Now for the fun part. The Traemand installation was a nightmare from the get-go. According to them, it was supposed to be a two-day job for two people per day. The first day, Tuesday, only one guy showed up, the same guy who measured my kitchen. He managed to assemble all of the cabinets but had to stop there, obviously it would have been awfully difficult to hang cabinets by himself. That afternoon I called the office and expressed my concern that the installation would not be finished in the time they said it would be, a woman there assured me they would be sending FOUR people out on Wednesday to finish the job. I reiterated that it was very important that they finish because I had a handyman coming out on Thursday to reconnect the plumbing and the range so I could go out of town on Friday. Surprise, surprise, on Wednesday morning only two guys showed up to finish the job. They assured me they would easily be able to finish the job. Unfortunately, one of the guys was not as much interested in working as he was in flirting with me about anything and everything he could possibly think of. This is a guy who drove up in a hoopdie with handcuffs hanging from the rearview mirror.
At some point I went in to check on their progress and I happened to notice that they had not left enough room for the refrigerator. As a result, they had to remove and reinstall an entire wall of cabinets. In addition, they put several gouges in my new tile floor, 
badly scraped a corner down to the sheetrock, 
and installed an entire bank of cabinets and countertop that was actually too deep. 
There were a few issues that came up do to errors in either the design or measure process that the installers did not bother to consult with me about. 
By they time they left at 7:00 pm I was seriously starting to feel unsafe in my own home and I just wanted them OUT! Over the next couple of days I spoke with the owner of the company was was willing to make some corrections but he did say that scraped walls were just par for the course and that the grout must have "bubbled after the installation." He sent two installers back the following Monday to correct the installation errors and they were very helpful.Now back to IKEA. Remember those two door that were "out of stock" back in August? Well guess what? They are STILL OUT OF STOCK. I just called the store and when the associate told me that I had to try very hard not to lose it. He gave me the 800 number to "IKEA Direct" and the associate there told me that those two doors will not be in stock any earlier than the fifth week of next year. Let me also add that I have been waiting to put on the door handles and drawer pulls until the doors to come in because the Traemand guys offered to throw that in with the door installation, it's not included but maybe they felt like they owed me one. So for over three months I have had to find creative ways to open my flush cabinets and drawers. If they came pre-drilled I would have put the stupid things on myself. However, I am not willing to risk ruining $120 doors.
I find all of this to be ridulous, unprofessional and unacceptable and I hope you will let my experience be your cautionary tale.
13 comments:
Ikea is evil.
cab we see the finish result?
what did you originally hire them to do? Just the cabinets? Your floors, countertops, etc was already done?
I had a similar experience with them recently. I think I ended up talking to almost everyone in the company, even one guy who claimed to be "one of the owners". They ended up giving me a full refund after they ruined my kitchen and I had to pay another company to finish the job after Traemand proved their inability finish it correctly. Save your money and hire a handyman you trust. Their "custom made cabinets" are a joke. Don't fall for it.
Was one of the guys named Joe Runkle?
Stay away from Traemand.
I had (4) appointments - one, with a phone call after start time saying sorry they ran behind and can't make it (presumably they knew that at least an hour sooner & it would have been courteous to release me from waiting). It was a highly inconvenient waste of time, but it was ok with me because "life happens".
A second appointment was made for the following week - the woman called, 1&1/2 hours after start time to say she was stuck in traffic - 2 hours away (again: courtesy?). I quickly re-arranged my appointments (after hanging around waiting). The woman showed up at the wrong residence 1/2 hour away. But she hustled over and met me. I normally would keep this to myself, but since she & her boss have simply dropped off the face of the texting world (after multiple texts back and forth), I will share that she admitted she'd never done this before. Which was obvious to me the moment she stormed into my home and couldn't use a tape measure. She promised to send her boss, the "pro" - and he & I booked for Sunday. Not only did he stand me up, never showing, he never even followed up. That was a Sunday, so obviously no customer service available. Aliyah Graham of Traemand followed up promptly Monday & effectively booked another appointment for me on Tuesday. The young man that showed up spent 3.5 hours wandering around with a tape measure- making a lot of errors, and saying things in sentences that made zero sense. He did have a couple of good ideas. He was courteous and clean. Then he failed to save his work and spent another hour re-creating the kitchen. My time wasted again.
I showed his floor plan to my Contractor who burst out laughing. It looked like a child put some blocks together.
Here is the only thing Traemand has accomplished: They billed my credit card promptly.
Aliyah followed up with me and when I returned her call, her voicemail box was full.
I write this as I hold for an IKEA rep (yes, I have a "case" number) (please I cannot take their hold music anymore - I think I've been on hold with IKEA this month for a total of 3+ hours.). The man who just answered after 25 minutes tells me that they get no complaints about Traemand. I am on hold again while he calls the Hicksville, NY kitchen pro, Florence, (whom I met and is very knowledgable and intelligent).
