Bartlett Tree Experts

Bartlett provided an estimate, the first of four that I received, and it seemed excessively high, $ 6,000 to remove one tree and prune two other small trees. When I received estimates from other reputable tree service companies, I discovered that Bartlett’s price was indeed way over the top. The other three estimates were half that amount and one was a third of that total. I wonder if Bartlett adds a surcharge for different neighborhoods in SF.
Not only are they by far the most expensive, the office staff was very unhelpful. We did not receive a written estimate for over a week and a half, «two days at most» was promised. We found it difficult to find a responsive office person who could help find out where the estimate was.

I hired this company last year to spray insecticide on my fruit trees, and they do great work. The problem with them is customer service is about the worst that I’ve encountered in any service company in years. I’ve tried over several months to call them to come back, but have left at least a half dozen messages and no one ever called back. The phone number for the guy who did the work last year was disconnected, so I’ve been calling the main number. Once I reached a live person, who quickly said she was too busy to talk to me and said she would call me right back, but never did. It seems as if this company has too many customers already and doesn’t want or need a single new customer. Maybe if you own a grove of trees and look like you’ll be paying a million bucks they will return your calls. Otherwise, don’t even bother.

Extremely poor customer service. The arborist specialist, Mr. J. C., was excellent at first. Punctual for our first appointment. Informative. Prompt follow up with cost estimate. Then, went off the air. We signed a contract to do the job, but did not hear back for weeks as to when it would be scheduled. I tried calling him at his office, on his cell phone, sending e-​mails. No response. Almost two months went by without J.C. bothering to communicate. I spoke with the Bartlett office clerk several times. She was snippy and unapologetic. Finally, I received a curt voicemail message from J.C. saying the work crew would be coming in a few days. They did show up, and their work was good. But blowing off customers for several months without the courtesy of a call back, or a status update e-​mail indicates that Bartlett Tree Experts do not have a Fig Newton’s worth of respect for their clients. Try another arborist.

Trying to get someone out from this company is like pulling teeth. They came out and gave an estimate. I signed and faxed back this estimate over a month ago and still haven’t heard anything…
Emailed Juan and left him voicemail messages and emailed countless times and still, nothing! Called and spoke to their front desk staff in the SF office and East bay office just to see if I can get a hold of someone, anyone, to take care of this job. I still haven’t heard back despite leaving my name and number down via emails, voicemails and speaking with their receptionists.

Mark came to the rescue and provided 5 star service last week. Thank you, Mark! Averaged with the one star service that I received in the months past, we come out at 3 stars overall. I look forward to working with Mark on future appointments.

So TERRIBLY disappointed. My clients have worked with them for years. In November I contacted Bartlett because we had a notice from the city that our tree needed to clear some electrical wires. I was out of state at the time and we had a month before some other work was being done and we’d be fined if it wasn’t completed by then.
I spoke to the same person each time, and was told different things each phone call, that he had to visit and then give an estimate, then because I was away they had to email me something to sign before he could come out, then I waited a week for the email, then called, then they didn’t need anything.
By end of Thanksgiving I said if they couldn’t do it I really needed to try to look for someone else, but I was told Juan would be told that day.
It literally got to the day I was told Juan would be going to the house, and I clarified didn’t they say two visits, one to look and another to do the work, and isn’t this late? The lady I’d had 5 conversations with didn’t seem to recall what she’d said.
With three days to spare, I finally went a LITTLE nuts and got a callback from Juan, whom I’ve met before. Intensely condescending, casually telling me there was never any way this work could have been done on time because he was «one month ahead» which I realized he meant «one month behind». Then he said he’d been out of town. I asked if the woman taking his calls is an answering service because not once was I ever told any of this. Juan seemed bored and irritated, had no suggestions. Didn’t actually tell me to fuck myself, but from the attitude he may as well have.
There has been no issue with the WORK. The issue is with terrible communication and really extreme unprofessionalism. When you schmuck up, you admit to it. And even when you DON’T, you should ACT like you care about your clients. FORTUNATELY I found a terrific arborist who was happy, grateful, did a wonderful job, and acted like a professional. Lesson learned.

have had Bartlett out for a few estimates… always way over the top. tried them one time only to find that the work didn’t match the price… I would not recommend them.

