Gutter Helmet and the Hangovers of Customer Experience
Nearly three years ago, I launched into a tirade on my experience with the installation of the Gutter Helmet system (no link; no link is deserved).
The initial post in this thread is still the single most visited post I have ever written. Years of Web performance, social commentary, political debate, and personal debacles in my blog, and Gutter Helmet is what calls to the broadest spectrum of people searching on the Web.
The fact that so many people continue to visit the post also tells me that people continue to be interested in this system and my experience with it. So here is the latest update.
In the next 10 days, a Gutter Helmet technician will come out and clean out the downspouts that are full of debris that has accumulated from the gutters over the past three years. Hopefully, they will not claim some technicality and try to charge the $150 maintenance fee that I was warned about.
I am also hopeful that the person who comes out and does the work is more friendly than the last one.
On a scale of 1-10, Gutter Helmet rates:
Installation 3
Installation Fixing 3
Ongoing Operation 6
Consider all your options before going with Gutter Helmet.
I've had the system for 14 years, and until this year, maintainence requests (all 2 of them) were taken care of quickly and professionally. This year, I had my downspouts routed out to the street. All of a sudden, water started flowing and cascading behind the gutters. After 15 phone calls (and my requesting that I be at home when the guy came), someone showed up while I was at work, left me a note (a bill, perhaps) for $200, and stated “Dirty Nose” … no problem with Gutter Helmet … please call me”. Well I tried calling for 3 weeks, even tried to fax (it was disconnected). I remember him asking the first time I called if I intended to buy a new system. My reply was that it had a lifetime guarantee, so why would I want to spend another $850.
mnem3844
December 4 2008 at 14:00
I've had the system for 14 years, and until this year, maintainence requests (all 2 of them) were taken care of quickly and professionally. This year, I had my downspouts routed out to the street. All of a sudden, water started flowing and cascading behind the gutters. After 15 phone calls (and my requesting that I be at home when the guy came), someone showed up while I was at work, left me a note (a bill, perhaps) for $200, and stated “Dirty Nose” … no problem with Gutter Helmet … please call me”. Well I tried calling for 3 weeks, even tried to fax (it was disconnected). I remember him asking the first time I called if I intended to buy a new system. My reply was that it had a lifetime guarantee, so why would I want to spend another $850.
mnem3844
December 4 2008 at 21:00