Abbott Party Rental

I’m thinking they must be playing with their balls all day and that the «answering the phones thing» must really mess up their ball playing schedule. Now knowing this, after trying to work with them a second time but decided against it, I don’t take it personally when they express a deep tone of disgust.

I have used Abbott Party Rental twice now. Once for my wedding shower & another time for my wedding.
For my wedding shower we rented chairs, tables & a tent. I contacted them via email & they were able to set up the order & deliver it when I needed it. They even set up the tent for me.
For my wedding, I rented a folding bar. They allowed me to return it at the end of the day on Monday even though my wedding was on Saturday.
They were very easy to deal with & responded a lot quicker than the other places I had contacted. They also had everything available last minute where a lot of other places didn’t.

Nothing like begging a company to provide you with information or service. I emailed them for a quote — the responses were terse and signed only with «client relations» (what a joke that is!). No name signing off at all. They would not quote me in the email, I had to call.
When I called I practically had to drag the information out of the guy who answered. He seemed distracted, annoyed and gave curt, one word answers. After 5 minutes of this he says «I’ll need a credit card». I say «Could I get a total first?» He rattles off a number which seemed too good to be true so I say «well, how long do I have the furniture for?» He says «all day». I say «Oooookaaaaay, when will it be delivered?» He says «Oh no, you have to pick up, we don’t deliver to your area.»
Mind you, I had asked him for eight, 8-​foot long tables and almost 80 chairs AND told him my address at the beginning of the call. What a jerk to string me along for that long on the phone — how many people have the ability to pick up an order like that themselves!
Avoid.

This business has a lot to learn about customer service. I’m frankly surprised they are still in business considering the negative reviews and their lack of care about reviews that are publicly posted about their service. We used this rental company for a small dinner party and were disgusted with how dirty the glasses and silverware were upon arrival. Lipstick marks, pieces of food, all which we only discovered when setting the places 30 mins prior to the guests arriving. We were still washing dishes that should have arrived clean when our guests arrived.
To add insult to injury, when I politely pointed this out to the proprietor upon return of their stuff his response was that we should have called them and they would have brought out new glasses and cutlery. YEAH RIGHT! First of all it was already 7PM by the time we discovered the dirty stuff. Instead of offering a discount on the rental or simply an apology, all of a sudden it was our bad for not calling them to bring new stuff out!
We did wash all of the stuff so that the next renter doesn’t have the same experience we had, but certainly won’t return to this place and will do everything we can to make sure that nobody else goes there either. Rule #1 about running a business — The only reason you EXIST is because of your customers. Treat them with respect, as one negative review is enough to turn away ten times as many customers as you offended. My prediction: this place is out of business very soon.

RUDE, OBNOXIOUS and DISCOURTEOUS. I have never had a merchant talk like that with a PAYING customer. I don’t understand whether they’re here to do business or direct them to their competitors, because that’s exactly what I did and will NEVER recommend that arrogant owner to anybody. For them, money comes first and then their customers. I had to order 10 wedding chairs, an order as simple as that, and they made the whole interaction so distasteful, rude and hurtful. Nobody likes to work with people of that attitude, especially if the rental is for a happy occasion. I wonder how come they’re still in business after reading their Unilocal and Google reviews. The whole experience made me angry and left a bad taste in my mouth.

Do not order with them, I am having the worst problem with them. Their lack of communication and incompetence has really given me a headache. I placed a rental order on 6−7−13 for 50 white wood chairs w/​padded seat, with delivery and pick up to and from my home. The chairs would be needed for a party on Saturday June 22 2013. I did receive the chairs, however they were not wood chairs, like stated in the invoice, they were a hard plastic. They scheduled a delivery date and an approximate time of 8a-​12pm for Thursday June 20, 2013 and arrived with in that time frame. However a pick up time was never arranged and was told I would be called for pick up time after the date of the party. On Monday 6÷24÷13 4:05pm while at work I missed a call from the vendor stating that their delivery man was at my home picking up the chairs and that 3 were missing. I needed to call back with 20 minutes or else the driver would leave without them. I was at work and not expecting a pick up since I was never notified of a pick up date, I did not receive the voice mail until an hour later when I was out of a meeting and immediately called to notify them that the 3 chairs were in the garage and I could have some one get them for the driver if he would come back for them. The rude «manager» (I can’t believe they would ever let anyone with his attitude in charge of anything” stated that it was impossible he was not going to send his driver back for only 3 chairs and that I needed to drive them to Lombard to return them or I would have to pay another delivery charge to have his driver come and pick them up. Mind you I have already paid for pick up. The manager got on the phone and stated it was not in his policy to notify me of when his guys were going to come, which is a lie because although a time will not be pre-​scheduled a day will be. This is a problem that could have been easily been resolved had the vendor arranged a pick up time or at least notified me of a day so that I could have arranged to have someone there to account for all the chairs and open the garage to take out the missing chairs. The vendor was rude and disrespectful yelling over me, told me he would be charging me for the missing chairs because he was not returning for them. I paid for a service of renting 50 wood chairs and received plastic chairs and paid for pick up and had some chairs left behind and am now being bullied into paying for chairs that they have mistakenly left behind. They are assholes and completely regret doing any sort of business with them. A second charge was made to my card with out my authorization for $ 120.00 from Abbott party rental. I have read reviews in some Chicago Brides blogs that have had similar problems, seems like this is the kind of business they want to run.

