Low grades for "high end": Part Two - the rare exceptions
I've just posted Part One - the rule on this subject of dealing with "high end" distributors and service providers, that rule being:
The rudest, costliest, most disruptive, deceptive and unethical behavior I've encountered (over several years and several renovations) involved persons associated with the sales and servicing of "high end" goods. Thus, from me, they merit the lowest grades despite the quality of their products.
Now, I'd like to mention, for the record, some very good (if rare) experiences I've had.
Here are three exceptions (I've encountered) to the "high end" problem:
For my kitchen backsplash, I purchased very expensive but stunning, handmade Motawi tiles from Tile Showcase in Watertown (outside of Boston). They were installed by a semi-retired master tiler referred to me by Tile Showcase. This man is a true artist (see photo of tiling detail, a hand cut mitered corner rather than bull nosed edge) and it was clear he gave equal care to whatever job he did, six figure or three figure. And he was so pleasant to deal with! I also got prompt, courteous and skilled assistance from my sales rep at Tile Showcase.
I purchased my appliances at Yale Electric in Dorchester (part of Boston) and the sales rep I had for this order was an absolute prince! I encountered a small problem with the refrigerator upon delivery, but this was immediately remedied without the slightest resistance. In fact, they were very apologetic about it. Yale actually sells appliances (and lighting) from the highest "high end" (like Sub-Zero and Viking, which I didn't get!) to the more affordable models we're all familiar with.
I was fortunate enough not to have that Newton cabinetry company get as far as taking on my kitchen cabinets (although they tried!) and instead got truly healthy cabinets from Neil Kelly Cabinets, a custom cabinetry company in Portland, Oregon. I had originally gone local in pursuit of healthy cabinets because I thought that would make any potential problems more easily solvable. Well, wrong! And despite Neil Kelly Cabinets being 3,000 miles away on the West coast, they have been fantastic. I worship the ground these people walk on, couldn't have had a more opposite custom cabinetry experience. I hear they're catching on here on the east coast. Good for them and whoever works with them! (See the bottom of my first post for a photo showing the plate rack, some of the cabinets and the oak part of my countertops, all custom made for me by Neil Kelly Cabinets.)
So, the good guys are out there. Unfortunately, they're the rare exceptions to the rule.
Be careful and good luck!
The rudest, costliest, most disruptive, deceptive and unethical behavior I've encountered (over several years and several renovations) involved persons associated with the sales and servicing of "high end" goods. Thus, from me, they merit the lowest grades despite the quality of their products.
Now, I'd like to mention, for the record, some very good (if rare) experiences I've had.
Here are three exceptions (I've encountered) to the "high end" problem:

I purchased my appliances at Yale Electric in Dorchester (part of Boston) and the sales rep I had for this order was an absolute prince! I encountered a small problem with the refrigerator upon delivery, but this was immediately remedied without the slightest resistance. In fact, they were very apologetic about it. Yale actually sells appliances (and lighting) from the highest "high end" (like Sub-Zero and Viking, which I didn't get!) to the more affordable models we're all familiar with.
I was fortunate enough not to have that Newton cabinetry company get as far as taking on my kitchen cabinets (although they tried!) and instead got truly healthy cabinets from Neil Kelly Cabinets, a custom cabinetry company in Portland, Oregon. I had originally gone local in pursuit of healthy cabinets because I thought that would make any potential problems more easily solvable. Well, wrong! And despite Neil Kelly Cabinets being 3,000 miles away on the West coast, they have been fantastic. I worship the ground these people walk on, couldn't have had a more opposite custom cabinetry experience. I hear they're catching on here on the east coast. Good for them and whoever works with them! (See the bottom of my first post for a photo showing the plate rack, some of the cabinets and the oak part of my countertops, all custom made for me by Neil Kelly Cabinets.)
So, the good guys are out there. Unfortunately, they're the rare exceptions to the rule.
Be careful and good luck!
2 Comments:
Very entertaining (and informative) post! It's too bad you can't mention the offending vendors by name. Bastards!
By
Anonymous, at 8:23 AM
Hi Jim,
Thanks for the feedback! As for the "whodunit"? I'm hoping a little process of elimination will lead those needing to know to the names of the cabinet offenders! If all other guesses fail, I'd recommend people not get cabinets from any "custom" cabinetry company in Newton! ;-)
By
Carol, at 9:50 AM
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