Architectural Antiques — Attraction in Minneapolis

UPDATE: Architectural Antiques has severe problems being truthful with their customers. This is clearly evident in their claim that I did not purchase items at their store as the attached email shows. I will be happy to continue posting proof until this business begins to be truthful. They need to show all of their customers much more respect and not deliberately try to mislead them. They should be ashamed.

I only wish I could assign a ZERO (0) rating to this firm. Dealing with this company has proven to be a nightmare because they threaten customers who ask any questions about the excessive fees with which this firm “surprises” their customers after they purchase an item.

I purchased some lighting from this firm and, when I asked for clarification regarding the excessive shipping cost they quoted, I received the following threat from one of their employees: “if you would like me to provide an even more detailed itemization, the costs will likely increase.”

So, if a customer asks why they are being charged an excessive fee, they are threatened that the fee will be increased just because they are asking a question about it. I emailed Architectural Antiques and stated “I have a problem with your shipping quote because I feel I am being taken advantage of…your terse response threatening to increase the shipping cost because I’m asking for clarification is also not helpful.”

There firm replied with the following: “I apologize for my terseness and for sounding threatening. I am stressed from many different areas and it's not fair to take it out on you.” At this point, I thought Architectural Antiques was ready to work to resolve the problem. But I was wrong…

I was able to determine the true cost of shipping the items using the corporate UPS account for my own business. The true cost for shipping the items is $97.38, $218.02 LESS than the price quoted by Architectural Antiques. When I emailed about the cost difference and carefully explained how and why their shipping quote of $315.40 was EXCESSIVE, I was then threatened by yet another employee at Architectural Antiques - even though I was still willing to pay more than the actual cost of shipping the items (namely, $157.38).

This second employee stated that unless I paid without questions or shipped via their selected UPS store, my items would be considered to be abandoned and they would then claim ownership and keep my money. This is the definition of extortion. But it gets even worse…

When I contacted the franchised UPS store designated by Architectural Antiques, the UPS Store at agreed to apply my pre-paid UPS labels to the boxes containing my items and mail them to me as per corporate UPS policy. I then emailed Architectural Antiques and told them that their UPS Store had agreed to ship the items.

In response to my email, Architectural Antiques contacted the UPS Store and was able to get the store to violate corporate UPS policy and refuse to use my UPS pre-paid labels. Instead, the UPS Store now demanded $446.57 to ship my items. So, Architectural Antiques colluded with the UPS Store, with which the regularly do business, into violating corporate UPS policy and making the shipping quote even higher than the EXCESSIVE quote of Architectural Antiques.

As of today, nearly three months after I purchased the items, they, and the pre-paid UPS shipping labels I sent to Architectural Antiques, remain at this firm. Architectural Antiques refuses to simply put the labels on the boxes - even though Architectural Antiques stated in an email to me that “if you would like to provide your own labels, that would be acceptable.” They have also lied to my credit card company about their actions in this matter.

This is an especially frustrating as this entire matter could be resolved in less than ten minutes if Architectural Antiques would simply put the labels on the boxes and gave...

Walking into Architectural Antiques in Minneapolis is like stepping into a treasure trove of history and artistry, curated by none other than the extraordinary Ian. His customer relations are nothing short of phenomenal—he doesn’t just sell antiques; he crafts an unforgettable experience. Ian’s deep knowledge, genuine passion, and warmth make every visit a delight, leaving you feeling like family.

The collection? Absolutely breathtaking. From ornate Victorian ironwork to mid-century modern gems, each piece tells a story and exudes unparalleled charm. The diversity and quality of the items are unmatched in this part of the country, making Architectural Antiques a true haven for collectors, designers, and dreamers alike.

Ian’s commitment to excellence is evident in every detail, from how pieces are displayed to the way he ensures each customer finds exactly what they’re looking for. Whether you’re hunting for a statement chandelier or a rare architectural relic, this is the place to go.

Five stars aren’t enough for this gem of a shop and its incredible owner. Ian, thank you for preserving history and sharing it so beautifully with the world....

Placed a successful bid on LiveAuctioneers for a chandelier only to find that, several days later, the item had been removed. I was sent no courtesy message from the auction house. I called Architectural Antiques to inquire about the removed item. I found out that the items this auction house lists for bid are also simultaneously for sale in their brick and mortar shop. I couldn’t believe it. How unprofessional. Even though I had placed a bid, someone else was still able to buy that item I thought I was winning. To make it worse, I had even called right after I had placed my bid to find out if I would be able to still buy the item should the reserve price not be met at auction. I was told to call back at auction’s end so that I could purchase item should it not sell for the reserve price. I was never told that the item could be purchased now. I have a feeling the platform this auction house uses would not support these selling practices. I have purchased many items from different auction houses over the years but would never deal with...