Budget Blinds of North & East Phoenix

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

The business did not address the fact that the solar blinds are manufactured for restaurants or offices that have sealed windows: They are totally inappropriate for my screened porch. Even a slight wind produces loud banging of the blinds. I believe that the business ought to know its products - how they are best used for the space or environment of installation. I simply cannot use the solar blinds, and there is nothing that will take away the banging, not even brackets that, by the way, will cause damage to my screened porch window frames. The business does have products made specifically for screened porches - sunscreens. The business did not mention sunscreens once. The solution would have been 90% blackened sunscreens.The solar blinds cost about $400/panel (I bought four), whereas the sunscreens would have cost about $125/panel. I was taken advantage of - and the business knows this.My suggestion would be for the business to replace the solar panels with 90% blackened sunscreens. I will take a loss on the blinds, but I am not willing to take a $1200 loss. The blinds are or substandard quality as well, with many slats now bowed. Really, this business has poor quality products, and, so far too, poor resolution of problems.

Regards,

May 2016, I would recommend this store because of the positive experience I had with the salesman and installer. Brad L[redacted]/owner was very patient with me and answered all my questions. He was able to match the color of the blinds perfectly to my rooms. The store worked around a travel schedule which was very nice. They showed up on time and were very professional.

The customer never asked about re-placing the existing sunscreens -- she asked for something that would give more privacy and be able to roll up when she wanted less.  The solar roller shades are used throughout the industry -- not just in businesses and restaurants but also in residential.  I have many clients that have the same configuration with this exact same application.  When she was contacted to schedule a time to replace the warped slats and put the hold down brackets on for the solar roller shades (2 weeks ago), she mentioned that a couple other slats began to have the same problem and didn't want us coming out until we had them all.  Instead of just ordering replacement slats, I ordered two brand new blinds to replace.  My installer has contacted Ms. [redacted] to re-schedule and it is scheduled for Wednesday, March 26th between 1 - 4pm to take care of the issues. No one was ever taken advantage of.  I treat my clients the way I would like to be treated -- with respect and honesty.  I always asked the client what they would like to accomplish with new window treatments as a guideline before ever giving suggestions or bringing in samples as to what products would work out in each situation.[redacted]Budget BlindsOwner/operator

I strongly recommend Brad' s budget blind company. Brad is very precise and accurate to measure our front windows to order shades. Brad communicates with customers very efficiently. Bryan installed window shades and he was very quick and skilled. Also, Bryan took down our outdoor screens. He did not complain to go up higher to remove them. Our house is on mountain. We got extremely beautiful window shades. My husband and I are going to ask them to install our back window shades in near future. I wish I can find business people like them. I am very satisfied. I strongly recommend them for window treatments.

May 2016, I would recommend this store because of the positive experience I had with the salesman and installer. Brad L[redacted]/owner was very patient with me and answered all my questions. He was able to match the color of the blinds perfectly to my rooms. The store worked around a travel schedule which was very nice. They showed up on time and were very professional.

Review: I called 800-Budget Blinds for an in-home consultation, and was connected to a local franchise: [redacted] of Budget Blinds of North and East Phoenix. [redacted] came to my home and showed me samples of window treatments. He strongly suggested that expensive solar blinds (approximately $1200) be installed in my home on a screened Arizona room that has non-covered screens only - no ability to close windows. [redacted] never said the words "custom" or "non-returnable" or "non-exchangeable," nor does the receipt use those words. (He also never mentioned that he could provide sunscreens for my porch at a much reduced price, and appropriate to the room.)He assured me verbally that if I was dissatisfied with the solar panels I could call him for remedy.

Two days after the panels were installed, and after enduring their banging against the steel frames of the screened room's windows since their install, I called [redacted] to tell him that these panels were inappropriate for the room and also that they were over an inch mismeasured at each window. I have four solar panels. I told him that this product (solar panels) was made for office or restaurant windows that DID NOT OPEN and that I couldn't keep the panels. He said that he would come to my home and that he was sure "something could be worked out." He called to confirm his appointment with me, and I also told him at that time that the drapes his company installed were not to my liking. He said, "We'll talk when I get there."

[redacted] came to my home. I showed him the solar panels - one of which did not roll up and down properly. I told him that I couldn't keep the expensive panels because of banging, that they were inappropriate to the room, and, in fact, were not measured properly. [redacted] then showed me a Budget Blinds marketing sample book that included a photo of solar panels in an AZ room - with windows that close, and much smaller than my screened porch. In that photo, it appeared that the solar panels hang INSIDE the frames of the screened windows -mine do not. I expected [redacted] to approve the removal and exchange of the solar panels and provide me with less expensive - and appropriate - sunscreens. I also told [redacted] that the vertical drapes inside my home were too dark and created a "cave-like" environment, and that I would like to exchange them. [redacted] proceeded through his samples and we were able to create a more appropriate solution for all of the window treatments. After creating a solution, [redacted] announced that the initial window treatments were "all custom" and that he could NOT exchange window treatments either inside the house or in the AZ room, and that the additional cost to remedy my complaints would cost me an additional $2,000. I vigorously complained especially regarding the solar panels, but also that the drapes were the wrong color. He apologized, and said that all he could do was provide brackets for the bottoms of the solar panels with the hope that they would not continue to bang, and also, if I wanted different drapes, I would need to pay an additional full price for new ones. In short, I was STUCK with the expensive solar panels even though they were inappropriate to the room, did not even function properly, were incorrectly measured, and caused continuous noise, and also with vertical drapes to my disliking.

