ComplaintsforBudget Blinds Serving the Emerald Coast

• Initial Complaint

  05/24/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  Ordered a set of automatic blinds for a patio door on March 28. The salesman Bruce insisted the blinds would be installed by mid May and in writing put install at 4-6 weeks from date of purchase. It is now coming up on 8 weeks, and the installer left the blinds in my bedroom because it was delivered with the incorrect parts. Stated they would have the parts overnighted and he would be back to install. Now he isn’t answering his phone, the sales guy Bruce states “I already paid for these” and no offer of a refund. At this point I would highly recommend using someone else. This company is shady to say the least, unable to call the store and speak to someone directly instead you are answered by a service that takes your name and number.

• Initial Complaint

  02/08/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  We place an order on October 10, 2022 for Plantation Shutters with Destin/Panama City Budget Blinds, with lead time 8-10 weeks stated on Invoice. Kept getting delays, finally after almost 4 months the shutters arrive and ready to be installed. Budget Blinds Installer finds out all the shutters (all 7) ordered by Todd were made completely wrong and do not fit any of the doors, this was yesterday 2/6/23. Quality is nothing like the samples shown when order was placed. Installer takes the shutters back with him to Budget Blinds. Todd even stated the quality was junk, and the third party company was having issues. Todd tells me it might take a couple of days to get their money back from the third party vendor they used, I would have to wait until that was done, for my refund to be issued. Then the next day, I'm told by Todd, the owner Chris is refusing to refund my money on the order placed on 10/10/2022. Saying they, Budget Blinds would re-order the shutters. I said no, I do not want to re-order the shutters, rental season is starting, I want my refund, They took the wrong defective shutters they ordered back. I honestly wonder if they were even our shutters due to the huge difference. Looks like they are floating customers money for months/yrs, after seeing issues very similar to ours. They are now wanting to keep our money for several more months, saying they will re-order. They refused to refund my money of almost $4600, saying I had "no choice" but to re-place the shutter order again. The contract we signed was for the 7 shutters and sizes, deliver was estimated on Invoice 8-12 weeks, written by Todd try to install November 18, 2022. October 10, 2022 the end of our rental season, we placed an order with Todd and signed a contract for shutters to be delivered in 8-12 weeks, and sizes stated in detail on invoice. Selection was based off the samples Todd showed us that day. We were patient & allowed for the late delivery due to third party company issues. Product delivered was wrong, cheaply made (see attached photos) and months late. They broke the contract. We are owed a full refund. They do not have our permission to re-order. Owns says he is re-ordering anyway to fulfill the contract, and is keeping our money.

  Business response

  02/08/2023

  Customer signed the contract that she waived her right to cancel.  She has so far refused to give us a chance to fix it.  She has made multiple false statements in her submission.  A copy of the signed contract can be supplied.

  Customer response

  02/08/2023

  
  Complaint: 19363782
  
  I am rejecting this response because: Owner is shady/dishonest.  Not true, he is dishonest. I have also contacted Budget Blinds Corporate to make them aware of the dishonest business practices this owner is using.
  
  Sincerely,
  ***** *******

• Initial Complaint

  07/07/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  Bought brand new expensive plantation shutters from this company and there were scratches all over these shutters. they never replaced them and still owe me replacement shutters. Now, the shades have broken brackets and the shades fell onto the floor over the weekend without any one touching them or pulling on them. On Tuesday, July 5th i called to inform them of the cheap broken bracket and how it needed to be repaired / replaced. Was told the guy who does repairs will be in tomorrow. When no one called me back the next day, i called again. They inform me their repair guy only does return calls on Tuesdays and because monday was a holiday and he never returned my call on a Tuesday, he plans on making everyone wait TWO whole weeks for a return phone call??? That's unacceptable. NO business to should wait an entire 7 days to return phone calls. I expect a resolution within 24 to 48 hours; not a return phone call within 7 days. They need to repair and/or replace these brackets or just refund my money quickly or there will be a civil court case. I'm tired of this company sending me blinds all broken and scratched and not doing anything about it. I am on the verge of civil law suit against them.