Called ahead of time, to make sure they had what I needed. Quoted around $ 30 for simple party stuff. Told them when I’d be there. They took my card number and told me to bring an ID. Drove 50 minutes to go get the stuff… Get everything out and ready and they say, «Oh! We don’t take debit… Just credit.» When I asked why they didn’t say this yesterday, he said, «I was real busy.» Then, when I tell him I drove, he just looks at, e and says he can’t help… Ridiculous… Seems like I may have dodged the bullet, though.

As far as professionalism & pricing, it was excellent and their service was was very professional, timely, and accurate. However, they do certainly lack in customer service skills. Spoke with 2 different men, both of whom were rushed, rude, defensive when questioned, and difficult to reach by phone. Overall, despite that, if it can be overlooked, then it is a good value for tent & chair & table rentals.

Valerie made my wedding day perfect! I’m really surprised to see these other reviews. I don’t know who these other reviewers dealt with, but I love Val!
I had always wanted an outdoor wedding, but didn’t think it would be possible in the Chicago area because of unpredictable weather. I met Val of Abbott Party Rental and Banbury Fair Events at a bridal fair in 2011. She assured me that with their supplies, they could make whatever weather we encountered a non-​issue ~ and she was right! I got married in Bartlett on 5÷27÷12, a record hot day for the year. With the tents and tent fans, the heat was fine.
Of course, we encountered some bumps along the way of our year and a half of planning, but Val took it all in stride and helped calm me as needed. She even came to our rehearsal and ceremony in case there was anything I needed.
We did give a deposit to Abbott and Banbury each about a year before the wedding, and then final payments about 2 weeks before. Our contracts detailed out everything, and we were given a layout of what tents and seating and such would be where about a week before.
I was very hesitant about the mobile bathroom, but my guests absolutely loved it! I am disabled, so I didn’t chance the steps up to the mobile bathroom, but my guests raved about it being clean and air conditioned and like a real regular bathroom, instead of like a port-​a-​potty (which was my fear). Val also gave me great suggestions about where we should set up certain aspects of the reception, and what other vendors I might like who’d work with our budget.
Our guests all said our wedding was very unique, and the most fun wedding they’d been to. If I wouldn’t have to go through all the planning and money and stress, I’d do it again every weekend!

OMG never ever again these ppl are cheaters ! i never rented stuff before so i dident count the plates and the guy noticed that and when i returned there plates he said you are missing 10 plates ! and then he told me was sure that i was missing 10 plates and he and another person counted he was like o yeah u are missing 5 more! i was like u were so sure a min ago that it was 10! the charged me 150 dollars for things they never gave me! he wouldent look through his inventory to see if he never gave it and wouldnt look at the video footage he had either! never ever again hated it! and they owner was sooo rude and dident like ppl of color he was very shady from the start i should have noticed and not trusted them!

I cancelled my order right after I read these reviews. When I made the order I was told that I had to make a full payment – so I did. When I called to cancel I was asked if I made a deposit or full payment. I was shocked since I was told I could NOT make a deposit. Needless to say, these reviews are pretty accurate and I am glad I cancelled. I would have been so upset if I had to deal with any drama the day of my wedding. Oh, btw, when I asked if they could e-​mail me proof of my cancellation by the end of the day, I was told that they can’t control when the e-​mail gets to me (what?!?). If I wanted it today I would have to go pick it up!!! Too bad I live in Brooklyn, NY. His answer: oh.

