DOWNES TREE SERVICE

"Dear Member, Thank you very much for giving us your positive feedback on the work we did for you earlier this month. I have let our arborist Tom Youmans and the crew know that you are happy with our service and that you nominated us for a “Page of Happiness”. We appreciate it! As you and I have discussed on the phone, please give us a call this fall to set up a free estimate for more tree work on your property. Also, the fall is a great time to have Downes do deep-root fertilizations (which supply much needed micronutrients such as magnesium and phosphorus to your landscaped material), horticultural oil applications to smother insect egg sacs, and wilt-proof sprays to prevent winter desiccation. We look forward to working for you again. Thank you for choosing Downes as your tree care company. Sincerely, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service, Inc."

"Dear Member, We really appreciate the positive review of the tree work we did for you last month. Aside from the compliment about the professionalism and quality of our crew, I believe your review is valuable because it shows to others the variety of services we offer (crown cleaning, crown reduction, ivy vine removal, stump grinding, pruning), all done at a reasonable price. Downes is fortunate to have very knowledgeable salespeople with many years of experience in the tree business. Tom Youmans, whom you worked with, is a NJ Certified Tree Expert and an ISA Certified Arborist. I would imagine that if you had discussed “topping” the trees, he would have told you that topping is no longer an approved arboriculture practice and in most instances kills the tree. It is amazing that there are still tree companies recommending this practice! Providing excellent customer service is always our goal and I am happy to hear we achieved it here with you. Please reach out to us if there is anything else we can do for your trees or shrubs, or if you need topsoil or mulch. Best regards, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service, Inc."

"Dear Member, Thank you for giving us your feedback on the tree work that we did for you last year after the Hurricane Irene. We appreciate the fact that you would hire us again. Please contact us if you need a free estimate for more tree work, or plant health care (insect control or feeding of your trees and shrubs). Sincerely, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service, Inc."

"Dear Member, Thank you very much for your review of the tree work we did for you in June. We appreciate the fact that you chose Downes to remove the large oak and the smaller trees and to crown clean and raise other trees as needed. Downes is fortunate to have very good tree crews who have been with the company a long time. The benefits of this are that the crews work together safely and productively and the years of training and knowledge of best tree care practices show in the results. Please reach out to us if you have any other tree care or plant health care needs. Sincerely, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service, Inc."

"Dear Member, Thank you for giving us this report on the tree work we did for you in June. Angie’s List customers are great because they let us know if we’re on the right track. We really appreciate Angie’s customers and this forum with its feedback loop. You mentioned that our salesman Mike is great to work with; thank you for that recognition. Mike has many years of industry experience and a huge amount of knowledge in tree and plant health care. Also internally to the company we rely on his knowledge and passion for trees and shrubs. If you need more tree work or plant health care (feeding of your trees and shrubs, fungus or insect control on your shrubs, or tick treatments), please call us for a free estimate. Sincerely, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service, Inc."

"Dear Member, I am very sorry for your bad experience in dealing with our company. As you most likely have seen here on Angie’s List, generally speaking our customers are very happy with the professionalism, price and service of Downes Tree Service. Although the fact that we do it right most of the time cannot explain away the salesman’s attitude, it does show that your experience was out of the norm. Our records show that you requested a “leave estimate” where the salesman goes to the house without a fixed appointment and leaves the estimate in the mailbox. A homeowner requests a “leave estimate” when they anticipate not being at home to show what they want done. So, the salesman was not expecting to see you. In terms of the tree work and Scott’s unwillingness to quote you for dead limb removal: Scott has been in the tree business for many years and he knows when a tree should be completely taken down for safety and/or cost reasons. His primary concern in this case was for safety; removing the dead limbs would not have sufficiently reduced the hazard posed by the tree and as a treecare professional in a company very concerned with safety, Scott made the right call I’m sure. Downes strives to always provide excellent customer service but sometimes there are communication issues and personality issues that crop up. Again I apologize for the manner in which you were treated. I do believe however that Scott’s recommendation to remove the tree is the correct one. Please call me at 973-238-9800 Ext 112 if you would like to discuss this further. Sincerely, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service"

"Dear Member, We sincerely apologize for the poor service we have given you. Making you a satisfied customer and completing the tree work you contracted us for ARE important to us, but unfortunately we did not execute as we normally do. We initially did not get to the bulk of your tree work for two reasons: the ground did not freeze sufficiently this past winter and we had difficulty in getting crane access from your neighbor’s yard. I would like to clarify though that we did do some of your tree work on December 15 of last year (top and shape the hemlock hedge and the southern magnolia, and cut back the cedar and euonymus). As you referred to in your letter, Hurricane Irene and the October snowstorm caused major difficulties in our operation due to the sheer volume of emergency work they created. We have been making improvements in the way we handle the paperwork to make sure we don’t repeat the mistakes we made with you. Although there are some valid reasons for our delay, at the very least we should have kept in touch with you and communicated our situation. Needless to say, we will not be billing you for the work done in December. Please accept our apologies for your frustration. I can be reached at 973-238-9800 Ext. 112 if you would like to talk about this further. Sincerely, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service"

"Dear Member, Thank you very much for giving us your feedback on the work we did for you. I will let the salesman and crew know that you are happy with the service and the results of the tree work. You noted in your comments that your tree was in the power wires and we cleared the branches. I would like to point out that every year Downes coordinates a week-long seminar in line clearance and electrical hazard training for its own employees and tree care workers from area municipalities and tree companies. We recognize the importance of educating the men in the field how to deal with the hazards of the job. Again, we appreciate your taking the time to give us your report. If there’s anything else we can do for you, please do not hesitate to call. Sincerely, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service, Inc."

