Easy Closets easyclosets.com TOTAL RIP OFF!! DON'T BE FOOLED!! Nothing "easy" about "easy closets." Internet

I recently installed a 10 x 12 room with wall to wall easy closets.  The design could not have been easier as well as the rep that walked me through the final after i originally designed it on the computer. 

All the components came with the exception of two wrong sized shelves which were promptly sent to me with new ones, no questions asked.  Yes it does take a little time to install and yes you do have to cut the metal brackets but the cost saving and the finished product and look were great.  We have had numerous compliments on the closet (room) I have built and installed other cabinets and I must say this was so much easier than building from scratch or buying prefinished that you have to install and try to make sure they are correct to fit. 

Only other alternate is to go to cabinet company and let them build and install for you... Then watch the dollar signs go up.  EASY doesnt mean they install themselves.  Easy means they plan, design, manufacture your parts and give you absolute directions that are easy to follow. 

The author of the report makes several misleading claims.

1. Share edges of the railing can harm one' children. In fact, the edges are hidden behind vertical panels at a height not accessible for children.

2. Claim: the manual does neo mention fitting the steel railing to your space. Wrong, it clearly does.

3. Claim: cutting the "thick" railing with a hacksaw is outside of abilities of a typical self-installer. That's just poor judgement, a $10 hacksaw cuts through it in less than two minutes.

First, I think this complaint I am replying to is more out of frustration. Come on, venting over a hacksaw? This is a DIY closet installation. This is not some service that comes in your home, measures, then comes back with estimate and leaves with a fine closet job.  this person had unrealistic expectations of the closets and wanted to save a buck.

I wanted to save money too, especially when its not for some +$500K home with 8 closets, 4 walk through. Instead, I wanted to replace the junk that was here from previous owner. And by junk, it was a board with cheap metal tube for hanger. In all the closets. Builders: shame on you. So I researched closet systems. And this seemed to be the least cost for the nicest features. It is no means quality (particle board is sawdust and glue, with plastic laminate) but it is easier than building your own. I don't want to knock Ikea, but it is much like their furniture...three tools and its done.

I am a customer of Easyclosets dot com. I own and installed several of their closet systems in our home. Their packaging is very good (lots of cardboard and almost too much...) and in many smaller boxes to provide ease of carry, along with (I suspect) better deal with UPS shipping.

Their instructions are thorough and compact (you get a custom guide with each system ordered) and although they mix parts (say you ordered two closets.. parts from both could be in one box or several) it is best to open all the boxes as soon as they arrive, verify integrity of the parts for any damage or loss, and then sort and set out for assembly. All small assembly fasteners are bagged accordingly. If you can read, you can assemble one. You should be of some mechanical-inclination. But do understand:

You should have all the necessary tools, and time before you assemble. The systems with drawers takes the most time.

Do make sure you measured and padded for wall inaccuracies (like deflection and plumb). Better to have 1" of space on either side than none or negative.

Do make sure to consider the thickness of the side panels (typically 5/8" thick, 1 1/4" for total sides).

It helps to have someone work with you if you are solo, but it can be done solo.

Everyone that has seen the work I've done has nothing but compliments. They are MUCH better than wire closets or "typical" contractor 1x2 with particle board shelves, spraypainted. (I did install a ClosetMaid-Rubbermaid wire shelving system once and it was difficult to lock the shelving to brackets. Cutting metal is not difficult if you have sawzall or hacksaw with good blade but their design system was flawed).

The bad news about Easyclosets is No Communication. I've emailed from their form several times. I've called and left messages with their "answering service". No one has ever returned a call or email. Ever. I wanted to get new shelves (could have been my mistake in the layout, who knows!) and no one got back to me. And I am not being malicious, as I have one more master closet to complete and have questions on how to go about. Poor business. I know about business and "certain unsatisfiable clients". I know also that you get what you pay for can be both ways. Easy Closets are not that easy unless it is at taking your money and leaving you without support or contact.

