CLASSIC DESIGNS UPHOLSTERY SHP

Mr. Silverman was a little abrasive when I first contacted him. He told me he was 85 years old and that he had been reupholstering for 10+ different warehouses for over 20 years. That actually was not a bad thing in my view. An 85 year old man who has been doing this work for so long should be really good...right? Not so much. I sent pictures of the chairs for an original estimate. His wife sent me a return email with the estimate asking if i wanted to continue since the cost was high. I said yes. They came to pick up the chairs several days later. They took close to 40 minutes looking at the chairs and the fabric. I asked if the fabric would work and if the fringe that I was supplying would work. They said yes. The chairs were tufted originally but he said the cost would be too high to re-tuft but he could sew the buttons back on the chairs without tufting. I agreed. He noticed that the bottoms of the chairs would have to be re-strapped. A leg was chipped on one and he pointed that out. I told him once again that the chairs were really old and I wasn't going to blame him for that. They asked for 50% down payment which should have been a red flag (I've never had an upholsterer ask for a down payment since the furniture itself is the 'guarantee' you will pay... but gee...the guy is 85 years old. I thought he was honest. :( I gave him a check for $425. His wife, Abby, told me it would take 3-4 weeks. No problem for me... 2 months later, I received a text from Jack/Abby saying the chairs were very old (as I said) and that who ever did them last, included old clothing in the wrap... The filling was rotted...and the fabric was a mess. OK...who knows what you will find when you re-upholster old furniture. Isn't that the job...to correct those issues. And, I asked about the $800 fabric. But evidently that made it hard for him to do the job. Another 2 weeks later they sent pictures of the first chair. It wasn't perfect, but neither was the chair...great job, Jack. Two weeks after that they sent me pictures of both the completed chairs. Remember they are a pair...they should look alike... They did not...the second chair was very sloppy...very disappointing. They knew that and said, we will deliver after you pay cash up front. I wonder why...were the chairs so bad that they were afraid I wouldn't pay? Yep...precisely. A professional would have said we aren't happy with the job and we need to do this over...let's work together to make this right. Instead they want their money or they keep the chairs. After much back and forth...my promise that despite my dissatisfaction, I would pay regardless but with a check. I wanted my chairs back they refused to deliver the chairs. They still have them. They contacted me later and said I could pay with a certified check. But I'm wondering why I should go out of my way. They have destroyed $800 of fabric. Taken $450 already and haven't given back antique chairs we've had in the family for a thousand years (slight exaggeration). But check out the pictures and you be the judge.