CALIFORNIA OVERHEAD DOOR AND GATE

My old screw drive garage door opener became intermittently unresponsive on the closing cycle, so I called California Overhead Garage and Door for help. This company had done good work for me during installation of the original opener.
However, ownership has evidently changed and what followed was a completely different experience. Charles McCarthy answered the phone and set up a window for that afternoon. He arrived early within the window and quickly diagnosed the problem with the old equipment. He stated that the Genie model I had was no longer manufactured and that repair parts were no longer available. He recommended replacement. He noted further that the new generation of openers were considerably more expensive than the old and quoted two possibilities from the Liftmaster line, one at $1,000 and the other at $1,500. When I opted for the lesser, he dropped the price of the better (belt drive, wi-fi, motion sensor - the whole thing). Sucker that I am, I accepted.
Charlie installed the equipment in a workmanlike fashion and in a little more that an hour had it completed and calibrated. I ordered an extra remote which he activated and we were good to go.
It was only later that I began to do the homework that usually precedes any work of this kind. It turned out that the retail value of the equipment installed was only $350 and that the extra remote was available for $11 instead of the $85 charged. A survey of the internet revealed the proverbial little old ladies charged similar amounts as I, but that the job was normally done for $450 - $650. Ripped off in a classic fashion.
It?s too bad that a company?s name and reputation live on long after the less scrupulous have taken over. I hope these comments help prevent similar mistakes by others.

Charlie has done work on my garage door before, and I was quite satisfied although some costs had been high. He has replaced the motor/drive mechanism and replaced the main spring. This time, I was shocked to find the bill coming to $690 for re-setting a panel that had fallen off the tracks and install a bracket (this item quoted at $145). Work was done well, I couldn't have done it myself, and the uber-strong bracket will keep the door from misaligning to the track--which is likely part of the original problem. Except for the bracket and $35 replacement wheel, the rest of the bill was about twice what I expected and I let him know. I like Charlie and his work is good.  If I ever have another garage door repair I simply couldn't afford to have him do the work.

Charlie does call back promptly when you leave a message. Appointment time not available until second day. I was given an "afternoon" appointment window, but he didn't arrive until after 5 p.m. so I missed half a day at work for nothing. He returned promptly and without complaint the next afternoon to adjust the door so it sealed to the floor, just in time for the rain.

Garage door would not open. Could not manually lift the door. Called and made appointment for the same day. A tension spring was broken.
Two large tension springs were replaced for $350.
I was disappointed that all aspects of the door operation were not checked after the springs were replaced. The automatic reverse force and closing force should have been checked, but were not checked. They did spray lubricate the hinges and rollers, but did not grease the rail. The door balance was not checked.

The service men showed up on time, and the original estimate for the job was over $700!! I was absolutely shocked. After my wife calmed me down, the serviceman lowered the price to $605.00. I was still quite upset about the price, but having had the door installed by this company, and seeing the excellent reports on Angie's list, I went ahead with the repair. Subsequently, I called 3 other reputable companies in the LA area, and the estimates for this work were between $200 and $300 dollars!! I feel royally ripped off, and am perplexed about the accuracy of the Angie's List reports. Have others had a similar experience? Is there any recourse?

It went great. I was delighted.

I thought they did a wonderful job on my garage door. I actually thought I needed a new one, but they explained that it was a very high quality door worth fixing. This saved me money. They were on time, asked questions and really took the time to talk to me.

The garage door on my condo is old and heavy and prone to problems. California Overhead Door & Gate is the fourth company (!!!) I've paid to get things to work and the first one that actually succeeded. Several years ago they replaced the springs. This time I needed a new door opener. I've learned to ask for Charlie. I trust his expertise and his recommendations. He explains options and costs clearly and has a way with older installations. After a series of problems and negative encounters with others in the trade, I really really appreciate this company.

The installer showed up punctually, the same day I called. He was friendly and professional and completed the job the same afternoon. He even helped me re-program my car remote button to the new code.

Painters had broken something on my garage door openers and it wouldn't close, but California Overhead came out the same day I called and fixed it and tuned up other parts too. They were prompt, efficient, knowledgeable, and polite.

Charlie and assistant showed up at the promised time, meeting our schedule, provided excellent service on both doors. A true professional and a breath of fresh air. He also offered an Angie's List discount price.

