I just had a rather unpleasant experience at Keepsakes. I went to discuss putting a frame together from molding I purchased online. I had called earlier about doing it this way and was given an affirmative about using my material.
I took a piece of the molding with me. (It comes in 4 1/2 ft pieces.) I asked a few questions of whom I assumed to be the owner about his methods and results. He seemed a little put off by my questions, and I immediately got the sense that he didn't want to do the job.
I admit I'm particular about what I want, but heck, I'm the one who has to live with the results every day. I was not in any way rude or demanding. And I think my questions were perfectly legitimate, i.e. about how the corners were kept from opening up and if he matched the intricacies if design at the corners.
The interesting thing is that he pulled a sample of EXACTLY the same frame off his rack. I asked him what he would do if someone came into the shop and asked him to build a frame with that molding. Why would he have it if he didn't want to use it.
In the end, I never really got an answer.
I could see we were getting nowhere. Plus I didn't want someone doing work for me who didn't want to do it or felt pressure to.
So I walked out with my piece of moulding and I think he was just as happy that I did. He made me feel not like a customer that he cared about, but someone who was infringing on his time.
I guess he thought I would raise the bar higher than he was willing to go. Craftspeople I have dealt with in the past would have said, "Don't worry. I'll do a great job you'll be happy with." Too much pressure for this guy.
I will never go back there again. read more