OT - NOT Reef Related - Bad Experience with company in Lake in the Hills, IL

R

rmeugene

Premium member
Thought I should share my little experience this weekend…please excuse the language…

So…we purchased two Groupon coupons for “Handle with Care” in Lake in the Hills. On Thursday we had our 2011 Honda CR-V detailed inside and outside. When Ranae went to exchange cars leaving our 2012 Jeep Liberty to be done on Friday she could not start the car. The workers there jumped the car for her and it started. While this was going on Ranae noticed that the front plate and plate holder w...ere dangling off of the front bumper. The worker “jammed” it back up and said it would be fine. Ranae went to leave and noticed that the floor mats were not in the car. She went in and asked for them and they gave them to her. When she got home and went to exit the car the “Your lights are on” chime was sounding. So it would appear that the lights had been left on and that was why the battery was drained. I called the owner who had given me his cell phone and wanted to let him know our concerns with what had happened while our car had been in his shop. He did not answer so I left him a voicemail. After a couple of texts back and forth – which I unfortunately did not keep…all he could tell us was that the license plate was like that when the car was dropped off and that the battery would be fine as it would be charged by the alternator. And he also asked “Isn’t your car beautifully clean”? And he also reminded me that “you received a $200 job for less than half the cost”. At this point we were a bit leery about leaving our newer car but figured hey…things happen.

Picked up the Jeep on Friday and it looked very nice. Even sent the owner a text stating this fact. On Saturday morning I had to enter the code into the radio since the battery had died. I went into the glove box and there was a plastic piece of the car in the glove box. I called the owner and he did not answer. I left a message asking only that he let me know where the piece had come from so that I could put it back. I did not hear back from the owner. While driving on Saturday I happen to notice that there was a piece missing from the bottom of the passenger side mirror. I sent the owner a text – which is the first one below. You can then see all that transpired via text on Saturday night. Please excuse the language that is used by the owner of Handle with Care.

Rick - Thanks for returning my call…don’t worry I found where the piece fell off…came off the bottom of the passenger door side mirror. I guess we must of done that also? And your guys found it and put it in the glove box for me? I am sure they wrote it on the check list but just forgot to let me know…

Owner- Rick, I am sure your cars were as clean as possible. YOU HAVE BEEN A F&^%ING D%&K the entire time. DO NOT EVER patronize my business again U F&^%ING A$%&*LE!!!

Rick - Wow…I will be forwarding this…you have absolutely no clue what you have just started…

Owner – F&%k you, you f&^%%ig loser pr^&k!!!!! Forward to whoever u want!!!! U are a f&^%%ig loser that does not have a clue and TRUST ME!!!!! My business will NOT SUFFER in the least!!!!!!!

Owner - You F&^%ING DOOSH bag!! Come and see me tomorrow u f&^%%ig piece of ****!!!!!!!

Rick - Really? Hmmm Maybe the first people I bring this to are the police…nothing like being a professional…

Owner - AND UNDERSTAND THIS!!! ONE MORE TEXT and the lake in the hills police are notified of harassment on your part and you will be contacted!!!!! TRUST ME!!! ;)))

Rick - That is fine have them call me

Owner - Trust me again pal!!!!!! These texts ARE going to my friends at Algonquin AND lith police RIGHT now!!!;))))))

Rick - That is fine…have them call me…

Owner - It has been taken care of Rick…..they will be contacting u tomorrow…;))))))))

Rick - That is fine…look forward to speaking with them…

Owner - YOU DON”T know what YOU have started!!!;))))))

Owner - Please don’t harass my business any longer…you are looking for something free that isn’t there and since I have been in business for 7 years and you have NEVER patronized my business in the past it is OBVIOUS u are looking for something free……

Rick - I never asked you for anything…provided you with feedback on things that happened to my vehicles while at your shop…and all you did was not take responsibility as the owner…so now you have taken this to a whole different level. And I am more than happy to discuss this with anyone…and I will be.

Owner - PLEASE YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED ON MY PROPERTY AGAIN!!!! Here is the deal my friend…if you enter onto my property again…the police will be notified and further action will be taken…Have a nice night my friend…;)))

Rick - Did not cross my mind to ever come to your establishment…I am sure we will most likely be meeting for the first time at a police station.

Owner - Love u bro!!!!Have a wonderful night, you are one of the BEST customers I could hope for.

Rick - I was…one that had crap happen to his care and did not even ask for anything…WAS just an unhappy customer…but again Mr. Novak you have taken it to a whole different level…

Owner - Rick, if there is ANYTHING I can do for u in the future just let me know.

Owner - Have a GREAT summer and I hope your family is WELL!!!!;)))

Rick - THAT should have been your first real response…

Owner - And yours should have been that ‘wow u guys did a great job and my cars look awesome’ and not blame us for things that were done prior to vehicles coming in.

Owner - This is NOT my first rodeo and I have seen everything. Sometimes u need to step back and say “hey maybe my wife hooked the front plate on a curb and pulled frame off’ and maybe “the part in the glove box was UNDER the seat and my people put in glovebox so u would have” but ignorance sometimes overrides prudence and I understand this. But please no more….

Rick - LITH police have been contacted…my home town department will be contacted tomorrow…good night.

