After using some of the cheaper online "made to order" blinds shops, I decided to try the Shade Store for some bedroom blackout cellular shades, given the positive reviews here. While they were fairly expensive ($850 for two normal-sized windows), the customer service during the ordering process was fantastic. So far so good. The first thing I noticed when receiving the shades, prior to installing, was that the mechanism type and quality seemed to be the exact same as some of the budget online shops that are half the price. The shades are held up by single strands of cheap-looking string and the mechanism parts are made of flimsy plastic. But I installed them as directed, and they looked fantastic in my space. One of two shades broke after 6 months of normal use. I emailed the Shade Store, and they promptly sent a replacement and directed me to dispose of the broken shade (again, fantastic customer service). Now, 6 months later, the other shade broke. I've contacted the Shade Store reps, and again, they've offered a replacement. At this point I'm ready to be done with these, as I don't feel like it's a sustainable practice to replace them every 6 months, but the Shade Store is refusing to offer a refund. They did offer store credit, but why would I want to get a different cheap product? Given the lack of refund option, I guess I'll just keep replacing them every time they break (which feels like an eventuality at this point, given the flimsy construction). So: based on my experience, the Shade Store is masking an cheap product with sleek websites, fancy storefronts, and good customer service. I've learned my lesson, and in the future I'll either find a superior product elsewhere, or at least go to one of the other cheap online shops if I want a product of this caliber. read more