I am writing to express my concerns and disappointment regarding my recent experience with Painted Bayou. Unfortunately, my experience has not been satisfactory, and I believe it warrants this review.
We had been patiently waiting for over two months for a piece to be bisque fired at this business. Throughout this period, I made numerous calls, only to be informed each time that the piece was still sitting on the shelf with no anticipated firing date communicated. Weeks later, I was told that the piece was ready for pick-up, but no one from Painted Bayou had bothered to called to inform us. Upon arriving to pick up the piece, an employee committed that it would look beautiful glazed and fired, I agreed and I explained my daughter had made the piece but went away to college before finishing. The employee assured me that my daughter could come into Painted Bayou, glaze paint it and have it fired. Excited, I agreed and pre-paid for the service.
My daughter came in for Christmas, and I surprised her with the news. She went in painted the piece and left it with Painted Bayou to be glaze fired. Since then, there had been no communication regarding the status of the piece. On February 5th, 2026, I called to check on the piece and was informed that they didn't know exactly where it was but would locate it and fire it, again, asking me to check back with them. Today, when I called back as instructed, I learned that the piece still hadn't been fired. I requested that a manager call me, and I received a text from the owner "Simone" informing me that the piece would not be glaze-fired because we had only discussed and paid for a bisque fire.
I explained to the owner the bisque fire had been performed by her company and that we were now waiting on a glaze firing. Simone clearly had no idea as to what was happening. She then mentions that she wouldn't fire the piece because she didn't know where the clay came from. While I understand there are concerns in this the process. it puzzles me as to why this was not communicated to me back in December or on February 5th.
As I attempted to explain my frustrations to Simone over a call, she immediately began interrupting me. I politely asked her to allow me to finish, and i would extend her the same courtesy. She did listen but responded with "I don't tolerate bullies," and clarified that I was a bully because I ask her to allow me to speak first. I am assuming this was an attempt to change the whole dynamic of the actual call. Being called a bully while expressing my frustrations as her customer has left me shaking my head in disbelief. I'm not certain what "gaslighting" or 'woke" really is, but I feel i may have experienced both. It was apparent they weren't going to finish the piece. I mentioned that I had already pre-paid for the firing and very frustrated I said that she could keep the monies as a parting gift. I just really wanted to come pick up the piece before something happen to it. Her response was, "I don't need your money; it has bad energy." How about bad business practices? After she hung up on me there were other texts sent back and forth between us. The one that shocked me read, "I'm not engaging with you anymore. I will be happy to fire the piece tonight and if it melts so be it."
Why would it melt, you're the professionals right? Was that meant to be some sort of a threat?
I found the overall experience to be bad business, filled with arrogance, and a lack of responsibility or professionalism. It is quite unbelievable that this place is still in business with such poor customer service practices. read more
