Shady. I was very serious about buying a pressboard shelving unit they were using to display other small items the booth vendor was selling. I was planning to use the shelving inside a closed closet I was converting to a pantry in my new place. So I then measured the piece and asked if I could put the piece on hold until I could get the exact measurements of the pantry closet. Since I hadn't moved in yet I explained that I would, of course, need to know if it would fit or not.
'Ronnie' called the vendor to ask if she was willing to sell the shelf. She said she would sell it for $125. A little bit steep but it seemed as if it would work for my needs and it also was what I was looking for. I put it on a 24 hour hold.
Well, my move came up quickly while I was busy packing so I wasn't able to get back to the store to buy the shelf right away. Ronnie told me it had been in the store a long time. There also was no price tag on the shelf I imagine because they weren't really intending to sell it. And, since it wasn't officially for sale, and I figured no one else was looking to buy it, I figured it would still be there once I got moved and settled.
By the way, Ronnie (older man with no sense of humor) is relatively new there. At least newer than a year ago new. Ronnie wasn't around then to follow you around the store like a fake security guard acting as though he's pegged you as a thief that needs to be watched constantly. If being followed around suspiciously by a pit bull bothers you, you might want to skip this place. There are tons of other more reasonably-priced antique shops in Chattanooga.
Last year, I almost bought a kitchen table and chairs here that I am so glad now that I didn't buy because the table had a huge mark on it they intentionally hid with a heavy piece of furniture, which was difficult to move. I had to ask someone to remove the heavy piece so I could view the entire tabletop. Last year the delivery fee for the kitchen set was $20, but I finally decided on not getting it because of the mar on the table.
But...I digress...
Today when I went in with my specific measurements and ready to buy the piece, things went awfully sour. Ronnie was on my heels immediately after I walked in and headed toward the piece. When I told him I had been in last week and was inquiring about the shelving *pointing to it* - he claimed he didn't remember me. Whaaaaa?? At first he said 'that one' was sold and then later when I showed him the picture I took a week ago, he said, "Yeah, it's the same one". I then gave him the specific measurements of my space down to every inch and angle. He was not helpful at all. He said he'd have to see my space. LOL I'm sorry, you're not invited over...do you really just not care about your customers? There was a hella lotta confusion that ensued and he stated he was leaving until I made up my mind. UMMM
Once I went to the check out counter to try and buy the item and inquire about delivery, I saw Ronnie sitting in the back watching me while I talked to the clerk (owner? I don't know, doesn't matter). She gave me the name of the man who delivers items for them and said he would probably charge me the same amount as the price of the piece FOR DELIVERY. So...$125 for the pressboard shelving and $125 to deliver. She talked about how expensive things are nowadays, as if that is a valid excuse to cheat someone who is elderly and disabled. OR ANYONE. Pfffft. Now I'm not interested in buying anything from this store at all, ever.
This item is not even an antique. It's a display pressboard wood shelf. At this point I was thinking hmmm...perhaps you need it more than I do. You know, to sell all the pieces currently on that display shelf that you can't sell.
Hella Shady. read more