Complaints

The complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.

• Initial Complaint

  Date:06/01/2023

  Type:Customer Service Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  I hired The Grounds Guys - John Simon in November 14, 2022 to decorate our yard for the holidays, and for some lighted balls which would be hung from our oak trees. I paid a $1200.00 deposit on a $1760.34 quote for the holiday lights to be installed and removed, as well as for six lighted outdoor balls to hang from the oak trees to remain after the holidays. The lighted balls were never installed and I was informed that they were on back order, and some of the holiday decorating did not get completed - two tree bases were supposed to be wrapped with lights but were not. I continued to follow up about the lighted balls and checked again in February, April and May, all to no avail. My last correspondence with John was Saturday January 21st at 11:06 am via text. Now he will not return my texts or emails. I never received the six hanging light balls, and I paid over a 50% deposit to show good faith and my level of commitment. I would like a refund on the material and decorating which was never received or completed. They were great at first, but have now ghosted me - and they came so highly recommended. It is a shame, but I do not appreciate being taken advantage of financially. I even offered to renegotiate our contract since they were having such a hard time locating the lighted balls - which are all over the neighborhood - just not in our yard. At the end of the day you have your name and your word, and John Simon's name should be mud. The way he does business is a disgrace. Thank you in advance for any assistance you may be able to provide. Sincerely, **** ****** ************

  Business Response

  Date: 06/06/2023

  Communication was sent via text to the customer explaining the deposit they were novices for was for the work completed. The lighted balls portion of the invoice and or deposit were never invoiced and were agreed to not be invoiced until after they come in. After receiving sub par quality lighted balls we determined they are not the quality needed to be left up all year long. I explained to customer I do not have a vendor for such lighting and we will not be able to help them out. There was never any money received for the lighted balls of which were being asked for. 

  Customer Answer

  Date: 06/12/2023

  
  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

  they did not decorate two tree bases as listed in the agreement - he verbally mentioned that they were about $200.00 each to wrap each tree, although there is nothing itemized in the quote.  However, I did not catch that until after the decorations were removed - which by the way we had to cut down ourselves b/c they had not gotten there as of January 21st.  While he did explain that they could not initially locate the hanging lighted balls for the trees, they never let me know that they ended their search and that they were not ever coming back.  Very poor communication - in fact it took writing this complaint to even hear back from the company.

  I find it hard to believe that each lighted tree ball would be under $100.00 to also include hanging them in our trees as part of the service written up in the contract - and if you subtract the $1200.00 deposit from the over $1700.00 quote, that would make each ball under $100.00 each.

  Since they did not wrap two tree bases with lights as listed in the quote, I calculate that I am out $400.00 for the two tree bases at  $200.00 each.

  At this juncture, we are going to have to agree to disagree b/c I am not chasing the company for $400.00 when they must need it more - I take it as a lesson learned.

  I do not recommend this company and I am not interested in doing any further business with them.

  Sincerely,
  
  **** ******