"Dear Member: Thank you very much for your feedback regarding the tree work we did at your house. Downes Tree Service is fortunate to have high quality, experienced crews who do great work. I will let the crew know that you are highly satisfied. Thank you for choosing Downes Tree Service as your tree care provider. Please call us if you need any other tree work or fertilization or spraying of your trees and shrubs. We also produce our own hardwood mulch and screened topsoil. If you need either of these products delivered to your house, please give us a call! Sincerely, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service, Inc."

"Dear Member: We appreciate your positive feedback regarding our service. The Downes crews work very hard to always do the right thing for the customer. Our priority is to please you while working safely and efficiently. Thank you for choosing Downes Tree Service as your tree care provider. Please call us if you need any other tree work or fertilization or spraying of your trees and shrubs. Sincerely, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service, Inc."

"Dear Member, Thank you very much for your feedback regarding the quality work we did for you in Mahwah. Our crews always appreciate hearing how the customers are happy with the work they did, and it also is a great opportunity for them to be recognized. Downes Tree Service always makes sure that our crews have good, safe, clean equipment. However our biggest asset is the people who do the work – experienced tree care workers who care about your property and leave it looking great. Please reach out to us again if you need any other pruning or tree removals, or fertilization for your trees and shrubs. Best regards, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service, Inc."

"Dear Member, Thank you so much for giving us this review. It helps us a real lot to get these reports so that we can recognize the crew that did the good work and we can know if we’re doing things correctly. Our goal here at Downes is to take care of you so well that we would be the only tree company you would want to use and the one you would recommend to your friends. Thank you for choosing Downes Tree Service as your tree care provider. Please call us if you need any other tree work or fertilization or spraying of your trees and shrubs. Best regards, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service, Inc."

"Dear Member, Thank you very much for your feedback regarding the high quality tree work we performed on your property. I will let the crew know that you were very pleased with the work and the attention they paid to avoiding damage to your lawn and flower beds. Here at Downes we always emphasize to our crews that they work safely and efficiently while doing the work that the customer requests. Also, the work site has to be cleaned up well afterwards. We also produce our own hardwood mulch and high-quality topsoil. If you need either of these products delivered to your house, please give us a call! Sincerely, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service, Inc."

"Dear Member, Thank you very much for giving us your feedback on our performance. We are glad to hear that you are pleased with the quality of our work and the timeliness of our response. Downes' crews have been working very hard to get through the backlog of work that was caused by the late October snowstorm, but we always make sure that we work safely and clean up the property well. Please reach out to us if you would like a free estimate for any other tree work or plant health care (shrub and ornamental tree maintenance) needs. For example, an early spring fertilization of your flowering shrubs will help them to put on a better show, while a spring horticultural oil treatment will work to suppress damaging insect populations in your garden. Sincerely, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service"

"Dear Member: Do you remember that you and I spoke around November 3? I called to inform you that your tree work would be delayed by up to four weeks. You responded that you would let us know if you wanted us to remove the tree. Apparently your method of notification is via an Angie’s List report with inconsistencies (“Not even a phone call (from Downes)” and a bad grade. We would have appreciated a quick phone call on your part. Other customers who wanted to cancel previously approved tree work were considerate enough to call. Our arborist Tom Youmans has also informed me that he called you at least once to schedule your tree work, but that you postponed it because you wanted to be home. Unfortunately you neglected to mention this in your letter. Most of our residential tree work is done when the homeowner is not there; their absence does not preclude us from doing exactly what was quoted and approved. I understand your frustration regarding the tree work that you had asked Downes Tree Service to do. Although you may not like the explanation for the delay, there is no avoiding the fact that the Halloween snowstorm caused an almost unprecedented amount of dangerous tree situations that had to be taken care of on a priority basis. For example, blocked roadways, dangerous limbs near schools, apartment buildings, and other areas of heavy use were prioritized over normal residential work where there was no immediate threat to life and limb. In fact, the Governor explained in the aftermath of the storm that clean-up resources were first going to be sent to heavily used and frequently traveled sites. I am always available to discuss customer concerns. It is too bad that we weren’t able to make you a pleased customer. However, an earlier phone call from you to me after my November 3 call, where I could have told you that we were still facing a longer-than-normal delay, would have saved you a bit of frustration. Please call me at 973-238-9800 Ext. 112 if you would like to talk about this some more. Sincerely, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service"

