LifeStone by Stefan

Review: I purchases a headstone and ledger over a year ago at [redacted]'s, a branch of Lifestone by Stefan . I asked for a refund no more than 3 days after my purchase but I was told no refunds. I believed I had a specific amount of time to change my mind when making purchases of large amounts. Both [redacted]s and Lifestone by Stefan said no to the refund. They have not contacted me after several calls made to them by myself and an assisting attorney. At first, I chocked up the non refund as a loss and lesson learned. What make matters worse, is that I was promised the headstone and ledger by August 2013. It is now February 2014 and I have yet to receive a phone call regarding anything.Desired Settlement: At this point, I do not wish to further conduct business with lifestone by Stefan. I just would like my money back.

Business

Response:

**. [redacted] signed a binding contract with our company. Because of the unique and custom nature of a

[redacted] our contract clearly states that no refunds will be issued. We

proceeded with her order in good faith, which included placing the order with

the quarry and associated drawings. We also have no record of a written request

to cancel this order.

We will be working to have this issue resolved

within 45 days.

I have bee trying for one and a half years to receive the head stone that was paid in full at time of order, for my in-laws. My mother-in-law purchases it days after my-father-in-law passed away in April 2014, Cartledge memorials/lifestone by Stefan.
They promised the flat headstone to my mother-in-law four months after my father-in-law had pissed August 2014. The family only lives several miles away from the cemetery, we were there often, as it is the cemetery where all of our family members are buried. My mother-in-law passed away six months after her husband in October 2014. After my mother-in-law's passing we call cartledge memorials/ lifestone by Stefan, to please add the name of my mother-in-law on the stone as it has still not been delivered to the cemetery. At this point the stone is now two months overdue. I asked if we were going to be put in the back of the line to have the stone completed and I was assured it would only take two more months. Several family members called every month finding out the status of the stone. We were all given different stories. I spoke to the owner on July 10th and he assured me that because of the bad weather this past winter and a lot of other stories that the stone would be put in place August 28, 2015. My family and I were at the cemetery and the stone was still not there. I called the company phone and left nine messages between 2 o'clock yesterday at 9 o'clock this morning and still no response and no stone on my families grave site, September 25, 2015.
My family and I have had a horrible experience with this company I would not recommend them to my worst enemy!!!!!
It is a disgrace to take advantage of people in the most vulnerable time, I think there's a special place in hell for people/companies like this.
I am going to keep calling until someone Will help me. Please do not use this company they are a disgrace!!!

I contracted with this firm in Sept 2014. I was promised that the engraving on existing stone would be complete by late Nov 2014. After many excuses and unanswered emails they completed the work by late April 2015. The engraving was crooked and after numerous attempts to get it corrected, I was again disappointed. This company is quick to take your money but poor at delivering. They have many complaints with Revdex.com so do yourself a favor and do NOT ever give them your business.

Review: I ordered a headstone for my parent's cemetery plot on July 31, 2013 and as of today it still is not in. It is not an elaborate headstone with a lot of writing or cuts in it. I paid in full that day, and the check has been cashed. I have called several times, and I keep getting that it is not in yet, it should be in in 10 days, or it should be on the next truck. When I call back it still is not in. I have spoken to both [redacted]. and **. [redacted], who are the owners, and they know about it. The bottom line is, it is been over 9 months plus, and it still is not in. Each time I call, it seems there is always a reason it has not arrived. My dad, who is handicapped from a stroke, is very disappointed with them. He would like to visit my mother's grave that has a headstone, especially since it has been paid for.Desired Settlement: I would like the headstone installed by next week (May 22, 2014) at the latest.

Review: Failed to complete engraving of headstone after payment received and check cashed. Initial request for services made Oct 16, 2013. Failed to follow through with paperwork or action regarding this request. Finally sent paperwork with requests for payment 12/11/2013 after repeated phone calls. Spoke with [redacted] at 5:35 pm ###-###-#### (office no.) and ([redacted] (cell) who sent paperwork and requested 2 checks 1 for $75 to Archdiocese of [redacted]. and 1 for $484 for engraving. I returned completed documents with checks on Dec. 18, 2013. Archdiocese verified that paperwork and payment was received. All administrative work by the Archdiocese was completed and a card was returned to [redacted] cemetery that allows engraver to proceed with his work at the end of January. As of April 22, 2014 the engraving is not complete and all follow up phone calls to this business net excuses without any action. Payment was received by Lifestone and the check was cashed.Desired Settlement: Engraving completed or Refund within 30 days

