I had a piece of furniture that needed to be repaired due water damage from a leaking roof. After giving me an estimate of $2,500 for the breakfront which he valued at $10,000, I called Alan Karzen to pick up the furniture for repair. He made a derogatory comment about my home then winked at me. When loading the furniture into his van, he left the drawers sitting on my snowy driveway on a day when the temperatures were hovering at freezing. When my general contractor questioned him on it, he was then rude to her. He bumped the furniture against the door frame on the way out. Angie's List offered a coupon for 10% off labor. When I asked him about using it he told me, ""I'm working for your insurance company... well, I'm working for you but your insurance company is paying me and they are not interested in a discount."" He did not honor the coupon. Due to a change of circumstance, I decided not to have him refinish the piece and hired someone else to pick it up. Mr. Karzen charged me $400. When I questioned the high charge he said it was for his time. He came out twice (once for the estimate, once for the pick up), gave an estimate and ""kept my furniture safe"". I do not know of any company that charges for estimates or charges $400 for pickup and a few days of storage. He said he would prefer cash but would take a check upon pick up. The furniture was not at his shop but in another location and apparently the work was being done by someone else. That person only wanted cash and gave my workmen a very hard time but finally accepted the check
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