Barewood Furniture — Local services in Dunedin

Overdue review. On 9/14/24, I ordered the Radiata Pine Bookcase. On 10/2/24, I ordered the Brooklyn Drawer Chest. I then perused the website for a night stand, desk, TV stand, kitchen table, and 4 dining room chairs. On 10/3/24, I went to Barewood with a friend. Jennifer was very attentive and helpful. I had wanted unfinished items, but she advised me that some should have a finish because of their usage (water/food stains, etc). She also helped with measurements for the Mission Entry Table chosen for a TV stand (re: TV size) and for desk and table choices (re: height of my chair armrests). Nick was also helpful with this. I decided on the Student Desk and the Century Drop Leaf Table. Jennifer helped me pick out the mfg's finishes (colors) via the sample slats. My friend and I then sat in various chairs. The Amish chairs were the most comfortable (designed for the sitting human body), but were beyond my budget. Jennifer had kindly stayed beyond closing, so I said I would return on 10/5/24, whereby I chose the San Remo chairs (had my heavy table leaf to match colors - I appreciated Nick carrying it to my car). I chose the Stone finish (gray online) and a std. fabric seat design. However, Jennifer said the Stone finish was now Olive Green (on sample slat) - I accepted it. I was also aware that the fabric seat height might change the chair comfort zone. After choosing the Brooklyn One Drawer Night Stand, I ordered 8 pieces. Jennifer held my orders in the warehouse until completed - 11/5/24. I sent Barewood and Shawn and Shawn Moving, Barewood's liaison, my furniture list (10 pieces), and received a quote. It was way too high. Jennifer followed up - quote was a mistake and reduced to an acceptable amount. Delivery was 11/14/24. However, my bookcase and chest ordered 9/14 and 10/2 were missing. The movers had my list, but the warehouse only saw my 10/5 order. Neither called so I could explain. Jennifer paid for the quick delivery of my 2 pieces. I was pleased with the furniture I received and appreciated the advice/help Jennifer gave me in selecting items and finishes, and her assistance with the mover's quote and delivery of my furniture. I will look to Barewood for...

**Response to Barewood: January 2022 was NOT the first time you were alerted to the problem of staining my table the wrong color. I called you multiple times to discuss this, as my phone records show. I discussed this in person with you in your store when the table was finally ready. You suggested I take the table home "because it will look different in your home", and when I called to tell your wife the color was still way off and too dark, that is when she suggested I hire someone else to redo the table. The way you treat a paying customer is extremely disappointing. It is 100% clear that your stain professional (that you fired-per your wife) made a mistake, which you admit to, yet you refuse to correct this issue. **

I ordered a dining set from this store in January 2021, finally received it over 5.5 months later. It is not the color I ordered, which I advised the store of immediately. They told me there was nothing they could do, it would be too difficult to redo the table, and that I should call a furniture refinisher to change the color. They also stated it was just a "variation in the stain". I can assure you this is not the case as you will see in the pictures. I spoke with them multiple times, and still got the same answer. I went to the store to show them what I had discovered recently, which is the color on the backside of the insert. This color is "close" to the sample color I chose in the store. They still refused to stand by their mistake after agreeing that the color is way off, and told me they let the stain professional go recently. They offered to PAINT the bottom white and lighten the solid dark espresso/black top "a bit". Obviously the stain professional made a mistake, tried to cover it by adding multiple coats, hence the dark (espresso/black) color. Very upset and disappointed!!! I do NOT recommend this business. The picture on the right-I am holding the sample in my hand in the store. The picture on the left-my table inserts-one is backside (lt) other is top of table (rt)-not even close...

GET...IT...IN...WRITING when the delivery date will be. Ordered on Saturday, 09/12, supposed to go to the finisher on Wednesday, 09/16 and ready for pickup on Saturday, 09/26. 2 week turn around after ordering? That’s reasonable. ALL OF THAT needs to be on the sales order!! If not, they’ll tell you “there was a miscommunication as our finisher only comes here on Wednesday.” NOW, I’m being told my piece won’t be ready for me to pickup until 10/07?? No offer of compensation...nothing. Just “I’m sorry”. That fixes nothing as to what was agreed to. 3 1/2 weeks to stain a small to midsized cabinet?? I work Monday thru Friday so, I won’t be able to pick it up until 10/10. That’s 4 weeks from order date. Gimme a break. I’ve paid for it and want it but, that’s ridiculous.

09/30/20 Update -

Nick called me the day after I posted the above. He agreed to deliver my cabinet today and I agreed to “fix” my post so, here we go.

First, if a store owner/manager is willing to deliver a product on his own time and in his personal vehicle, that shows character and wanting to do the right thing to make a customer happy and the whole transaction right. That’s why I bumped the “star rating” from 1 to 4. Kudos to you, Nick. 4 stars is for customer service. See ya tomorrow with the brushed nickel pull knob.

Now, the cabinet itself. Has the finish I want and looks great. It was stained inside and out as requested. Well built with one exception. It wobbles. I’m working on finding adjustable leveling feet to correct. That, currently, is my only disappointment.

Would I buy from Barewood again? I’d make it a stop in my travels to see if they have what would...