I called before I went in because I hadn't heard of them and I wanted to be sure they'd have what I needed. I asked the man on the phone if they sold wallpaper, and he said he thought they might have a few books somewhere, so I asked if they were current, and he checked with his coworkers, who said they were. So I went in. I found a gorgeous print for my tiny powder room, and I purchased it. They were running a 25% discount that week - but not on wallpaper. I was given a 15% discount. I spent $560 to purchase my paper.
I was assured it would arrive in a week, and I went home excited, and immediately started looking for someone to hang it. It turns out the person who usually hangs my paper is retiring and moving away from the area. But I found someone, she fit in my budget, she agreed with my measurements, perfect. I scheduled her ASAP, which was 3 weeks from the date, plenty of time for the wallpaper to arrive, and for me to prep. Prep included new paint for the vanity, new cabinet handles, new switchplate, new lighting new towel bar and toilet paper holder, new artwork for the walls - all based on my beautiful wallpaper pick. Everything is ready: my vanity has been painted, all the fixtures purchased and ready to install after the wallpaper.
After 10 days, I was worried. The store hadn't called me to say my paper was in. I called them, and they said it had shipped to me, but they weren't able to track it in real time. They didn't take me seriously and they didn't follow up with me.
15 days past purchase, I called them, they were closed, I left a message. They didn't call back. 16 days past purchase, I called them and was again told they can't track it. I asked them to try because it was over two weeks, and they'd told me it arrives in one week. I was put on hold, then she came back to tell me that they'd have to call corporate and she'd call me back in an hour. She didn't call me back in an hour. Four hours later, I called again, and she said she was still waiting to hear back from them. I asked if I could have an answer by the end of the day, and she said she'd try to make that happen. It did not happen.
Today, I called again, as I hadn't heard back. They said they'd have to call corporate again. (I didn't even know that this wasn't a local company. I probably would have avoided them because I prefer to shop local. But it's done, too late.) So I was told again that they'd call me back. They didn't. I called them, and was told they'd put me through to someone else (manager? Unsure.) She said she'd call corporate again.
She finally called me back and told me they'd figured it out. Unfortunately, the wallpaper was damaged in shipping! And they also don't make it anymore! So they can't order more! What? I got the last 4 double rolls in existence? And they got damaged? Are you kidding?
Issues:
*I wasn't taken seriously with my first call.
*When it was damaged in shipping, no one was notified - not me or the shop.
*No one in the shop seems to know how to track a shipment from the factory.
*No one was clear on how they could have ordered an item that isn't made and how it could have been damaged in shipping.
*I was told that the wallpaper in their books was current, that it wasn't from old books or old collections, except that is untrue.
Calico treated me like a person without any value because I only made a small purchase from their shop. But even if $560 isn't a lot for a purchase for them, it was a lot for me, and this was important to me. It doesn't matter how big or small your client is - if they call looking for their order, look for it. Don't treat them like they don't matter. Every client is someone supporting your business, and even if you don't care for people as a whole, you should - at the very least - make your clientele feel valuable so they continue to support your business. I will not be supporting them in any way in the future. read more
