ETHAN ALLEN /VADNAIS HEIGHTS

CARPET INSTALLERS DID WELL. ETHAN ALLEN'S PART WAS TACKY. CARPET, WHILE EXPENSIVE, WAS GOOD. SALESPERSON QUOTED PRICE AFTER MEASURING, I WAS OK WITH THE PRICE; THEN SHE FOUND OUT THAT SHE HAD FAILED TO MEASURE THE CLOSET. WHEN THE CARPET WAS 4 WEEKS LATE, I CALLED AND SHE ONLY THEN TOOK CARE OF THE HOLD-UP. I DISPUTED A CHARGE ADDED ON TO THE ''EVERYTHING INCLUDED" LIST AND, ULTIMATELY, THE MANAGER REMOVED THAT CHARGE. VERY TACKY SERVICE OVERALL.

I WANTED SOFA X, BUT IN A NEW COLOR. THE DECORATOR DID A "BAIT AND SWITCH", NOT TELLING ME AT THE ON SET THAT SOFA X WAS DISCONTINUED WEEKS EARLIER. SHE NEVER DISCLOSED THIS UNTIL SHE HAD A WORKUP ON SOFA Y. WHEN TOLD UNINTERESTED, SHE SAID PALATE FOR SOFA Y WOULD DO WELL FOR SOFA X. MY MISTAKE: TOOK HER WORD AS PROFESSIONAL. THE WALL COLOR SHE SUGGESTED AND 3 OTTOMANS CLASHED, CLUB CHAIRS WERE "SO-SO", TREE WAS OVER-SIZED,AND THE ART PRINT WAS NOT GOOD. HER SUGGESTED WALL COLOR, WHICH I HAD WALLS PAINTED, WAS CUED OFF SOFA Y, NOT MINE. OVERALL: YUCK. THEY DID TAKE BACK THE OTTOMANS, TREE AND PICTURE. SHE CHARACTERIZED THE DECORATING ERRORS AS HER "BOLD DESIGN" AND MY RESPONSE AS BUYER REMORSE. IN ADDITION SEVERAL SMALLER GLITCHES, INCLUDING NOT PUTTING THE FINAL CHARGES ON MY CARD AND NEARLY ABORTING DELIVERY (HAD TO LEAVE WORK TO DEAL WITH IT). LAW FAVORS COMPANY OVER CUSTOMER. VERY NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE, BUT I LOVE MY SOFA. I HAVE TO RE-PAINT THE LIVING ROOM, HALL AND STAIRWAY DUE TO