Customer ReviewsforAlternative Arts

I wanted to have digital reproductions that I just purchased (elsewhere) printed at Alternative Arts. When the website did not allow me to upload my files, I called the owner. He suggested I email them to him. I asked about framing, and told him I needed them by a certain day. He said he did not have any generic frames that were appropriate but that if I wanted black or stainless steel, he could custom frame them by my deadline. I agreed to that and paid him in full over the phone. He told me I could pick them up the Friday, end of day. My deadline was Saturday. I came in Saturday morning. The posters were printed but not cut or framed. I asked if he was going to be able to frame them that morning. He said it would take at least 3 weeks. I reminded him of our discussion. He told me there must have been some misunderstanding. I told him that I clarified the deadline on the phone, and that it was HIS suggestion that I do a simple custom frame in black. He denied this and was inexplicably hostile. At times I had to ask him to back up because he was approaching me too closely - both from a Covid perspective, and because he was clearly becoming aggressive. I told him that I could see that he was clearly in over his head, and that I wanted my money back. He said he would charge me for the prints if I still wanted them. I agreed to that, surprised that he did not offer to refund the entire amount. He told me that he had had to turn down a $500 order because he could not complete it on time and that I should not expect framing to be completed so quickly. I told him that I was not interested in other people's orders, and reminded him that I would have made other arrangements if he had just told me that he could not frame the prints by my deadline. He then took my posters and RIPPED THEM UP! Clearly unhinged, I asked him to give me my money back. He told me he didn't know how much I paid, and to produce a receipt. He said he did not have that in his records!? As I had paid over the phone, I didn't have a receipt. He repeated that he didn't know how much I had paid. I used my phone to look at my credit card statement. When I told him how much I paid, he asked to look at it. I told him I would not show him my credit card statement. He ultimately refunded me. This did not have to happen!!! This business is clearly in over its head. The owner is not fit to interact with the public, especially as stress levels rise around the holidays. This is not the first unfortunate incident I have had with this business, but it is certainly the worst.