Business ProfileforSam I Am Pavers LLC

Background:  New Business Partner

Sam I Am Pavers LLC was started by Samy D.  Sam introduced me to Wael H.  at my home in approximately February as his potential new business partner.  Amongst the many other things I have discovered in public records, Sunbiz.org indicates Wael became part of the business on 5/4/2023, subsequent to both of my hardscape projects being signed up with Sam I Am Pavers LLC.  My understanding is that Sam retains decision-making authority on my two projects despite Sam and Wael being partners now. 

Scope Overview

There are two distinct signed scopes of work with associated costs and payment schedules.  Stated simply, we have the backyard shellstone patio and the front yard terrazzo driveway. 

In general, Sam and Wael tend to pool these two separate signed agreements when discussing solutions.  They have both verbalized to me that they are losing money on these projects and their primary focus is not losing money when these projects are pooled together.  I only mention this as it speaks to their likely mindset going into the BBB’s complaint process.   This complaint applies only to the signed agreement for the front yard terrazzo driveway.

Given that my patio furniture and my grill have been in my living room since June, their profitability is understandably not my concern nor can I imagine a scenario where a business would think it prudent to mention this to a customer. 

Backyard shellstone patio and sidewalks

1. This information is provided as reference only for completeness.  The scope of my complaint is limited to the front yard.  

2. Financials:  $25,011 total.  $12,505 paid on 3/1/2023.  Balance is due on completion with terms of Net 30. 

3. Summary: Work started in early June and remains incomplete. There are numerous issues with the workmanship on this project that I do not believe Sam I Am Pavers has the skillset or tools to resolve.  I gave them a very reasonable but firm deadline of Sept 22 to complete the work.  I sent a text message at 5PM on Sept 22 indicating that I consider them to be in breach of contract.  They have not remedied the breach.  Therefore, I have moved on with other contractors to clean up their poor workmanship.  No further payment will be made and I consider this matter to be closed. 

4. Details

a. The below details are included because Sam continues to assert that I “keep making changes,” which is categorically untrue.  Sam conflates corrections for poor workmanship and corrections for not following our written agreement with changes in scope. 

b. Prior to work beginning, I requested two pads, 55” wide minimum, to be added adjacent to the sidewalk.  Sam indicated this change would be no trouble and could be included in the existing scope of work.  This is the only change vs the signed scope of work that I have requested for the duration of the project. 

Front yard terrazzo driveway and sidewalks

1. This is the scope of work to which this complaint applies. 

2. Financials:  $19,800 total, $11,500 paid on 1/26/2023.  Balance becomes payable on completion with terms of Net 30.

3. Summary and preferred resolution:  The material delivered for this project on April 27, 2023, is not of like kind and quality to what was ordered.  Sam and Wael have both acknowledged the delivered material does not match the sample I have.  Sam’s vendor refuses to accept responsibility.  I want a refund of the $11,500 I have paid and terminate the front yard project. 

4. Details

a. I’m detailing the below sequence of events because Sam continues to assert that I unilaterally found this new supplier myself and purchased the pavers for this project.   This is categorically untrue.

b. Material was selected in the showroom of Sam I Am Pavers

 i. Prior to signing the agreement and initial payment on 1/26/23, material supplier was selected based on samples available in the showroom of Sam I Am Pavers LLC.  Sam was very excited about this selection as it was a new supplier for his business.  He indicated he wanted to use my home as a gateway to selling this high-end, uncommon terrazzo paver material to his clients in the Sarasota area.  I was excited because someone had finally shown me a paver with a smooth finish and no grooves where dirt could accumulate. 

c. Final color selection was made with vendor’s salesperson at my home.

i. Sam put me in contact with the supplier’s salesperson, Lori.  She visited my home and brought additional samples in different colors of like kind and quality to what was available in the Sam I Am showroom.  I selected a color, verbally confirmed with Lori that the only difference between the samples provided and what would be delivered was (a) there would be standard paver lugs on the edges and (b) the pavers would be thicker for driveway use. 

ii. I retained the original sample for comparison to the delivery.  The sample has a high-quality machined surface with a machined chamfered edge.  The smooth surface has Carrera marble exposed aggregate and looks as one would expect for a material described as “terrazzo”.  The sample quality is similar to a quartz countertop in a kitchen or bathroom. 

d. In approximately February, Sam placed the order and paid the vendor. 

e. In late April, the pavers were ready for delivery.  I indicated it was imperative that I be present when the pavers were delivered in case something was wrong so I could refuse delivery.  I communicated repeatedly with Sam on when the delivery would happen.  Sam scheduled the delivery during a small window when I simply could not be home, but Sam agreed to be present to personally inspect the delivery.  He assured me he would take care of it and not to worry.  Sam accepted delivery of over $14,000 in pavers from a new vendor sight-unseen.  When I arrived home, I found ten pallets of incredibly poor-quality pavers that in no way matched the quality of the sample I had.  The ten pallets of material, for which Sam was not present to accept delivery as promised, consisted of sub-standard formed concrete pavers with an uneven, rough surface and rough edges and in no way represented a material worth $11.50/sq ft. 

f. Sam has repeatedly said he is going to seek legal remedy against the manufacturer of these pavers.  I can find no evidence in public records that anything has been filed. 

g. Sam offered to “take 20% off” which I agreed to consider,  provided they were able to rework the delivered pavers to be of like kind and quality to the original sample.  After consulting with multiple vendors, Wael and Sam have both agreed that reworking these pavers is not possible.  Regardless, Sam chose to “forget” the rework part of our discussion, later presenting me with an updated invoice showing the “20% off”.  The 20% off turned out to be 20% off the remaining balance, which was less than $2000, a laughable amount considering the difference in quality on a $11.50/sq ft paver.

h. I will not accept these pavers for use in my front yard project and want a refund so we can go our separate ways.  If Sam would have scheduled the delivery any other time during that week or fulfilled his commitment to meet the delivery, we would not be in this situation as I would have refused delivery.