Refinish solid maple table, 2 leaves, 4 chairs
Seen TMC at Norfolk County Fair and have always wanted my grandmother's table and chairs refinished (it delveloped a crack wehn we lived in Regina (dry climate)).
I asked to see a leaf stained before all the table is stained because wood takes stain differently than what was on a paper chip. 3 months later we get a call telling us the table was complete and to look at it. It was NOT the colour I wanted and said I wanted it darker. So, we agreed to have the table sent back to us and live with it for a while to see if it would grow on me.
About 1 1/2 months go by and they call us to tell us to come look at it again. The placed a darker stain on top and said "we are just trying to make you happy, we made it darker". It was ORANGE in colour, swear. So, I said no, darker like walnut. Finally they refinish the table and we get it back.
We rarely sit at the table (in 3 months we sat at it 3 times), we have no kids, and take care of our things. Of those 3 times, my parents were over and we were playing cards with brand new slippery cards. After about an hour of playing we noticed there were fine scratches in the direction of the cards. I contacted TMC again and they did not believe me but, I took pictures and convinced them to refinish the table top again. When they got the table to TMC one of the workers placed her nails over top of the table and left scratch marks. They refinished it.... again....
I get the table back after about a month and it appeared to be good. Note that they will most often come late at night, like 11 pm (less light hides things - I say). Well, it has been a few months, my husband and I have not sat at the table yet and today I wiped the dust off and noticed all these little scratches. I took my short soft nails (because I bit them) and scraped across the table and left scratch marks. I am so frustrated and thought refinishing my Grandmother's table was going to be enjoyable.
The whole event took over a year....We were in a mennonite store and I could get a solid cherry table with 6 chairs for $2999....
I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND TMC TO MY WORST ENEMY....
There are a few other things that happened too. Like, if they offer you a harder finish, don't take it. It does not exist because when I first complained of the scratches and that I paid $400 more for a more durable finish, she did not know what finish I was talking about.
Again, I would not recommend TMC to my worst enemy. I am surprised they have lasted as long as they have. Maybe I am not suppose to sit at the "museum" table... just look at it...... Thanks TMC for wrecking my fond memories of my grandmother and how much she liked that table.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $3,377.16
- Company Response
TMC's take.
October 22, 2010: Agreement is made with TMC representative to restore a dining room table, 2 leaves and 4 chairs. Country Pine is selected as stain colour.
December 23 2010: Client views work, feels it is too light. Client asks to take furniture home to live with before concluding agreement.
January, 2011: Client decides stain is too light. TMC agrees to re-do using a darker stain.
January 14, 2011: TMC completes work a second time.
January 25, 2011: Client deems the stain of the second attempt too light as well.
January 27, 2011: TMC & client agree before doing the set a third time, a sample, that requires client approval, will be created first. Dark Walnut the selected stain colour.
February & March, 2011: Sample is completed. Client takes sample leaf home to mull over it. Mulling takes weeks, before approval is given.
March, 2011: Third attempt is completed by TMC.
April 10, 2011: Client views third attempt. It is approved. Client signs a 'satisfactory completion and authorization of release form.'
April 30, 2011: Delivered.
July 2011: Client contacts TMC, indicates table is scratched by playing cards. Although TMC can not be held responsible for misuse, TMC agrees to service scratches.
July to August 2011: Difficulty arranging pick-up of furniture due to long distance and unavailability of client.
September 2011: Table refinished fourth time.
November 2011: Re-delivered.
January 2012: Homestars posting. (Client has not contacted TMC since receiving delivery in November.)TMC acknowledges a sample was to be provided prior to refinishing the entire set. TMC believes this point is moot for two reasons. One, a stain was selected by the client and that stain was used as instructed. Two, TMC was willing to refinish the set multiple times in attempt to satisfy the client. TMC feels this is representative of strong customer service, and have observed, through experience, that finding a contractor that would service a client 4 times is exceedingly rare.
TMC is of the very strong opinion they made numerous sincere attempts to satisfy the client. Although, TMC is disappointed to learn of their thoughts, they feel the zero-score given misrepresents the actual effort TMC made.
TMC performs restoration on approximately 700 table tops per year and has never received a similar complaint about playing cards scratching a table top. In fact, complaints about scratched tops are extremely rare.
The claim TMC arrives late to avoid the light is completely false. The client lives near Simcoe, a 2-hour drive from TMC's office. Unfortunately, the distance from TMC’s office lead to the late delivery times.
Finally, comparing a new cherry set with the restoration process we use is an unfair and unequal comparison.