Doors of Distinction

"Thank you for taking the time to comment on your experience with Doors of Distinction. Working in your home in downtown Des Moines was a new challange. I appreciate the efforts you made in arranging parking for the cargo trailer and truck."

"(removed member name), thanks for the shining review. I appreciate that you expressed the essence of what I try to achieve in every home that I work in."

"(removed member name), I appreciate your confidence in my abilities. Thanks for taking a moment to express your satisfaction of the work I have done for you over the years. I am still keeping an eye open in hopes of locating that weatherstripping for your patio door. Jim"

"(removed member name), thanks for taking the time to rate your experience with Doors of Distinction. It was great working for you again. I rely on return business and good word of mouth advertising to keep me going and your kind words here really make a difference to me. Jim"

"SEVERAL DAYS AFTER OUR AGREEMENT WAS SIGNED THE CUSTOMER CALLED TO SAY THEY HAD FOUND A RETRACTABLE SCREEN DOOR BY THE SAME MANUFACTURER AT ONE OF THE BOX STORES. THEY WANTED TO CHANGE THEIR DOOR TO THAT DOOR. I MADE A SPECIAL TRIP TO THE STORE TO INVESTIGATE THE DOOR. YES, I COULD SEE IT WAS A BETTER MODEL AND PROCEEDED TO SEE IF MY DISTRIBUTOR COULD OBTAIN IT FOR ME. YES, ALTHOUGH IT WAS BRAND NEW TO THE MARKET, THEY COULD. BY NOW THE ORIGINAL DOOR HAD ARRIVED. AFTER PAYING A RESTOCKING FEE WE WERE ALLOWED TO CHANGE THE ORDER. NOW I'M WORKING WITH A PRODUCT I HAVE NEVER INSTALLED BEFORE. I PUT A 2 YEAR WARRANTY ON MY INSTALLATION SO I AM GOING TO PROCEED CAUTIOUSLY SO I MAKE NO MISTAKES. THE DOOR WENT IN AS EXPECTED AND LOOKS AND WORKS GREAT. THE CAULK HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DOOR. WE HAD TO INSTALL NEW BRICKMOLD WHICH WAS STRAIGHT SO THE RETRACTABLE SCREEN WOULD INSTALL PROPERLY. SHE ASKED ME TO CAULK AREAS WHICH DO NOT NORMALLY RECEIVE IT. SINCE I DIDN'T HAVE CAULK ON HAND TO MEET THE REQUEST, SHE PROVIDED IT. I PULL A 16' CARGO TRAILER LOADED WITH TOOLS. I'M VERY ORGANIZED. IF I DON'T HAVE THE TOOL I NEED THAN I BUY IT. IF I'M UNPREPARED FOR A JOB IT'S BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER HAS MADE A RUNNING CHANGE OR I AM WORKING WITH AN UNFAMILIAR PRODUCT. THAT IS THE NATURE OF MY BUSINESS AND REMODELING IN GENERAL. I AM ALSO VERY PARTICULAR AND HAVE TO PLEASE MYSELF LONG BEFORE THE CUSTOMER. SOMETIMES I ENCOUNTER A CUSTOMER WHOSE EXPECTATIONS ARE ON A PLANE WHICH IS ABOVE WHERE THE REST OF US FUNCTION. I DO THE BEST THAT I CAN WITH WHAT IS PRESENTED TO ME. I THINK SOME OF HER RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONS ARE DOWNRIGHT SLANDEROUS. NOBODY PAID ME FOR MY TIME GOING TO THE BOX STORE, DANCING WITH MY DISTRIBUTOR, LEARNING A NEW PRODUCT. I'M AS ACCOMMODATING AS I CAN BE ONLY TO BE DINGED HERE AT THIS RATING HOUSE FOR THINGS WHICH ARE BEYOND MY CONTROL. I SPELL OUT ON MY CONTRACT WHAT IS INCLUDED, SO TO ASSUME THAT A DOOR WILL BE HAULED AWAY OR ADDITIONAL WORK WILL BE DONE WITHOUT DISCUSSION IS A MATTER OF UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS."

"THANK YOU FOR THE AWESOME RESPONSE. IT'S REVIVING TO GET THESE NICE REPORTS TO OFFSET OFFENDING FEW."

"I'm really puzzled by the customers tone and his negative comments and I like how the member tries to paint the picture of installer incompetance. I've been installing doors since 1983 and I still get tripped up by changes made by the manufacturer. They will make a running change which I can know nothing about until I open the box, then it becomes "on the job training" while I adapt to the new hardware. I would like to respond to his comments with the following narrative: Double storm doors are difficult to install under the best of circunstances. Now put this double door at the top of 6 steps with no landing and make the door 8' tall and you've got a nightmare. The customer was supposed to have had his deck built by the time I was scheduled to come back and install his door, but he didn't even have it started. That was the first thing that slowed down the job. The next factor was that he would only allow me to work on it when he was home and could have it unlocked (ie; no trust). That factor alone forced me to come back three afternoons in a row. He mentions that he had to "loan" me drill bits. Yes, I broke the last bit in the size I needed and when I informed the member that I needed to run to the supplier, he offered to let me use his drill index. Lesson learned: never,ever take up customers offer to use their items offered. It will tarnish your reputation if you do. The member's final comment was that I was too chatty and he didn't need a new friend. I try to be a courteous guest in my customers homes. If they feel the need to tell me about their red kitchen cabinets from IKEA, I'll ask questions and show interest. Again, I didn't realize being friendly would hurt my reputation. So, in summary, the extended time it took to complete the install were directly related to conditions put upon me by the customer (no deck to work off of as promised, not allowed to work a full day because of his work schedule and lack of trust). I did the best job possible within the restrictions given to me."