01/22/2019 BUYER BEWARE I AM registering Our experience with ******* and her biz Sweet Southern Pickins so hopefully it prevent another from such an ordeal. Firstly, there are no receipts provided. We spent over $60,000 in CASH in renovations- there are no receipts provided . In addition to that, we gave ******* over $10,000 for decorating . I told her before we began the process - I wanted receipts for every and all items purchased. She happily agreed as we sat across from each other in a nearby ***** *** * -going over the details of cash payments . I would not recommend Sweet Southern Pickins to anyone. I was promised a professional experience - and received nothing shy of a nightmare. What was promised in 3 weeks time - was completed in almost 3 months. Her father Rick who is on disability runs the renovation side of her business - one issue was the vanity /sinks were leaking immediately after installation- when I brought this to Rick's attention - he was very reluctant and rude to return to fix the problem stating that I shortchanged him 150.00 !! (After, handing over approx 60k in cash)! The leak was not fixed until he received the 150.00! There are too many issues to list - including the painter was in my home for 3.5 weeks and actually averaged painting approx 15 hours per week!. He could be found either on the phone or on the porch or in his truck a good portion of each day. When i logged the complaint with Rick he stated " he's not hourly -he's paid for the job"!! Great! It's our home - our time and we were put out by this man daily. I continually would call rick to report the poor paint job (this guy did no patching of holes etc - skipped areas of baseboards and walls, drips on walls ) rick was busy at another customers home and would promise to address - well finally when the painter finished weeks later - Rick reported 'let's just say I am no longer using him"!! The company that he had install my shower doors scratched my newly installed bathroom tile with some of the materials he used. When I brought it to ***** attention - he refused to replace the scratched tiles. They remain scratched. (Keep in mind the shower door company would have paid Rick as they came out and verified the scratches ) Back to *******'s decorating - i was away on a biz trip during the install of furniture. I returned late that night and upon walking in our front door - i was pleasantly surprised. I want to be fair and state that ******* does have a natural flair and talent for decorating. She is very creative. I asked my husband if ******* left the receipts to which i was promised prior to work commencing - i was handed 3 sheets of paper with hand written amounts next to each item !!! This is unacceptable! I contacted ******* in a text the next day requesting receipts - what took place after that text message was ridiculous- excuse after excuse - upset re: "after all we did for you" and i was immediately blocked from her phone and from her partners phone . Prior to being blocked - ******* informed me that NO DECORATOR provides receipts !!! Additionally, i noticed on her Facebook page - she immediately adjusted that site so that I could not comment hmmmmm... I did not request any refunds. I merely wanted receipts for items purchased. Okay. Understood - The customer will not receive any receipts !! Why is that ?! I contacted another customer that I had been in communication with customer on same day - she reported her experience was same! Please note: that if you call or text ******* with a concern or complaint on a Sunday, there will be no acknowledgement other than "this is the Lords day and I do not work on the Lords day" but if you want to give money or a compliment- then responses are almost immediate ! BUYER BEWARE: C**** BBB REPORTS under SWEET SOUTHERN PICKINS there is consistency and truth VERIFY contractors credentials - I hope this report of our experience will help another to do their due diligence before going forward. read more

MY wife and i have had a 'real' experience with sweet southern pickins' we are not one of the owners or partners 'friends' nor facebook friends. we have lost thousands of dollars and only hope that if anyone should read our posts- they are welcome to contact us.we do not recommend sweet southern pickins! we will be happy to explain with the hope of helping another so that they can have full disclosure before going forward. if you read the reviews, it is clear to see what reviews are prompted from 'swp' and those which are real! ******INSTEAD OF SWP TRYING TO RAISE HER RATINGS BY RESORTING TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS PROVIDE PSUEDO POSTS INCLUDING HER 9 YEAR OLD SON-DEALING WITH US DIRECTLY AND HONESTLY WOULD PROVE MOST EFFECTIVE!!!! *********if anyone is reading SWP response, please know she has NOT addressed any of our emails with regard to the facts. she does however send cease and desist letters! because my wife paid a compliment at FIRST GLANCE upon walking in from a california biz trip late at night and after getting some sleep and seeing the furniture in daylight- it was then she saw that there is NO way THOUSANDS of dollars were spent on the furniture. we estimate under 2000.00! she refuses to provide receipts and where items were purchased! so we were forced to do our research! we found the same items a BIG LOTS!!! the couch and 4 side chairs!!! so for 10,295.00 -****** do your homework !DONT MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE AS US! read the 'real' reviews from people who complain about the same` one person actually writes about honesty OR A LACK THEREOF AND ANOTHER WROTE "IS NOT A WOMAN OF HER WORD' a - also about refusal to respond and no receipts!! we spent over 60,000.00! we post to spare another from the lo$$ we have experienced. read more

Please be aware if you are planning on or are inquiring about this business. Search on www.COJ.net and you will find multiple judgements on the owner Marlena Heck. In the past few years she has taken numerous people for their money. Money in the excess of 30,000, 80,000 and most recently 58,000. She claims to buy the HIGH price furniture that her clients are wanting from very nice retail stores BUT in all reality it is being purchased at BIG LOTS, HOME GOODS, TJ MAXX etc. What's even worse is she tries to avoid her summons and when she finally does get served, she is a no show in court. Don't let her FB fool you with professing to be a CHRISTIAN, that is how she was able to scam those that she has. She may be one BUT a TRUE CHRISTIAN would repent and try to make good with those she has done wrong. Meanwhile, she keeps getting jobs and more people are getting scammed. She can THANK those she has stolen from for the expensive divorce lawyer she had to hire. Oh and if you check out her FB Business Page then you will see her nice Louis Vuitton, fake eyelashes, hair extensions, EXPENSIVE SUV and let's not forget THE SPA DAYS. And if you decide to dig a little deeper, you will see she has judgements throughout Florida. One last thing, why has she turned off reviews for her FB Business Page and most recently, removed her business off Google Reviews? That's because her dishonesty is catching up with her. read more

I recently contacted Sweet Southern Pickins to decorate my new home. From Consultation to Installation I have been nothing but pleased with their work! They practically read my mind on the design! Marlena and Chris were able to incorporate personal items into their design, creating a space that was familiar, warm and inviting! They were also able to work with my budget and adjust timelines to meet my needs! Thank you for creating a home that I am proud to show off! read more

Business stole $58,000 from a local military veteran and his wife. And despite a court judgement ordering her to repay the money, the owner so far has failed to do so. Do NOT trust this company. https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/money/consumer/on-your-side/jacksonville-family-loses-money-to-interior-designer/77-06426520-ce7a-4454-a037-b8f2fb60ffe3 read more

Pay back the Weldon's $58,000. See https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/money/jacksonville-family-loses-money-to-interior-designer/77-06426520-ce7a-4454-a037-b8f2fb60ffe3?tag1=wtlvshare&fbclid=IwAR0e5g5GhcI1wO7mPPeoGU7vBy_G9TOwLp1dMLoVmlR9bX0D9k4Izp97J1c read more

Check the Better Business Bureau and Jacksonville Court Records. She steals money. Many report that she stole over $50,000 from them. read more

Scam artist just look her up on first coast news! She uses God to gain trust and comes in like a devil.

Definitely my favorite design store! She always, always has the best selection in decor...

Make sure you check with the Better Business Bureau before you give her a dollar!!