And why did I meet Florence? Because after being on hold with IKEA a few days in a row for 1/2 hour at a time, hoping to make an appointment with a kitchen specialist (traemand), I was told I have to drive (an hour) to IKEA to - yes - make an appointment for someone to come to me (an hour away). Why isn't that info prominent on their website?! I could've been there and back again days before if I only knew. And why not take an appointment via phone or email?!
I figure that IKEA has wasted approx. 18 hours of my life (can I bill them?).
Because I need a kitchen - because the old one is actually gutted, because we were "organized", I am moving on to Home Depot. Already, the knowledge and professionalism is incredible. The kitchen expert knows exactly what dimensions he needs, etc.
BUT - I actually like the IKEA kitchen, and the price is excellent. I can't quite afford the Home Depot option. However, I do need a kitchen. So I have decisions to make.
Update: I'm still on hold - 40 minutes. Feeling hopeless. Wondering if IKEA is actually trying to discourage people from using their business. I will update this saga when I hear back from Florence.
STAY AWAY FROM TRAEMAND. AVOID AVOID AVOID.
We paid thousands of dollars to this ikea-recommended company to install a new kitchen, including lighting. During hours of conversation, they never mentioned the quote would not include the installation of lighting. We were clear we wanted the lighting to be installed but they added a line to the conract to cover their scheme that we were not sure. How can we be not sure, if our design and order sheet includes the lights that means we want the lights! Also if there is an installation estimate attached to the very same order, it is not unusual to assume that is the price for that order. Adding a line in the description of a 26 page order that says installation of the lights not included may fool and deceive many of your clients time after time doesn't make you right! Our intention was pretty clear, but they tricked us dishonestly. On the day of installation, the installers asked for extra $500 and told us we should have known! Shane from Traemand replied it was our job to read the contract and know this! I belive when you hire people to do their job, it's their responsibility to explain things clearly and not hide it after the fact in paperwork. Btw, the contract didn't include any pricing, their disclaimer was hidden in plain site on the invoice, along the regular line items with NO distinct way with $0.00 rate! Please hire installers who are honest and professional. You are paying a ton of money for their experience and guidance, not to be deceived. They proved themselves to be no better than anyone you would hire, it made everything a major headache. They have no respect, and once they get the money, you have no value to them! So the only thing we can do is to warn others not to fall to the same trap and let them run a scheme to make extra money out of money, once they already agreed to a "discussed" total.
Traemand and their subcontractors are all thugs.
While I have heard and believe every account of bad experiences with IKEA and Traemand, encompassing statements like "they are all thugs" is a rude and completely untrue statement. Most of the people that you would meet in person that represent Traemand are sub contracted companies or individuals called "expert referral partners" and have a contract with Traemand with very specific guidelines about what they can and can't do and say with regard to the IKEA products and services. Surely some of these companies are way sub par, but many of them are very talented, hard working craftsmen with extensive knowledge that go above and beyond to be courteous and helpful to customers. Not thugs! Everyone who works for Traemand is background checked and drug tested, I mean they are in peoples homes! Furthermore, it IS your responsibility to read a contract before you sign it! There are many many many details that go along with a project and if you forget to ask or the associate forgets to mention, it's not a crime, it's an oversight and... it's probably in that contract, read it and call and ask before you sign it. Prepare yourself before your appointment with questions and notes that are written down so you don't miss or forget anything. Ask your planner if they work for Traemand or another company, if they work for someone else then check that company's reviews out! Ask who your installers are, same deal! Yes bad service does happen, yes people make mistakes, no you shouldn't have to pay for it if you did your part in due diligence, and by the same token... to throw an entire group of people (Traemand and IKEA) under the bus for a few people's mistakes is foolish. You could be missing out on the best priced kitchen and the best remodeling experience possible. There are lots of great success stories out there, too. Just sayin'...
I am going through the exact same thing with IKEA, Traemand and the local kitchen contractor that they referred me to but I am not dropping it. I will pursue this for as long as it takes. Traemand referred me to IKEA's other local contractor because I was so upset with the first one, the first one said they would refund the amount that it would cost to finish the kitchen. It took one month to get the estimate from the second people, now the first contractor is saying no they won't pay for it and Traemand appears to be backing them up.
Traemand's kitchen planner assured me that they can remove my cabinets and haul it away for added fee. I agreed, trusted and depended on that. On the scheduled installation day,l was told that they won't do the demolition. I lost 3 days of work due to their mistake. This is breach of contract and must be remedied based on the losses suffered.
Re-posting my review here until my kitchen gets completed (waiting from May 9th).
Jason Eldredge, the owner, and his team, did not complete my kitchen installation and is threatening me with dragging on the project if I continue posting on social media. Missing drawers (now waiting on IKEA, originally waiting more than two weeks on Jason's team to show up). Drawers installed at a 90deg angle, not opening. Dishwasher door need to be reassembled. Drawers not aligned.
Avoid Treamand, and Eldredge Woodworks. I generally am fine with Ikea.
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