I needed a replacement shutter in my east kitchen window as it was here when we purchased the house and some shutters were broken. After we moved in, we had Hunter Douglas shutters installed in 2 bedrooms and the diningroom window. On June 19, 2025 I ordered Specifically Hunter Douglas Shutters from Mike at Blinds for Less. On July 4, his son came and installed the shutters. Immediately I noticed that both panels were warped badly. I mentioned it to his son and he took a picture, as did I, and he said he would send it to Mike. The shutters were not the same quality as my other Hunter Douglas Shutters so I began to do some calling to Hunter Douglas. When I didn't hear from Mike, I called him the following Monday, he told me that he had gotten the pictures and because the shutters were in the East window, they would not shut out the light like my other one under the patio. My diningroom shutter is Not under a patio. Mike said he would come the following Monday and look at the shutters.
After thinking about it for a while, I called Hunter Douglas and they had NO order at all with my name on it. The Rep asked me to look at the Invoice left at the time of delivery. I did not get any paperwork at installation time. Then the Rep ask if I got a Warranty Card from them. I said No.Then the Rep asked me to check the shutter for a metal plate that has the name Hunter Douglas on it. There was NO plate on the shutter at all. The Rep said there is a metal plate on every Hunter Douglas order that goes out. I check my other shutters and sure enough, there was a metal plate on the left shutter by the hinge. Mike also told me that the atmospheric change would sometimes warp the panels. HD said they have never heard of that.
After more investigation, I found out that Hunter Douglas had purchased another Blind/Shutter company names Alta. I called Hunter Douglas again to verify this and they said yes, HD owns Alta but their product is Not a Hunter Douglas Product. They are a stand alone company as far as the production of shutters is concerned. The products are separate. After learning this, I texted Mike and told him to be prepared to pick up this Knock Off Brand Shutter when he came on Monday. Then a lady from his office called me and insisted that these were HD shutters and I was wrong. She said when they are warped I should not close them all the way so they aren't noticible.
When Mike came to pick up the shutters, he insisted that these were Hunter Douglas and he left a paper with me that had lots of orders for different people on it including mine. I called Hunter Douglas and the Rep told me that there was no order in their place with that number on it and at that time I was told that this was an ALTA product and not a Hunter Douglas shutter.
If I had not previously had Hunter Douglas shutters, I wouldn't have known the difference but the warped panels and quality of the Alta shutters gave it away. Also, Mike offered to replace the panels as they have a 25 year warranty. Hunter Douglas has a Lifetime Warranty on their Hunter Douglas Shutters. Guess Mike didn't think I would check that out either.
PS. The one star is for the temporary paper blinds that Mike gave me while I wait for my new Hunter Douglas Shutters to come in.
I am 81 years old and do not appreciate being deceived like this.
Good Luck if you purchase from Blinds for Less.
Kathy K read more
