I contacted Dan Malack to install a whole-house generator. He is Generac dealer, one of the few in our area. At first, Daniel seemed professional and knowledgeable and I was eager to do business with him. We agreed on a price and he said he had stock coming in within a few months. This sounded awesome because everyone else was saying they were back-ordered for considerably longer. Soon after this, he contacted me to say that he needed full payment for the generator before he could order it. Asking for $6,000 before any work is done is unusual and I felt uncomfortable. I told him I'd be willing to provide a 10% earnest payment upfront, but I couldn't give a complete stranger $6,000 without some guarantee. I thought that was the end. A week later he gets back to me and says he'd be willing to bring the generator and put it in place and take payment for the generator then. I spoke with a different contractor I'd contacted and told him that Malack had agreed to install.
About a month later Dan advises me that the generator has arrived, but he's on vacation and will get to it when he returns. He tells me later that he's filed the electrical permit (I just checked. If he filed it, it's not listed as issued in our county.) I hear nothing from him for another week. I check my phone 2 days ago and there's a voice message, from a few hours earlier, from Dan saying that he wants to come out today to drop off the generator. I'm elated and call him back to tell him I'm home and whenever is good for him, I'm here. I go to check my emails and there's an email from him saying he's decided to NOT install my generator. I've called his cell and office number numerous times and emailed trying to find out what the issue was. His email said something about being concerned I wouldn't pay. Utter nonsense. Maybe he was holding a grudge because I didn't pay him $6k upfront.
At this point, I've wasted 2 months waiting on him. I've made arrangements to have a propane installation in preparation for the generator, and I've twice told the only other Generac dealer in our area that I was sorry, but Malack was going to do the install. What other qualities he has, Dan's business, Malack Electric, is not run professionally. If you like to dance, he may be a good choice but I'd steer clear of him, at least for now. Hopefully, he won't treat others this way. read more