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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
Eddielzzard · 02/03/2020 19:15

You can't buy it. It's not right. If she's new to being a pro crafter, she's got to up her game fast. You won't be doing her any favours by accepting any old crap. It's not fair on you either obvs. You can play dumb:

I think you' might have sent the wrong photos? Then cut and paste your original spec. Look forward to seeing it!

Then she's got to justify all her changes and you can say, look, so sorry but I can't pay for this because it's nothing like what I wanted. She doesn't have a leg to stand on.

CassidyStone · 02/03/2020 19:15

I didn't realise it was 70 quid, I definitely wouldn't buy it off her to save her feelings in that case. And the posts about pallet wood being covered in rat droppings and pee... Shock Shock

Tell her that doesn't look anything like the bread bin you ordered, and you don't want it.

Grembolina · 02/03/2020 19:16

Absolutely don't accept delivery of something totally different to what you ordered.

If the hairdresser dyed your hair red when you asked for blonde you would have something to say.

gypsywater · 02/03/2020 19:16

Her work is amazing yet she is new to crafting? I dont get it.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 02/03/2020 19:17

Any chance she's pulling a fast one and just bought one to sell at a huge mark up?

I couldn't help thinking the same; there seems no other explanation for the item being so completely different to what OP ordered, especially as she was so careful in giving the details

Also a bit surprised that the work displayed at the craft event looked "amazing" ... unless that too was bought in?

lidoshuffle · 02/03/2020 19:17

No need to be coy, it was a business agreement and you are paying good money to have your specific requirements met, otherwise you could have just gone to Dunelm or wherever.

You both agreed dimensions, shelf, wood, appearance. She has not met the brief, therefore you don't want it and you are not paying for it.

No need to be unpleasant or apologetic, it's just a factual transaction and the fault is entirely hers.

CakeandCoffeeQueen · 02/03/2020 19:18

I’m a painter and work on commissions, personally I’d send an email bullet pointing all the things different to the brief and express how disappointed you are. She should offer to remake it to the original brief however if you feel unable to trust her or she feels it’s beyond her then you definitely don’t have to pay her anything.

Good luck!

wineandcheeseplease · 02/03/2020 19:18

Tell her straight!

hardyloveit · 02/03/2020 19:19

Definitely tell her. She hasn't stuck to the plans and changed the material used! She won't have a very successful business if she carries on doing that

myusernamewastakenbyme · 02/03/2020 19:20

Oh god how awkward...I hate these kind of situations...id sell my house and emigrate to avoid dealing with thisGrin

loutypips · 02/03/2020 19:20

Would wood from a pallet even be safe for storing food?

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 02/03/2020 19:21

Just say: If looks like you sent the wrong photo Smile

viques · 02/03/2020 19:23

To be fair, reclaimed oak could also have been painted with varnishes ,preservatives , paints, oils and all manner of other unpleasant chemicals as much as reclaimed pallett wood could have been contaminated. And it could have been weed on by rats

It's just that reclaimed oak sounds sooooo much nicer than reclaimed pallett!

PineappleDanish · 02/03/2020 19:24

If it's not what you ordered, then don't pay her! Oak is obviously more expensive than pallet wood.

If you wanted a jumper or shawl knitted from 100% merino and the knitter substituted that with 100% acrylic that wouldn't be reasonable either.

People who are crafting for a business have to deliver what has been promised, just like everyone else.

mnthrowaway202020 · 02/03/2020 19:26

Any chance she's pulling a fast one and just bought one to sell at a huge mark up?

Omg op, I think you should try and find the item online! Especially as it has the “bread” text

MrsHusky · 02/03/2020 19:26

Of course you can refuse it. Be honest, tell her its not what you discussed and give her chance to rectify it. If she doesn't, refuse the item and don't pay for it.

MolyHolyGuacamole · 02/03/2020 19:26

'I'm sorry, I think you've attached the wrong image; this is nothing like what we discussed. Is this another custom bread bin you are making for someone else?'

handbagsatdawn33 · 02/03/2020 19:26

Itemise everything that is not as specified & jointly agreed, & refuse to pay for it.
I suggest giving her the opportunity to make another one.
If she's new to business, this will be a valuable learning experience .

JackieFazakerley · 02/03/2020 19:26

I think that she's bought it in cheap, from somewhere.
Pallet wood is a million miles from lovely seasoned reclaimed oak.
Artisan my arse.

GruciusMalfoy · 02/03/2020 19:27

She hasn't made what you asked for, which is the whole point of getting something bespoke. If I'd agreed on oak, and someone tried to palm me off with an old pallet I wouldn't be very amused.

BrendasUmbrella · 02/03/2020 19:27

But I think you live a charmed life smile. Long may your blessings continue.

Yes, because taking an interest in a kitchen accessory means everything in her life must be wonderful... Hmm

I've known more than one person with terminal cancer taking pleasure from small things in life. Don't be a patronising twat. You never know what anyones life is like from one post.

ShirleyPhallus · 02/03/2020 19:27

REALLY disappointed this thread hasn’t descended to a load of bread puns. You lot are usually much better than this Grin

MadisonMontgomery · 02/03/2020 19:28

I would start off as others have suggested - sorry, you’ve sent me pics of someone else’s order, mine was reclaimed oak etc etc. Then when she comes back saying she’s made some changes etc, say thanks, but can we stick to the original brief. Then take from there. At the end of the day, it’s like buying something online - if it’s not what you ordered you send it back, you don’t just put up with it!

Streamside · 02/03/2020 19:28

I agree with Sunshine that I'd be worried about the chemicals in pallets.It's a tricky one as you probably don't want to upset her but she didn't deliver what you requested.

Serin · 02/03/2020 19:28

I bet shes a drop shipper.
Not illegal but not reputable either.
They basically take your order then have something cheaper delivered directly to you at vast profit for them.
It's big business.
I wouldnt be embarrassed at all at telling her that it's not what you agreed and there is no chance that you will paying for it.
Cheeky mare.

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