HDS Stoneworks

On 7/14, the day prior to installation, I called and asked for a courtesy call so I could secure my cats. I was told by Judy and the salesperson, Cindy Smith, they would try but they would not guarantee a courtesy call. I then called the fabrication shop and asked the foreman Mike if he could give me a courtesy call. He told me that would be no problem. I received a courtesy call on the morning of 7/15 from the installers. There were three installers but only one could speak English. We went over the job and found the granite backsplash at the kitchen sink was over one foot short. I called and talked to Harry Smith, the owner who measured the job, to report the problem. He tried to blame me for the error. However, he measured the job and finally agreed to recut and install a new backsplash by Saturday, 7/17. I received a call from the Mike the shop foreman on 7/15 and was told they would install the correct backsplash on 7/17 between 10 AM and 2 PM. However, two installers arrived at 2:30 PM and did not give me a courtesy call. Upon arrival they lost the screw to my outlet cover. While trying to help one of the installers find the screw the other propped open my front door without asking me. Since they had arrived late without a courtesy call I had not had an opportunity to secure my cats. While I was looking for my cats they were trying to install the backsplash, which would not fit the space correctly. They did not reinstall my oven as required. I finally located both cats but by this time I was so upset I told them to leave. I had to call a friend to help me reinstall my oven so I could use my kitchen. On or about Wednesday, 7/21, the salesperson, Cindy Smith called me to ask if I was satisfied with the countertops. I told the previously mentioned story and she told me she would call me right back. She did not call me back but had the shop foreman, Mike, call me. We set an appointment for 10 AM on Saturday, 7/24 and he told me he would be doing the installation personally along with one of the other shop supervisors. They arrived at 10:30 AM and installed the correct backsplash. I paid Mike the balance of the invoice less damage to my new kitchen faucet done by one of the previous installers. No one has contacted me from HDS Stoneworks to inquire about my satisfaction with the work.

I went into their store to look at their products and picked out some granite samples to see what would be best for my countertops. It took about 3 weeks between the order and when they delivered the granite. I had to put down 1/2 the price of the granite before installing, and from there they came back to take the measurements. They went over everything and finalized the order. The first crew that came to my home did the tear-out and caught me off guard b/c i wasn't informed I needed to remove all contents from my cabinets. There was a lot of debris inside the cabinets, which still had everything inside them. They didn't clean up after themselves, so I called them to let them know that they left a mess. They did send a crew to come clean it up, and later sent another crew to install the tile. Next, they did the tile back splash. They then sent another crew to put in the grout, and the mess was so bad and they did not clean up. I found a ton of grout behind my stove, but I pulled it out and cleaned it up while it was still wet. Then they sealed and enhanced the back splash, and for some reason they didn't want to enhance it at first. I had to go back and forth with the installer, but they did end up doing it. The granite and everything looks great, the installers and the store are just a little difficult to deal with. If you are to use this company, make sure you are a strong consumer, know what you are doing, and be on top of things.

