Halbman Company

I ordered black top soil to fill a depression in our yard left on top of the backfill in the hole where old oil tanks were removed this summer. The depression measured twelve by twelve feet and was one foot deep. My math showed I needed at least five cubic yards, plus I wanted extra to account for settling and for a raised bed garden. I figured I would order seven cubic yards. The woman at the office I spoke to took said I needed two yards rounded up for that space. I questioned that calculation and discovered she was thinking of a depth of 1 inch for some reason. After correcting her and rewording for her (twelve inches, one foot deep, about knee deep, etc.) she insisted that there were special calculations to consider on their end for estimating the soil. I had her check with the owner, who agreed with the two cubic yards. I called two or three times later in the day after running through the calculations again and finally spoke directly with the owner, who again insisted on two yards cubed. I didn't want to be stuck with a lot of extra soil, so I thought, just in case they really did use some specific formula for their equipment, I would only order four cubic yards. I was delivered and dumped. I spread it out, and it was short by a couple of cubic yards. I called the owner to tell him the problem, and he blamed his office staff saying, "they aren't very good with math." I reminded him that he himself had confirmed the amount. He said I could order more soil, and I said I would, but I didn't think I should have to pay for the delivery charge. He disagreed, and I reminded him of the difficulty I had getting some help ordering the right amount. He told me to use someone else and then hung up on me.

ONCE THEY RESPOND, THE EXPERIENCE IS VERY GOOD.