July 23
I too have fallen victim to a sales scam by this Company.
I am writing today in hopes of warning all Companies to stay completely clear of Signtronix should a Salesperson happen to darken their door.
My experience began back in Feburary of this year as so many do, with an unsolicitated sales call by a Representitive of Signtonix.in my case the Rep's name was Ken Wade. Our existing sign is outdated but, has served it's purpose of letting consumers know where we are located and, what services we provide.
Mr. Wade came to our shop equipped with an inpressive sales presentation. The focus of which was on new technolgies that could be used as a marketing tool.
He went on to explain that they had two local Sign Companies they used regularly to install the new signs. Cost to me for the small sign I was ordering would be around one thousand dollars. He convinced me that since I had electical power and upright supports to our existing sign.installion of the new ones would be simple and completed in a timely manner.
He then personally took the measurements necessary to insure proper fit of the new sign.
He went on to boast that all the arrangements would be in place to errect the new sign before it was delivered from California, heck they would include the cost of freight in with the sign.
With the approval of sign's design, a five thousand dollar deposit, contract signed, and handshake we had what I thought was an honest transaction. I was looking forward to seeing the shop's name displayed in a modern professional manner.
Lies, lies, and more lies!
Time went by until one morning in early June when I received a call from a freight carrier telling me the new sign had arrived at their terminal and was ready for delivery at which time they would need a certified check for just over six thousand dollars. The remainder of the balance.
I asked if Signtronix had made arrangements for the local sign Company to install the sign when it was delivered. The lady had no mention or knowledge of such arrangement, simply stating instructions were for the sign was to be dropped and paid for.
My Company is small with less than limited space so I immediately got on the phone scrambling to find out who had dropped the ball on the installation part of this transaction.
The voice on the phone at Signtronix said they never get involved with installations and had no idea that the saleperson would have offered that type of service.
She did say she would give the salesman a call to find out what the status was. A week and a half went by with no call from anyone.
The freight carrier called again trying to make arrangements to collect on the sign and deliver.
I explained I was waiting on a call back from Signtronix to have the sign installed as I literally had no space to store the sign on premises.
She said she would call Signtronix for an update.
My next call came a week and a half later from the lady at Signtronix stating that the salesman was no longer with thier Company and that I needed to take delivery of the sign. I reiterated my situation and that I had no need or budget for a twelve thousand dollar sign that could not be installed. I explained to her, just as I had her saleman, that we are not a sign company and have zero knowledge of installation procedures to errect the sign.
He had understood completely in front of several customers and employees and, had "promised" to make the necessary arrangements to have the new sign installed.
I couldn't understand why she was having so much difficulty with such a simple concept that had been promised by a Rep of her Company as an intrigal part of this deal.
Common sense dictates that most Businesses would in fact rely on the sign Company to install a sign they themselves had custom built to their own specs.
She said she would get back to me.
Low and behold the ex-employee Ken called and asked what was going on? He said he would have one of the local area sign companies contact me.
A sign company did contact me and said they would have to come out to look at the property before writing a proposal to do the work.
The local Company came out and immediately stated that our existing sign not only was over the property line, but would be required to have new support colums, engineer drawings, permitting, as well as having to be relocated to an area that would put it roughly almost a quarter of the way behind our shop.
Well out of view of potential Customers passing by!
My next call came again of the lady at Signtronix a week later staing that Ken worked for another Company and, that I needed to go ahead and take possession of the sign and pay for it. After going through the whole spiel again, she advised that she would have her Supervisor call me to work things out.
My very next and last call was from a Bill Collection agency saying they had been hired to collect on a bad debt, that I now owed over two more thousand dollars in storage fees, and that the contract read any litigation would have to be held in a court of law within the Stat of California. He also stated that he's had numerous simular cases with this Company and that they always win them.
At this point I retained my own attorney. He recommended I go ahead pay the bill and, that I had been duped by this Company.By the way, the Saleman never did give me a copy of the actual contract, just a guarantee that I had signed.
Beware, if you deal with these people, do your homework before making a huge financial mistake. Find out ahead of time about all the local sign ordinances in your County and State. Get all addenduims in writing and notorized with witnesses.
Be sure to lift the paper to see what you are actually signing. Expect zero customer service, in fact count on a hostile experience before you get caught like I did!
My advice is to go through the Better Business Bureau to find a reputable Company whom's policy uses pride and ethics instead of cons and lies to meet your business needs.
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