European Cabinets & Design Studios

Description of Work: CAVEAT BUYER BEWARE: We worked with European Cabinets until September 2015 wanting to buy their provided European Custom Cabinets from Italy. They charge a $1,500 non refundable deposit. We asked this company when we met that there be no surprises going forward and for their contract and terms prior to paying them $1,500. This company knew they were dealing with retired licensed contractors. They gave us, per our request (the first day we met) their Contractors State License Board contract which we checked was consistent with our 20 year experience and the state of CA in advance of paying them their non refundable $1,500 deposit which we did. NOT ONCE DURING THE WEEKS and MONTHS WE SPENT ON DRAWINGS DID EUROPEAN CABINETS TELL US THEY HAVE ANOTHER CONTRACT FOR THE CABINETS INCLUDING PAYMENT IN FULL PRIOR TO DELIVERY OF THE CABINETS TO OUR HOME (sight unseen). The cabinet contract we learned later requires 50% payment at time of the order which we agreed to verbally. Only after getting the drawings completed did they provide their independent cabinet contract that requires their customers pay 100% for the cabinets without our being able to inspect the cabinets and ensure the cabinets were consistent with our specifications and they arrived undamaged. | |European Cabinets refrained from telling us they require payment in full when cabinets have arrived at "Customs". We said you mean at delivery to our home and after we inspect the cabinets. The EC owners said "No prior to delivery". We informed the owners of this company that CSLB warns against paying 100% payment prior to seeing the cabinets and state law require payments are consistent with work progress. As professional contractors who did large room additions, kitchens, and baths for over 20 years we informed European Cabinets that CSLB warns against 100% payment up front. The cabinets may arrive safely but they may just as well be the wrong cabinets and arrive damaged or the wrong color and finish, etc. We asked them why we are just now getting that information when we asked for their terms the first day we met. They subsequently informed us their cabinet contract was separate of their install contract. CLEVER BUT INCONSISTENT WITH ALL OF OUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. We told them they could by CSLB license law place a pre-lien on their customers' home to guarantee payment for the final 50% prior to delivery of the cabinets. Then provide the buyer an unconditional lien release due immediately when they are paid in full. They then told us CSLB has no control over them for anything but install. They said buying their cabinets was equivalent to purchasing furniture locally. I did not agree. I responded I think return conditions must be stated for buyers in CA prior to purchasing retail items. We had years of experience ordering materials, equipment, merchandise (lumber, cabinets, fixtures). We always explained to all of our customers in advance the benefits to both suppliers and buyers with the CA pre-lien process. It protects the seller or subcontractor who provides products and materials to the job site that they will be paid when the item(s) are delivered to their customers' home and protects buyers assuring they will receive their item safely. SHAME ON EUROPEAN CABINETS BY DESIGN IN PALO ALTO FOR DENYING CUSTOMERS PROTECTION BY THE STATE . I am not convinced this is legal in the state of Ca. but recommend buyers verify BEFORE paying a non refundable deposit. Two separate contracts, in my opinion takes away customers' protections to assure they will receive (shipped from Italy) the correct cabinets undamaged. We subsequently, refused to go forward based on CSLB recommendations to me and our very experienced knowledge of California State License Law. We would have paid @ $27,000 Total Contract Price cabinets sight unseen and undelivered. We know all the things that can happen and maybe we would by lucky but I am not willing to throw away $27,000 or spend thousands in attorney fees if it doesn't. Hopefully potential buyers doing business with EC will not have a problem. | |We subsequently went forward with a local licensed Custom Cabinet Shop. They are competitively priced, provide any style cabinet, and have their own shop to build their cabinets in Silicon Valley. They do not require a cabinet order be paid in full prior to receiving and inspecting our cabinet order. They abide by state licensing law as far as we know to date. They also have better drawings and better quality cabinets in our opinion. We will review them separately upon receipt and install of their cabinets due any day.

Description of Work: Design and installation of new kitchen.