Robert Gould Electric

roger h.

We have used Adam Gould to handle a variety of electrical needs for our three houses and a handful of outdoor electrical issues. He always does a first-rate job and is very efficient and professional.

A couple of our projects were emergencies that required immediate attention and he moved a couple jobs around to accommodate our needs.

What we especially like about Adam is that he always offers suggestions and options for handing our projects. Totally trustworthy.

Peter H.

I found Gould Electric on Yelp and thought, ""Great, a local electrician.""
I called Gould Electric to repair the wiring and dimmer on a chandelier that had fallen off its hook; the wire was ripped and the dimmer shorted.

Adam, the son, fixed the wiring and installed a dimmer in about 10 minutes. The problem was he did not finish the job: he did not straighten out the chain and wire, and he installed a dimmer different from what I expected. On top of that he marked up his cost by 100% over retail, failed to give me an itemized invoice, and inserted ""miscellaneous"" as a charge. (When I asked him later what ""miscellaneous"" referred to, he couldn't tell me.)

When I asked him to change out the dimmer to the style I originally had, he stated the local Ace Hardware did not carry the same dimmer. Then, he said he would charge for another service call and for another dimmer. When I asked him to take back the one he installed, he told me he couldn't because it was already faulty: he said it was overloaded and could not be returned. Why did he install it in the first place if it would be overloaded and dangerous?! This is his job, his integrity.

I called him for his supposed expertise. He said I was ""nitpicking"" when I told him he did a poor job and left wires hanging. He's just a novice, and he obviously doesn't know how to, or care, to provide meaningful customer service.

I called Bob, Adam's father, and complained; and he said he would make things right. ""It's a family business after all: two generations!"" He did nothing. Their family business claim means nothing at all.

I talked to a neighbor afterwards who knows Bob Gould personally, and he told me, ""They're nice people, but I would never trust them as electricians.""

Now, I have to fix what I paid Adam Gould to do. Hopefully, you'll avoid my mistake of calling Gould Electric. My neighbor suggested two other electricians in the area who are far superior. I wish I had asked him first.

The one thing positive is, I can say that Gould was quick to do a shoddy job. I called at 930am and Adam Gould got the job done shoddily by 130pm. Now, I have to undo what he did.

Linda S.

No offense to everyone else who worked for us, but the one reliable electric guy in Santa Ynez Valley is R. Gould. He has been in business 38 years. He has repaired the errors younger electricians made more than once. I kept forgetting who he was and losing his number. I never will again. He is so much better than everyone else and is truly a wonderful man. This is a Valley trademan at his best.