.

Topping the list of items that now need repairing are the spacious gaps surrounding the units- large enough for mice and curious small birds to wander through. When I pointed out the disparity to the men, they seemed unconcerned and told me to put insulation in the gaps and secure it with duct tape.

When they left, I sat down and cried. My newly remodeled home is a wreck! What can I do to have the damages repaired? Should I contact the store and have one of their inspectors come and see the damages?

Sincerely,
Emily

Dear Emily

Your plight is shared by many. The large retail box stores, like Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, etc, offer deals that seem unbelievable. The low prices along with added bonuses like “free installation” seem too good to pass up. But reality does set in, and you discover it is not the loveable and funny comedy team of Abbot and Costello in your home, but Rusty and his cousin Lefty, and neither really knows what the other is doing.

In today’s marketplace, shoddy craftsmanship and carelessness are often an unexpected surprise when dealing with large box stores. The subcontractor s they hire are not always top notch, and you often find someone other than reputable and skilled craftsmen working in your home.

You should contact the manager of the store where you purchased the items and describe to him what damages have been done. You ought to document as much as you can such as the name of the installers, the date, the time, and places where there is damage. Take photos of scratched flooring, cracked walls, rodent friendly gaps, and other areas of concern. Demand that one of their inspectors come to your home and look at the mess these installers made.

You should have no trouble with the store sending out another team to repair the damages. If you do, then contact your lawyer. In the future I urge you to visit the smaller, locally owned stores. It might cost a little more, but you’ll find the job done well and done right.

E-mail your question to IMO at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
----
v2i18