Reviews

Review Details

• Review fromR. J.

  Date: 05/03/2023

  1 star
  Owner of Central Illinois Awning is unresponsive and deceptive. This company took my payment in full for a seasonal breeze blocking vestibule in September. I was told about 8 weeks to manufacture and install. At the beginning of November I was delighted to receive an email they expected to install it by the end of the month. This came and went with no further communication. At the beginning of December I emailed for an update, then with no response I called, and was told by the end of December. The end of December came and went with no communication and no response to the emails and calls. At this point I was getting nervous that this company was going under with my, $4300 as even the business phone went unanswered. I only got an email response when I suggested I may need to involve my lawyer or as another BBB reviewer, send the Sheriff. More of the same occurred with a promised date coming and going with no communication for 6 more weeks. Finally on February 20th, almost 5 months after I paid for the item, they installed it, charging my $630 to do so (this is a winter season structure). When they installed it the door dragged so much that the install Forman said he was taking it back to be adjusted as it would tear the material. I waited a few days for a response from Ron about when this would be fixed and again had to reach out to him at which point he thought it appropriate to insult me for my frustration and followup. I pointed out to him that he held the power and opportunity to set my expectations, that I wished I had the good customer service experience others had reviewed, and that I never contacted him except in response to a missed deadline set by his company. He apologized and stated the door would be installed by March 1st and a refund of 20% would be mailed to me by the end of March. The door was installed unaltered (and indeed started to tear from the drag), emails and calls have gone unanswered, and no refund has been issued.

  Central Illinois Awning, LLC

  Date: 05/04/2023

  As much as I would like to agree with Mrs. J****. The fact is, that the business enclosure was late in being installed. There are many factors that unfortunately, numerous businesses are dealing with post COVID. Our delays have been caused by shipping issues and quality workers. We continue to strive to meet customers needs and we make very notable attempts to resolve issues directly with the client. However, this client was very extraordinary to work with and, to please. As a member of the business community I have never been compelled to speak of a client in a criticizing way, especially a client whom has been unhappy with our product or customer service. However, after 4 years I find myself having to speak out.
  This client was the most rude, condescending, and unprofessional client our company has ever had to deal with. She continuously spoke down to our customer service representatives as if she was above them, she spoke with myself in a way that was demanding and threating me or the company with lawsuits, police, and attorneys based on the fact that she did not have her enclosure up yet. At one point I responded to her email mentioning to her, of my quest to encourage to no longer send me condescending comments. She responded back to that email stating that if she were a man that I would not have sent her that email. We did in fact take down the door per her rude comments ordering us to do it immediately and the frame and panel was altered to her needs. We even sent her pictures and a video showing her that the door was now working properly. The issue that she claims is still with the door was never brought to our attention after we sent her the pictures and video until yesterday in her email. (2 months later). Mrs J**** also states that she paid the full amount, but fails to mention that we gave her an over $500.00 discount. If she paid in full.
  Unfortunately, ****** *** ****** *** *** ***** and I will just have to agree to disagree, because we can not and will not be able to talk civilly. Also, unfortunately everyone of my installers refuse to go back to that location because of the way she spoke to them and treated them.

  R. J.

  Date: 05/04/2023

  I have a detailed timeline of when and how I responded to Mr. Valle. My tone was in response to how I was treated and I fail to see how I owe him more courtesy than I got. Mr. Valle told me 6-8 weeks, but the problem isn't how long the installation took as much as the way I was strung along and treated in the process. The difficulties and delays because of Covid were never mentioned as a possibility until the installation date they gave me in November had passed. Then I was given another timeframe which again came and went with no communication. I was extremely frustrated and nervous that I couldn't get a timely or truthful answer from Mr. Valle who had a sizable sum of money from me. I didn't believe I had any protection or recourse, otherwise I would have canceled the order in January. Even with Covid caused delays, it wasn't the delay itself, but not communicating another delay and unresponsive nature that I found frustrating.
  As far as the door at installation, I made no such "demand" about the door being removed, but I did express my frustration through tears (not professional) about the company to the install foreman. He was apologetic, which I appreciated. He was the one who told me they didn't take an accurate measurement and the door needed adjusting or would rip. I did tell him, my dealings with this company couldn't be concluded soon enough and that I had never dealt with such an unprofessional, unresponsive business owner as Mr. Valle.
  It seems, by his unsubstantiated response here, Mr. Valle thinks his poor communication and business practices are absolved by his description of me as condescending and rude. This alone speaks volumes...which I suppose is condescending of me to point out.
  I was told I would get a discount if I paid in full when I ordered, so I did. I am not sure why this is relevant. Mr. Valle set the timeline. Didn't return calls and didn’t respond to emails in a timely manner all along the way. If I sent an email, I waited a day or two for a response, then tried again, which is possibly why he describes my communication as constant. I find his lack of response rude, condescending, and unprofessional. As previously stated, sometimes the only way I got a response was to "threaten" legal action, which can be evidenced by the email timeline which I am happy to share.
  My experience with Ron Valle at Central IL Awning very much mirrors the experience of the other complaints on this site. I take no pleasure in having had this experience. I was looking forward to working with the communicative business owner he was described to be in other reviews. Frankly, I don't feel good about this experience, including my emotional response to it. If his staff genuinely felt abused by me, for this I apologize. However, in looking back through our communication and the timeline I can only conclude his description is again to deflect responsibility or excuse his behavior.
  The door dragged and I called regarding it with no response. I have taken care of it to avoid further damage and need nothing from him for this as I have already had the seasonal structure removed. Mr. Valle offered a 20% refund and has not delivered. I have documentation should any be needed.