Over promised, under delivered and overcharged. My wife Kelly posted her negative review for Zach…read morethe Happy Handyman, and I will just add my thoughts as well as this has been such a disappointing experience. As Kelly said, it took him 12 hours to install 2 sliding doors ($1200). He complained, 'the step was crooked, the door wasn't the right size, these weren't the doors he was used to...' As he was packing up after being here all day, he told us that when he came back to install the other 4 doors, it wouldn't take as long or be as expensive, plus he had the supplies (that are still in our garage). 8 weeks later, here is the exact text he sent us the day before he was supposed to show up:
"Good morning. I will see you between 8:30 and 9:30. I also wanted to give you a heads-up. I meant to message you last week. The price will be somewhat the same as last time, even if it doesn't take as long as last time. I'm taking a huge risk by modifying these doors with the chance of having to buy them if I damage them. This is not a typical job for a handyman."
While we thought it was a bit pricey, we wanted it done and had waited 8 weeks for him to show up, so we agreed. What follows is what appears to be his AI generated response:
"I fully appreciate the challenges involved, even though it was not a simple task. Previously, I undertook a seemingly impossible endeavor, accepting a significant risk. It demanded considerable effort and proved to be exceedingly difficult. Many individuals would likely have chosen to abandon the project. I am uncertain how many would have been willing to take the risk of dismantling and modifying the door, let alone rebuilding the entrance to your home to ensure the other doors function correctly. These were all substantial risks. I even purchased a $400 tool specifically for today's work. I was also planning a trip to a store to acquire another specialized tool to perfect the job. I have invested more in this project than most would, to provide you with the best possible outcome. Regrettably, I must decline such a substantial undertaking, given the significant risks involved, and the compensation offered does not reflect the level of skill required.
My standard fee for mounting a single, standard door ranges from $500 to $800, depending on the complexity of the task. I am, however, customizing your door. I fully understand that if these doors were to malfunction within 30 to 90 days, I would be responsible for replacing them. I should have contacted you a couple of weeks ago; I apologize for that oversight. I have simply been exceptionally busy.
I apologize again for bringing this up now and not sooner but its better now then at the end and doing all that work."
Who writes like this? He kept talking about risk??? On his first visit he took the door apart without asking, just bragging that no other handyman could do what he was doing, there was or is no risk. We NEVER said or implied he would be responsible for any damage to these doors. Zach may be OK for smaller jobs but get your quote up front and be prepared to pay a whole lot more.