We purchased 4 arbors, a large double gate, a small gate and a fence from this particular Walpole owner roughly 10-15 years ago for a hefty price. We swallowed it, thinking we were purchasing quality. Unfortunately, this was not the case. The arbors are rotting. 2 were in such bad shape, we had to junk them this week. The company will explain that the cedar posts touching the ground will, in fact rot. Great. Should have told us that when we wrote that mega check in the office. However, there's more to the story. Please explain why the top center portions of both arbor arches, which have never touched soil, split and decayed? They have rotted at the connections. We have been caring for them each year,[ using our professional painter and also doing it ourselves] trying to prevent the decay so the company's finger pointing flat out is a shirking of responsibility. Please note that it is never the company's fault. Allow me to progress to the next point of contention. Materials are fine tuned over the years and the company now installs differently to avoid wood rot in the ground.[ Still doesn't explain why the center arches split] Today we had a rep come out to quote just putting 2 posts in to replace the rot from their original installation of the small gate. We were quoted $1,042 for labor and material. Yes, folks for merely installing 2 posts with new hinges on a gate we are reusing, we got that price. What makes it so insulting is that Walpole installed the original work. So we get to pay $1 grand to correct THEIR original work. The sales rep was dignified and in no way does this negative review reflect upon him. After all, he must work within the parameters of his company. When I voiced my displeasure over the price, he was willing to discount it .We were given choices. He provided us with more inferior quality materials for a lower cost. He gave us an additional option of just the cost of the materials alone. Still an outrageous number. We are talking 2 small posts for a pre-existing gate. It is not rocket science. Seriously, the final number on that quote was insulting. As consumers we have limited recourse. Our power is to purchase elsewhere, which will be our decision
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