With all due respect, the slabs in the posted pictures look pretty much the same. In fact, the slab in the templated picture is IMHO better looking than the top slab.
Nevertheless, if you feel slighted or "ripped off", you should talk to the manager of the stone yard.

I like the one you picked out much better - the coloring is very different - we had our own drama too with a fab ... it really sucks, had to find another one but got lucky the granite yard found some slabs for us that the original fab was supposed to hold and didn't after saying they did (I thought it was odd and called to check).

I am so sorry! Something similar happened to me and, unfortunately, many others here. Nearly a year ago I shared my own tale of the slab yard delivering other slabs to the fabricator. Like you, I had photos of "my" slabs. It ended up okay -- the replacement slabs, while not what I'd chosen, were close enough and truthfully, eight months later (since install) I really like what I have.

But I know what the slab yard did, and so does our fabricator. My amazing fabricator really went to bat for us, and that's what I've taken from that experience, how much I appreciate that personal touch, and that they went the extra mile.

My fingers are crossed you have an acceptable and positive resolution. I wish you the best of luck!

The slab you picked out is much nicer...I understand why you're upset! Richer colors & more integrated (i.e., not so splotchy!) Unfortunately, as someone already mentioned, this is not an isolated case...it's happened to quite a few people here.

For others: To help avoid this, try to have your slabs delivered to your fabricator ASAP...and then check on them immediately to be sure the correct slabs were delivered. Oh, and as the OP did, take pictures when you pick out & tag your slabs so you can prove your case later, if needed. (I'd also take a pic of the tags w/the front of the slab & have each tag be unique w/a # or something...just a precaution!)

I really hope this is quickly resolved to your satisfaction...keep us posted!

Egads. Like they think you wouldn't notice. I actually like the second slab but it's nowhere near like the first one. Sorry you're having to deal with this.

Another tip: Most slabs have numbers / markings on their sides. Note those down too.

Hi jnjmom, I see by your name that you're in NJ? Who did you use for your granite?

I agree that the slab you picked out originally is better looking.

Here's the deal-io on "Tagged/Selected/Approved" slabs:

Just because you tag them - does NOT mean they are going into YOUR
home - UNLESS the following things take place:

1.Your Fabricator has to call the slab distributor and place an order for
THE slabs that you tagged.

2.WHENEVER you tag a slab, do these three things -
A. take digital pictures -
close ups, and whole shots - showing the entire slab
B. RECORD the slab number
C. RECORD the Block number - ASK the folks at the slab distributor
when you are tagging the slabs - they have no reason NOT to give you this intel.
The block numbers will stay the same in cases where the slabs ALL
came out of the same block, but the slab numbers should be in "sequence"
like "1, 2, 3, 4" and so on....

3. CALL your fabricator the same day or the next day after you tagged the
slabs you want, and make sure that they call the slab fabricator to place the order
for the slabs you TAGGED. (Yeah, this is kind of like baby sitting, but sadly,
many fabricators need help on this) Follow up with the slab distributor to make
sure that the slabs got "ordered" for delivery or pick up by your Fabricator.
Many guys have accounts with the slab distributors and use a purchase
order system.

4. PAY your deposit to your Fabricator.
Most Fabricators will NOT order slabs if NO deposit
is made. Also - make sure you have signed your contract. Again - no tiki -
no washi... If you have not signed your contract, nor payed any money up
front - nothing is going to happen except someone else is getting the slabs
that you fell in love with......

FYI - Most slab distributors will "hold" slabs that are tagged for no more than
5 (FIVE) business days, then they go back into inventory.
It sounds to me like either somebody forgot to place the order with the slab
distributor, or someone at the distributor switched your tags for some reason.

hope they can do right by you this far into the project

kevin

Good luck, jnjmom! I hope you don't have to go out and choose new slabs (though I suspect you might). I understand how you must feel - I can't even imagine how difficult it would have been for me to have obsessed (and obsessed!) over granite, and finally chosen THE slabs, and then had them switched out on me. Once I get my heart set on something, it has to be *that* item, and starting over would have been very difficult. (It was part of the reason I chose quartz countertops - the idea of setting me loose in a granite yard was terrifying!)

I hope this gets resolved well (and easily).

Good luck. We went to two yards last Friday and found what we wanted and had them tagged since the next lot or block of them were much darker. I thought "how do I know if I'll get the ones I picked". Kevin has some good suggestions. Talked to our guy Saturday and he wouldn't recommend the November Sky for us so we are going with the same granite we put in our son's apartment. He only had two slabs left and we went looking at more to make sure there wasn't anything better. I'll remember Kevin's list for the future.

I hope everything works out for you.

Many thanks to AZStone, for the excellent advice. Before reading this post, I thought I was just special. We too are members of the club who have had some kind of slab-switch mishap. Had I any idea that this would happen, I would have taken some of the measures that AZ suggests. Too bad that everyone who will be picking out stone, can't be told this in advance.

I agree, great advice as usual, Kevin!!

I do wish I had recorded the slab number. Did everything but that! :o)

Just got home from the stone yard. The owner met us (me and fab lady) there and went through the place with a fine toothed comb. He has NO clue what happened to my slabs. He hasn't even sold any Kashmir Gold since then. They are nowhere to be found. It's crazy. Fortunately, he was really bothered by the whole thing.

I did manage to choose a couple of other slabs. I still think the others were my fave, but at the end of the day, these are so similiar, I doubt anyone would ever know the difference. This slab is probably more interesting for you stone lovers anyway, ha :o)

Sorry for the squenched pic, small quarters:

BTW -- Josie, I'm in TN. My kid's names both start with J and I'm not very creatives, so I'm J and J mom... :o)

jnjmom

We'll be looking at granite at a couple of yards in Knoxville. Are you near that area? Thanks

I went to Nashville, but there is a great place I talked to in Soddy Daisy -- Webco. They were really friendly and pretty reasonable.

Yah, I'm a stone lover and I like that new slab even better than the other two.

Glad you were able to get it resolved.

sorry for the mix up-- these things are so stressful.

FWIW, I like the second slab better too-- I think it is fantastic.

In any case, I hope it gets straightened out!

That new slab is gorgeous - I think this is all working out for the best. :-)

This happened to me twice. The third time I signed all three sides of the stone with my signature in Black permanent marker. Finally I go the right ones! Glad it worked out for you!

LESSON TO ALL: Go see your slabs as soon as the fabricator gets them!!! The sooner the better if they sent the wrong slabs.

The slab yard where I chose my slabs puts the slab numbers selected in their computer and prints out a form with both the customer's and fabricator's name. I beleieve the fabricator has five days to order the slabs. I scanned and emailed my copy of the slab selection form to my fabricator an hour after I chose them. They picked them up the next morning.

jnjmom,

Would you mind telling me what granite yard you used in Nashville? My son and DIL live there and they want to change out their laminate counter tops soon.

Thanks!

There are ALOT of granite yards in Nashville, I've been to several but ended up choosing my slabs at Triton. I've used Vemex to fabricate and, so far, they have been great to work with. The lady that does the sales is Mary and she's held my hand through this "crisis"...haha... Plus, I'm getting my KG for $45/sqft.

At the end of the day, I know it's gonna be fine. I hope to have the counters installed tomorrow. I'll let you guys know how it goes, of course!!