Defective blinds and poor customer service
Written: Aug 01 '04
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| Full Review |
I needed a set of blinds for a door with a full-length glass panel. I decided to buy 1-inch wood blinds with a valance, and American Blinds' website offered several brands that looked good. I ordered samples of their American Brand. Although the samples cost $5, that price can be deducted from a future order.
I received the samples quickly and found a color I liked. In the past, I have not dealt with wood blinds, have never installed blinds on a door, and have not installed blinds with a valance. I called American Blinds hoping to get some information and to place an order.
The salesperson I spoke with seemed uninterested in answering my questions. In fact, during our brief conversation she asked for my credit card number twice, although it was clear that I needed more information before I could place the order. I decided not to order at that time.
A few days later, I received an email from American Blinds with a coupon for significant savings. I decided to call again, and this time I spoke with a friendly, helpful salesperson. My questions were answered and I placed the order.
I received the blinds in a reasonable amount of time. There were numerous defects in the product. Both mounting brackets had obviously been used before. Paint was scratched off one and some paint had splattered on the other. One bracket was so dented that it would not snap shut, rendering it useless. Also, one of the wood slats was warped. Turning the wand was difficult and produced a loud noise. The valance's returns (sides) were too long and stuck out so far from the door that the valance could not be attached to the blinds.
I called American Blinds' customer service and was promised a new set of blinds. The representative blamed me for not specifying measurements for the valance returns. Yet, when I placed the order, I wasn't asked for that information. One of my questions had been about the length of the returns, and the salesperson said that the product would be sized correctly. Further, at the time I placed the order, I had no way of knowing the depth of the blind's top mechanism; therefore, I could not have determined the proper measurements.
The replacement arrived approximately ten days later. The new set is better, but it also has its share of defects. The valance's returns are, once again, too long. Although the packing slip has the correct size printed on it, the valance returns are a half-inch longer. The wand has no hook, so it cannot be attached. (What is so odd is that, instead of a plastic hook, the wand's end has a plastic piece with a hole. That would work if the blinds mechanism had a hook, but it also has a hole.) I attached the wand from the first set of blinds and discovered that when I turned the wand, the blinds made the same awful noise as the first set.
I called customer service again and was promised a new valance. (I am currently waiting for it.) I also asked about the noise, but the representative said that if it was working, it wasn't defective. I told her it was odd that these didn't work as smoothly as the blinds they were replacing: a set of inexpensive plastic blinds from Wal-Mart. This representative, like the first one, failed to offer an apology. Unlike the first representative, this one seemed to lack even the most basic knowledge of the product.
I am going to keep these blinds, providing I receive an acceptable valance. I installed them and treated the mechanism with enough WD-40 to stop much of the noise. The blinds look quite nice, and will look wonderful once the valance is received and installed.
I will never order another product from American Blinds.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
obuprof
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Reviews written: 3
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