Cannot Recommend!
Well this was interesting...
I contacted Savills regarding an Awning repair, as their website offers this service, although it's rather misleading as Savills fail to make it clear, that they are just "Not Interested" if they have not supplied the original Awning. After several emails most of which were ignored, I sent the final one below, which gave the company an offer to "quote to replace".
"To Dean Aitchison",
I think the best way forward on this is for you to survey and quote to replace and install a New Awning, while you are doing this, you will have a first hand knowledge of the current Awning and maybe able to offer a Repair estimate so I am able to consider both options. As I have already said, I may well decide to replace the existing unit, so don’t miss a Sales Opportunity right?"
After this email was again ignored, I contacted Mr. Aitchison by phone, whom owns this business, and he bluntly told me "he's far too busy to get involved with all this", yes that's right, far too busy to quote for a potential customer's business to supply and fit a replacement Awning. I also found his interpersonal skills when pressured, were somewhat insulting to say the least, and the conversation did NOT end well.
In summary: I would be very cautious indeed in choosing this company, if "potential customers" are treated in this fashion, God help you if you have an issue with their workmanship after installation!
"Buyer Beware"
Update: Response to Savills Reply below...
Savills were fully briefed as to the reason the originally supplier was not approached, and in any event, it is the customer's decision on whom or which company he or she prefers to deal with.
I had NOT had "several conversations with staff members", only TWO. An office person whom had no ideal on how to deal with my enquiry, and passed the issue over to Dean Aitchison, who subsequently email me to request photographs, and then just ignored my reply until prompted.
You say: "As a company, we pride ourself as being honest with our customers, and did not want to promise that we could provide this repair during such a busy period." I'm afraid in my view your company did not demonstrate "Pride or Honestly" at any stage during my dealings with it, and I had to endure what was nothing more than a protracted and condescending lecture on how Busy you and your company are, notwithstanding I had invited Savills to quote me to REPLACE the existing Awning, which YOU failed to follow through on, by way of ignoring my email as you had done so before! My castigation of my dear Mr. Dean Aitchison was more than justified after such disgraceful treatment of a customer.
I stand by my Review as a full, honest and accurate account of my dealings with this dreadful company.
Reply from Savills Awnings Group Ltd (South West)
Hi Terry,
We're very sorry that you feel this was a negative customer experience.
However we normally recommend that you go back to the Company that you purchased your Awning from as a first port of call, as it was only a product purchased a year ago. The original company should guarantee to repair this for free, hence our recommendation.
After serval conversations with staff members you started acting abusively and swearing when we were upfront about facing delays due to recent severe weather. As a company, we pride ourself as being honest with our customers, and did not want to promise that we could provide this repair during such a busy period.
We do not tolerate verbally abusive behaviour, perhaps this is why the "the conversation did NOT end well".