Owner - Say hi to them for me!!! They know me well! Have a good night and sleep tight!!! I am actually at rib fest with Larry and Kristina (two of the lith officers now)!!! Hehehehehehe
 
Wow, I'm speechless. Do whatever you can to make sure this dude eats his words. Sounds like a major douche.
 
Wow, definitely make sure to post a poor review on google, yelp, etc, make sure it's public knowledge of how they treated you and your vehicles.

And about the deleted text messages, go to the website for your wireless provider. You should be able to view all sent/received texts on the website.
 
WOW what BS. I hate when people feel invincible in an area because they probably clean the police cars for free. If he dosent want people to get "discounted" service, he should have never listed the group-on. What a Douche
 
Wow! That sucks Rick. That guy is a complete ***.....

I would do as others suggested and leave a review on yelp and elsewhere. I would also call Groupon to let them know.

I would keep a record of all correspondences.....he is the kind of guy that may come back for more at a later date.
 
If the guy has a reef tank, we can all break in when he's not there and throw some bubble algae and xenia in his tank muwahahahahahaha
 
ddiomede said:
If the guy has a reef tank, we can all break in when he's not there and throw some bubble algae and xenia in his tank muwahahahahahaha
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thats wicked ;)

on the other hand .. i heard too many bad experiences thru groupon (i had some too) may be you should talk to groupon customer service ?


and walt .. we can cancel the transaction thu credit card company but that might lead to more problems .isnt it ?
 
I have posted to Yelp, sent it to a local newspaper tips email, posted it on my facebook and sent a message to Groupon - who actually credited my account with Groupon Bucks. I actually have an email out to them to NOT do that as then it would play into the owners idea that I was trying to get something for nothing. I TRULY was only letting him know what had happened to my vehicle while in his shop.

I was a bit hesitant at first but thought that since I was only putting out there what he had actually sent me in texts - and he had texted 'Forward to whoever you want' - it was pretty much fair game...

My 27yo told me he would be in jail as he would have told him 'I will be there in 5 minutes'...age and logic entered into my response!
 
tinman said:
thats wicked ;)

on the other hand .. i heard too many bad experiences thru groupon (i had some too) may be you should talk to groupon customer service ?


and walt .. we can cancel the transaction thu credit card company but that might lead to more problems .isnt it ?
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I've had bad experiences with Groupon so I no longer purchase them. These businesses get inundated from Groupon and their service suffers. They get stressed over the new customers and their demands.

I've never had a problem cancelling my transactions through Citibank. I get a refund from Citibank on purchases made using their card if it doesn't meet my standards or their are quality/defect issues. If a retailer doesn't work with me to take care of my needs, I cut them off at the register....and I keep the product.
 
KeishaKornbread said:
I've had bad experiences with Groupon so I no longer purchase them. These businesses get inundated from Groupon and their service suffers. They get stressed over the new customers and their demands.

I've never had a problem cancelling my transactions through Citibank. I get a refund from Citibank on purchases made using their card if it doesn't meet my standards or their are quality/defect issues. If a retailer doesn't work with me to take care of my needs, I cut them off at the register....and I keep the product.
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Yup, and I've heard from several people that own businesses the same thing you just mentioned. They also said that the groupon folks are a pain. My friends mom always gets the groupon "fancy" restaurant deals. She expects to be treated like a queen. Which is completely stupid.

But if you only go in expecting what the groupon offers, nothing wrong with that. But as in Rick's case, there are people who just run their businesses like scumbags which makes you wonder, why would you even agree to offer your services through groupon if you're gonna give people crap service. I've always thought that groupon is a great way to get new customers so you'd want to treat them as well as your best customers. Good business practices and ensuring you get repeat and loyal customers.
 
I'm glad you posted this. My wife and i had taken our car there when we first moved back to the area. We used Groupon too. Nothing bad happened to us, and were looking to do it again for our new car. But after hearing this, i won't ever go there again. I have half a mind to go there and mention this and say he's losing another customer because of it... It's like 2 miles from my house, so that kinda sucks, but there are plenty of other detail shops.
 
I use Groupon as a way to save a few bucks. I only buy groupons for either places I've been to before, or I will research them and check reviews. If the place has bad reviews, then I won't risk it.

It's reviews like this that really help people use groupon properly, it just sucks what happened to your vehicle to get there.
 
Me and my gf use groupon all the time. We even used it to jump out of a plane. I will agree that if u have a groupon service is a little different but now that i know that i just done mention anything until the bill comes. They always get mad but tough sh!t lol.

I use groupon as a way to find new places to do things and eat. Its an awesome program.
 
I am sure that there are those that use the groupon in a way that pisses off businesses. We use it a lot to try places/things we would not ordinarily do - like this instance. We have never had a car detailed! We also make sure that when going to a restaurant that we tip on what the bill would have been without the groupon. As far as groupon pestering businesses...the business chooses to do the offer - correct?
 
after actually reading the first post i had a similiar incident with Muvico in Rosemont with a vallet company. Pretty much reacted the same way that the owner of ur car wash did but without the language. Told me that a bent shifter was "Normal wear and tear". After i picked up my benz from the valet my car no longer went into park cause it had been bent back.

Owner told me, If u try to sue i'll just send u to my lawyer. U wont win anyways...
 
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