Jun 18, 2013 03:29 PM
13906 Views
Globe Kitchen Bangalore has a neat and clean office with people around being nice and courteous. They have decent stuff to show and are even willing to work out a price for you. Cho chweet! Mr. Jacob Thomas can even give you hug! The project completion time - 4-5 weeks. Cannot be negotiated. That's OK - I say.And then you decide to engage them. Mark the date of your calendar. Because you will keep counting the days for the next 3-4 months.
The advance was paid. In my case, the measurement taking took some time and I thought - it happens. But something's got to be done about the measurements - you start putting the structure. You call them and ask, "Sir my carpenter will be there next week". But why not now? Do they not have dedicated people who would do your work? "Sir, they are already busy doing other projects". But why did you take up my project? I am paying money. "Sir, rest assured, we will start next week". Word taken.
Nothing happens till the seventh week, when I loose my cool and storm into the office. The designer - Ashish is summoned over phone - another round of assurance and profound apologies (Malayalis excel in this department). The structure is built - only that the previous measurements were taken wrongly (the platform was not constructed symmetrically, while their measurements assumed the platform to be a perfect rectangle). "You platform is not proper". But that is what you take measurements for - right? "No sir, we have standard sizes". But I thought you 'customer-made' them. "No sir, the platform needs to be redone, or else we will do it at an extra cost". At the end of 2 months, you want things to move faster, so the platform is redone.
"Sir, you owe us money. The structure has been re-laid. We operate strictly on a cash and carry basis. We need to order your shutters and we need money". I am out of station, can you please not discontinue your work considering you have already delayed it so much. " I am so sorry sir, we will have to stall the project till you come back and make further payment."
Not fair - I say. And I make the payment after 3 days. But that did not get them to resume their work. Just why? "Sir the granite guy has not delivered the stuff." I thought that I just had to make the payment, but here I had to play the negotiator, summon the granite guy and arrange for the slabs.
By this time I developed a peculiar hypothesis, that they probably are intentionally delaying it - and they do not have access to the shutters. I call them up and ask - what is your excuse now? " We will put it all together in next week". Nothing happens, " I call up Mr Jamal - owner of Globe Kitchen and burst out. "Sir give me three days, your work will be done". I say else, I will take legal action now. The third month is due to get over.
Then starts the following text messages in broken English - "Sir the shutters total colors are three..The third color will not be available till the 20th of June. So if you can able to wait till that day, I can complete the entire work by coming Friday. Everything else is there, except the third color. I sorry for the inconvenience". I scream, go with two colors, would that expedite the work? "We will complete the entire kitchen by Tuesday - 18th June." That means another delay. I should be compensated for this whole experience. No response to that.
Tuesday morning (today), I ask, - Per your promise, will the kitchen get complete today? The response "All the materials is ready except 6 more shutters. The factory people are sending to me by 4:30 pm. Once reach that also I can clear entire kitchen in a day. Please bare with me"
The ordeal continues. I will serve them a legal notice- because you don't take your paying customers for a ride this way. For those who have had the patience to read this so far - I would not recommend their services. They are liars.