Five guys showed up and assured me the problem was with the spring. It took them all of twenty minutes to do the job. They plastered my garage with stickers for their company and I wrote them a check. After three days, my garage door didn't work again. I had to call them for two weeks, and it wasn't until I stopped payment on the check that they came back and tried to fix it. Then they told me it would be ANOTHER $350 to replace the Genie electric motor that's only two years old. I told them to get lost.

What a pleasant surprise. I was referred directly to the man who would do my job. I called him in the afternoon and he arrived the next morning...EARLY!! He was clean and professionally dressed and he accomplished the work in short order. I couldn't have asked for more.

They phoned ahead to confirm their arrival time was later than the original appointment. They sourced the problem to sensors and offered the option of partial or full replacement. They explained equipment and life expectancies. They replaced the equipment in good time and did clean work. They also assisted in programming a in-auto remote.

Prompt response, friendly, professional, highly recommended!

Initial response to set up appointment was prompt. Got to speak to working owner on his cell phone. No free estimate available. They missed first appointment - due to stuck in traffic. 45 minutes late for rescheduled appointment. Able to make repair on first visit. Work and materials seem up to professional trade standards. Overall, I found their service friendly, reliable enough, and fairly priced.

This company was very professional and more importantly honest and accurate in their assessment of the problem. The gentleman suggested that the building change its code which we had been using for over 9 years, and serviced the unit by replacing the brake solenoid, vee belt,springs and track rollers etc. Gave it some well needed maintenance. We were charged $325. Previously one other company came out and suggested a new motor etc. for $3,000! It pays to get more than one estimate!

They arrived when they said they would. They explained what was wrong. They provided me with a few options. They performed the work on the spot. I am very pleased with the outcome. Can't really comment on price because I didn't do any comparisons, but it seemed reasonable and the resulting door works better than it did before it broke!

They came gave me an estimate one week, and came back a week later to perform the work. The garage door works great. The new opener is quiet. Additionally they re-balanced our heavy wooden door. It's even, and non jerky as it moves up and down the track. The workers were polite and helpful. Discouraged me from getting a new door as mine was expensive (customized to house on slope of hill) and if repaired would work better than a new one. Also, unlike another company whom I hired for my last house -- they were willing to code my openers and my car's built in opener -- which saved me a lot of time.

Charlie really seemed to know his stuff. The appointment setup was good. I did phone him at the end of the target time slot, and found that he was headed my way. (Better if he had phoned, but no big deal.) He explained why he suggested the springs be replaced. While it was a lot more than I expected to spend, it seemed to make sense, so we proceeded. His prices for the service were better than some others I checked. I don't really know if the springs were well priced or not. But they work very well.

GREAT! THEY WERE ABLE TO COME A DAY AFTER I CALLED AND ARRIVED AT THE HOUSE WITHIN THE GIVEN TIME WINDOW. CHARLIE AND HIS PARTNER WERE FRIENDLY AND PROVIDED ADVICE ABOUT HOW OFTEN SPRINGS NEED TO BE CHANGED OUT SO WE CAN SERVICE THEM BEFORE THEY BREAK NEXT TIME. THE WORK WAS DONE IMMEDIATELY AND NOW MY GARAGE DOOR WORKS AGAIN.

IT WAS GREAT, I GUESS. I MEAN EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THEY SHOWED UP WHEN THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. THEY GAVE ME THE OPENER, AND IT HAS WORKED FINE SINCE. I DON'T REALLY REMEMBER THE PEOPLE. I WASN'T THERE. I HAD MY DAD COME, AND HE SEEMED TO THINK THEY WERE FINE.

THEY CAME OUT. THEY DID WHAT THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO DO AND THEY DID IT IN A PROMPT MANNER. WE DISCUSSED THE WORK AND WE DECIDED TO USE THE STUFF I ALREADY HAD. THE PRICE WAS OK. I DIDN'T SHOP AROUND. I GOT HIS PHONE NUMBER OUT OF THE PHONEBOOK AND I WAS PLEASED WITH HIS WORK.

I CALLED FOR HELP WHEN MY GARAGE DOOR WOULD NO LONGER CLOSE. IT MADE A TERRIBLE NOISE AND STOPPED WORKING (IT HAD BEEN GETTING STEADILY WORSE FOR SOME TIME). CALIFORNIA OVERHEAD DOOR & GATE ANSWERED THE CALL AND RESOLVED ALL OF THE PROBLEMS. NOW MY GARAGE DOOR WORKS GREAT (BETTER THAN WHEN I MOVED IN), THOUGH THEIR RATES WERE A BIT HIGH.