Sit Happens Inc.

Review: I paid him $2000 for the "Start to Finish" dog training package, 20 sessions, which was supposed to take five months to complete. We had three sessions in three weeks and then nothing. He refused to have a standing weekly appointment and [redacted]ry time I tried to schedule another appointment he canceled or rescheduled last minute. This happened five times in three months of no training sessions until I finally told him I wanted my money back.

The only reason I paid entirely up front is because he was recommended by my dog runner [redacted], who is apparently his best friend. She said that some of his clients pay for the package then give up after a few lessons. This sounded hard to believe but now I see that that is what he is hoping happens with all his clients, and so he thinks this justifies his behavior. Another Yelp reviewer also had the same compliant that it was difficult to get him to make and keep an appointment.

Although he works in NY he actually lives in Great Neck NJ. I know he cancelled and rescheduled last minute, again and again, because he was too lazy to make the drive, [redacted]n after I drove all the way out there for two of our sessions.

Here is a transcript of some of our texts:

11-**

[redacted]:

I think she's ready for another lesson. When will you be in the city next?

[redacted]:

Late Sunday after 4pm I believe. I can c u then

[redacted]:

Ok that works.

[redacted]:

Okay I'll keep you notified of the times as I get closer okay

Sunday 11-** 2:33pm

[redacted]:

Still on for today or do you need to reschedule?

[redacted]:

Can I let u know in an hour. I'm still in a lesson

3:39pm

[redacted]:

Ok

Let's just reschedule then.

[redacted]:

Ok sorry Just still workin

How about tomorrow morning if it's not raining about 9:30 or 10

[redacted]:

It will be raining

11-**

[redacted]:

Sat

[redacted]:

Ok what time?

[redacted]:

10:30?

Trying to make all city people on sat so playing with times.

[redacted]:

That works. See you then.

11-**

[redacted]:

Ok c u then

11-**

[redacted]:

Hi. I accidentally double booked you with another appy I had. Can you do later or should I try to cancel my previous appt??

2pm?

[redacted]:

Sure

[redacted]:

AWESOME thanks.

11-**

[redacted]:

Hey [redacted],

Sorry I've got to cancel, too much work to do. Need to work more with her anyway. Still spoiling her.

[redacted]:

Haha ok I understand

[redacted]:

After turkey day? Next weekend?

[redacted]:

I am away Thursday through Sunday but if I come back to the city Sunday night around five or so maybe then

[redacted]:

Whenever you can.

12-*

[redacted]:

Hey [redacted],

When are you free for another lesson?

[redacted]:

Hi. It's too late to get something this week but next week is fine.

[redacted]:

Ok let me know when you are in town and I'll try to make it work

[redacted]:

Will do

12-[redacted]:

??

[redacted]:

Sunday afternoon I may be back in NYC or mon or tues nights or tues morn

[redacted]:

Ok I'm free

Please let me know at least a day ahead

[redacted]:

Will do thx

12-**

[redacted]:

Other than today, what is your schedule like

I may be able to fit you in from 5-6pm tomorrow

[redacted]:

That works for me

I really need to go back to every week, [redacted], or I'll have to ask for a partial refund.

So a standing appointment would be best.

[redacted]:

I understand. The last few appointments you had to cancel on me though. I have been giving you the flexibility to train when you want and not push you. Because you're in NYC it is very difficult to give you a standing appointment, however I can try to work out a two week at a time schedule with you. If you want to keep tomorrow's appointment let me know 100% as I would need to put someone else in that slot. I also ask my customers to please give me at least 24hours notice to cancel on me so that I don't lose the time on that particular day/[redacted]. Unfortunately this happened with us at least once already. I believe this is the first time I had to rearrange an appointment with you and we didn't have a set time or definite appt today 100%.

12-**

[redacted]:

Sorry I forgot that I have to drive to my project in RI tomorrow. Go ahead and give my spot to someone else.

That day you were the one who rescheduled on me last minute, and before that you didn't even contact me when you said you would for our appointment. I made a huge investment in your skills, [redacted], and I need to know you are going to show when you say you will, and given a time at least 24 hours in advance

[redacted]:

What is your availability

[redacted]:

I'll let you know tomorrow

1-**

I apologize for not getting back to you. I went to Europe for the holiday, and felt it best that we resume when I returned instead. Let's set up a weekly appointment. When is best for you?

I forgot that you said you can't do weekly ([redacted]n though that's what we agreed to originally) so when does it work for you biweekly?

[redacted]:

I can do a few weeks in a row no prob. I will contact you tomorrow to discuss. I've been under the weather all day Sunday I train in NYC. Mornings & [redacted]s too. Just depends on week. Need to just set it up the week before.

[redacted]:

Ok let me know tomorrow when is best for you next, I'll work around your schedule, unless I have something very important I can't reschedule

1-**

[redacted]:

How is Sunday afternoon?

In the city

[redacted]:

Yes that works

Let me know what time before Sunday please

[redacted]:

PROB 1:30 or 2. Will get more specific in the morning

11-**

[redacted]:

Would 11:30 or noon work for you tomorrow? (The afternoon was min forties and raining, we could have worked inside)

[redacted]:

Yes that works

1-**

[redacted]:

Good morning. I'm going to have to reschedule our lesson due to the freezing rain outside. It's forecasted to be raining all day and we must work outside.

[redacted]:

When works for you?

[redacted]:

I'm going to work that out as the day progresses and get you some options.



1-**

[redacted]:

Does tomorrow work for you around five or 5:30 PM

5:30-6:30 good

1-20 8:30Am

[redacted]:

That works, if the time is still available

[redacted]:

Unfortunately I don't. I do have a 10am tomorrow that just opened up that you can have.

