Suggestion for moulding distributors re: bad product

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Sherry Lee

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Jun 25, 2002
Posts
2,228
Loc
Phoenix, Az.
Yesterday I received a shipment of length moulding from two different vendors. Both are rejects. One moulding has run-away beige spray over the dark wood. The other has 1/2" markings about 1-2" all the way down the side of this light green, deep moulding; it looks like pencil, but doesn't erase.

It APPEARS to me that in both cases, the moulding was merely taken off the shelf (in its original wrap), put in a box and sent to me.

IF I were running these companies (IF!), I would think it smart to inspect the material before shipping it out - we all know what shipping costs are! Also, the employee's time to reship. I'm under the impression that distributors receive the moulding this way. Now I know moulding companies turn over LOTS of moulding, but if I thought I was paying for bad product, I'd be tempted to do something about it (inspect on arrival and return any bad product).

I've seen similar problems mentioned on Grumble and HH's in the past, so I know I'm not alone. It is quite frustrating as it wastes a lot of my time to unwrap, inspect, rewrap, rebox, report, reschedule and rehip (not to mention Grumble time). And now my completion date is moved out.....not good.

OK - I've put my soapbox away. I share this because I firmly believe in constructive suggestions......how can any of us improve if we aren't aware that a problem exists.

Thanks for listening!
 
Sherry, that's one reason I like chop.

Sure, you can get a bad chop now and again, but at least you can be sure that at least ONE person has looked at it before it's shipped out (though it might be the blind guy that runs the chop saw.) From some vendors, that person's name is on a slip with the chop.

I had a rack of length moulding collapse in my basement on Christmas Eve. (I don't use chop exclusively.) Even after untangling that mess, most of the moulding was in far better shape than some of what I've received as "new."

Ever get some moulding that looked like it was wrapped while the finish was still wet?
 
Hey, its the same over here in Oz!
I'm quite sure that the policy of most moulding factories is just to go through the processes blindly.....make the moulding, finish it, wrap it and get it out....don't ever bother to inspect it to seewhat it looks like.

Recently I received 8 lengths of a particular moulding, which apart from having defects in the finish, contained five totally different colours.

I'm also quite sure that aviation factories that manufacture propellor driven aircraft could make great use of a large number of the moulding lengths that are produced. They would be able to dispense with their prop manufacturing department!
 
I'm afraid you are dreaming if you think any vendor is going to inspect the moulding they get. You have companies like Picture Woods and Vermont Hardwoods who manufacture their own and hand pick the goods. But you will pay a premium price. Companies like Decor, Omega, and a host of others import their goods, and you will get them like they get them, all wrapped up. They deal with probably millions of feet of stock per year. They are not going to unwrap it all and inspect it. If they did, you will pay for the service. I once unwrapped an entire shipment and had to send 20% of it back.
I got tired of the hassle of length and got tired of throwing away money. I've dealt with chop only for about two years now, and am much happier.
Oh, yes, I have gotten moulding that looks like it was wrapped wet.
 
If cost is the issue, make sure you only buy in box quantities and turn over your moulding inventory at least 6 times/year. How much selection do you suppose you can offer by doing that?

I've done the analysis for my shop and decided that chop makes more sense for me. I've normally been paid before I order it, there is much tighter quality control, no waste, no dust (sawdust, anyway,) substantial space savings and a huge selection to choose from. You need to do your own analysis to see what makes sense for you.

and really I don't feel like I'm the one who framed it
Click to expand...
The woman who got me started in picture framing managed a small shop in Santa Barbara where nearly all their frames were hand-finished from raw mouldings and the mats were all either hand-wrapped fabrics or neutral rag with French panels. They stocked about 12 mouldings and a half-dozen mat colors and EVERYTHING was custom. I suppose if she's still there, they are coating their own UV glass.

I don't think that cutting a mitre is what makes you a custom framer. But, just in case, I stock about 100 mouldings and regularly practice with both a saw and a chopper. ;)
 
Or if you want to have control over your mitres, order the chop an inch bigger and trim to your own specs. There are many ways to be fussy...
 
Funny thing you should mention it, Ron...I unwrapped some fillets yesterday and they were sticking together (first time that's happened that I've noticed). Lucky it was a primitive style, because I could easily touch up the surface.
 
Sherry,

I order by fax using my own form. At the bottom in bold, underlined, large print I request that the moulding be examined before shipping, that no flows or allowances will be accepted, and that no warpage is acceptable because the larger mouldings especially (which I use more and more) cannot be joined satisfactorily if any warpage exists. I follow that with a "Thanks!!!" that I hope leaves the tone of appreciation instead of the tone of a demand.

This request is transferred to the order a copy of which I get with the shipment. I only add this request on the fax for suppliers with whom I have had problems, and believe it or not, Pamela, they do open and inspect and rewrap. Sometimes the order taker actually offers to have the plant manager inspect the shipment. I occasionally get a bad order, but it is rare now.
 
I used to have a vendor who, after numerous complaints and returns, put a special notation on my orders. I don't think it was really intended for my eyes, and I don't remember the exact wording, but the notation said something very close to, "This customer is a picky PIA" and it showed up on my shipping labels.

I was flattered, really, and the quality did improve.
 
I have two moulding replacements on the way. The customer service departments were professional and kind. They wrote "boldly" to inspect for flaws/warping before shipping on the replacement invoice. VERY GOOD!

Ron, I too think a title of "Picky PIA" would be fine, if that's what it takes to get quality that I'm paying for!

And Mel, faxing orders with instructions is one to consider as well!

Most of the time we don't have this problem! It just seems to be on the rise. So, I suppose that if enough of us request inspections before shipping, the problem may decrease.

What's that great saying? We are as strong as our weakest link? Or, in this case, we can deliver quality as good as the quality we receive? You catch my drift.......don't you??????? :confused:
 
What you can use is a vendor that builds the frame for one at a time per your request out of raw moulding, finishes it and ships it all within a few weeks. let the vendor deal with the warps, the assembly etc. You simple felt the rabbet and drop in your crafted,glazed masterpeice!
 
Welcome to the Grumble, framenco.

I have to say that it took no time at all to visit your website. Very compact.

Regarding flaws in moulding, I think that every moulding manufacturer available to most of us has their moulding mass produced. And mass production means mistakes.

Should you order chop instead? Well, it saves on excess moulding that you pay for and may not use for a month of Sundays. It puts the onus on the moulding warehouse to make the proper cuts and inspect the moulding prior to cutting it. What is that worth to you? You don't even have to own a chop saw to be a framer using chops.

When someone else does part of the labor for you, you WILL pay for that. It's sort of like paying for that guy's wages to inspect and cut your moulding for you. Try heaping onto the cost of the moulding bill, a $12 to $18 shipping charge on each and every order that you call into the distributor! Now your profit margin is considerably decreased. That makes ordering chops more of a marketing decision.

Framerguy
 
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