Mr. Mow It All

We hired Mr. Mow It All in August 2022 to install Pea Gravel in our small, East York back yard in order to make the space more attractive and easier to care for. As requested, I sent the company photos of the existing yard, explaining by email that I wanted the area of dirt (formerly lawn) covered with gravel. I also sent helpful photos of my neighbour's yard for reference, as they had essentially done the same thing to their space. I heard back from James B., a customer sales representative who asked if I was available to meet him to discuss the job. As I was in another city at the time, I offered to reschedule the suggested meeting time or have someone else meet him in my place. He declined the suggestion, but visited the job site and sent me an estimate which included levelling and removing topsoil, installing landscaping fabric and supplying/installing the pea gravel. I accepted. After being rescheduled twice, the job was completed in mid-September. I was not contacted during the installation or afterward to ensure satisfaction (e.g., sending a photograph). When I returned and saw the work, which itself was adequate and tidy, a large (2-3ft) strip on dirt was left uncovered beside my garage. When I contacted James B., the sales agent, he explained that he was "under the impression" that there was to be a strip left to install a garden. I absolutely hadn't given any such direction; I was disappointed that the job was incomplete. Being polite, I suggested that there had been a misunderstanding and asked what the company could do complete the job. Their offer? A quote of almost $400 to install a yard of mulch to cover the strip! There was many emails back and forth, and when I mentioned the company's 100% satisfaction guarantee, I was told it didn't apply to me. I have read similar statements in other reviews here. The company's position simply doesn't make sense. I had already laid down some mulch beside my garage in order to abut the gravel I was expecting there. Also, if I had wanted a "garden strip" beside my garage I would have asked them to install some rockery to mark off that area as a garden. That's not what I asked for. For the company to have made a mistake like this, and not simply rectified it, is mind-boggling. Instead, they tried to say I "changed the scope of work" after the fact, and sent demeaning emails. Very rude, very unacceptable. Beware.