Please hire anyone else, there are good shoji makers like Portland Shoji Screen or LA Shoji, really…read moreanyone else. I have never regretted hiring anyone more than Gordon.
We commissioned Gordon to make 3 things: a bathroom vanity, a closet and a screen that divided the bedroom from the bathroom. Having worked with him for over 7 years, we paid him in advance after agreeing to the amount for all items, delivery dates and terms.
Then the nightmare began. Gordon began to fall behind. Suddenly, he could't make the dates we agreed to, he did not provide drawings on time, he "forgot" half of the items needed including drawer pulls, shelves, etc and then wanted to bill more for them even though they were in our initial emails and discussions. He fought with the other contractors and stormed off, forcing the project to fall behind for more than a week. Now, it has been closer to 3.5 months with nothing provided.
We were in dire need of the bathroom vanity so we could have a sink and when it finally showed up, it was damaged all over, drawers didn't close, banding was poorly done, shelves were scratched, etc. When I showed him the damage, he said it would be fixed, it never was, including him dropping off a "new" shelves which was totally wrecked and he then "realized" it was not the right one and bought back the damaged shelf, 2 months later.
Then came the bills. I have invoices showing things were paid in full, emails stating what those bills included in great detail but Gordon now wanted more. He would not deliver the vanity unless we paid 100% more in costs. We were desperate, so we did, only to find out that he did not do the pulls we agreed to and wanted $800 more for them, he did not do the top of the vanity we agreed to and now said it had to be granite, which I did not want, costing $1600 more and putting us behind another month. His designs were so badly done, which he also tried to bill more for, the granite company had to send out their own guy, which was also another charge.
Then came the screen. Gordon delayed and delayed, then, when I began pressing for it, he said it would be another 2 months for it. Again, I was over a barrel as going to anyone else would take just as long now, after waiting 4 months. He promised, in writing, it would be delivered no later than the beginning of June. He had our money so we agreed to wait. Come mid-June, he still had done nothing and shows up with a bill for 100% more for the exact item we had already paid for.
We told him no, that it was in writing: the delivery date, what it included and the amount, he screamed at us, hung up and refused, 7 months later, to do the job. I am now taking him to court to get my money back. I have hired someone else to do the work. He never made the screen nor the closet. I will never work with Gordon again.
His business partner, Frank, passed last year, and I did not realize that he was the one holding the place together. The fact that I have to sue him for services not rendered is insane. On top of that, the one item he made is already falling apart. What a shame Shigoto Ya has become this shoddy, unreliable, dishonest mess.
I do not often leave negative reviews, but Gordon and his work are not worth your time.