The Tile Shop - STAY AWAY!!!!
I don't like to post things online, but as this is the worst customer service experience I've had, I feel it necessary to warn others of the practices.
I was having a small bathroom renovated (approximately 5x7). I was only tiling the floor and tub surround. I needed to purchase the floor tiling and grout. The store manager MARY Z assisted me with the purchase. I wasn't sure how much to buy and Ms. Z told me I should definitely buy 3 full bags of grout, one for the floor and two for the tub surround. She also told me I would need colored caulking for the tub surround and floor. I said I wasn't sure I needed all of this. She told me she worked there for several years and encouraged me to buy all of it, I'd be surprised how much is actually needed, and anyway it wasn't a problem to bring it back "after the project was over" if it was sealed and unused. She then promptly placed my order and told me she would email my receipt to "make it easier".
My project recently completed and I didn't not need all of the supplies Ms. Z told me to buy. I headed to the store to return a full bag of grout (my contractor only actually used 1/2 of a single bag and did not use the tubes of colored caulk opting for clear instead). When I came to the store to return the items unopened and in perfect condition, the associate informed me he couldn't return them because they were beyond the stores 60 day return date. I told him the manager had previously informed me that I could return at the end of my project hassle free. It had now been about roughly 90 days since order / pick up. I asked to speak to the manager and he said the manager wasn't available. I asked to speak to anyone who was in charge that day. He said there wasn't one. I asked him for Ms. Z direct phone number, so I could contact her.
When I contacted Ms. Z she claimed it didn't matter what she said as the policy is 60 days and the company won't let her return items. I asked what I'm supposed to do with over $130 of unused supplies and she told me I should donate them. It then asked for her district manger contact and she told me I would have to contact TheTileShop corporate.
The practices of Store Manager Mary Z are to upsell what you need, give you false sense of security in your purchase and the company. It is highly deceptive. She knew I didn't need the extra items and neglected to inform me of the company policy. She continued this behavior by emailing me the receipt so I didn't read the fine print on a traditional hard copy.
My recommendation is to steer clear of doing business with this company if this is how they treat their customers. It is also telling that this is their long time store manager making the deceptive sales. I can only imagine what she is training her associates to do.
Incredibly disappointing experience. read more