I feel bamboozled by [redacted]. I believe that he took advantage of me - especially regarding the solar panels. I am long weary of vendors taking advantage of people over age 55! He knew that sunscreens would be the solution for my screened porch, yet he insisted that I purchase solar roll-up-down panels three times the cost of sunscreens. I told him that I didn't even know Budget Blinds had sunscreens until after my purchase of the solar panels, when I looked up Budget Blinds on-line. [redacted] did not provide an acceptable or reasonable remedy for my situation.Desired Settlement: I would like the solar panels exchanged for sunscreens at NO additional cost to me, and a REFUND of any money due to me from my purchase of the solar panels. I also would like my vertical drapes exchanged at no additional cost to me. The drapes are NOT a custom size. The solar panels are so thin that I doubt they could be held in place by bottom brackets.

Business

Response:

Ms. [redacted] had contacted to schedule a free in-home consultation to discuss new window treatments through out her home. We scheduled a time to get together on January 28th. She is a very nice lady.When I arrived she started off by letting me know that she had a restoration company come in to do work and that she was very displeased with the overall outcome. The window treatments that they provided was the lowest quality available and she wanted the window treatments to stand out -- be elegant. Everything installed was in the color of white. Several of the fauxwood blinds installed had already began to warp and several of the window treatments where installed incorrectly.I spent over 2 hours with her to show her different products and styles for her 2 sliding glass windows (Arcadia doors), premium fauxwood blinds and alternatives for her Arizona home. All of the products the I provide are custom made -- made to fit the window precisely.She loved the idea of the woven wood draperies and drapery hardware for the sliding glass doors. She wanted the window treatments to pop, but to allow a very limited amount of light through when they were fully closed for privacy. The sizes for each of the windows were 114 X 83 and 77 X 83 -- made to order window treatments (CUSTOM). She didn't want to have 3 1/2 verticals blinds -- they were not elegant enough.I also provided an estimate for premium fauxwood blinds -- these blinds have the look of wood blinds -- stained colors and wood grains). She ended up moving forward with 4 new ones. When the installed occurred a couple of these blinds had damage and I have taken the necessary actions to be corrected. I have ordered 2 new blinds to replace. I'm still waiting for the new ones to arrive and re-install.As for the Arizona room. She currently has exterior solar screens on the windows -- her concern was that they didn't offer here enough privacy when she wanted it from her neighbors. I showed her the solar roller shades that she could roll down or up as she wanted and needed. The material used is a 3% openness which during the daytime hours she could have down and they would provide privacy while still being able to see out I pointed out to here that the 3rd window from the left was not square and the window covering would show the out of squareness of the window.She contacted me two days after the install and stated that she was not liking the current new window treatments. she stated that the bottom of the roller shades where banding if there was any type of breeze and that the woven wood draperies made the room to dark and wasn't happy with the material she had selected. I told her that I would schedule a time to come out and take a look and discuss her concerns. We scheduled a time and day for that meeting. When I arrived -- she said that she wanted to look at 3 1/2 vertical blinds to cover the sliding glass doors. I showed her samples and she selected a fabric vertical to possibly replace the woven wood draperies. Standard 3 1/2 verticals blinds was not an option at our initial visit -- they weren't elegant enough. In regards to the exterior solar roller shades, my installer didn't install the hold down brackets so while there were down and with a breeze the bottom rail would bang. I told her that I would get the hold down brackets re-ordered and have my installer return to attach. I'm also putting two different sets of hold downs so that she can put the shade down at two different levels depending on what she wanted them to do. Not until I came out did she asked about changing out the solar screens with different ones. The blinds were installed correctly -- I re-measured and showed her again that one of the windows in the Arizona room was not square -- the blind is hung correctly.When I wrote up the new new treatments that she was looking to replace -- I said that I would do them at my cost to try to off set her costs. I wasn't charging her an additional install charge either. When I showed her the cost -- she asked what her credit for the other blinds would be. I told her again that these window treatments are made to fit here windows and they wouldn't just fit in anyone else's windows -- these are all made to fit here windows (custom made).I do not take advantage of anyone's race, age, or nationality. I'm very close to her age. I have always treated my clients with the up-most respect and the way I would want to be treated.I will take care of the 2 damaged blinds and the hold down brackets. There is no use for her existing blinds or trade in value. All the window treatments are custom made -- specifically for her windows.Please feel free to give me a call or send me an email if you have any other questions.Thank you for your time.Best wishes[redacted]Budget Blinds of North & East Phoenix Owner/operator

I strongly recommend Brad' s budget blind company. Brad is very precise and accurate to measure our front windows to order shades. Brad communicates with customers very efficiently. Bryan installed window shades and he was very quick and skilled. Also, Bryan took down our outdoor screens. He did not complain to go up higher to remove them. Our house is on mountain. We got extremely beautiful window shades. My husband and I are going to ask them to install our back window shades in near future. I wish I can find business people like them. I am very satisfied. I strongly recommend them for window treatments.