This is a serious issue and they need to fix this. My first two installs went well. But the last one, there was clearly damage inside a box, and the shelving was wider than I spec'd on the order. I was lucky I could modify shelves to fit (cut boards, drill out for the cams to fit).  But not everyone is this fortunate.

I am also very wary of any future purchases and can honestly say, their system to hang these on the wall is poorly engineered. (all the weight of the vertical panels depends on a notch in the partical board. This notch hangs on a metal bracket. Any wall with deflection, warp, twisted timber or plumb issues will mean this is the vulnerable spot. Any tremors (people live in regions where there are tremblors, etc) could result in damage, collapse. If you make a small error and move the vertical panel, you will break that critical notch. Done.

My recommendation for EasyClosets is Neutral. I can say when done right, it works and is cheaper than the Cali competitors. But if you need any assistance, support, or communications (aka hand holding or resolutions), good luck.

**Easy Closets, if you read this, get your engineering to have a solid wood piece insert for the notch. Or re-inforce with metal. It can be done. I did it. I can remove and rehang a section very easily and with comfort it won't fail or fall. I don't care about warranty as much as I to structural design and use. There is much here for another competitor to exploit and do business better. I hope Easy Closets remedies the communications. Otherwise, buyer beware.

We installed Easy Closets in both of our kids bedrooms and are considering using it in our master bedroom and office. Overall we were happy with the product and it was easy to install as long as you had a good sized hacksaw with a sharp blade. We were specifically looking for an adjustable product for short statured people but did a general comparison as well. We looked at Elfa at iKea, Home Depot and Lowes, California Closets, John Louis Home at Costco, etc. A detailed review of Easy Closets was posted at Custom Closets For Short Statured People (Easy Closets Review).

I ordered a complex closet system from Easy Closets about 3 years ago.  It arrived in about 30 or more boxes but everything was clearly labeled.  My husband and I installed it over the weekend.  If you can read directions and use a few simple household tools, it couldn't be easier.  Our designer was terrific and couldn't have been more creative or helpful. We had no problems and we are very pleased with our closet. 

Okay so first of all I am a customer of easy closets currently in the install stage. I am doing a master suite walk-in closet and would like to explain the persons issue in a more "professional" manner. There is no reason someone should be speaking ill of easy closets from my stage in the install process and I think this is a very good product. Now on to explaining the persons complaint......

1. Don't judge a company by its name. "Easy" is a subjective term. A five year old will think this is impossible while "Mike Homes" -guy from "Homes on Homes, etc HGTV, will laugh this off in a hot second. Do you also go to Burger King and think there is a legit king (of perhaps England?) that runs the business?

2. There is a 100% solid reason the tracks are not pre-cut to length. They do not know where your studs are. I understand that as a customer that doesn't know a lot about construction this may seem a bit confusing, however for instance take my install as an example. I ran into the following issues that would have 100% messed up the bracket lengths.
--a. My walls were not square with the floor or other walls (meaning they were not perfect 90 degree angles) and the house is brand new!
--b. the one wall is an interior wall which has a small bathroom closet on the adjacent side which means....lots more studs in incorrect spacings. (so much for every 16")
--c. Lengths were not 72" the general size for the the tracks. They in fact varied per wall because my walls were different lengths (boy if I woulda known that, when they were building the house, I would have totally got the 1/8" corrected.)

3. They do tell you that you must cut the track!!! If you look at the basic install steps on their website:  http://www.easyclosets.com/instructions.aspx Step 2 says "Cut track and ....". Did you want neon arrows or perhaps a 1990's animated emoticon?  (google it-it means the neat-o smiley faces or animated characters)

4. Hack saws are sharp because they need to be. I am assuming you are a vegetarian and don't use steak knives much because they are more aggressive than a hack saw.

