Paint Fun Studio - Art Lessons South Brunswick NJ — Attraction in South Brunswick

I don't like writing bad reviews but feel the need to warn people about doing business with Nilufar Rahman, the owner of Paint Fun Studio.

According to Ms. Rahman's website, the price is $25 per painter with a minimum of 12 painters plus a 15% service fee. Her website does state that they will accept less than 12 painters however you are required to pay for at least 12. Language below is taken directly from her website:

"This is a 2.5 Hour Paint Party. Minimum of 12 paid seats. $25 per child. [Parties of fewer than 12 guests are permissible, but the minimum 12 seats must be purchased]. "

I called Ms. Rahman this past Saturday to discuss the details of my daughter's party and she started quoting prices based on $30 per painter. I mentioned that her website states that the price is $25 and she promptly stated that the prices on the website have not been updated since 2016 and the price is now $30 per painter. This should have been the first red flag. What professional establishment has not update and maintain their website? As per my unpleasant conversation with her this morning said she isn't able to find someone to update it. That sounds a bit ridiculous.

Putting that aside, I paid the deposit of $150 and was told that I should receive a contract that day and more importantly that I need to pay the full amount 2 days later to reserve the spot. I receive the contract at 11pm on Saturday night and per the contract it states that any additional people that show up to event will be $35 a painter; this contrary to what I was told over the phone. I was told that any additional painter will be $30.

I texted and emailed her to confirm and received a response stating that the cost for additional painters is $30 x 15% service fee which is $35.25 (according to her math) when in actually it's $34.50 (this becomes important later).

Moving past her "math", I decided to sign the contract and send it back to her but asked her to confirm the balance as she stated that the full balance needed to be paid today to reserve the spot. I text and email and receive no response. I decided to call and that's when things I saw her nasty side.

At the outset of the call, she asks how many people are coming. I mentioned that 15 have confirmed and she gives me the total based on 15. I asked if I could pay for 12 as I want to ensure everyone shows up before I pay for 15. I did confirm for her that I am happy for the minimum of 12 and will pay for any additional children when I arrive. My concern is kids get sick or things come up and don't want to pay for the additional people for no reason.

She goes on to tell me that if I have less than 12 people the event will be cancelled. This is completely contradictory to her website which clearly states that you can have less but need to pay for at least 12. Even her contract states that,

"If less than 12 people paint on the day of the event, the money will not be returned under any circumstances". I would read this as the money for the number less than 12 would not be returned.

Despite all of this I still tried to move forward as my daughter was excited for this experience. I again ask her to confirm the total for 12 and she proceeds to tell me, "It's simple math, you shouldn't have to call me to figure it out." Who speaks to a customer in this way? She doesn't even know how to multiply 30 by 15% and tells me I don't know simple math? She starts getting very rude and cutting me off and talking over me. She tells me that I contacted her and she doesn't need unhappy customers. According to her this is the first time she has ever experienced an unhappy customer but based on other reviews it's obvious that I'm not the only person to have this experience. After all of this, she hung up on me.

To anyone considering using her establishment and services, please beware. She is very rude, unpleasant and a challenge to work with.

Edit - After reading her response it's interesting to note that she fails to mention how rude she was. Nilufar - practice...

In terms of the art class, it is good at least my five year old likes it. However, even though I gave two month in advance notice of the withdrawal, I was still charged one month tuition and the service fee ($100+$3) after we moved out of NJ. Asked the refund for two months and finally got the refund of $100. Should not it be $103? She said it was the service fee of $3. I know that is like nothing, but feel uncomfortable because that is her mistake not mine.

After asking couple of times, I did receive the three dollars refund, but I cannot believe that she is a teacher saying those words ("I hope you are happy with your $3. Never come back to my studio again. I am blocking you as well"). She said she mailed a check, but never received it at all. Double checked the address I provided, nothing wrong. It is not about how many students you have, but your attitute. Do not forget that you owed me money not the opposite. As a teacher, think it deeply. NJ has thousands millions art teachers perhapes, why would I still think of sending my daughter to your studio. You are like a child. LOL

As an adult, we really should not say someone has problem or something like that. What I usually do is to think you may have been too busy to refund me. I understand everyone is busy. What I did was to ask my money back. I do not think that is a "problem". And now you were saying I have some problem You tell me what is your problem? I believe your potential students would "love" to see all your...

Will not be returning to Nilufar Rahman's studio. She was 10 minutes late and did not give a formal apology for the tardiness/introduction really.

Class was advertised to run from 6-9 pm on Saturday 3/3/18. We got our painting class started at around a quarter after 6, and were in the car leaving the premises at 7:48 pm! It is sad to say but she rushed us throughout the class, super awkward, we were all sort of in shock.

Now, I truly try to empathize with her given that she had to come to work on a Saturday night. I am a shift worker myself and it sort of blows to be away from family/friends on a Saturday evening. But I definitely would have appreciated it if she had been more professional and just rescheduled us for a better time or for a time with a larger group. She could have checked in advanced on her Paypal account to see the size of our group. I say this because she was seemed surprised when it was only 5 of us.

All in all. it was nice to take home a souvenir but it was not a relaxed or enjoyable experience really. As a teacher she was pretty aggressive/pushy with the way we were painting and the way we were keeping our brushes (I can't imagine we will truly ruin the brushes if we keep them out of water for longer than 20 minutes). The assistant/trainee though was very nice and polite, she helped with out set up...