The Frugal Framer

The Frugal Framer is a chain, and my experience and comments pertain only to the Vero Beach location:Quality was foremost on my mind in searching for an expert to reframe a large heirloom painting, but value was the next consideration. I had not thought honesty would have to be considered. I visited five framing facilities in Vero Beach to personally see the quality of the faming samples each displayed, the difficulty of the matting work in those samples, and the price and selection of mats and frames offered. Despite its large size I actually took painting with me to show each shop, and I requested and received a detailed written estimate from each. The salesperson at The Frugal Framer was low key, knowledgeable and really very friendly. Her estimate was the only one compiled via a computer, and it was then printed out for me. Very professional. I was perfectly happy with the hand-written estimates elsewhere, but I was impressed with this sharp attractive presentation. Of the five facilities visited, only one seemed a bit sketchy so price considerations came next. Despite The Frugal Framer being the second most expensive I considered the store's large size, its chain store resources (and hopefully standards), and the excellent experience with the sales person, and chose Frugal Framer. So back I went, painting in hand, but this time instead of a pleasant greeting from a charming sales person I stood at the counter with my large painting, being seen but ignored a humorless middle-aged woman who radiated that "I'm really too important to deal with the likes of you / I'm the boss." attitude, appearing to much prefer sorting through papers at the counter than to actually dealing with customers. Eventually, as none of her sales staff her appeared likely to be free of their current customers, she emerged from the counter and without any previous greeting simply said, as if she had just broken free of helping others: ."and, how can i help you..?" Since she seemed so non-plussed to be disturbed I said "Sorry to disturb you, this shouldn't take much time; I am just dropping this off for reframing and I already have an estimate." Without a word she took the estimate, turned on her heels, returning to her counter, and after a few sighs and frowns, looks at the ceiling then back to the estimate, she returned to say that it could not possibly be framed for that price. She had not yet personally even looked at the painting, by the way, but announced that the required price would actually be 30% higher than their estimate because they would have to provide a new back mounting panel. I should mention that the reason for reframing was made because of water damage to the lower mat caused by dripping Windex. But given the nicks on the 30 year old frame, and considering the expense of taking it all apart and rematting it alone, I had decided to reframe it as well. Structurally the entire thing was sound. In fact ALL FOUR other framing shops recognized that existing thin wooden framing panel was fine, as did her own employee who had provided the estimate originally. I pointed out that she was the only one who demanded to replace the back panel and was the only one who had not even seen the back panel! And of course I explained that I believed she should honor their written estimate. She refused, and was totally unapologetic to the point of rudeness. Of course I left, never to return. I am a 65 year old guy, recently retired from a life in retail customer service. If she had worked for me that would have been her last day. In the end, at the recommendation of a retired local librarian neighbor, I went to the least expensive, least impressive framer, in the same shopping center at the other end, and had it beautifully framed for half the price demanded by the imperious "Ms." at The Frugal Framer.