To not pay a crafter for a bespoke made item

[wherethewildrosesgrow]

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

@singandwing, I had a quick google myself and that one came up. Couldn’t believe the price.

I’m all for paying craftsman for the work but it as to be the agreed item. This was a commissioned piece and really She needs to be professional enough to stick to the brief - changing the wood, adding lettering, changing the fundamental layout is just ridiculous. I do like the message of ‘I think you’ve mixed up my order with somebody else’s - ‘mines the oak one, no lettering, loaves stacked’. At least that gives her an out.

I wonder if she has sent your the wrong photos?

That's how I'd tackle this - a reply to say you think she's sent the wrong photos as it's not the item you discussed. That gives her a chance to gracefully get out of her mistake by making you what you ordered or forces her to acknowledge the difference, giving you a chance to say it's not what you wanted.

I think that’s a good message OP. Let us know what she comes back with! Just as an aside, I’m sorry you felt you had to justify yourself in wanting a nice bread bin, as if wanting something like that automatically means you have nothing else more important on your mind! Honestly, some people

I wouldn't use reclaimed pallet wood for a food item, it may not be food safe even if it has the correct stamp.
www.1001pallets.com/pallet-safety/

Good
Message

@wherethewildrosesgrow well done with the message.

You don't have to explain to anyone why you want - and deserve - something nice. But I get it. Sometimes just one nice thing, one thing specifically as you would love it to be, is all it takes. I do hope you get that one thing.

I think your message is good. I hope you get a positive response. I wouldn't pay for it, either.

It’s horrible when something you’ve looked forward to turns into an issue rather than the nice treat it should be. Hopes it’s sorted xx

Well done re the message.
Gosh, that pallet link is scary TheInebriati

I didn't realise you could get them with a shelf. Quick look on amazon popped up this www.amazon.co.uk/Apollo-Bread-Doubledecker-Wood-Multi-Colour/dp/B00465IHQY/?tag=mumsnetforu03-21
I want one now.

JackieFazakerley Ikr? I used to make furniture from reclaimed pallets but stopped after I read about the hazards.

Absolutely do not accept the bad bin unless it's exactly what you asked for.
To be honest, I'd lose faith even if she says she'll make another.
You really wouldn't be doing her a favour by accepting it, and every time you looked at it you'd feel a pang of disappointment.

This relates to services but it might cover you - for example it refers to getting someone to make a wedding cake.
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/somethings-gone-wrong-with-a-purchase/complain-about-a-service/

I was going to say YABU because you’d commissioned it... then I read your post. Is pallet wood even suitable for a food environment? It sounds awful and isn’t what you asked for. I’m sure since you can get pallet wood for free she isn’t going to be out of pocket very much.

You need to tell her it's not what you ordered so you won't be taking it, sorry!

These are some of the photos I’ve sent her of what I wanted...I’ve also just realised she has not done the cut out heart detail that I asked for.

OP YANBU & I think your draft response is perfect. I make bespoke items & I wouldn’t dream of changing the agreed design without consulting with the client first. Like this crafter, my bespoke items are non-refundable. I have only had an issue once (in 5 years). It was actually the client’s fault (they hadn’t measured correctly) but I made the decision to take it on the chin & remake the item & sold the “faulty” item as regular stock. It paid off as she has become a repeat customer. Sincerely hope it works out for you. Having a bespoke item is such a treat & joy. Stick to your guns & don’t accept anything less than you agreed.

hmm. you do appear to have written the word bread on the front of it. I realise you meant to indicate a loaf, but.....

the rest however is no good (different wood etc)

Don’t pay,, it’s nothing like you’ve asked for, on a side note, I’m howling @Therollockingrogue’s post 😂

Your second picture OP (or first drawing) - could she not have interpreted that as the word Bread on the front?

I think she might have mistaken your 'BREAD' label in the diagram for writing on the door. But still, she hasn't made it like a little cupboard with a top and bottom shelf, so that's still a problem, plus the pallet wood...

Blimey. I'm still reading that link from TheInebriati ( Hope no lasting effects to you).
Rat piss would be the least of my worries.
Stay Safe and avoid MB pallets!
[MB]: Methyl bromide fumigation, this is a potent pesticide linked to human health problems and ozone layer depletion. Methyl bromide fumigation kills invasive species like pine beetles.

In 1987, the Montreal Protocol aimed to regulate the use of methyl bromide, along with multiple other chemicals found to impact the ozone. This type of treatment is now banned in Canada and many countries because it poses health risks to workers handling the pallets. However, you can still find it in some places. If you find an MB pallet (likely from Asia or Oceania), please do not use it for your craft projects or as firewood, find a waste-removal company that can dispose of it properly

Even if she had interpreted the word ‘bread’ on the front for lettering I’d have expected her to come to you and ask what font and colour you wanted it to match the other items in your kitchen.

Loaf loaf loaf

excellent