OH MY GOD!
I couldn't find the other place I usually go, where they are so glad to have you in the store, they practically bake you a delicious lunch, and wax your car....
...but it was dark, it had been 2 years and almost 6pm.
I spontaneously decided to stop in here on a maiden voyage to this business.
The shop is big and APPEARS to have a huuuge selection.
BUYER BEWARE # 1: 99% of everything you see is NOT in stock. You must give them money first, then wait a week, and hope.
Now for the money part. I found 3 samples that specifically were IN STOCK (there were only 3 types in the entire store). I bought 2 of each to bring home and decide which.
I asked the salesperson "I will be returning 4 of these, so ...will this be an EASY exchange?" Of course she replied "YES". I felt warm and fuzzy over her response, and with super nice prior tile experiences, I didn't hesitate to hand over $57.00 for the 6 tiles. (By the way, it is worth noting that the OTHER store GAVE me samples for NOTHING, and simply pleaded that I return them when I return with my order.
BUYER BEWARE #2: THEY DON'T GIVE YOU A RECEIPT.
Deborah said "We're a green company, so we email you the receipt. In a moment of a lapse in brain activity, I said "OK"
So Deborah whipped out her handheld device, and began asking for my personal information which I hate to give out, but I did.
After 2 days, there was no receipt in my email, and it wasn't in the spam folder either. Now I had NO RECEIPT.
I returned 2 days later to make my purchase of travertine tile. Deborah wasn't there, but I had called her hours prior, and said I would come in late, and to be ready with my order. When I arrived, the salesman couldn't find me in the computer. After 15 minutes of research, he did find me with my name spelled incorrectly.
I said I wanted $275 worth of travertine, and simply deduct about $32 from that for the 4 tiles I was returning to make it $243. Mr. Salesman said "Oh we don't do that. We have to issue you a corporate check from corporate headquarters.
I reminded the young man that I gave him cash.; Not a credit card. He said "Gee we don't have that much money in the store" and actually there was no cashier machine visible. I reminded the young man that basic math would dictate that I didn't want money from him. In fact I wanted to give him MORE MONEY, just $32 LESS from the $275 that I was about to GIVE HIM. The young man re-iterated that I needed to wait for a corporate check from the company.
Deborah lied. They Do NOT do EASY RETURNS!!
BUYER BEWARE #3: THEY DON'T GIVE YOU INSTANT REFUNDS, EXCHANGES or even apply a CREDIT for your samples to your final purchase....YOU MUST give them your home address, home phone number, personal information, WAIT 2 days for processing, and WAIT 5 more days for snail mail, then put the check in your pocket, then DRIVE to your bank, and deposit it into your account, and then DRIVE back home again.
What morally challenged Tile SHOP CEO came up with this accounting scam?
I was even on the phone with the manager, and while he spoke his intricate blah blah blah reasons, I imagined the sound of a wonderful blue sky, warm 78 degree wind blowing over my face, the sound of seagulls, and gentle waves crashing at my feet. When he was done talking, I took my sample tile off the counter, and said I would never return.
There are so many tile places out there that bend over backwards for their customers, that this was s huge joke on me.
If interested, the other place is Tile America, but there are PLENTY of local SMALLER shops that will do cartwheels for the customer. read more