The Master Craftsman: RUN !!!!!

The Master Craftsman: don't even CONSIDER this firm! Run!!

You make a deal, set a price, the furniture is hauled into their truck within an hour after the salesman's departure, (because "we're gonna work on it right away as we have to keep our workers busy"), weeks and weeks of silence go by, and then (no doubt based on the salesman's assessment of you
at the initial meeting, to see if there's anything more to squeeze out of you at a later date), you likely will get a call from a very concerned individual, of course having only YOUR interest in mind, announcing that unfortunately they have found an unexpected flaw somewhere in the bowels of
your furniture, which you better get fixed (for an additional, ridiculous amount), or else they can't guarantee....blah, blah, blah. Meanwhile Ontario's 10-day cooling-off period, during which they could have easily
discovered the alleged condition if they actually had started the work, has conveniently expired.
In short, a solid cock-and-bull story, probably mainly aimed at seniors who are thought of not only as senile, but also full of cash. Meanwhile, their victims, as a consequence of having already paid down a ton of money (33-50%!!), and with the stripped-to-the-bone furniture sitting in their shop, are being held firmly by the jewels.

Buyer be VERY aware!
These Master Craftman artists have stands in shopping malls all over the place; the last time I saw them was a few weeks ago in the Parkway Mall in Scarborough.

If you still decide to deal with them, pay careful attention to the sticker on the front of the contract, and article #19 on the back (legal mumbo-jumbo in tiny soft-grey letters on a coloured background, requiring 90-90 vision).
Unfortunately due to other things on my mind, I wasn't on the ball, and that makes me an idiot who for once let his guard down whilst the tubby snake oil salesman performed his smoke-and-mirror pitch with his truckload of albums.
That article #19 alone should start ringing alarm bells.

If you're already in bed with them (or any other upholstery firm for that matter) or intent to do so, let me give you some advice:

1. Don't allow ANY salesman to pound on you for more than 10 minutes. If he can't give you an estimate within that time, lead him to the door.

2.- Establish right from the beginning that you will NOT fork over more than 10 (TEN) percent of the contracted price! Don't fall for his whining about the company having to buy material, and similar song and dance. If he doesn't like it, he can leave.

2. Let the salesman write into the contract that the company will let you know within 5 (five) calendar days if there are any additional costs, over and above the contract price, for further repairs, etc. If so, and you can live with it, go ahead. If not, the deal is off and your furniture must be
returned to you free of cost, in as close as possible a condition as it was when it left your premises. The reason for this all is that the salesman should be knowledgable and experienced enough to tell you right off the bat in what approximate condition the furniture is in and base his estimate there on.

3. BEFORE they start putting the new material on, they MUST contact you (NO EXCUSES as in "you weren't home and we couldn't wait"). Then you go down there, and compare the material with the sample in the bookfrom which you have chosen. You compare the book sample with the picture you
(hopefully) have taken of same at the time the salesman was contaminating your house with his bulls..t!! If you have no camera, write down brand name and nummer. Before you leave, demand a sample of the material they're going to use. To
put the icing on the cake, walk with a digital camera and photograph your stuff inside & outside.

4. BEFORE they load the furniture in their truck for delivery, they MUST call you!!! Again, go down there, sample in hand, and compare same with the material they've put on. Inspect the furniture with a magnifying glass. Sit on it, lie down on it. Do NOT hand over any money before they arrive at your house. Once there, inspect the items again BEFORE offloading them.

5. If you make a deal, do not allow the salesman to cut out a piece of your upholstery unless it's small and from a location that's out of view. Do not allow him to write your name on the material with a black marker "for identification purposes". If for some reason you want out of the deal within
the 10-day cooling-off period, you're screwed because your furniture is now ruined! Write your name down ON THE WOODEN FRAME that's out of sight, but can be easily found by you when the work is finished.

6. Don't get intimidated. If you feel they're jerking you around within the warranty period or issues arise within the repair period, don't panic, get a legal advisor (a lawyer or paralegal) if necessary, or simply file a claim in Small Claims Court, costing next to nothing.

7. And remember, YOU are not the one, desperate to make a deal with companies, THEY are!

Check the Better Business Bureau and the Ontario Government websites about these clowns:

http://search.bbb.org/

http://www.gov.on.ca/mgs/en/ConsProt/ConsProt/STEL01_132036.html