Review: This company charged me $175 to clean my Mom's headstone in preparation for adding her name to it. I did not know at the time that Lifestone was not the company that does business at the cemetery were my parents are buried and when I received their bill it coincided with my request to have the engraving done to the headstone. I paid the bill and later realized when I received a 2nd bill for $275 that this company was wrongfully charging me for work that they were not doing. I received this 2nd bill from them for cleaning and engraving after my Mom's headstone was already engraved. This is what made me take a closer look at them. It is horrible that they took advantage of me while I am going through the grieving process. I researched on-line and have seen that they have done this to other people. I have been in touch with them since October 2013 about getting a refund and have spoken several times to Joan Stefan but I have still not received my refund. I also have documentation from the cemetery that verifies that Lifestone does not do the engraving at their location.Desired Settlement: I would like my refund of $175 to be paid back to my Mother's Estate account.

Review: Lifestone by Stefan charged me approximately $8,000 for a headstone. Turns out that the headstone was too large to fit where it was going and they failed to check with the cemetery. They then promised to resize and never did anything with it. After numerous follow up attempts, I was then told they would re-do the headstone and charge me $2,000 less since the new size was half the original. Finally after over a year and a half of waiting, the headstone was placed and was incorrect. I am still waiting on my refund and have sent at least 20 emails requesting. No one at the business will take my call. I believe last week, they corrected the error on the headstone. At this point, I just want my money back.Desired Settlement: I would just like the refund promised. The tombstone I paid for was over 48" - the final was only 24" and I could no longer fit the picture that was in the original tombstone. I feel wholly taken advantage of and never even thought that a company dealing in this type of business would be so disastrous and unethical.

Review: completed order for headstone in May 2014. paid 100% of charges + cemetery placement fee. As of Jan 2015 no response to several calls to check on status.Desired Settlement: Information. I would like to know when the product will be delivered and placed.

Review: My father passed away Feb 15, 2014. In the mail on Feb 22 I received what looked like a bill but was actually a quotation for work for sand engraving lettering. I never solicited the business for this quote, my father has been cremated. I then received a call from this same business on my home phone asking me to call them about head stone services for my father. Again, I have not solicited them for their services.Desired Settlement: A guarantee they will not solicit others who have lost loved ones and have not FIRST reached out to them or they will be fined.

Business

Response:

Any information we receive is a matter of public record, and is easily accessible with an online search. As stated in the complaint, the mailing that was received clearly indicates that it is a quotation for services, if they are need. We do this in an effort to make families aware that there are economical choices being offered for services.

Consumer

Response:

[To assist us in bringing this matter to a close, you must give us a reason why you are rejecting the response. If no reason is received your complaint will be closed Administratively Resolved]

Review: [redacted]

I am rejecting this response because:

Very unpleasant dealings with this company. Paid for a ribbon to be put on my mother's grave Feb. 2015. It is now Oct 2015 no ribbon yet. Heard every excuse in the book. Do not do business with this company unless you have money to throw away.

Review: My father passed away in December of 2013. My mother (who is now in skilled nursing care) contracted with Stefan to do the grave stone. She wrote them a check for 50% of the cost. The estimated date fore installation was 3-6 months (in writing). The Stone has been in place now for 3 weeks and was installed poorly. Despite the numerous calls,promises and emails, they have not returned to fix the stone. It is now 10.5 months since the original order and the stone is not installed correctly. The owner (Gregg S[redacted]) has made numerous promises over the phone to complete the install but has failed to do so.Desired Settlement: I want the stone set professionally as promised and done immediately. If they will not honor their contract, I will pursue legally.

THE WORST EVER.... RUN, RUN, RUN.....the Senior Partner, Gregory J. S[redacted], Jr. (Slick Greg as I'm now referring to him) was quick to call our family just days after my Mom was buried at St. Peter and Paul on December 31. We met him on Sat. January 10. He was QUICK to take a significant check from my Father and my Uncle as the grave is a double plot. We were promised the headstone in March. Then after at least 10+ calls for status they finally called my Aunt to tell her there was a glitch with one of the checks which was addressed. We were then promised August. It is August 31st and my Mom still does not have a head stone marker at her grave site. WORSE my Aunt and I have been calling daily for several weeks and all we get is their answering service and NO return call. I am so beyond words that I am going to slam this company on EVERY Social Media Site that I can found. This company deserves triple negative stars! DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS COMPANY buyers beware and be warned!!!

Review: ordered grave stone in and Paid in full December 2013. Still not delivered. No one seems to be able to tell me when this will be taken care ofDesired Settlement: delivery and install grave stone to cementry

Consumer

Response:

Oct 25 (2 days ago)

to me

The grave stone was delivered.