MUST READ! We were ready to do business with these people, but at the very last minute they pulled a "bait and switch" tactic, which really made the deal go sour due to their last-minute changes, inconsistencies, and unprofessional business practices. I had received bids from various fabricators and decided to go with HDS. Like most other contracts, their contract stated that a "50% deposit will be due for purchase of materials and start of fabrication" with a "balance due upon completion". After a few weeks, my husband and I went in to pay our 50% deposit, and Judy (who works there) stated that we owed her more (over $600) making it more than the 50% deposit. I stated that there was a mistake according to the contract that Cindy, the owner, had given me, and Judy then appeared from her office with a new re-typed contract stating that "100% deposit is due for materials" and stated that I owed her more because the slabs were being purchased from an outside vendor and not from their own stock. Nowhere is this written or was it ever stated. From the VERY START arrangements were already made with HDS and the outside vendor as to the name of the slabs, the stock numbers, etc... and this is in the original contract. There were NO surprises. Their contract to me was based on all that information and specified a 50% deposit. HERE'S WHERE IT GETS WORSE! Not only were they renegging on their initial agreement, but when I went in to discuss this issue with Cindy and told her that nowhere is it stated in the contract that I'd have to pay MORE than 50%, she replied, "Well I'm telling you now". I couldn't believe her response and her attitude as she said it. She also stated that she forgot to charge me for a 2nd sink cut-out even though the diagram that I originally gave her (twice) clearly shows it, states it, and her contract also states her price for TWO sink cutouts. She couldn't deny that. Then she suggested that we NOT do business and end the deal (obviously b/c I was pointing out the inconsistencies and changes from her original contractual promise to me). As much as I had bad feelings about this company, I said, "Fine, I'll pay the extra deposit money". THEN she went ahead and charged me an additional $1000 that she claims was for 1/2 the fabrication cost. THIS WAS A SHOCK! The fabrication date was 3 weeks out, and she didn't even have the slabs yet, and she was charging me an add'l 1/2 the fabrication cost ON TOP of the other upcharge. Like an idiot, I wrote the check b/c I really wanted to get this thing moving, but on my way home I was furious at her attitude and her cheating business practice where she already had 82% of my money for no work done at all. Thus, if something went wrong down the line, they would already have their money and profit, so I would have no recourse after that. This was a very bad sign. I quickly turned around, drove back to the showroom, and told her that she was right, "There was no way that we should be doing business" when she pulls a "bait and swtich" tactic at the last minute; charges 82% for having done nothing; and tries to renege on the sink issue; along with having a sour attitude as if THEY are doing ME a favor. I retrieved my check and ended it there. I've now lost weeks on this project and will be going with a more reputable fabricator. I don't care if I have to spend more, but HDS will never get my business. Their attitude sucked in this case (pardon my language). Judy was very unpleasant to work with from day one, and people like that do not deserve business, especially when the customer did nothing wrong. I do not recommend HDS.

Harry greeted us at the new showroom (they used to be at Farmer's Branch). Where we got to see larger samples of the stones we wanted. After explaining the different types of stones, variations in pricing, service and everything else, we decided we were getting a good value for our money. Months earlier we were told installation was within 2 weeks, however when we finally purchased installs were booking a month out. He squeezed us in, and got us installed 3 weeks after the purchase. We enjoyed his personality, responsiveness, and helpfulness during the buying proces. On the day of measuring Harry came to our home used some new gadgets PDA looking things to measure our countertops digitally. We were in awe. He was super nice, within his time frame, and quick and efficiant. On the day of the install, several laborers showed up. Basically they did a great job removing the old countertops, and putting in the new ones. However, I'm still cleaning up the crappy mess in my cabinets (they said remove the drawers of the cabinets, they really meant to say - empty everything out that you don't want splinters, dust, and wood chips in, all the way down the drawers, and in the cubbys, etc). Then they setup the backsplash. We opted for the cheap backsplash, um, it's awesome I guess, but after all that money, and now noticing such things, if i had to do it again, I'd have told the guys where to put and space the diamonds, as well as changed up the travertine direction. The tiles were cut, placed, and grouted onsite. Everything looked ok, except for the 2 gaping holes left where the old counter top met the wall, and the new travertine met the range top. I was extremely annoyed when the guy was like - what - that's what happens when you replace old countertops. The 3rd day, the day they wanted me to pay the rest of the bill, I told them fix the holes, as I was not satisfied. This being a different guy - said no problem, ragged on the person before him. But wait, where are my electrical outlets? they forgot to put the covers back on. Oh and now we're missing some drain spout cover for the dishwasher (they said - oh man that just looks bad after you put in this awesome sink). So this guy took care of everything but the spout (as I didn't realize it was missing until later). I paid the bill and have enjoyed my countertops. For the price, the service, and the quality, I am extremely pleased.