Community Update

I contacted Safeway about some roaches that we had in our building. They were collecting around and inside the dishwasher and in our kitchen. When I called Safeway to review the issue one of my largest concerns was the price. The customer representative on the phone had worked out a quote for me for services that would include spraying the unit. Specifically i remember them asking how big the unit was and how many rooms it had so they can figure out how much it would cost to spray the area. Once I booked my appointment they even sent me a check list of things I needed to do before the company could come and spray my place. I had to remove all items from the cupboards and pull furniture away from the walls and collect everything in the middle of the floor. I was also told that I would need to vacate the premises for a certain period of time. My verbal commitment to them was to pay $xxx.xx dollars to come in and spray the house, a fee I would have been happy to pay because it requires professional experience.

When the service man came he was very helpful and informative however he did not spray the unit. He informed me that the best thing for roaches is to provide a bit of poison (bait) around the unit and in corners of the cupboards and ensured me that it would take care of the problem. He even went out of his way to place a little by the garbage shoot. The problem was resolved and I even gave the company information to our building manager to provide them with more business. When I received my bill I was a little surprised because the amount of work and effort that it took to bait the house was very minimal. The service man simply took a tube of roach poison and placed small amounts in the corners of the cupboards and inside the dishwasher. I had an issue with the bill because I was told that I would be paying for a service that required professional equipment and experience. Instead I received services that I could have easily done myself. The bait that the company used I found online for around $30 and I could have easily put small amounts in the corners of my cupboards, it did not require professional or trained work.

I had called Safeway Pest Management a number of times to discuss my discrepancy. I explained to them that I was quoted for a service of spraying the house and not baiting it. Considering I could have purchased the same bait online for $30 I did not think a $200 bill was acceptable. I felt scammed and basically baited myself. The company told me one thing and delivered another. I called a number of times to discuss the price as I was not trying to get out of my bill, I just wanted to pay a fair amount. The company was unwilling to meet me in the middle. Instead of charging me a fair price and having a happy customer they ended up selling the bill to a collection agency for penny's on the dollar! Way less then what I would have ended up paying them.

I would strongly suggest that if you have a pest issue you work with another company. Do not trust Safeway Pest Management as they practice bait and switch advertising. The services provided can easily be preformed by the homeowner with the same product. They will tell you that only they (professionals) can purchase the roach bait but I found the same stuff online. They will not return your phone calls in a timely manner or even answer the phone during the day. If you have a discrepancy they will be unwilling to work with you. Stay away from Safeway.

Note that this is the first time I have written a customer review and complained to the BBB, I think that says something.