Random Thoughts of Jorriss

Right now I don't have any power. I've put the DSL on the battery backup and I don't know how much I've got. We're watching the hurricane on CBS4 over the net now. We're located in Palmetto Bay right where the red area is on the satellite map. The ironic thing is that we were supposed to get shutters on Saturday. We also found a roof leak on our nice, new drywall. The wind is whippin' something fierce. Bryan Norcross is predicting another 3-4 hours of this. My parents are fighting water coming in to the house from the doors and windows. We don't have those problems, yet. It's like the Fourth of July with all of the lighting going on. When I woke up this morning I was expecting this storm to head north towards Broward and Palm Beach. Lucky us, we get hit with another one. Like Andrew wasn't enough. If I sound concerned it's because I am! But God got us through Andrew and he'll get us through this.

OK. I'm officially angry. As some of you know my wife and I have embarked on a large home improvement project. During this project we have worked with some excellent people. People who do their job with pride and will not call a project “completed” until we are completely satisfied. I will write about these individuals another day.

Some others have not taken such an approach. One such firm is Ameritex. (I used the nofollow command to prevent them from any Google juice.) They started installing our laminate floor on Thursday and pretty much ignored me all day. I don't like to be ignored. In fact, when they arrived they asked to speak to my wife. I said, “Why do you need to speak to her? I'm the one you need to talk to.” They called her anyways. Friday went uneventful. In fact I helped remove carpet and tack strips. I hate tack strips. They accomplished a lot even though they showed up at 9:30 and took an hour lunch. Not exactly early to bed, early to rise. At the end of Friday they said that they were coming back tomorrow. Work on a Saturday? I enthusiastically said “Sure”. They later called and canceled. Today, I woke up and started clearing out our bedroom of stuff since they were going be installing flooring in there. When I was done I went outside to talk to our painting contractor. That was at 9:20. I waited until 10:30 to call my wife for the installers phone number. She checked her messages and found out that they called her at 9:10 and said that they were outside. They called her again and not me. She was hysterical and crying. “I just want to get this done. I have two appointments tomorrow and I can't be there!” I hate it when people make my pregnant wife cry. HATE. I called the installer and tried to be calm. That didn't last long. He explained that they waited outside for thirty to forty minutes. Un-huh. “If you waited thirty to forty minutes then why were you not outside when I was talking to the painting contractor at 9:20?” I yelled. He replied in a obstinate tone, “Why are you blaming me? You're making it to look like it was my fault. This wasn't my fault this was your fault.” (I improved his English a bit.) I officially lost it about here. “Get over here today. We need this done today or I will hold your check indefinitely!” It's all about the money. “I need to talk to my partners. I'll call you back.” Twenty minutes later he called back, “I'll be there in forty minutes.“

While I waited for their arrival, I called their main headquarters and talked to Dan the District Manager. I explained how I didn't care for their attitude nor of their lack of professionalism. Dan said he would handle this and call me back. Which leads me to now. It's noon and no installers. What ever happened to a fair wage for a fair days of work? These guys haven't worked a fair day since they've been on this project. They haven't worked more than seven hours. I work that and I'd be fired. Ameritex might be a fine company but if your employees don't project that then you're not. Therefore, I cannot recommend Ameritex. Stay far, far away.

Update 8/22/05 1:06 PM: They arrived at 1:00 PM. I smoothed things over so they can get the job done. Will they? We'll see.

Update 8/24/05 10:10 PM: Lucy and I have been cleaning around the house and finding all of the glue they left on the floor. I'm serious, it's everywhere. Not only that but while taking off my closet doors, the same doors that will cost me $200 a door to replace because of their irregular size, they bent the bottom brackets, all of them. It's quite simple to remove the doors. Take a screwdriver and press down on the top latches; they're on springs. But I guess these idiots couldn't figure it out and bent the brackets to remove the doors. Another thing, they drank my Gatorade. But not just any Gatorade, my endurance formula Gatorade. I only use that for my long runs and I had it hidden on the top shelf of the fridge behind the milk. But that didn't stop them from drinking it. Did I also mention that its expensive? About $2.00 for a 20oz bottle. So if anyone suggests that you use Ameritex or AllProFloor.com to install your laminate scream like you've seen Tammy Faye Baker without her makup and run for your life. You'll thank me later.