charming
True Grumbler
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2009
- Posts
- 85
First time customer comes into my store to frame 6 art photographs, and after a thorough discussion involving mat choice and Nielsen metal frame choice, we decide to go with Nielsen 177-164.
But, knowing that she & I spent a considerable amount of time choosing the right metal frame color, and taking into consideration the "look" she was after, I decide to visit the LJ warehouse only to find that the color of the molding has shifted to a darker color.
I then go to another local supplier (Framegraphis in Vancouver) to examine their inventory. I decide to go with LJ because they are my main supplier. I then have LJ cut me a new sample so I can show the customer.
I take the sample back to the store and do a mock up of the matted photograph. I place the original (obsolete) sample in one corner, place the new sample in another corner, and place a black sample and a silver sample in the other corners for reference.
I label each sample, photograph this mock up and send it to the customer.
She agrees with me that the replacement color for the original is okay. Not perfect, but dark enough to not look industrial, but also not dark enough to look black and heavy.
I order the 6 frames.
Today I cut the mats and glass, and open the packages with the new Nielsen metal frame.
Surprise, surprise. They are darker than the replacement sample that was cut for me from LJ inventory just a week ago. Compared to the "new" sample, they are black.
My point being that, in order to salvage a $1000.00 order, I have spent an additional 3-4 hours to carefully select (with the customer's input) a best color option, only to being given a completely unacceptable product.
What would you do?
But, knowing that she & I spent a considerable amount of time choosing the right metal frame color, and taking into consideration the "look" she was after, I decide to visit the LJ warehouse only to find that the color of the molding has shifted to a darker color.
I then go to another local supplier (Framegraphis in Vancouver) to examine their inventory. I decide to go with LJ because they are my main supplier. I then have LJ cut me a new sample so I can show the customer.
I take the sample back to the store and do a mock up of the matted photograph. I place the original (obsolete) sample in one corner, place the new sample in another corner, and place a black sample and a silver sample in the other corners for reference.
I label each sample, photograph this mock up and send it to the customer.
She agrees with me that the replacement color for the original is okay. Not perfect, but dark enough to not look industrial, but also not dark enough to look black and heavy.
I order the 6 frames.
Today I cut the mats and glass, and open the packages with the new Nielsen metal frame.
Surprise, surprise. They are darker than the replacement sample that was cut for me from LJ inventory just a week ago. Compared to the "new" sample, they are black.
My point being that, in order to salvage a $1000.00 order, I have spent an additional 3-4 hours to carefully select (with the customer's input) a best color option, only to being given a completely unacceptable product.
What would you do?