A & JAD's — Local services in Alexandria

I called A & JAD's to have someone come to our home to provide an estimate for our some very old 50's era furniture to have repaired and reupholstered after 50 years of use. This is the type of sturdy, quality furniture you can't buy anymore today.

I was told there would be a charge of $125 to come to our home to provide an estimate which would be applied toward the cost of repairs if we chose to have the work done - no problem there. I understand that some businesses such as plumber, electrician, HVAC repair people, etc., charge to come to your home to inspect a situation and often times that "fee" is applied to the cost of the repair. I've got no problem with that. I agreed to the fee and then suddenly a gentleman gets on the phone explaining he wanted me to come to their store to pay them the $125 in advance, in person and bring a dining room chair as a "sample". Furthermore, they wanted me to bring photographs of the living room chairs and couch.

I just don't see how someone can provide a reasonably accurate estimate on work and materials as well as labor cost based on the present condition of the items to be repaired without seeing them in person. The more I listened to the "rationale" of why this was necessary, the more I got the impression they didn't want to make the effort to earn my business. I mentioned to them I had a budget for these repairs and didn't want to pay 4 or 5k as that would be unreasonable to me - IF that's what these types of repairs / restoration might run

Frankly, I don't see wha the problem is. They either provide a service or they don't. If that service doesn't entail coming to a potential cusomer's home to provide an estimate, that's alright, as well. However, TELL me you don't provide that service or telll me you do but there is a fee associated with a home visit. Don't provide me with a bunch of reasons why I have to show up in person at the store to pay this fee in advance and then provide photographs of the items to be repaired. How in the heck is anyone going to provide a reasonably accurate estimate on something they can't see or touch in person? They may do good work - I don't know, I've never used them, but I can say with 100% certaintly, my confidence has not been inspired by this encounter.

I'm going to look for another business to restore our furniture. Someone who conveys they really don't want to take the time and make the effort to literally drive down the street, isn't going to get my business. Perception is reality and...

I just hope this review will help someone and save them from all the troubles I had. I needed 4 chair seats fabric cover change and 1 area carpet cleaning when I went to this place. I ask the owner what he thinks chairs are needed. He check the seats, told me that only new fabric is needed and recommended one ,which I liked. So, for 4 chair seat fabric change and 1 area carpet cleaning needed, I was charged $520 cash only, paid in advance. I was told that chair seats will be ready in a weak or 2 and carpet in a month. After approximately 10 days the owner called me to tell me that chair seats are ready and that they had to do something extra so if could pay them $25 more. Fact that on the bill over $500 they are asking for $25 was ridiculous to me and I refused. They should have called and tell me that prior to work. Owner got angry and told me that He is in business for 20-30 years or something and that people usually believe him when he does that .I didn't care, it was matter of principles. I got my 4 seats ( had to say that new fabric looked really nice). After a week or so I was told that carpet is ready for pickup. When I was getting the carpet , the owner told me that he sprayed the carpet with something because it had wooly smell ( carpet never had that smell even brand new) . As soon as open the carpet at home, it looked bad . Chemical smell was really strong, carpet did not looked clean and had some little grass pieces even small rocks in it . Smell was so bad that, I promise, you would get dizzy if you are next to it. After 2 days it smelled even worse. I called them and told them that carpet is not washed at all 100%, owners wife told me that she watched it being washed twice ( obvious lie, who says that) . I wanted 200$ back that I paid for cleaning, they refused to give it and said that I can bring the carpet back so that they can wash it again. When I asked why is was not washed properly first time , the owner said some ridiculous story about drying it with hair dryer or something like that. My conclusion is that they got mad over $25 that I refused to pay, so they just sprayed my carpet with some chemicals and maybe brushed it a little. Obviously I paid different company to clean it ,and I would never do any business with these people. So if you have patience to deal with them, they might even do a good job .but expect paying in cash only, in advance, potential additional charges and of course no refunds no...

I brought in three chairs for work and from the start the owner was defensive, interrupting me and telling me what I needed to have done with the chairs regardless of what I stated. It was argumentative from the start and I should have seen that as my cue to leave. On one chair, the owner was adamant that I have the entire thing re-glued, but I insisted I only wanted the ear supports fixed. He wanted to repair the caining, but I declined, explaining that the chair is ornamental and not often used. (The caining has a few broken pieces which are not noticeable.) The work order that his wife prepared clearly said "Do not touch cain." In spite of this, he applied glue to the broken pieces and it looks awful. When I complained he told me he did extra work and I should be grateful. He said "do not touch cain" meant he would not recain the entire chair. Huh. Also, the business is 100% cash only with a deposit up front. I personally won't use this business again because the owner was so, so disrespectful. Perhaps that's because I am a woman. Anyway, lesson...