"Dear Member, Thank you for giving us your feedback on the work we did at your property. I am glad to hear that you found our crew to be very professional and that our performance was very good in every respect. We work very hard to maintain high service levels and be one of the best tree companies in this area. Tree work is not normally done in the rain because it is extremely difficult to work safely and do quality tree work in bad weather. We look forward to working with you again when you have additional tree work needs. Sincerely, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service"

"Dear Member, We really appreciate getting your feedback, and we're glad when our crews' quality work gets recognized. Downes is lucky to have excellent foremen and crew members who have a lot of experience and know how to do the job right. Please remember that Downes also offers plant health care services, for example now is a perfect time to apply a fall fertilizer to your flowering trees and shrubs to increase springtime color. Also, if you have any broadleaf evergreens (such as rhododendrons, azaleas, boxwoods, laurels) we can apply an anti-desiccant so that the plants can make it through the winter without getting dried out by the wind, and will start next year less stressed than untreated plants. Please call us again whenever you need a free estimate for any tree work or tree and shrub care. Best regards, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service"

"Dear Member, First please allow me to apologize for the fact that our arborist did not make it to your property to leave you an estimate for the removal of the pin oak at the end of your driveway. As you can see from the other customer reviews here on Angie’s List, we try our best to be very conscientious and responsive to our customers’ needs and requests. What happened in your situation is that the arborist was called away to supervise emergency work where a tree had fallen through a customer’s house, which prevented him from completing his scheduled estimates. Unfortunately he neglected to instruct the office staff to reschedule his missed estimates, which is why you never got an estimate in your mailbox. In our computerized scheduling system we can track the times when customers called. You called on September 20 and the appointment was set for September 22. According to the date of your report on Angie’s List (September 30), you waited 8 days. However there is no record that you called the office after the 22nd asking where our estimate was. The tone of your report suggests that you really wanted to see an estimate from Downes; it is too bad that you didn’t give us the courtesy of a quick follow-up call so that we could have caught our mistake before realizing it by way of this unpleasant report. Again, I do apologize for not getting you the estimate at the promised time. In order to prevent problems like you’ve encountered, I’ve set up a process so that I make sure each week that all estimates have been completed. Please feel free to reach out to me at 973-238-9800 ext. 112 so that we could discuss this in person. Sincerely, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service"

"Dear member, Thank you very much for giving us your feedback. We certainly value your comments and are glad to hear that you are very satisfied with our work and that we have helped to make your landscape look its best. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need any other tree work done, or if you need deer repellent, tick sprays, or fertilization treatments for your ornamental trees and shrubs. The fall is also an excellent time to apply horticultural oil (which helps to limit spring insect infestations) and anti-desiccant for your broad-leaf evergreens such as boxwoods, rhododendrons, laurels, and arborvitaes. The anti-desiccant prevents these plants from losing too much water from harsh winter winds, allowing them to resume their spring growth cycle in much better shape. Best regards, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service"

"Dear Member, Thank you very much for giving us your feedback on our performance. It is always a pleasure doing work for an Angie's List member and then getting the follow-up report, so we can gauge how we are doing for a valued part of our customer base. It is a shame that many large ash trees in our area are in decline, and the situation will become worse unfortunately as the Emerald Ash Borer makes its way to New Jersey. There are treatments that can help to stave off this decline. However, when the time comes to remove a tree, Downes has the equipment (cranes, bucket trucks, etc) to take care of the work, as you mentioned in your report. We hope to continue working with you to take care of any other issues you may have. Please bear in mind that some tree issues can be handled with Plant Health Care (PHC) - for example, by injecting insecticides into the tree to decrease defoliation and related tree stress. Our certified tree experts can guide you in these matters. Thank you again for choosing Downes to handle your tree work. We look forward to working for you again. Sincerely, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service"

"Dear member, Thank you for your positive feedback. We hope that you choose us to take care of your tree work. Sincerely, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service"

"Dear Member, Thank you very much for your feedback regarding the quality of our tree work. It is very important for us to know how we are doing for our customers. Our crews always strive to do the best, cleanest work in the safest way possible. Please contact us again whenever you would like a free estimate for tree work, lawn care, or plant maintenance programs. Sincerely, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service"

"Dear member, Thank you for trusting Downes Tree Service to do your tree work and taking the time to give us your feedback. We value our customers' feedback since it helps keep us focused on achieving our goal of providing excellent service and value. In addition to tree trimming and removal, Downes also offers mulch and topsoil delivery, tree and shrub maintenance (spraying against damaging insects and fungi) and lawn care applications. Please reach out to us if you are interested in any of these services. Sincerely, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service"

"Dear member, Thank you very much for your feedback. We work hard to do high-quality tree work at competitive prices and are pleased to hear that you are satisfied with the work we did for you. Please contact us again for any other tree work or tree and shrub spray programs that you may need. Sincerely, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service"

"Dear member, Thank you very much for your feedback. Please reach out to us again whenever you would like a free estimate for tree work. Sincerely, Pieter Slump Downes Tree Service"