I'm writing about a problem I have been dealing with since AUGUST! Park Avenue Drapery has basically stolen my deposit, over $2700!
On 8/22/08 my wife and I ordered shutters/blinds for the windows of our new house. We paid $2704.70 (50% deposit), and was told it would take about 6-8 weeks. Now, almost 7 months later, I still have no shutters/blinds, and no faith that I ever will.
In October we received an email saying there was a delay in our order. No phone call, no new expected install date, just that it has been delayed.
We left things alone, figuring they would be done soon. Another week passed, than another, until January; several weeks since the "delay" and we still had heard nothing further from the company. Then we received a visit from a salesperson from their company, trying to sell us blinds!
After advising the salesperson that we had been waiting for 5 months for her company to install our blinds, she said she would have someone look into what is going on.
The following week, we received a voicemail from the owner of the company (Chris Vezilj). No apology or anything, just that he didn't know what happened with our order, but they will expedite the situation to get our products ASAP.
My wife called the owner back a week or so later. He then lied and said they had accidentally put our blinds into another house (come on, like someone else had the exact same measurements, picked the exact same products and colors!) and marked our order as completed. Then he said they hadn't started re-making our order, but again it would take a couple more weeks for the order to be finished.
Per their documentation on the original order, we could get a refund if the order had not been started. My wife then sent an email advising that they either needed to refund our money or have the products ready by the end of February (which gave them another 6 or so weeks from when they should have re-started the order, which would give them plenty of time since they were expediting our order). They told us they would definitely have them in by the end of February.
Again, no contact was made by the company for the next couple weeks. We called to find out the status, and the owner said they were nearly done. They scheduled an install date of Saturday, February 28th. We again told them that they needed to be installed at that time, or give us a refund as we had already requested multiple times. They assured us that the install would be completed on February 28th.
Friday morning (February 27th) at approximately 3 AM the owner sent an email saying there was another delay, and it would be another 1-2 weeks... Oh, and that he won't be available to discuss until next week! How convenient, that he just delayed us past the deadline we had agreed to, but we couldn't get in contact with him to discuss!
I called the office later on Friday, after I had seen the email from the owner. The receptionist got my name, looked up my info, then told me the owner was not available. I asked for a cell phone number for him, and she told me he doesn't have one (yeah, he's allegedly the only American business owner without a cell phone... Almost), and she had no way to get in contact with him! After three calls requesting a call back, I miraculously got a call back from him (from the cell phone he didn't possess). He said he was out of town, and would call me back on Monday.
Monday afternoon, and still no call. I call the office, identify myself to the receptionist, who then tells me he is "out with a cold." Again, how convenient that he is not available to discuss this with me. Tuesday morning comes and goes, still no call. I call the office again, and again am told that he's not in, and there is no way for them to contact him.
Wednesday my wife leaves another message, requiring an immediate call back. He does call, but says he has a family emergency and can not talk. He just ends the conversation with her. After a few more calls to the office, he calls her back again. My wife again asks for our money back, and he shuns her off, guaranteeing that the products will be installed "by the end of next week."
As of this Monday (3/9), we still had not gotten a call to reschedule the install date. I again call the office, and after identifying myself, I'm told yet again that the owner is not available. I try his cell phone, and am sent to voicemail. I left yet another message, again advising him that we will give him until this Friday to either install the products or refund my money. I receive a call back later on Monday (he left a voicemail) and he confirmed that the products would be installed this coming Friday; the installers will be there between 12-2 pm.
Today (Wednesday 3/11) I call to confirm the install, as I obviously have zero faith that they truly will be here on Friday. Since I was scheduled, the owner finally happens to be available without having to leave a message for him (first time in 20-some calls!). He puts me on hold, and comes back and says that unfortunately they can't install them this Friday... But should be able to next week, maybe Monday or Tuesday. I say you're kidding, right? You're pulling this stunt again, after giving me confirmation that they would be installed on Friday? His response is that they've had to change the schedule, and don't have anyone available "in my area." After several minutes of a heated discussion, he finally admits he doesn't have ANY installers anywhere that are working on Friday. I ask why he would have scheduled me in the first place if he didn't have a single installer that day; he responds that the schedule changed. I ask "as the owner, don't you set the schedule?" He responds that he can't control that there was a change to the schedule.
I continue to insist that he either install the products on Friday, as promised, or refund my money, as we have requested for the past few months. He refuses either option, saying he will only reschedule for next week. Several times I tell him that is not acceptable. He hangs up on me! I call back, demand to talk to him. I again advise him he only has two options, install Friday or refund my money. He refuses, and hangs up on me again! I call back again, tell him if he hangs up on me again, I'll report him for fraud. He tells me "go ahead, call the Police" and hangs up on me again!!!
7 months, no shutters/blinds, and the owner refuses to give us a refund.
Their website shows a "mission statement" which claims they will deliver products where and when you need it... Sorry Park Avenue Drapery, but you have failed your mission!
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