I found my whole experience rather odd with this place. I called a couple places because I needed my shades repaired, and went with this place because they are closer and they were recommended by another local business. I explained the problem, and the person on the phone wanted to know the brand name of the shades. They were custom made, not a brand, and I don't have a way to contact whoever made the shades. The shades don't have a brand name written where I can see, but he kept returning to this point. He explained that it's as if I called an auto repair shop and wanted to know if they could fix my car without knowing what kind of car it is. (I think to myself that the other place I called was not worried about the brand.) I get what he is saying, and yet, these are not brand name shades. He kept asking if I could find the custom designer. If I could do that I would not be calling this place. He may not have the best people skills, but I figure I can deal with that. We agree that I would just bring in the shades and he could take a look.
So I wrap the shades in some sheets to keep them clean and drive over there. The business is in a house in a residential neighborhood. It's weird because instead of entering the business, I am at the front door of a house ringing the bell. But there are signs, and it is an actual business (actually several) in the building. The guy who helps me also helps carry the shades inside the building. Very nice. He joked about my having wrapped the shades in these big sheets, which I thought was condescending. He finds the brand of the mechanism for adjusting the blinds there on the end of it. Not something you can see when they are on my wall. I explain the details of the problem again and he agrees to check it and let me know before doing any work. I am hopeful that I will finally be able to use my shades again, although he told me that there may be no solution to one of the problems. (I think to myself that the other place I called seemed to think this was doable.)
After a few days I get a call and he tells me what he was able to do. But the shades will only go up part way. (I think to myself that he was supposed to call before doing any work.) He goes back to the topic of finding the original designer and asking them some details, maybe to obtain a specific part for the repair. Yes, I could probably do some research and see if that designer is still in the business, and see if they have records more than 12 years old that may help him find the necessary part. But that could be time consuming and if I found them, that's who I would use for the repair. After listening to his hemming and hawing about trying to fix it (but not seeming to be able to) I'm getting frustrated. He has invested some time and effort and of course would like to be able to finish the job and get paid for it.
However, it sounds like this is just not the sort of repair job that this place can easily handle, so I decide I will try the other place I called, even though they are farther away. I drive back over there, and a friendly employee I had not met previously helps me load my shades back in my vehicle.
One star for the friendly service of carrying my shades. Another star for being honest and not charging for something they couldn't do.
I suppose if I had some blinds that needed cleaning, I would have been just fine. But at this point, I'm not likely to find out. read more