5. Comments about your phone call: From the amount of CAPITAL LETTERS in your complaint I would say that your phone call started off with you being in a bad mood not open to any sorta suggestion. I would have been a complete *** to you on the phone more than likely as well. Sorry, just don't think its fair. (again these are assumptions based on your complaint, i could be wrong)

6. Ok enough bashing - comments on your side.  I can see how people would go into this thinking it will be easier than what they had envisioned (people always want the easy way out) but that doesn't mean it isnt "easy" in relation to cutting lumber to all the correct sizes, planing them to the thickness desired, finishing the wood, getting appropriate hardware, etc. This is what I would call an intermediate-to-advanced install much along the same lines as a garage door opener (from scratch where you have to mount 2x4s for support above the door and run the wiring, etc).

So... what kind of person am I saying all this stuff? - My dad is a super handy man so i get the idea in how things work however this is probably the most difficult project I would tackle myself. I dont plan on doing my own patio, finishing a basement, or ever framing out a closet I want to add downstairs, however I do do all my own painting-(nicer than the pros I hired to do a cathedral ceiling), yard work, flower/shrub planting, and I am good with computers and math. So there you have it... these "easy closet" guys aren't so bad. (2 day shipping... say WHAT!)

Closing thoughts: If you don't think you can handle power tools and are good at problem solving, don't tackle this and just hire a contractor to do it. It takes time. (4 hours in the install and I havent screwed the track to the wall yet.....Math my friends, Math. (i expect everything to match up perfectly too!-planned my hack saw cuts accordingly with my misshaped walls and wacky stud alignment)

Cheers all, and happy closet building. - eastern PA

i just had to reply to the  ripoff report as it was so exaggerated.  my husband installed our closet organizer in a couple of hours, making three  cuts in each of two  metal hangers  (not a beam) with a hacksaw,with the hanger bar secured in a vise.  it took very little time.  he was very impressed with the quality of the product, and how well it all went together. t.he measurements were very precise.  i tried to order from another company but was not given the freedom of design that easy closet  provided.

i love the closet myself,  the drawers roll so smoothly, as do the large baskets; and the hangers slide smoothly on the rods.
we are completely satisfied , the company was very pleasant  to work with also. 

venetia

I just completed the installation of 4 closets in my home with an Easy Closet system.

I was very pleased with the timely delivery, the substantial packaging and the ease of installation of the product itself. Like many others, I read the Ripoff Report blog about the hacksaw and the metal brackets...you have to cut some brackets. You will use a hacksaw or a metal cutting saw of some variety. You need to anchor these brackets firmly onto the walls of your closet. You have to possess a few carpentry skills. After the first closet, I didn't even need to look at the directions! Very easy!

There was a mistake on my order that necessitated a call to the customer service department. They quickly and politely re-shipped the correct items and had them to my door step in 3 days. From the time I actually entered the order on the website until I completed the closets was 13 calendar days (this includes the additional 3 days needed for the missing material to show and the fact I could have done it a bit quicker had I been so motivated). I am completely satisfied with that type of time-frame and turnaround.

I found the website to be very user friendly and uncluttered. I especially liked the 3D CAD tools they incorporate.

In short, you need to possess fundamental carpentry skills and some basic tools. These are things that are discussed up front on the Easy Closet website. I give them 2 thumbs up would recommend!! 

My husband and I, he is 60, completed two closets and one pantry in a single day. We designed them and with the help of the Easy Closet team, tweaked them to perfection. They arrived in 30 well marked boxes with easy to read instructions and a list of tools one would need to install them. It is true that the support bar for the entire system must be cut to size. I actually did this while my spouse did the measuring. I do not know what the original report writer is refering to when speaking about sharp edges that might harm his children. If installed per the easy instructions there are no sharp edges. Hacksaws are not that difficult to use - however if necessary I suppose one could measure the proper length and take the support to Home Depot for cutting - but again, at 57 and weighing 135 lbs, and female, I did not find this to be an issue. Everything was exactly as ordered, the quality very high and the price quite acceptable for the result. I feel sorry that my experience was not that experienced by the person who wrote the original complaint because it may make others, who can use a hacksaw with ease, think twice about a product that is excellent. Paula

I have been an Easy Closets customer for more than 10 years and have been enormously satisfied with their product and customer service.  I knew when I ordered the product that the track would have to be cut with a hacksaw and I did it in a matter of a couple of minutes with absolutely no problem - it is not difficult at all.  I hung the closet unit myself in less than 90 minutes and it has held up for years.

