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How do you tell who is good?

Re: Rock Tops Closing

After checking with a number of people who knew Rock Tops (and got all good reviews), I choose to do business with them. Like most of people who did business with them. I went to their store on multiple occasions, talked to them and their employees at the Macomb Location. The place was booming, employees there, had been with the company 8 years and longer and seemed busy and happy. There prices were the best in the market. I saw the one to the owners 3days before he closed the doors. He led me to believe his business was doing great, and wanted to do more business after the 1^st of the year. I left that meeting totally convinced that their business was successful and I saw no indication or anyone anywhere having concerns of any kind. The day I was there they were showing customers countertops. His Customers, employees, and my self all due money and have been left with no one to talk to which is devastating and upsetting.

They are not responding to anyone as far as I know. I really don’t know what caused them to shut their doors or what they are planning to do. I do know their lack of communication has created big problems for everyone including myself.

I sorry for anyone that has been hurt and I wish I had more information to give you. Unfortunately I was blindsided too.

Respectfully Submitted,

Mark Maupin

Posted by Ralph Mark Maupin on 11/09/2008 12:57 PM

Comments (8)

granite countertops, rock tops granite, choosing granite countertops, avoiding ripoff from contractors

Originally posted at: Ralph Marcus (MarK) Maupin's Blog: How do you tell who is good?

This post has been included in Michigan Information

8 Comments on How do you tell who is good?

NOV

2008

Hey Ralph,

Thanks for referencing my HeyMark.wordpress.com site. It's always encouraging when folks find it helpful! Realtors and others are more than welcome to ask questions there.

Mark

NOV

2008

Thank you very much for your post. Absolutely excellent information and very useful for me. Great done and keep posted. Looking forward to reading more from you. <a href="http://www.creditgetwealth.com">CreditGetWealth.com</a>

NOV

Thanks for this helpfull information, I feel like I can make a better choice now.

JAN

We got our countertops in July from Rock Tops, Inc in Michigan were very pleased. Unfortunately, it was disclosed tonight (Jan. 2, 2009) on a local Detroit TV newscast that they have closed their doors, and the owners are no where to be found, leaving hundreds of customers without their already paid for countertops, and employees without pay checks.

JAN

It's interesting that even an educated person can get taken in by the suave nature of Charlie Thiede. He is a coniving snake of a businessman who even sacrificed his relationship with his brother for the greed of greenbacks. I took a buy out in 2004 after making the mistake of allowing Bob Gaziorowski join us. I saw just how crooked he was and that my own brother is the same way. I did not want to jeopardize my freedom and chose to take my leave and haven't spoken with Charlie since then. I hope he gets some jail time to sober him up and make him realize he cannot take advantage of people again.

JAN

Sadly this is fairly representatitive of the granite industry in general. Huge profit markups, no warranties, no standards and huge demand have all driven a lot of shady characters into the trade. Couple that with the average consumer's natural desire to buy that expensive countertop at the best price, and Bob's your uncle.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. I am in the industry and have been watching the rapid downward spiral on prices for several years now. Most shops are like Rock tops, using the new deposits to allow them to buy the stone to fabricate the job they promised last month. You don't really think it took six weeks for them to get to your job, did you? Of course not, were that the case they could work some over time or hire a few more guys and get the backlog out and the cash in the bank.

The industry is realling from low prices due to increased competition caused by the housing market slowdown. The larger shops with expensive technology and huge lease payments are always the first to impolde, then with their workers unemployed, small quality minded shops like mine come under increased pressure from all the new tiny shops opened up by the ex employees.

Time to get out of the business I am afraid.

JAN

What the Graieguy says rings true for me now. Which I could have seen it coming. I know we all wish we had hind sight.

MAR

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