We had Thomas out for a free estimate on a vinyl fence in our backyard. From the beginning the whole thing felt like a sales pitch straight out of Amway -- two guys showed up and we spent the better part of 1 1/2 hours enduring a barrage of self-congradulatory drivel (""Thomas is the biggest company in St. Louis,"" ""We made more money than the next three guys combined,"" etc.), rhetorical questions, and unnecessary delays. At the end of it we were offered a price of $19,000 on a fence -- over twice what I had seen elsewhere. (They also priced removal of our old fence at nearly $7000, over TEN TIMES the cost of the next highest bid we got.)\r
\r
If that had been all, I wouldn't be writing this review. Like other reviewers here have experienced, we found ourselves being pressured to commit to the project on the spot. When I told them I didn't make big purchases like that on the spot, they proceded to bend over backwards trying to convince me otherwise, including the practice (mentioned by others) of miraculously dropping the price to make the sale.\r
\r
As a side note, the salesman also bragged that Thomas does not subcontract in any aspect of their work, something I later found out was untrue.\r
\r
If you enjoy having a car salesman-style experience invade your home for a hard sell on an expensive product, by all means, call Thomas. Otherwise, you're better off looking elsewhere.
Pros: Slick commercials
Cons: High pressure sales tactics, deceptive sales pitches
more