I have every few years made some changes (added drawers, switched from hanging to shelving, etc.) and have found their customer service to be extremely responsive and helpful.

This is an excellent product and I couldn't be more pleased.  I regularly recommend Easy Closets to friends.

I was about to buy an IKEA closet system but purchased from Easy Closets instead.  I think it would have been about 10% cheaper to go with IKEA but I would have paid tax and its a lot more work to put IKEA stuff together.  Honestly I was a bit skeptical of an internet closet design solution but I loved the web application, had fantastic professional service from a sales rep, the product arrived on the day it was promised to arrive, was well packed, had great instructions and installed in the better part of an afternoon.

In the end I spent about $1,000 on a 4 unit system for an 96" wide 8' high closet space with baskets (on ball bearing slides) and shelves.  I live in northern california so I paid zero tax.

In all this was a A+ experience and I /highly/ recommend this company.

Pay no attention to the ranting of the previous individual re: Easy Closets. This company is the best company I have ever worked with over the internet concerning product, service and customer satisfaction. After purchasing the first closet for one bedroom, I proceeded to purchase 5 more for each bedroom and entry closet in the house! Designing the system is very easy, and if you do have questions, all you have to do is call the 800 number and a designer will work with you to make cost and space saving suggestions.  Every order I placed was shipped the following day, and arrived in perfect condition, each box clearly labeled with contents and the closet they were designed for, within 5 working days. As for installation, yes, you need a hacksaw, and it took me approximately 3 minutes to cut the load beams to fit precisely. Hours and hours? Only if you were using a nail file.
I did make a mistake and required an additional shelf. When I called, the designer helped me out and sent the additional pieces out at no charge.
This is a good company, with good people and a good product. I would recommend them highly.

I just finished installing EasyClosets in 3 rooms. At first I agreed with the reviewer that it was difficult to cut through the hacksaw blade. But then I re-read the instructions and they suggest to use a 28-32TPI blade. After switching to a better hacksaw and the correct blade, the track cutting task was much easier.

I did have a couple other issues. I wrote up a more complete review along with some lessons learned that will help anyone with the product at http://closetreview.blogspot.com/

Overall, we are pleased and will be using their product for the rest of our house. It was definitely a LOT cheaper than California Closets!

We just finished our Master closet with EasyClosets.  It was a 10 out of 10 experience!  Just make sure you have correct measurments.  Think about all of the logistics: a 3D web design with assistance (which I asked for and was glad as the professional made great suggestions), the ordering process with instant pricing, the quick 2 day shipping (Georgia), the personalized instructions, and the well-labeled boxes.  Everything is cut to size, including the hanging rods.  You do have to cut the brackets and cleats and covers.  My husband is very handy.  He took his time and read the instructions over first.  This isn't a race.  He did it a couple of hours after work for a few days and finished on a weekend.  I would estimate 12 hours total.  The 5 sections were 84 inches high. Two were 6 foot hanging sections, two were 2 foot shoe shelves, one was 8 foot multiple with hanging, shelves, hamper.  The quality is unmatched.  We have seen and priced every system out there.  Even if you are not handy; order a design and hire someone.  You will save a fortune.  We paid $2060 for Ivory with Oil rubbed bronze.  Top do-it-for-you was $6000.  I cannot believe the storage we have now!  I can fit more shoes and bags! :)

Easy in Alpharetta

I don't know who PMOSES2 is, but I suspect he/she is either a competitor or has never held a tool before.

