Thread: Ariel Multi Blinds AVOID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a warning to everyone not to use Ariel or Multi Blinds. He claims he is the owner but I have my doubts. I was referred to him by someone else in my building. Guy seemed very nice. I gave him a deposit within an hour of meeting him.

Suppose to be installed 10 days later. He calls me to tell me that the blind colour is out of stock and to choose a new one. That is fine as my apartment is not finished (thanks to the building workers) and I decided to change paint colours.

I am told to pay the balance at Gira Sol on Calle 50. I use my credit card.

Later that day two clowns come to start installing. They manage to make a mess of the ceiling with their drills. Use scissors to cut the blinds to make them smaller and such. The metal is all sratched. They forgot 1 blind for the master bedroom. Forgot to bring it or make it I am still not sure.

2 weeks pass and Ariel e-mails me to say he will be here Saturday at 11 am. I wait around and he never shows, e-mails or calls. Later sends an e-mail saying Monday at 8am. Same thing but he shows at 9:30 but with out the last blind.

I go complain to Gira Sol. Ariel says he will be back later today. I tell him 3pm no earlier, no later, no excuses. He does not show. E-mails at 4:45 that he will come the next day (today) at 8:30am.

Of course that does not happen so I go back to Gira Sol. I complain some more. Tell them to get Ariel to come here first then we go to my apartment. Ariel says he is 5 minutes from my apartment but I still tell him to go 15 minutes out of the way to meet me. When he gets there he says sorry to everything. I tell him about financial compensation "mi plata" and he says no as its his decision. I tell him I paid $850 on my Visa maybe we should let them settle it. The manager of Gira Sol says first Ariel will install the blinds then we will talk plata. That is fine as I want to get the last blind installed.

Ariel shows up with a white blind when I have a whiteish grey. Then he shows up 16 minutes later with a blind the right colour but too big. Also they are suppose to replace the sratche metal but bring white plastic stuff. I take that and generously place it in the public area for him. He goes to get the silver colour metal and it is starched just like the stuff on the blinds already. I take them and place them in the public area again.

While finally installing the last blind the drill bit breaks and he has to go to Do It Center to buy another.

All that has been done today is a few holes but in my ceiling.

Apparently tomorrow at 8am.

He will soon realize the power of an American Visa Card. It is not he who charged the card but his supplier. They will have to work it out.

let this be a lesson. STOP PREPAYING for everything in a 3rd world country full of idiots. I just dont understand why you pay b4 you get what you want. THIS IS PANAMA!

Apparently that is what he said the rules were. Thankfully I did pay on my credit card. Most likely the company that supplied the blinds will be going after Ariel who sold the blinds and was suppose to install them for the $850. Vira Sol has 850 reasons to get Ariel to get this done. But so far they have been all talk.

Once Visa resolves this I am sure they both will regret fucking with the bull.

Yes apparantly .. but since when does Ariel or whoever make the rules for you? I am reluctant to prepay and if i do it is just a small percentage. When companies refuse this, i assume they have a reason to get the money b4, and i assume i have even more reason not to give it to them.

You are right.

don't do business with people named after laundry detergents, also, people with names "Ambulance" and "Yeesika" are to avoid like the plague, unless it's a suicide mission, like cleaning a septic tank.

always sign the credit card slips with your left (or wrong) hand in panama.

One installer shows up today. Two are needed to put the blind in place. Two days ago another guy drops the blind.

Does not bring a step ladder. So needs to search around the building for a pail which is not even high enough.

I still have blinds installed that were cut crooked using scissors. On Monday Ariel wanted to take those blinds down and bring back new ones. I told him in no uncertain terms to bring the new ones first.

It is amazing that this guy is in business. Oh he told me no refunds.

I just wish that Ariel and people like him would just say I am sorry I will not be able to provide what you need. It would make my life a lot easier and they can move on and try to fuck someone that will put up with it.

Originally Posted by adamruns

One installer shows up today. Two are needed to put the blind in place. Two days ago another guy drops the blind.

Does not bring a step ladder. So needs to search around the building for a pail which is not even high enough.

I still have blinds installed that were cut crooked using scissors. On Monday Ariel wanted to take those blinds down and bring back new ones. I told him in no uncertain terms to bring the new ones first.

It is amazing that this guy is in business. Oh he told me no refunds.

I just wish that Ariel and people like him would just say I am sorry I will not be able to provide what you need. It would make my life a lot easier and they can move on and try to fuck someone that will put up with it.

How did you find this guy? Was he a referral? With the expat population in Panama so robust I'm surprised there is no centralized network of information sharing regarding contractors and service providers. That's what is needed to prevent these horror stories.

He installed blinds in someone elses apartment in the building. They looked good. Apparently at one time he was a decent human being with one customer. As soon as I saw the blinds in the other persons apartment I called Ariel and he was there within and hour to measure my apartment.