  Business response

  08/08/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/07/07) */ Customer has never paid her final invoice, so once she does we will be happy to assist her with servicing her shades. Consumer Response /* (3000, 7, 2022/07/08) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) paid her final invoice?? the bill was almost 10K and the final amount of $1600 was written as a check to your installers who your coworker sent back to me via mail because of all the scratch marks on my plantation shutters when they installed them! And told me i did NOT have to pay another dime until my plantation shutters were replaced! Now, my shades are falling apart??? Your final payment will come when you have replaced the scratch marks on my shutters as verbally agreed by your coworker. As for the shades, you will need to repair the bracket or there will be a civil case against your company. Business Response /* (4000, 9, 2022/07/08) */ Once the final balance is paid then we'd be happy to assist. Consumer Response /* (4200, 11, 2022/07/08) */ (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.) What part of your employee mailed the final check back to me due to your failure of scratching very expensive shutters from your installers?? You will never receive a final payment until you replace the scratched up plantation shutters your company installed. And if that's a problem for you then your employee should not have mailed back the final payment. How about you come get your scratched up shutters and shades and give me back my entire payment. No one should pay almost $10k for scratched up shutters that have yet to be replaced and falling down shades. This is shadiest business I have ever encountered. It should not be long before your business runs to the ground due to your shady business practices. I will be posting pictures of how you left everything. If you don't replace them or repair them, I will see you in court.

• Initial Complaint

  06/26/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Customer Service Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On September 23, 2021, Todd Millers with Budget Blinds came to our condos at Mainsail in Miramar Beach and measured our windows for plantation shutters. We Ordered the shutters that day, and paid 80% of the purchase price which was $9408.00, with the balance due on completion. We were told that they would arrive in, I believe, 10 -12 weeks. We contacted our sales guy after the date promised. He advised that there was a delay and they would not be available on the promised date. We spoke to Jules, in the Budget Blinds office. She advised that February 19, 2022 was the estimated ship date and that 7 days after their arrival, they would call to set a date for installation. After this date passed, Jules called to let us know that not all the parts were shipped and their would be additional delay. We called multiple times to check on the status. We were finally told that the shutters had arrived and we coordinated installation with a visit to check on our condos. The installer came to our condo on May 19 to install the shutters in the 2 condos. We were informed by the installer that the windows were incorrectly measured and the shutters did not fit. Out of the 7 shutters that were ordered, only 3 were correct and able to be install. The installer left and we heard nothing from the company. I called several times to the Budget Blinds office, requesting an update on the shutters To date, I've had no callback from this office. My last phone call, I requested a call from Chris Samson, who we understand is the owner. Mr Samson has not returned our call to date. It's now been over 9 months since we paid for these shutters, we still do not have the shutters and after multiple requests to speak to someone from Budget Blinds, we have had no contact from them.

  Business response

  08/29/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2022/07/08) */ We have offered to fix the issues, but we need access to the home in order to evaluate what needs to be changed. It is our understanding that the customer wants to be home while we are there and the next opportunity is in August. One evaluation is done it may take up to 8 weeks to get replacement shutters. We highly recommend that the customer consider allowing us in the home so we can take care of the issue immediately so we can fix in August and not just evaluate.

• Initial Complaint

  01/12/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Delivery Issues

  Status:

  Resolved

  More info

  We ordered four shutters from Budget Blinds of Destin on 3/27/21 and paid for the purchase (product and installation cost) after Chris Sansom stated that payment in full was required for the product to be ordered. He told us that he and his wife, Angela, owned the business. Additionally, he shared the shutters would arrive and be installed within 8 -12 weeks. Budget Blinds of Destin cashed our check on 3/29/21. On 7/14/21, 2 of the 4 shutters ordered 3/27/21 were installed. At that time, we were told by both Chris and his wife Angela that Budget Blinds had incorrectly measured shutters for the other two windows and that replacement shutters were being ordered; that order was being expedited; we should expect the remaining 2 shutters to arrive and be installed within 2 - 4 weeks. Throughout August & September, we followed up with both Chris and Angela Sansom, and finally, on 10/4/21, Chris responded, stating the 2 remaining shutters had arrived and he would provide an installation date. Post the email response from Chris on 10/4, and throughout the late fall and over the holidays, I continued to follow up via email, text, and phone calls to Chris as he sold us the blinds. He did not respond to any correspondence. Finally, on 1/4/22, I reached him by phone, reminded him of the situation, and asked for a resolution. He shared he'd get back to me promptly. Since then, I have called, emailed, and texted, and there's been no response from Chris. Budget Blinds of Destin cashed our check nearly ten months ago, and half of the order has not been received and installed. We are seeking an immediate resolution to the situation.

  Business response

  03/03/2022

  Business Response /* (1000, 17, 2022/02/23) */ Customers shutters did arrive later than expected. Shutters have been received and are scheduled for installation.

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