I just finished installing an Easy Closets system in a 12 foot wide closet. Installation was fast and simple. It took about 4 or 5 hours. I had to cut 2 metal strips about 1/16th inch thick and about 2 inches wide. These were not 'thick steel beams'. Each cut took less than 2 minutes. When done, there are no 'sharp metal edges' exposed. There are plastic covers that snap over the metal strip to hide it. I also had to cut these plastic covers, maybe 30 seconds for each cut. As far as 'kids' reaching the strip, it is mounted 6 1/2 feet off the floor, so either the kids are really tall or they are climbing up the shelves.

I could not be happier with Easy Closets. After I placed my order, I got a call from them wanting to confirm a part of my order. Once that was completed, they shipped my order via UPS the next day, and I got it about 6 days later in the northwest.

Two important things to keep in mind. First, when designing make sure your measurements are correct. At first I had my closet width about 1 inch too wide. If I ordered it like that I would have had to cut several parts down to fit, or get replacements. Fortunately, I rechecked my measurements before ordering and corrected the width. Everything was cut (exept for the metal and plastic strips mentioned above) exactly to fit.

Second, follow the directions carefully, and check your level when marking the wall. The directions are complete, easy to follow, and accurate. Just do what they say.

Would I use Easy Closets again? Absolutely! I am completely satisfied with the product, the service, and the final results.

I don't know who PMOSES2 is, but I suspect he/she is either a competitor or has never held a tool before.

I jsut finished installing an Easy Closets system in a 12 foot wide closet. Installation was fast and simple. It took about 4 or 5 hours. I had to cut 2 metal strips about 1/16th inch thick and about 2 inches wide. These were not 'thick steel beams'. Each cut took less than 2 minutes. When done, there are no 'sharp metal edges' exposed. There are plastic covers that snap over the metal strip to hide it. As far as 'kids' reaching the strip, it is mounted 6 1/2 feet off the floor, so either the kids are really tall or they are climbing up the shelves.

I could not be happier with Easy Closets. After I placed my order, I got a call from them wanting to confirm a part of my order. Once that was completed, they shipped my order via UPS the next day, and I got it about 6 days later.

Two important things to keep in mind. First, when designing make sure your measurements are correct. At first I had my closet width about 1 inch too wide. If I ordered it like that I would have had to cut several parts down to fit. Fortunately, I rechecked my measurements before ordering and correcte the width. Everything was cut (exept for the metal strips mentioned above) exactly to fit.

Second, follow the directions carefully, and check your level when marking the wall. The directions are complete, easy to follow, and accurate. Just do what they say.

Would I use Easy Closets again? Absolutely! I am completely satisfied with the product, the service, and the final results.

The OP is way off base here. I recently installed two closets from EasyClosets.com and they were just that: easy. Granted, the hardest part of the install *was* the cutting and attaching of the metal rails, but that's only because the assembling and hanging of the actual units was so simple.

The hacksaw bit was tedious, but it was not hard. It's just takes a bit of sawing. No danger, no back-breaking labor. And it didn't take hours. I don't work with tools often, and I didn't go at it with gusto, but I still cut the three rails for one of the closets in under a half-hour.

OP, think about it. They cannot provide you with precise precut rails because they don't know what your walls are like. You may have to cut the rails to extend beyond the unit width, to make sure they're securely attached to the studs. They don't know where the studs will be in relation to the unit, and they don't know how far apart your studs are. You only know how long your rails need to be *after* you prepare the space and find your studs.

You knew it was self-install when you ordered. Did you expect the shelves to attach themselves to the wall with fairy dust? The instructions are intended for people much dumber than myself, and it has pictures. There's no excuse for not being able to do this.

As for the sharp edges, there really were none for me, since I did straight cuts. And any ugliness that showed beyond the end of the unit was covered by the plastic rail cover. Also, the rails are hung so high there's no way a child could get up there to hurt themselves even if they managed to remove the cover and find any botched cut ends.

In short, OP, any reasonable person can install these closets or find someone who can. You should not have been surprised that a self-install requires some DIY tools and labor. Even so, the company's attempt to satisfy you went above and beyond, and your rejection of their offer and your attempt to "make their lives miserable" here shows you and your complaint to be petty and unreasonable.