Sent from [redacted] Connect Mobile App

Review: I am writing this on behalf of my mother, [redacted]; I am her daughter [redacted]. In March of 2013 my mother ordered a gravestone for her just deceased husband of 63 years through LifeStone by Stefan. It is now June of 2014, and the gravestone has still not been placed on my father's grave. The company continually promises they will do it, but they keep coming up with excuses. My mother paid $800 up front, believing she would get prompt service. It's now been 15 months and this company just keeps lying. My request from the Revdex.com is that my mother get immediate action and have the stone placed NOW. I also request that my mother get $400 or half the amount she paid, returned to her. This is completely unacceptable, and the company should be more sensitive and compassionate to a grieving widow. My mother has visited her husband's grave site at least once a week for the past 18 months, only to find a mound of dirt every week! Please give my mother and our family the respect and dignity we deserve!Desired Settlement: Not only should they finish the job, but my mother deserves to receive back to her AT LEAST half of the $800 she paid for this service.

This company practices no business ethics at all. It is impossible for anyone to directly contact the company since they use a contracted "answering service" which functions as an answering machine. I do not even believe that it is an answering service as opposed to Lifestone employees who are just instructed to lie so that the company will not have to deal with any customer questions.
My order was placed in May 2014 and I am still waiting on installation (or at least a status update) in Sep 2015. I received a few letters early on explaining the delay, which contradicted themselves and clearly exposed the fact that it is just an unethical method that this company uses to buy more time with its customers. Lies on top of lies sums up this company perfectly. Do you do business with this company and make sure that your salesman is not contracting your order out to Lifestone by Stefan since they have many authorized dealers across Southeastern Pennsylvania.

I paid over $3,000 for a monument on Oct.3rd, 2014. It is now late Sept., 2015 and my husband`s grave is still unmarked! I made a mistake contracting with this company. But I`m hoping they do deliver soon!

Thia company is pushy and has no respect. They quoted me one price by one person then another called and said that wasn't the price. This place will rip you off. Plus, I have no idea how they got my name or number.

Review: After my mother passed away on November 18, 2012, the funeral parlor directed us to Lifestone by Stefan to order a tombstone. We ordered it on November 28, 2012, paying in full.

As of today's date (8/21/14), my mother's grave still does not have a tombstone, and now they no longer return my calls.

We have sent to them twice the deed that the cemetery issued (even after the cemetery issued one to them in addition), and the last few months when I have called, they couldn't even locate the account - I even provided them the order number.

We want closure and want my mother to have a proper tombstone, not some unmarked grave.Desired Settlement: I want my money returned so I can go with a company that actually delivers their promised goods in a timely fashion.

Consumer

Response:

From: [redacted] <[redacted]>

Date: Mon, Aug 25, 2014 at 1:21 PM

Subject: [redacted] complaint from 8/21/14

To: [email protected]

Hello,

I would like to close my complaint #[redacted], as the business I needed help with responded exactly how I hoped, and as far as I am concerned, this matter is now closed.

Please advise my next step, as I couldn't cancel the complaint through the website.

Thank you,

I have been having the most horrible time dealing with this company also known as Lifestone by Stefan. Sadly, my Mom passed away from Leukemia in June of 2014. My Dad went to this company because they took over a smaller company known as Terantino & Sons. T & S is the company my Grandmom used for her and my Grandfather's stone. My Dad wanted to use the same design and Lifestone had the original sketch on file. In the time of his grief, he didn't look up ratings or reviews. In February, my Dad passed away and my Mom's stone was still not set. I had to ask Lifestsone to add 2015 to the stone for my Dad's date of death and paid $75 for four little numbers on top of the $6900 my Dad paid them in full. I was told the stone would be set in May. It is now almost September and the stone is still not set. Up through June I was able to get through to this company when calling their phone number but was always told the same story. The person answering couldn't help and could only relay the message. These were girls working at Lifestone. I spoke with the owner Gregory S[redacted] once in June. He played stupid and blamed the delay on the Cemetery for not notifying them that the foundation was set. I actually confirmed this with the Cemetery and told Lifestone two months prior that the foundation had been in since last Fall. Greg told me he would check and call me back on Monday (we spoke on a Friday). I never received a call back. As of August 30th I have never received a call. I've been to the cemetery and still no stone. Their phone numbers now go to an answering service and my calls are still not returned. I have threatened a complaint with the PA Attorney General and legal action and still nothing. I don't understand how they can take your money up front in full and not fulfill their contract. I've seen numerous complaints online as well as news videos about others who have had the same problem. Why is this company allowed to do business? I also noticed another reviewer who stated that this company goes by 15 different names. Scary.