Shady business practices abound at Panda Kitchen and Bath! Buyer beware!
My wife and I were thinking of getting new granite countertops for our kitchen. We had been looking around for a while and found prices everywhere from $40 on up to $60 a square-foot for what we wanted. The basic coloration of granite we wanted is called uba tuba which is a nice dark black and green granite that’s really pretty.
There are other colors and pattern choices that can be cheaper or more expensive. But we had priced around quite a bit and then we found this ad for Panda kitchen and bath outlet. The ad showed uba tuba for $29.95 per sqft. That’s a big difference and from the nice pictures they had in the add we decided to go to the local showroom.
At the local charm we were looking around for quite some time waiting to talk to a sales person or manager to see how much it would cost for our house and what was involved. We ended up having to wait about two hours to finally see someone. They then took down her information and set us up for a time to have someone come for house and measure the area it was going to be put in and give us a price.
And remember in the store it was the same as in the advertisement for Panda that we saw – the uba tuba granite was clearly marked at $29.95 per square foot and it said it included all installation costs. So two weeks later this young man comes over and is not very talkative at all. He took some measurements and then left. We were not quoted a price or anything.
I had to call the store back and they told me to call back a few days later and they would have the price quote for me. Now remember I was told and the advertisement also stated along with the show room prices that the uba tuba would be $29.95 per square foot. But when you know when I finally got a price quote it broke down to basically a little over $55 per Sq. foot.
Now I don’t know how they think they can get away with charging me twice what the show room price is but they sure did try. I told them that that was unacceptable and that I would agree to the $29.95 quoted in the ad and in their showroom. They then try to tell me that the price I saw did not include installation. I told him I was holding the ad rate there says it includes installation. Their response was that they could not sell it for less than they quoted me.
Can we say unfair and deceptive business practices? This is clearly a bait and switch or similar type of scam here. They will read and with a price that they’re not willing to give you and it’s clearly labeled everywhere both in their showroom and in all their current advertisements. I have several other advertisements from several magazines and they all have the same exact advertisement in them with the exact same $29.95 per square foot price.
I was livid and hung up the phone on them. I ended up going through Home Depot and had the uba tuba installed for $39 per Sq. foot. A few weeks later I was in the neighborhood of the Panda kitchen and bath factory outlet store and went into the showroom. They still had the exact same price for the uba tuba granite posted in the showroom. So when they came to ask me if they could help me I said no because I was going to buy it at that price but they tried to bump me up to over $55 per square foot for the same granite.
So I told him I would Home Depot and that I was disgusted with them. When I told them that I paid $39 per Sq. foot at Home Depot they told me that I overpaid by 10 Dollars per Sq. foot – these people are absolute morons, idiots and scam artists. Do not go to Panda kitchen and bath they will only try to rip you off and then the lie to you and they can’t even keep their lies straight. It was a terrible experience and advise that no one go there.
We have several investment properties and have used Panda to renovate both kitchens and baths. We have always found their prices to be the lowest anywhere and they have always honored their advertised prices.
Their installation was excellent and went very smoothly. They also deliver within 10 days of commiting to the order.
Having said that I do think that the quality of their sales people varies by location. We’ve had great success with their Matthews store on Independence Blvd.
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We have been waiting 7 months for them to finish our kitchen remodel. Mr. Polo in Miami and Mr. Olson in Ft. Myers are refusing to give us a completion date. We paid in full 11/27/10. Not sure if there prices are good, we picked out our granite in July. by the time the install was started in the middle of Nov. they had sold our granite. The only response I can get from Mr. Olson in ft. Myers is “I have to make a call” he NEVER calls back, case in point 11/3/10 said he had to confirm with the granite guys about install and would call before 6pm, it was 11/5 and still no call. I urge everyone to think twice, unless of course you can affford to eat out for 6 months. They have NO Business ethics, and are not affliated with the BBB or the Ft. Myers Chamber of Commerce, I can easily see why – their customer service is complete garbage!!!