EasyClosets has an excellent design tool, great options and prices, and excellent staff to help you fine-tune your design. They respond immediately to any problems. (One of our boards was damaged in transit; they sent a replacement right away.) As far as I'm concerned, they're a first-class company, and I will recommend them to anyone.

Thanks.

Thanks for the reference to this product.

I checked out the web site and this product looks just like what we were searching for.  We are going to contact them and order a setup for the clost in our office. Besides I am impressed by the professional reponse to the OP.

The requirement to custom saw a few pieces is no problem to me. 

Having recently used Easy Closet to redo a closet I found it to be a great product. Ordering on the internet was simple and the merchandise was delivered in 2 days.  Following the simple instructions it was assembled in about 2 hours.  Yes, we did have to cut the main bracket, but that was easy using a hacksaw.  I didn't find any sharp pieces as all the wood was nicely finished.  The bracket was covered with a plastic cover that was easy to trim to size with scissors.  I am very happy with all aspects of this company.  Help was offered via email, live chat and by phone. Every step of the assembly was clear and easy.  Please try this company and their product, I'm sure you will find complete satisfaction.

We strongly believe in everyone's right to speak their opinion about their experience with our Company. In fact, we welcome that. But when false statements are made, we need to address the lies.

1) We have always CLEARLY disclosed the installation step in which our track needs to be cut.

It is on our web pages titled:

"REQUIRED TOOLS" (under the picture of a hacksaw states "Hacksaw - needed to cut track and cover")

"EASY INSTALLATION" (step 2 "cut track and attach across the back wall" as well as step 9) "FAQ'S" (We have a complete explanation to the 4TH question, "Is there any cutting involved as part of the installation?").

"COMPLETE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS" (We also discuss cutting the track in several places in the complete installation instructions easily available on our website.) It also comes with your custom plans and custom instructions when you order.

It has been clearly stated this way since we started shipping our product and we have NEVER received feedback like this.

2) We have shipped hundred of thousands of closets to homeowners across the USA for the past 11 years. In many installations the track length is determined based on the location of studs within the customer's walls. That final measurement is determined on site and the track needs to be cut to size on site. The average time to cut a single 1/8" thick track with a hand hacksaw is approximately 45-90 seconds. This order in question had 6 tracks.

3)We have had over 500 customers write in unsolicited testimonials to us. The great majority of these customers installed the product themselves. They clearly understood the installation steps before buying and never felt that cutting our track during the install to be a fraction of the traumatic hardship that this customer feels it has been. In fact we have several grandmothers and other unlikely people who have gone on record to say that they are vey happy they purchased and installed our product. Check out the customer testimonial videos on our website to some of these REAL customers talking about their installation experience. You may be surprised to see who was able to complete this installation!

4) We have never had any customer provide us with any feedback that even hinted that a sharp edge from our track could ever be dangerous. And, we are NOT the only do-it yourself closet company to require that a steel track be cut as part of the installation.

5)Based on all of our records and witnesses, this customers call was handled professionally and courteously as our entire staff has been meticulously trained to do. Most importantly, this customer was reminded of our generous return policy which states that because he was dissatisfied, he could have RETURNED the entire order FOR A FULL REFUND. Yes, we did offer him a $300 credit to pay for someone to come to his house and cut the 12 tracks for him. This is an offer we considered extremely generous. But we were told that complete payment for the entire installation was the only option. When our reasonable options were declined we were told that he "was going to make our lives miserable." This seems to be the method that was chosen.

Our product is a DIY or Do-It-Yourself product. For eleven years we have helped hundreds of thousands of customers design, purchase and install beautiful custom closets for a fraction of the price they would pay a local or franchise company to install the product. Give us a call or go to our site and send us an email! We value every customer we have and we will HONESTLY answer your questions or address any concerns you have about installing our closet systems.

The EasyClosts Team