[redacted]:

Going to RI tomorrow

[redacted]:

When are you back. I'm away thurs-sun

[redacted]:

I think it's best if you just return the $1700, [redacted].

This is getting rediculous

[redacted]:

[redacted], you have taken days or longer to get back with me trying to confirm an appointment time. Yet you put the blame on me for not being available to you. This isn't the case. I'm working all day everyday and mostly seven days per week. We understood and agreed that we would do either mornings or evenings and random weekends because my business is primarily based on Long Island. You agreed. I asked you your availability on December [redacted] and you responded January [redacted]. Now you want a refund? As per my contract, which you have a photocopy, I do not offer refunds. Please keep in mind that I also gave you a $200 ECOLLAR. I suggest you be a bit more realistic and fair when just putting it out there that you want your money back. I find it rude and insulting that you call my business ridiculous. That's simply disrespectful. I had you out to my [redacted] to work with your dog. Worked with you in NYC and have tried several times to coordinate a lesson time with you. You make it very difficult to do so.

[redacted]:

This is the fourth time you've given me an appointment and did not show

You can have the ecollar back

All you have to do is read the texts to see how unprofessional you are being. My time is valuable

[redacted]:

I can't take the collar back as it is now a used collar and I can't return it or sell it. I have read the texts and you have had more than your share of cancellations and that is a waste of my time as I can't rebook someone when you cancel too close to your appt. time.

[redacted]:

I never wanted the collar that's why you gave it to me

[redacted]:

Sunday was a rain and ice storm so I got stuck on Long Island. I offered you another option but it took you a day to get back to me. I had to book that time since I didn't hear from you that day. I offered you another option immediately but it didn't work for you. I'm away this thurs -sun so I can't be here to work with you over the weekend.

The collar you owned was not sufficient for your dog as it is a low end and unfair piece of equipment in my opinion.

[redacted]:

I went back to that collar, it is comparable to the one you gave me, which stopped working reliably

[redacted]:

That's absolutely ridiculous [redacted]. Dogtra collars are known in the industry as top of the line for their electronics and reliability.

[redacted]:

I have been very easy going about the appointment times, [redacted]n though you do not make them in advance. I cancelled once and apologized for it. You cannot expect to give me an appointment the day before and always be available, I also work [redacted]ry day

You are the one being disrespectful by giving me one excuse after another.

And hypocritical when you say you will get back to me with and appointment time, then get upset because I take time to confirm

[redacted]:

I make appointments at least a week in advance. Most times further in advance for my NYC clients. I have several NYC clients right now yet I am not having this issue with them. I am never disrespectful to the people that pay me to help them. That is how I make a living. I didn't expect you to take the appt. I wanted to offer the time to you because of Sunday's storm. I don't seem to have this issue with anyone else.

[redacted]:

I suggest you read those texts again. It reads to me like I am not a high priority for you, and you treat our appointments as such. I cannot go through five plus more months of this. If you cannot make appointments that you will NOT cancel or postpone, and refuse to give me my money back, I will consider legal action, write reviews, and get the Revdex.com involved

[redacted]:

I think perhaps you don't really want to train your dog and you regret signing on to a commitment. Ironically you're fast to text me back when you want to point the finger at me or ask me for a refund. But when it comes time to set up a schedule it's not the same. I don't want to continue with the back and forth blame game as it gets no where. I'm happy to make appointments with you as I am for all my customers. If you want to schedule a time now that's fine. If not that's okay also. You can threaten me all you want with reviews lawyers and the Revdex.com. My contract is to protect me and was written by an attorney for me. It is clear and binding. I will leave the decision up to you as how to continue our course of action.

[redacted]:

I would not have spent two grand on training that I did not want to do. It's not about the money anymore, but returning the funds would be the professional thing to do.

Again four times in a row you've given me an appointment and backed out. If I cannot get a guarantee that this will not happen again in the future, I think it's best we go our separate ways

[redacted]:

I will call u in 2 mins to discuss

[redacted]:

I really don't have time for this

[redacted]:

I will make you an offer and it will be finished.

I left you a voicemail. Please call me back as soon as you can so that we can settle our business and both be satisfied and go our separate ways.

Again, I left you a voicemail and I have texted you that we can settle this today so that we are both satisfied. Please let me know if you have one minute to talk and verbally agree and perhaps I could have a check dropped off at your building today.

1-23

[redacted]:

For numerous reasons I am not negotiating, you can drop off the check for me with my doorman, put [redacted] 10DW on the envelope.

[redacted]:

I would be willing to refund you $1,400. If that is not sufficient then you may do whatever you need to do. I'm am now out of town and am not 100% sure I will be back Sunday as planned due to unforeseen circumstances. If you agree to the $1,400 I will get it to you as soon as I return.

[redacted]:

$600 for come, sit, and heel is unreasonable especially since these are commands I had already taught her using different techniques. You did not [redacted]n send the instructions by email as you said you would and unless you can recommend someone who teaches the same way, I cannot continue with that method. Not to mention the inconvenience and all the time wasted while she is still young.

As you said leave what you think is fair and, as the client, I have the prerogative to respond accordingly

[redacted]:

I completely and utterly disagree with your response how[redacted]r it is your right to feel how[redacted]r you want to feel it is your opinion. How[redacted]r I am making you a one time offer for $1400 and that includes no further negotiation on my behalf. If you feel that's insufficient, or you choose to further write reviews seek lawyers etc. and such, I will choose to allow you to do so and not give you anything at this time. For me a refund which goes against my company policy is an agreement between the two of us that this business relationship is over if you cannot agree to that 100% then you now need to do what you need to do.

[redacted]:

Like I said do what you feel is fair, for me it is not about the money so if you do not pay the $1700 I will do what I feel is fair

This conversation is overDesired Settlement: The return of the amount I paid for five months of twenty sessions, $2000.