Babylon Gardens

I purchased a deal (?) through Angie’s list last fall. The initial appointment was cancelled an hour before the designer was to arrive. The designer (Chris) wanted to reschedule for three weeks later. I really had to push for a more timely appointment. So we met for about 45 minutes. I walked him around the yard pointing out where I wanted things, gave him a written outline of what I wanted to accomplish, and a folder of examples I had clipped from magazines. Chris said he would have a plan in a week or so.
Nothing. Chris did not respond to my multiple requests for an update. I finally called Mr. George who said his company had been hit by illness and they would get the plan to me if I could just be patient. OK. This stuff happens. Nothing. After more calls Chris did finally e-​mail me the plans. Perhaps it was because there was such a long time between the visit and when he did the plan but there practically nothing in the plan I had asked for. An area of the yard that needed no work had everything torn out, there were schrubs where I had asked for tall trees for privacy, a seating area I had requested was totally missing and more.
I again called Mr. George, who was not so nice this time, to tell him the plan was nothing like what I had discussed with Chris. Mr. George informed me it was a very nice plan, totally missing the point it was not what I asked for and was not going to work for my yard. After repeating again what I was looking for, Mr. George asked if I would be «satisfied» if he added trees for privacy to the plan. I said I would wait to see the plan (thinking this guy is not listening). I need not have worried. Nothing.
I finally left on negative review on Angie’s list. Mr. George than e-​mailed me to ask if another attempt could be made at the yard plan so the negative review could be removed. Not hopeful but wanting to be fair I agreed. I e-​mailed the outline of what I was looking for. Mr. George replied the next day saying they had «given it a sincere effort» but it just didn’t work out. In clarifying with him what the problem was it seems Chris had told him I liked the design and now I was telling him I didn’t. Reality check: I never spoke to the designer after he e-​mailed the plans and I had earlier told Mr. George the plan was not going to work.
So I asked for a refund of my $ 299. Mr. Georges counteroffer was $ 150 if the negative Angie’s list review removed and I not leave any other negative reviews. He justified the partial refund as he had made «multiple» changes to the design. Reality check: He made NO changes to the design even when he promised to. With this boldfaced lie I lost what little sympathy I had left. I refused the counteroffer to keep the Angie’s list review posted and write the Unilocal review. That is how strongly I feel that people need to be warned about this company. I used them because they were on Angie’s list. I should have checked the Unilocal reviews. They were much more accurate. This may have been a good company at one point but no more.

I have been trying to get this company to honor its Angie’s List Big Deal and its own promises now since April. They were to design a plan for our back yard in San Francisco. They finally sent out (after broken meetings, no return phone calls etc) a new employee — a graphic designer (!) who first suggested that we might be able to do the whole thing by phone (!). I gave her geological reports, building plans and measurements, and lots of photos — she promised a report within a week — that was about a month ago. This is for a plan — I am relieved I didn’t hire them to execute anything physical. Too bad! I hope they send back all my plans etc as they had promised to do as soon as they had copied them. Yes I have spoken to their chief designer Chris D’Aquino, their owner, Roney George and the Graphic Designer Taran … — all very pleasant but none able to perform. At least Angie’s List has now given me my money back — that alone should tell you something.

We purchased a landscape design «deal» through Angie’s List. After several attempts to schedule an initial meeting with Babylon, both of which were cancelled by Babylon, we cancelled because their inability to meet with us nearly a month after we paid for the deal was not lining up with our timeline for getting the job done. Within hours my wife received a personal email from the owner threatening us because of her review (which only rated them as average due to their poor communication). The owner lied on Angie’s List stating he had wasted money coming to our house when in fact no one has EVER been to our house from this company. Sooooo glad we didn’t actually do business with this company. Completely unprofessional and unscrupulous. If there was a zero star rating, this is the time I would use it.

Hi,
I found BGL on Angie’s list last year. My Boss at that time and recommended them as she had them convert her front yard to a drought tolerant masterpiece – so nicely done! I met Ron George and his partner and they came out and measured my space and asked about my idea/​vision. These two were not only professional but very personable and easy to talk with. They designed my front yard not only in to a usable outdoor space but to a BEAUTIFUL drought tolerant environment with custom seating and fire pit-​even created an area for outdoor movies. The plants and trees they chose are perfect-​I can’t wait for the transformation!!!

I purchased a deal through Angie’s list. Ron called me right away and scheduled an appointment with me. He was very sensitive to my availability, which I appreciated.
Ron sat down with me and listened to my «wants.» I gave him my budget, and without hesitation, he said he could work within it. He came up with some great suggestions and told me that he’d get back to me with an estimate and design. To my surprise, the design came in much earlier than expected! It was absolutely beautiful, and I am hoping to get started on the project very soon. Ron was extremely professional and thorough. I don’t doubt that his work will be top-​notch, too.

Wrote a negative review and I was threatened with a lawsuit.