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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not pay a crafter for a bespoke made item

586 replies

wherethewildrosesgrow · 02/03/2020 18:46

I’ve wanted a really nice bread bin for ages, fed up of my old rusty one leaving marks all over the kitchen worktop, saw a nice one on the internet, lovely design, but it wasn’t big enough, I needed a double/two loaf model.
Decided to splash out and get one made (wooden), spent ages sending pics/designs to local crafter, lots didn’t answer, or didn’t come back with a price after initially showing interest in taking on the project, or some couldn’t make it for nearly a year.
After a while I found a lovely new to crafting lady at an event, her work was amazing, and she quoted me £70 for a reclaimed solid oak bread bin, based on some pics I sent her, and included a rough sketch with measurements (internal& external), but I did say the size could altered slightly if she felt it would look more proportional, as long as it fitted two loaves (one on top of each other, with internal shelf), I even sent her a pic with the tape measure in front of the loaves I use for clarity...she sent me a sketch back, and I asked her to go ahead with the make.
Shes in the final stages, and today she’s sent me an update with pics.
Problem...it isn’t anything like the sketches either of us sent, she’s added the word BREAD in red to the front of it, which I never asked for, and wasn’t included in any of the pics or sketches.
It hasn’t got an internal shelf, the loaves look as if they are to fit side by side, so it’s going to take up far more valuable work surface space, and my kitchen isn’t big.
Im unsure if it’s even going to fit two loaves in...but it’s very hard to judge from a pic.
AND she has told me she’s made it out of pallet wood instead of the reclaimed oak, as she felt it looked more rustic...I did say initially I wanted rustic...but she gave me a samples of wood to chose from, and pallet wood is not the agreed oak.
EEEK.
Would I be really really unreasonable to say ‘I don’t want it, it’s not what we agreed’
I feel awful, as she new to crafting, and she’s lovely....but it, in my eyes anyway, it looks awful, I don’t feel I could use it elsewhere even.
This is my Christmas birthday and Mother’s Day present all in one, I feel like somebody like me should never even of attempted to have something handmade, I should of stuck to one for a fiver from B&M.
She’s on holiday til the weekend, so I don’t want to message her immediately, and spoil things for her

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
PotteringAlong · 02/03/2020 18:47

It’s not what you agreed. Just message her

Therollockingrogue · 02/03/2020 18:48

I don’t know OP. But I think you live a charmed life Smile. Long may your blessings continue.

madcatladyforever · 02/03/2020 18:49

You asked her to make a specific thing, with certain materials and she didn't.
Quite honestly she needs to be more business savvy or she won't make any money.
I would explain to her why it isn't the item you asked her to make.

swimmingclubs · 02/03/2020 18:51

If it isn't what you requested, sadly I think you'll have to tell her...

CassidyStone · 02/03/2020 18:51

Oh god, I'd have to buy it off her and then gift it to someone else. I couldn't tell someone their handmade bread bin was crap. Donate it to the school to use as a raffle prize.

MoltenLasagne · 02/03/2020 18:52

Any chance she's pulling a fast one and just bought one to sell at a huge mark up? Either way if you agreed a set price for reclaimed oak and now she's given you something out of pallet wood then I'd expect serious renegotiation on price. Add in the fact that it's nothing like what you agreed and she didn't come back to you to discuss changes she thought needed making and I'd say you could walk away.

motherheroic · 02/03/2020 18:52

You don't have to say it's crap, just not what was discussed.

icklekid · 02/03/2020 18:52

I’d probably message saying really sorry think there is some confusion - I asked for oak not pallets, I didn’t want writing and I asked for a shelf as I don’t have space for 2 loaves side by side and see what she says in response...

noeyedeer · 02/03/2020 18:52

I send a message telling her sooner rather than later. At least she can stop and not invest any more time. YANBU to reject the item though.

Bodear · 02/03/2020 18:53

Yanbu. Can you reference back to the emails where you agreed the design/ materials? It sounds like you’ve been very specific Grin so you absolutely should have what you commissioned.

SisterAgatha · 02/03/2020 18:53

I was 50/50 until you said PALLET WOOD. I don’t know how to resolve it but yanbu.

EscapeTheCastle · 02/03/2020 18:53

Yup, you simply say "it's not what I ordered in terms of size, shape, material and design, so I wont be able to accept delivery sadly"

You could add "hope you have a lovely holiday"

don't be shy, shes messed up totally. I wouldn't give her a 2nd chance either!

Bluntness100 · 02/03/2020 18:54

I’d email her and say I’m concerned as these are the sketches and dimensions we agreed, the bin seems to look nothing like this, and the wood is not the final sample i picked. I’m assuming you’ve sent the wrong images?

Waveysnail · 02/03/2020 18:55

£70 for something made out of an old pallet. I think not

Smelborp · 02/03/2020 18:55

That’s absolutely nothing like you requested so I wouldn’t accept it.

BMW6 · 02/03/2020 18:56

Nope, YANBU. You specified what you wanted. Tell her this isn't what you specified so will not be purchasing.

RhymingRabbit3 · 02/03/2020 18:57

Shes definitely messed it up. One of those issues - lettering, wood, dimensions - I could let it go but it sounds like the product is nothing like what you asked for! I would definitely tell her that its not what you wanted and refer back to her own sketches and emails. I wouldnt pay £70 for a bread bin anyway, but even less so for one that's nothing like what I wanted.

NeedAUsernameGenerator · 02/03/2020 18:57

Pallets are basically free aren't they? She shouldn't have changed materials without asking you.

RedRed9 · 02/03/2020 18:57

‘We agreed X Y Z and you’ve made A B C. I’m sorry you’ve already spent so much time on it but this isn’t what I asked for.’

Sunshine1235 · 02/03/2020 18:57

I would be worried about using a bread bin made from pallet wood, has she definitely used chemical free pallets? Some are not safe for crafting. Regardless pallet wood and reclaimed oak are very different, yanbu

mnthrowaway202020 · 02/03/2020 18:58

Personalised items are generally non refundable so typically you’d be stuck if you just changed your mind. However this is clearly faulty/not as described. I would tell her now that this isn’t what you wanted and allow her to rectify it or ask to cancel

HomerSimpsonSmilingPolitely · 02/03/2020 18:58

Tell her now, don't wait. Just tell her that this isn't anything like what you asked for and could she make one out of oak and in the style that was in the original sketches?

If she doesn't do that then take your business elsewhere

BaolFan · 02/03/2020 18:59

Dear crafter,

Thanks for the update but unfortunately this is not what I asked for. We agreed on a bread bin that was . The version that you are currently working on doesn't meet those requirements and I wanted to let you know now, so that you can make arrangements to sell it to someone else.

Regards,
OP

Ilovemypyjamas · 02/03/2020 18:59

Totally agree with @Waveysnail

She is pulling a fast one!

DesLynamsMoustache · 02/03/2020 19:00

What about the old 'I think you've sent me someone else's pics by mistake! Mine is the one without bread on it and insert other details here' trick?