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Sandy DE
August 25, 2010
Product issues and customer service
I have had a problem with Steve's in ordering product, delivery and now customer service. I chose a product from Steve's and was ready to place my order for woven wood panel tracks and window blinds after going through 18+ samples in my home. I had an NBI installer I found through Steve's web site come to my home to do the measuring as I did not want to make a mistake in measurement and this way it would be guaranteed to fit based on the NBI installer. I was all set to make the order only to find out from Steves that the vendor which was manufacturing under Steve's home brand suddenly went out of business. All of the samples I was reveiwing and had based my decision on were all from that manufacturer. I had to start ALL OVER. Because I wanted panel tracks I was limited in the vendors that could provide this product and had to go with a name vendor who was more expensive. Steve's to their credit did work with me on price and reduced it by about 10%. Still I was paying $400+ more than I would have with the Steve's brand. I went with BALI thinking I would get a well named, quality product through them. The order came in two parts; the blinds by Fed Ex on the day they were expected. The panel track blinds were sent by common carrier due to their size. I had to make multiple phone calls and follow up on when to expect the package. Based on what I was told I scheduled the installation with the NBI installer. Needless to say the panel tracks did not arrive as promised on three different dates given, I was very frustrated. Once I received everything, I questioned the valance for the panel tracks that came in two pieces. I had no idea this would be the case. The installation began with the NBI installer and when it came time to put the valances in place, we were short hardware. I called Steves and explained the hardware situation and they said I should have reviewed ALL parts before have the NBI installer come in. WHAT???? I was paying an installer to put the 4 blinds and 2 large panel track systems up for me and I have to go through 200 pieces of hardware to ensure it is all there????? The NBI installer was coming from a distance too and I was being charged for travel so there was no way he would come to my house to check the hardware as a seperate trip. Then the valance had all these staples in it (3 out of the 4 sections) and it looked HORRIBLE. The privacy liner on the the panels too was only tacked and had waves of billowing liner when looking at the sides. I called Steves and complained about this and sent them pictures of it in addition of sending pictures of the missing hardware. I have lots of emails about this. I got an email from Steves stating that BALI was remaking the panels and the valances from the Steves Rep. I sent an email about needing more details on this and heard nothing. I then called and was told by the same rep who wrote me to say BALI was remaking the product, that now that was not the case and instructions were being sent about how to install the valance so that the staples would not show and that in fact the product was made correctly. I told him to email me immediatley with this information as this was ridiculous. He also said that the way the privacy liner was attached was correct (on the panels tracks it is simply tacked to the the woven wood so you see waves of billowing liner ( ie it is not flush to the panel-poor quailty by BALI and a hefty upcharge for that option which tells you nothing about it being TACKED ONLY- they sewed the 2" binding on so why in the world would they not sew the liner in...). I WONDER IF THIS IS REALLY A BALI PRODUCT??? Now I need to have the valance installed correctly and I have not heard anything from the NBI installer and having paid for installation, I do not think I should have to deal with this correction nor pay another service charge to have him come out again. STEVES and BALI and NBI should be taking care of this for me the customer. I have waited a LONG time to make this purchase and the bottom line is that is has been a very disapointing, frustrating $2400+ customer experience. The product quality (BALI) is in question, the post purchase customer service (STEVES) stinks and the installation (NBI) is not done...
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