I started working with JJ Barber Supplies and Chair Restoration about two years ago, and it has been the worst business experience I've had in over 45 years of owning and running barber/salon shops in San Francisco.
When I first contacted them, they seemed professional and convinced me that restoring my 5 Takara Belmont chairs would be better than buying new ones. The owner promised a 2-3 month turnaround. What I didn't know was that "2-3 months" actually meant "2-3 years." I put down $7,000 as a 50% deposit, thinking I was making a smart decision. Instead, it turned into a nightmare.
The owner first told me he'd swap out my chairs with "restored" ones he already had in his warehouse, and his driver would pick up my chairs. After four months of nothing, I drove my chairs down to their warehouse myself. Despite spending my own time and money to make the trip, I only got two chairs back after waiting another 2-3 days. Out of the five chairs I paid to have restored, I ended up leaving two more behind for work, while they promised to sell me three of theirs.
It took six more months to get those two chairs back, and when they arrived, one had a broken arm and a broken headrest that had clearly been patched together poorly before shipping. JJ Barber tried to blame the delivery company, but the shipping packaging was perfect. The damage came from them.
When I tried to resolve it, I got bounced around between the owner and his so-called "right-hand guy," Jesse. Jesse was no better, if anything, he was worse. Calls went unanswered, numbers kept changing, and even when I reached their supply shop, the clerk would promise a callback that never came.
As of today, I still have a chair missing an arm and a headrest, and I'm waiting on three rubber rings for the chair bases--parts I've been requesting weekly for five months. After nearly two years, I'm left with incomplete work, damaged chairs, and zero accountability.
This company is unreliable, unprofessional, and impossible to get a straight answer from. They took my money and delivered broken promises. Anthony (the owner), Jesse (the production manager), and their team are not to be trusted.
Save yourself the headache, don't give these folks your money. I will also be filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau and posting on Yelp to warn others. read more