I just want to thank Adam for posting this. I was referred to Ariel by a friend and booked him for an appointment the other night to measure and give an estimate. He left and literally 10 minutes later I went on the computer and I see this thread! You can imagine my surprise! Luckily, I didn't provide a deposit and I cancelled with him the next day.

I am happy to patronize decent people and establishments but just as happy to take my business elsewhere should I hear that someone/ some business did not provide competent service. Thanks again, Adam! I wish more people would make posts like this so we know who to avoid.

Maybe Panama does need an Angies List. "Doctor Reviews & Contractors Ratings - Find a Doctor or General Contractor | Angie's List"

Hey Adam, Did this get resolved with multiblinds? Did you contest the charge on your visa? How about an update?

Still not resolved. &nbsp;Still waiting for the two blinds that were cut with scissors on my apartment floor to be fixed. &nbsp;All the metal is all scratched. &nbsp;To his credit a few weeks ago he tried to replace those. &nbsp;But the first time he brought white plastic and the second time the metal was scratched as well. &nbsp;<br><br>Visa is sending me papers to submit for the dispute. &nbsp;I will get them when I go back to Canada in September.<br><br>Ariel has not responded to my e-mail or recent phone call. &nbsp;

Sorry to hear that your saga is still continuing, Adam!

After canceling my order with MultiBlinds, I used "CortiCentro" on Via Brazil and a guy named Nelson there (he's the head of sales or whatever). He was professional and his prices were competitive, however, their installers canceled/didn't show up 3 times before finally installing everything this morning on a Saturday (10 days after placing the order). I believe most of these installers are independent contractors so sometimes it is the luck of the draw who you get. I had to put 1/2 down when I ordered and pay the other half before they installed (they were firm about this). In the end, the shades look good and I would recommend them.

Corticentro
Nelson Correa
264-7440
6001-5313

Thanks for sharing this.

Your story was uncannily similar to my experience with Ariel Graell, his clan of clowns, and Gira Sol. I have just one word to add to your experience and now mine: ACODECO. I have had very good success taking "Juega Vivos" in Panama to ACODECO and getting a positive outcome.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I also wish there was an "Angie's List" here in Panama. I think many companies would go out of business or at least lose significant traffic, and, in turn, customers would see a marked improvement in service if the word got out to avoid certain people or companies.

For now, I am telling people to avoid this clown Ariel Graell and also Gira Sol because they are complicit.

I think it's only a matter of time.

In fact -- if I had MORE time I would personally build the business.

Here's what I would do:

1. Build a Yelp/yellow page type site.

2. Put every Panamanian business inside of it.

3. Let everyone write reviews and give stars.

4. Integrate with Google Maps etc...

5. Promote it.

6. Sell premium advertising to ONLY the best rated brands/companies.

This would quickly become a very valuable asset to everyone in Panama.

As long as you don't live here. Otherwise it would just put you in jail quickly.

Originally Posted by No-Non-Sense-Matt

I think it's only a matter of time.

In fact -- if I had MORE time I would personally build the business.

Here's what I would do:

1. Build a Yelp/yellow page type site.

2. Put every Panamanian business inside of it.

3. Let everyone write reviews and give stars.

4. Integrate with Google Maps etc...

5. Promote it.

6. Sell premium advertising to ONLY the best rated brands/companies.

This would quickly become a very valuable asset to everyone in Panama.

It's just painful getting things done, you kiss your money goodbye the second it leaves your fist. If you're lucky, and then recommend someone they may not have the same result. There is very little expertise, and it's better to find a handy man with a conscience and careful approach to get your work done than contracting from large companies in my experience. It requires a lot more hands on from you, but that's the ONLY way to get things done to your satisfaction

Today Ariel calls and threatens my girlfriend that he will report me to the police if I do not remove my posts on here. I e-mail him and then he calls my girlfriend again without responding to me. I will let people make their own decisions about him based on that.

Seems like Ariel would rather stop the light being shone into his style of customer service than into your appartment...

Nice. Trying to intimidate. I think I know a few people that might be interested in following up with Ariel....

Record the call next time and post it online.

In Panama it is better to own some basic tools and do these types of installations yourself with the help of a neighbor or friend. A level, measuring tape and impact driver would have saved allot of headaches. Anything is better than trying to hire a local to complete a job satisfactorily.

Originally Posted by fleeted

In Panama it is better to own some basic tools and do these types of installations yourself with the help of a neighbor or friend. A level, measuring tape and impact driver would have saved allot of headaches. Anything is better than trying to hire a local to complete a job satisfactorily.

Man if you own a level you have way more tools and knowledge than the local pro .

Originally Posted by tellucy

don't do business with people named after laundry detergents, also, people with names "Ambulance" and "Yeesika" are to avoid like the plague, unless it's a suicide mission, like cleaning a septic tank.

always sign the credit card slips with your left (or wrong) hand in panama.

NEVER do business with anyone named Ariel. Like Jörg Haider once told someone with that name: "I don't understand why you are named Ariel when your hands are so dirty".