Well, January 8th arrives and we receive a phone call around 9 am. It is the installer. He states that he is running late but should be at our house by 10:30-ish. I remind him that I told Paul of the installation company who is contracted by the big box building supply retailer to actually install our door that I have to leave at 2 pm so the installation has to be done by that time.
10:30 comes and goes.
11:00 comes and goes.
11:15 comes and goes.
I call the installer back on his cell phone. He does not answer it.
11:30 comes and goes.
I’m getting very nervous. We were told by both Paul and the installer who called that the installation should take about 2 hours, accounting for any unforseen issues. I have to leave at 2 pm for the airport.
11:45 comes.
I call the building supply company. Why not Paul of the installation company? Well, my contract is with the building supply company, not Paul’s installation company.
I finally am able to speak to someone who told me that the installation is not going to happen to day. Apparently the installers do not already have the door, door frame, etc. with them the night before the installation. Instead, they go to the building supply retailer the morning of the installation to pick up the door, frame, materials and so on. Once there, the installer looked at the door and the measurements and proceeded to tell the building supply company that there was an incorrect threshold part with the door. He indicated that the door could not be installed without the correct threshold part.
So, the installer we are told left the building supply retailer for another job. He didn’t call us to advise us. That’s unfortunate, and a little disrespectful we think.
And, apparently, the building supply retailer’s person in charge of installation services felt he had to take lunch before calling us to let us know. Oh well.
So, no new door today, January 8th. Yet another delay.
New installation date (after having to contact Paul, again)? January 16th. 
Three and a half months from the date of the order; 4 months from the date of the door measurements order.
You see, here is the problem. The building supply retailer only wanted to deal with one single installation company. If they had a backup installation company we likely not have been in the long wait time for our door.
But, we found out we were lied to. What lie? Well, the installer is not an employee of the installation company where Paul works. The actual installer is an independent contractor. So what we have is a situation where we contract with the building supply retailer who contracts with an installation company who contracts with independent contractors.
Geesh.
To continue with the next article in this series, simply select this link to Part 7 - The Installation Occurs.
2 responses so far ↓
1 dkenny // Mar 17, 2008 at 11:53 am
not to mention that most doors come assembled..the threshold, sidelight and brick mold are already in place when the door is made.
the extra charge for installing the sides should be in question.
so far a good story. cannot to read the ending.
2 Dan // Mar 17, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Hey dkenny,
I hope it has an ending. And, I guess ’story’ means fiction. This is not fiction. This actually happened, and is still happening to us as it’s not over yet.
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