Bartlett came to our house in San Francisco where we had a huge tree blocking the entrance to our driveway. We had three other arborist come by and do an estimate, which were all higher than Barlett. The other companies also said it was going to take a couple of weeks to come back out, assess again and then cut down the tree. Bartlett’s representative, Juan, saw the tree, gave us a fair price and was able to come back within a few days to get the job done! They cleared out all remnants of the tree and even helped till the soil for our next planting. Could not be happier with their professional operation, not to mention the cost which was cheaper than the others. Thank you, Bartlett!

I have some trees in my front yard that were in need of pruning. I called Bartlett and they sent a representative out to inspect what needed to be done and faxed me an estimate a few days later. The price seemed reasonable so I set up an appointment to have the work done.
The day of the appointment the workers were supposed to show up at 9am. After nobody showed up by 10, I had to make several phone calls to find out if/​when they were going to show up always being told that they were «on the way». The workers finally showed up at noon — 3 hours after the appointed time without any sort of explanation or apology. They couldn’t even be bothered to call me to let me know they were going to be late and it was up to me to call them to find out what was going on. My entire morning was wasted waiting for these clowns.
The trees were trimmed but nothing like what I expected — a real hack job. I guess the upside is that they will eventually grow back. When they were finished they didn’t even let me know., they just left. Next time I’ll use somebody else

I got cited by the city to «fix my tree» situation. I called them for an estimate. A manager came out. He said get approval from city. I got approval from city. I called them back 3 times, the manager was always out. i never got a call back from them.
I also called and said to call me if they did not want to do my job so I wasn’t wasting time. They never called me back.
Poor way to run a business and leave money on the table. Due to lack of communications and no follow up, not recommended at all.

We’ve been using Bartlett for the past 5 years and we couldn’t be happier with the work and services they provide. We originally called Bartlett to look at a sick citrus tree that we didn’t want to lose and when Bill came out he was able to diagnose our trees problem and set up a program which included treatments, fertilization and pruning and this tree has come back amazingly. They are a great company and provide excellent service we definately woud recommend using them your trees will thank you!

We’ve been using Bartlett for the past 6 years and have always had good, professional, consistent service. The work they do looks beautiful and I know that they’re interested in the long-​term health of the tree. Juan, the arborist that we’ve used there, is fantastic.

Chainsaw. At midnight!!! You have got to be freaking kidding me!!! Common sense, safety, respect and decency aside, aren’t there laws against this?!
So last night trying to fall asleep I noticed a loud buzzing noise. First I thought it was a one stroke motorcycle circling the block. Turns out your friendly neighborhood Bartlett Tree Experts were chopping down a tree. From something like 11:30 pm to around 1:30 or 2:00 am.
I got up and went to speak to the crew, pretty sure it is against some sort of noise ordinance against this type of intrusion into the quiet night. I asked the foreman who was in charge — he told me that the boss had just flown out. The other crewman told me that the foreman I just spoke to was in charge, but not to worry that they would be done soon.
I realize trees need trimming. 8 am is not ideal but many people are awake. Or go for 8 pm. Several hours during the dead of the night is really not at all cool. If I EVER need tree repair these guys are going to be the very very last vendor on my list. Argh.

These guys show up looking professional and the guy that I briefed on the project seemed to know what he was doing… and then he left.
The ACTUAL team of guys were untrained, unskilled day laborers that did a hack job and left before it was completed. It took another month to get them to come back and then it STILL wasn’t finished.
Overpriced on top of poor quality work. I couldn’t gone to the Home Depot parking lot and hired the exact same crew myself.

a colleague recently asked if I knew of any good tree trimming services in the SF Bay Area. My wife and I have used Bartlett for the last 3 years, and they do solid work, though they are a little expensive.