Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

To think that she should have completed this job sooner?

62 replies

MojitoMadame · 26/06/2016 17:49

Someone I know has a DH who runs a picture framing business. About 18 months ago I gave them 6 prints to be framed, but heard nothing and to be honest, had completely forgotten about them. Yesterday I received a message to say that they were ready and that I owed them £300.

I don't want to be unreasonable or make a fuss, but I do think that this is a long time; the prints were for my daughter's room, but she is off to uni in a couple of months. I actually don't need or want them any more, but I don't want to act in an unfair way either.

What would you do?

OP posts:

DonttouchthatLarry · 26/06/2016 19:08

Sounds like a good one for Judge Rinder

Original poster

MojitoMadame · 27/06/2016 05:10

Thanks for your replies. I will reply that I am prepared to pay as they have done the work but say that I am very unhappy about it and regard it as shoddy service.

OP posts:

Liiinoo · 27/06/2016 05:47

When I have things framed I normally end up paying around £100 a time. It seemed like an incredible amount of money the first time and I shopped around but give or take a few quid it is pretty consistent in this area. So even though. £300 is a lot to pay out at one time , it does sound like a fair price for 6 pictures.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 27/06/2016 06:18

Framing is expensive, I've done it for expensive pictures and stuff that's not a standard size. I've always been able to discuss the frame and mount and had a price before committing. I'd definitely complain and see what they say.

VoleSnuffle · 27/06/2016 06:23

Why is the onus on the customer?

Surely someone running a framing business has a system to actually frame the prints then contact the customer to arrange payment and collection.

18 months is a ridiculous amount of time to frame photos. I would be asking for a discount considering the time it has taken.

StealthPolarBear · 27/06/2016 06:28

Well tbh I thibk it would be nice for your dd to come home and see them.
That said 18 months is a ridiculous length of time.

IamtheDevilsAvocado · 27/06/2016 07:32

Way too long...

I would just say you had forgotten completely about them... Assuming that the pictures themselves are of minimal value, which I guess they are otherwise you would have chased. Say that you no longer want them, and that they can sell them to recoup any costs?

BigGreenOlives · 27/06/2016 07:40

I buy prints regularly & get them framed professionally. If I was in your situation I'd have rung after 6 weeks and asked. How much did the prints cost, were they £20 each or £500 each? The framer doesn't care whether you've bought an Andy Warhol print for tens of thousands or one from IKEA, the work is the same.

JoJoSM2 · 27/06/2016 07:45

Just a comment on framing prices - in my experience local shops can literally take the mickey with their pricing and we've only ever used them once for a rolled up painting that needed to be mounted to. Otherwise, we've always ordered them online at a quarter of the price (bespoke sizes, range of specialist finishes etc) - they are made in the UK and somehow it is possible not to charge people an arm and a leg for them... I'd consider £300 reasonable if they were mid-size pics.

MrEBear · 27/06/2016 08:01

You should have chased them up. I'm guessing they have been lying in the shop done for 17months. They have been tidying up and realised the length of time they have been there.

I'd also think £50 each isn't really that bad.

SoupDragon · 27/06/2016 08:10

The price is OK, the time is not!

I think it's unbelievable that they didn't comment on or apologise for the time its taken.

You need to talk to them about it.

Would your DD want them for her room at university or for when she comes home?

StealthPolarBear · 27/06/2016 08:20

Are they pictures of family?

DoreenLethal · 27/06/2016 08:25

I will reply that I am prepared to pay as they have done the work but say that I am very unhappy about it and regard it as shoddy service

If you are unhappy and regard it as a shoddy service, why are you paying the full price with no question?

MissDuke · 27/06/2016 08:25

I cannot believe how many people it was the responsibility of the customer - in the unlikely event that the frames actually were completed a long time ago, then of course the onus is on the business to inform the customer In this case, time went on so long that the op actually forgot about it, this is the responsibility of the framer! Op if you no longer want them - tell them so!

AbyssinianBanana · 27/06/2016 08:30

No - don't pay - that is ludicrous! The business didn't give you a quote. They didn't give you a time frame. They kept your property for a year and a half and didn't contact you to tell you when the job would be finished or how much it would cost.

They're being fucking chancers not giving you a huge apology for NOT DOING THE AGREED WORK AT AN AGREED PRICE IN A TIMELY MANNER.

Can I shout that loud enough to counteract all these soft-touches who just cough up money left and right?!

limitedperiodonly · 27/06/2016 08:47

It's not like they're painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, it's six picture frames. How long does it take? Tell them they can keep them.

voluptuagoodshag · 27/06/2016 08:54

If anything is to be learned it's to get a price and a timescale, especially when it's a friend or someone you know coz that's when it becomes more awkward. As you gave them to the friend, she could have stuck them somewhere and forgotten about them too and her DH only got them a few weeks ago.

I actually do paintings. I get commissions sometimes but recently a friend asked me to do a couple for her in a style I'd never done before. She was very specific and I said I'd give it a go - she needed them by a certain time and I was busting a gut to get them done and put a lot of time and effort in.

Unfortunately I hadn't stated beforehand how much they were going to be and she hadn't asked. When I told her the combined price (£70 for two one off originals unframed and they would normally be at least £40) she looked surprised and a bit put out. We were both delighted with the end result and I think she got a bargain. Not sure she thinks she has though.

Shakirasma · 27/06/2016 08:55

£300 seems a heck of a lot, if you could afford to forget about the prints then the framing must be costing more than the pictures are worth!

It is a tricky one as you didn't chase, but 18 months is taking the piss in a big way.

voluptuagoodshag · 27/06/2016 08:57

And framing isn't cheap. You can walk into a shop and buy a frame cheaply but getting one done professionally really does make a difference. Last one I got done was £77 for one 18"x12" in a box frame.

Floralnomad · 27/06/2016 08:59

Just email and tell them that as they have had them 18 months you will collect them and pay in 18 months time .

Paniniswapx3 · 27/06/2016 11:14

18 months ago? Id be honest & say you'd forgotten all about them & no longer need / want them so thanks but no thanks.

whois · 27/06/2016 11:17

I would message back "I'm not sure what has happened here, I asked about those prints 18 months ago, but as I didn't hear back about a price or completion time and such a long time had passed I assumed you were not doing them. My mistake for not chasing you up but after so much has now past I feel you should have confirmed that I still wanted them and was happy with the price."

this is a good response

NarkyKnockers · 27/06/2016 11:25

If you are going to pay anyway I think complaining about shoddy service will just cause you awkwardness at work.

BettyDraper1 · 27/06/2016 11:34

That's bad business. I'd expect the job to take two weeks, maximum. So if you really don't want them now I'd tell them where to go.

louisagradgrind · 27/06/2016 13:08

I think you would be reasonably entitled to come to an accommodation of sorts: maybe £200? I don't think I would be paying £300. Are you sure that he isn't including storage on that?

Flip

1 2 3