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I contracted with Panda Kitchen and Bath for a new kitchen in August 2010 with a promise of installation by day 90. I had my entire kitchen taken out on their promise the kitchen would be installed on November 16. On November 16, no one arrived and I was told 2 installers were ill and they could not install the kitchen until Novmeber 19. I protested so they said they would call me the next morning. Of course they did not call and I called them. I was told I would have installation on November 18. 10 minutes later, Herman Soto , manager called and rudely advised me the kitchen could not be installed because my cabinets were not in yet.
He told me he had up to 120 days to install even though the sales person and the sign in the showroom says 90 days. My kitchen was finally installed December 14 2010. The installer did not arrive each day at the scheduled time. It took him over 5 days to complete the projected 1-2 days installation and not to my satisfaction . The granite was installed but is cut crookedly and left a gap at an edge . The granite was not sealed at all even though I paid for that and the granite installer tired to tell me hw\e was selilng it with a polish that was for formica per the label.
I had to seal it my self. The cabinets were not installed as designed and now I am trying to get service to fix and complete the needed adjustments. I have been told for 3 weeks now that some one is coming and no one has showed up or called. Each time I call the sales person,(daily to twice per day) she says she will look into it and call me back. Half the time she calls back , the other half , no call. I am totally frustrated so now am posting a complaint any where I can.
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Panda Kitchen turned out to be a typical bait and switch operation. They do not return calls and they lie in their commercials by showing items they later say are not available then they try to sell you higher priced items.
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Once again I am still waiting for a reply from Panda kitchen and bath regarding completion of my kitchen project installed in December 2010. Some of the final work was completed after I sent a certified letter to Mr. Herman Soto. The glass in my lighted cabinets is coated with something that has not been able to be removed and causes an unsightly shadow. Every time I call , I am told they are waiting to hear from Herman Soto in Miami and he does not answer or they say they will call me right back and they never do. I am getting ready to write another letter to Mr. Soto , certified mail to try to get this resolved. I do not recommend them to anyone!
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I am having the same problem with Panda. They’ve missed 2 appointments, lied to me about why they never showed up, & I am still waiting for them to resolve issues with installation. They keep telling me they are waiting to hear from Mr.Soto at corporate, but I have waited far too long & on too many occasions. Do not recommend either.
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Panda kitchens does not deliver what they promise and do not stand behind their products. I have been in touch with Mr Soto who does not call back or handle the problem. I was delivered a mismatched cabinet which is holding up the completion. Their excuse is that they don’t have any installers in my area. I will be at the store with a protest sign starting SAT if this is not resolved, the only problem is the Delray Beach Fl store is always empty – no customers – I wonder why?
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I used panda kitchen in Virginia Beach, VA for a large remodel job and had nothing but problems. The work was poor, they did not return phone calls, and even dodged me when I went there to complain. If the manager, STAR’s lips are moving she is lying. I have never had to deal with so much BS in my entire life. Avoid these people at all costs.
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Right now I’m blaming myself for not thoroughly researching the complaints against this company. I’m currently in the process of having my kitchen done (going on about 2 months now) & the glass for one of the cabinets is still not in. Let’s not even mention how they don’t do plumbing or electrical work, but the cabinet installer cut the pipes under my sink, cut the wires for the outlet for the over the stove microwave & I ended up losing an outlet because of how he installed the enclosure for the fridge. This wouldn’t have been so bad if he had pulled me in the kitchen & pointed out what he needed to do before he did it.
Made the mistake & paid for materials to do the pantry as well(a month ago) & now the salesperson isn’t returning my calls when I ask about installation. This store is in Pembroke Pines FL. Something that’s supposed to take 10 days? Yeah right. I would not recommend these people to my worst enemy!
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Please be aware that Panda Kitchens in Australia has no connection with Panda Kitchen and Bath which operates in the USA. Panda Kitchens is an independent company operating in Australia and is not in any way associated with Panda Kitchen and Bath in the USA
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