I won’t go at great depth since I already did in my google review and since everyone here has had similar experiences.
1. They are rude and seem to operate on the motto: «The customer is always wrong.»
2. They will not only make you crunch the numbers and make you figure out your own quote for items, they will also misquote you the delivery fee and then blame you for not given them information that they didn’t ask for when you called.
3. When you ask a question, they will get defensive and they will be condescending to you.
4. I also don’t think they like people of color. They got ruder when I gave them my full name and I do not believe in coincidences.
If you want good customer service and/​or believe in good business practices, stay away from them.

Will definitely NOT rent from Abbott again. I rented a Karaōke machine from them and was sorely disappointed. I looked on the website and saw that they had a newer machine and also talked to the guy on the phone who said they have hundreds of discs to choose from for the machine. OMG I walked into the place and it was dusty and old with 1980’s rental equipment. I saw the karaōke machine and it was new and then when he brought out the discs I was literally about to cry because my event was that same day. They had no new music just old hits which is cool for certain crowds but not for a diverse group of people. I just took the machine and went to Best Buy and spent an extra 50 dollars on karaōke music ARGH! I will never rent from Abbott again. I wish I would have read these reviews before I rented.

I placed an order with them for my wedding — plates, silverware, chafing dishes and a few other miscellaneous items. It wasn’t a huge order, but our wedding was small and it was a signifiant % of our wedding budget.
The sales guy, Tony, was almost impossible to get on the phone. It took 8 or 9 calls over a couple of weeks before he wasn’t «too busy» to take my order. I should have gotten a clue and realized that this is not a top-​notch service provider and gone with another, more expensive vendor. In fact, price was the ONLY reason I went with Abbott.
Brides (and everyone else): You really do get only what you pay for.
When I finally got him on the phone, the entire call was filled with him griping about how crazy-​busy his job is. I’m really sorry, but for a sales guy at a rental company, isn’t that a GOOD thing?
Got the order in and we were set to go.
The delivery day arrives and the hours tick by and I finally call to see where the delivery is. The guy tells me, «Oh yeah, they’ll be there in an hour or so.» Ok, perfect.
20 minutes later, Tony calls, telling me my order is ready but he had marked as a Pick-​up. Even though the delivery fee, delivery address and DELIVERY are all clearly marked on the contract. He then asks, «So, you gonna come pick this up or what?» I inform him that indeed I will not be picking it up and I expect it to be delivered within the hour as promised 20 minutes prior, or at least by 4:30 pm. He agrees and hangs up.
Ten minutes later, another call from Tony. There’s no way he can get there before 5:30 or so. I tell him he’s got til 4:30 or he needs to come back at 6:30.
This was the day of our rehearsal — I’d been working all day getting the room ready (this was pretty much a DIY wedding aside from these rentals) and needed to go home and get cleaned up before the actual rehearsal & dinner, hence the unavailability between 4:30 and 6:30.
Tony starts screaming about how I’m «making all these demands» and being unreasonable. Mind you, our contract clearly stated that the delivery would be made during regular business hours. I reiterated my «unreasonable» demand and hung up the phone.
Lucky for Tony, my fiancé answered the phone on his next attempt to reach me. They worked something out and the rentals DID arrive on the day they were supposed to, but they were several hours late. If we had planned on using these rentals Friday evening, we would have been screwed.

I ordered tables, covers, and a tiki bar for a party in the city, I paid every asking price including set up and ‘insurance’. Throughout the process, the other staff was nice, but the owner himself was very difficult. I felt like he was doing me a favor by taking my order, even when he increased the delivery fee by $ 35 than quoted by his sales staff.
I went ahead because Tiki bars in chicago seemed hard to find. The day of delivery, the staff was rude to my friend who was there for set up, and due to delivery only on friday for a saturday event they weren’t even able to do so. The Tiki bar was broken, as the grass skirt didn’t attach to the table, and we only managed to figure out a way 2 hours and 3 people (one of whom is an engineer) later!
I called to voice my disappointment and ask for refund of the tiki bar (I’m letting the delivery slide) not less than 5 times leaving messages and talking to live people. Each time I’m told someone will get back to me. I’m still waiting.
Nice sales staff, rude owner, damaged table, unprofessional follow up.