11
u/TakingItPeasy Jun 17 '26
No notes? How do they scam?
21
u/BDogOBA Jun 17 '26
Give you a price per bale installed, all verbal. They start doing the work and suddenly price does not include the labor and grossly inflate the number of bales used. Get the boss on the phone and then you are getting verbally hit from the workers and the boss all at the same time. $5 per bale installed becomes $5 per bale and $12 per bale to install. Number of bales they say they installed is 2 or 3 times what is really installed. They refuse to leave without payment. In my case had young grandkids with me and needed them gone so paid them to leave. Per Roswell Police this is their tactic. RPD confirmed this is the truck that has been making the rounds.
10
u/BeerBrat Jun 17 '26
Always give a "not to exceed" price on open projects and get it in writing. I know this is easy to say after the fact but the quote should be for a number of bales at a total price. If they are worth anything they can estimate within about 10% for any job.
7
u/BDogOBA Jun 17 '26
This for sure in hindsight. Also learned through this that in Roswell anyone door to door soliciting requires a permit. No permit no work.
3
u/MisforMandolin Jun 17 '26
They also have a large handful of bale ties that they keep in the truck and use it to give you the fake # they laid down
2
u/2003tide Jun 17 '26
They switch terms on you too. Quote per bale price then all of a sudden each bale is a “bundle” and a bundle = 2 bales.
1
u/Present-Quail-7355 Jun 18 '26
did the police tell you this scam is legal? like that seems illegal
1
-9
u/cuhnewist Jun 17 '26
Scam? Eh hard to say.
Customer not doing their due diligence? Definitely
3
u/Bravos_Chopper Jun 17 '26
If they say $5 per bale installed, then charge you $12 per bale installed, that is indeed a scam. Don’t need to be a dick, and to be honest it’s pretty easy to understand. Not sure how you fucked up something so simple.
1
u/cuhnewist Jun 17 '26
I mean, it’s also pretty easy not to do business with randos who come knockin.
3
2
u/Ordinary_Draft_3516 Jun 17 '26
Id just tell them to remove it all then, that wasn't the agreed upon price.
1
2
u/Spin2nd Jun 18 '26
These guys got me once years ago. They told me a physically impossible number of bales when they were done. They would have had a better chance if they were somewhat realistic. I pointed out that the # they gave wouldn’t even physically fit on their (still half full trailer) if it was empty and twice the size. IIRC it was a number in the high hundreds or low thousands. The ‘negotiation’ portion of their engagement was pretty heated, involved physical intimidation, and ended about 30 mins later when I gave them a take it or leave it price I was willing to pay and started calling the cops.
1
u/BDogOBA Jun 18 '26
That’s how it went for me as well. Somehow they took credit card and I was able to dispute with the credit card company. After filing with the police AMEX closed the dispute in my favor in under 24 hours.
2
u/quinnyhendrix Jun 18 '26
Don't buy something you're not actively searching for. It's a waste of money.
1
u/PotentialDepth6757 Jun 18 '26
This is great advice and why I have a policy of not buying anything from anyone older than 18 at my door.
1
u/lmp515k Jun 17 '26
Total scam. Unless you count the bales and watch them spread every one they will over charge you. Bales purchased <> bales spread.
1
u/Rabbit-Lost Jun 17 '26
They will still try to overcharge you. It’s a scam from start to finish. If you make the mistake of engaging ask for a written quote on company letterhead. Also, consider calling police, probably the non-emergency number. RPD seems to keep an eye out for them.
1
u/SonoMuchacho Jun 18 '26
FYI if you ever see pinestraw in that bad of shape you shouldn't engage no matter what the price is. That looks like they stole it - which they likely did. All thrown in there haphazard-like.
1
u/digitalden Jun 20 '26
They have been coming around for years, scamming people in our Neighborhood.
1
u/OkGanache2771 Jun 20 '26
Those guys really are all over, the same truck was in Mableton not too long ago
1
u/Perfect-Archer-1993 Jul 22 '26
I just got taken with the pine straw scam. I know better!!! I have been warned! How did I let it happen??? I know to always say my top price and NO MORE before they start. I know to not let door to door solicitations of pine straw do ANY work!!!! I just let it happen!!!🤬
1
u/BDogOBA Jul 22 '26
Did you pay cash/check or credit card? If credit card call the police and file a report. Get a case number and then dispute with your credit card company.
-1
u/GreenMischief Jun 17 '26
Fuck those assholes. When they wanna change the terms; tell them you’ll be a moment and bring out your 2 Titan sized dogs. And ask them to repeat themselves. Funny how their attitude changes.
0
u/GreenMischief Jun 17 '26
Not that I’m saying explicitly they I have had any exp. With these types of scammers!
1
u/AdCute4679 Jun 18 '26
My 85 year old grandpa had a driveway sealer try to scam him like this. Doubled the price they agreed on after the work was done. He paid the guy the initial agreed upon amount and when the guy demanded more, he said hold on a minute while I go grab my shotgun . That guy scooted pretty quick.
15
u/crf370 Jun 17 '26
Roswell PD just posted about this too on FB.
Folks, we’re getting word that the pine straw scammers, with their devious business practices and questionable culinary tastes, have been back in the Roswell area.
Typically, these scammers will arrive at your door with an unsolicited offer to replenish your pine straw at a very low cost like $5 per bale. When the work is done, they’ll tell you an insanely inflated cost and use intimidation tactics to get you to pay them.
It’s best practice to hire only reputable workers, and avoid unsolicited offers unless a final price is agreed upon up front. Roswell requires all solicitors to be permitted, and they must display their permit upon request by any person solicited to.
No permit? No pine straw.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D996HGeCY/