I would like to warn everyone about this business through a chronology of objective facts, per…read morebelow. Note the 4.5 rating on Google - reviews are all one-liners or vague!
We visited one Friday and were told to look through catalogs. After making a decision on a full complex of apartment furniture (bed, couches, dining, etc.), we pay a large amount for the total, in cash. We tried to negotiate and the owner refused. Next time a moms-and-pops shop refuses to negotiated, my advice is to WALK OUT. There is crazy competition in the furniture world with dozens of shops throughout L.A. In any case, we paid and were given an invoice with each line item written out, with the total amount also reflected.
The following Monday the owner calls to say that NOT ONE ITEM, except the bed items (nightstands, dresser, bed) was available. She asked us to COME BACK AGAIN to flip through the catalogs all over again. Needless to say, we were shocked. How do you take money from customers before confirming the inventory is available? Complete amateur job and unprofessional. At this point, we should have known something was up and ask for our money back. In any case, since we are working individuals I asked if we could stop by at 5 or 6. I was told no, that it was better to come at 3 pm. No reason provided - everything the way the owner wants, not the customer. Mind you, Exclusive now has over $5000 of our money in cash in their hands.
We return that Monday. The store has no AC and no portable fan. We are sitting in a humid room flipping through catalogs. For some items the owner has her husband "Norik" call the manufacturers - half of the stuff that we select is not available. These are phone calls one-by-one to each manufacturer all the while "Norik" is also helping other customers who come into the store.
We finally make a decision and the owner asks for an extra $550 due to the modified items. So because of the owner's fault in not checking the inventory the first time, and us having to go back and relook at everything, we are now penalized. This shows a complete disrespect for the customer and utter unprofessionalism. We should have walked away, but decided to go through with the transaction.
We were told that all the items would come on time, but the bed set, which would come June 30. When the majority of the items were to be delivered, we ended up waiting two hours after the named delivery time only for "Norik" and his son to set up all the furniture for ALMOST 4 HOURS! They did not think to hire workers to help them out - instead, they finished all installation at 9 pm on a weekday!!! Completely unprofessional.
For the bed set, the promised June 30th date went by and that date ended up being changed to July 20th or so.
On July 20 or thereabouts, we call the business. No answer. We stop by - doors are locked. We call the owner on her cell phone and she tells us she is in Armenia!!! People are waiting for a bed to sleep on and this person, knowing our promised delivery date, leaves the country without even telling us a word about the delay in delivery! I ended up stopped by a few days later when the shop was open and was told that "Norik" would call the manufacturer and provide an update by phone. When he called me back, he said August 20th. Owner claimed other customers were also experiencing delays, customs issues, blah blah.
When we finally got the bed delivered - a 3-6 pm timeframe was given - father and son show up at 6 pm and leave at 7:15 pm, ruining our Friday night.
Conclusion: Not only did we overpay for the quality delivered, but promises were made and not kept. Better go to Bob's where a team of workers will install your furniture and there won't be any games. Or better yet, visit the different stores and negotiate. Get everything in writing. Follow up on delays. MAKE SURE INVENTORY IS IN WHEN YOU PURCHASE.
