Upholstery nightmare- **Updated with good news **

[Home Team Van]

I know this is a little long but hopefully all this typing will help me calm down. I wanted to recover the bench seat and the cushion in the back so my GF and I checked the fabric stores in town weekly for a month until we found something we liked. Who am I kidding? I really didn't have any say so in the matter. We finally get the fabric and I dropped it and the cushions off at a shop that was recommended by a lifelong friend who used to do marine canvas and upholstery. My friend tells me that this lady has been in business 20 years and she's good at what she does. I get the call today that they're all ready to go and I get excited as I can't wait to see the finished product. I walked into the shop and my jaw immediately dropped. She had flipped the fabric and used the underside not the top. She asked what was wrong and I immediately told her that the fabric was inside out. She says no, no, no this is the way it should be. To me it was obvious what side should be the upside but even if it wasn't there is writing along the edge denoting "right side" as I believe is the term. She said that fabric always comes with the good side in so as not to get the good side dirty and showed me a few pieces she had folded up that way. Mine wasn't on a roll, I'd just folded it up. Each piece she showed me had the writing along the edge of the "up" side. She agrees to fix it but wanted me to pay her for the time it took to reverse it since she's in the right and I'm wrong. I tell her I need to check with the GF and that I'll be back. I immediately go to three fabric stores including the place that she buys her material just to make sure I'm not wrong for assuming which side is the "up" side. All three agree with me not only because it seemed obvious to them but also because the industry norm is to have the writing along the edge which even says "up" on it on the correct side. I went back to her shop and explained what I had been told but she refuses to budge. I asked her to take a piece of the material to at least 3-4 fabric stores just to see what the consensus is. She agreed and will call me on monday. Thanks for letting me vent.
_________________
_________________________________

82 Diesel Westy

[aquaboxa]

Well, you don't want to get stuck with her refusing to correct the situation but a few threats of going to the BBB and blasting her business on local Craigslist etc. might have an impact. She clearly made a mistake and any business owner worth their salt shouldn't hesitate to remedy the situation. How much are we talking about here to reverse the fabric?
_________________
'89 Vanagon Bluestar
a.k.a. "The Bermuda Rectangle"

[shorepig]

Wow. That sucks. I feel for you. I hate being in those situations when you know you are right, they know (but don't admit) you are right, but they have control of the situation. What WOULD it cost you if things went her way. What would the labor charge be? If it is a small mount, and I'm guessing it isn't, it might be worth paying just to get the darn thing over with. BUT, if you are like me, and can't stand people taking advantage of you, you could threaten to park your van in front of her upolstery shop with a sign on it that warns her potential customers. That might be fun

In any case, good luck. Hopefully she will come to her senses and fix HER mistake.

[Home Team Van]

we never even got to the subject of what she was going to charge me to redo the cushions. After the way she reacted to me by saying that I was completely wrong, one penny was too much to pay to have it corrected. She charges $40 hr and I'm sure it would take a several hours to redo the cushions. The bench seat cushions probably wouldn't take too long but the rear cushion would probably take a while especially because she'd have to unstitch it and then redo it. The fabric is now discontinued so what I have needs to be reused along with the extra that I bought for "just in case." I'm just hoping she comes to her senses over the weekend and decides to take care of the problem. I'll post an update once I hear something.
_________________
_________________________________

82 Diesel Westy

[westynova]

I recovered all the cushions in my van last Winter. My wife insisted that we get new foam and recover even though it was in good shape must be like sleeping in someones else sheets. I did the rear bench seat as well as the cushion over the engine and both pieces on the upper bunk and even the little elbow pad on the right rear bench. I have enough left over to recover the two front seats. It was not cheap. I think the material, new foam and labor ran me $700, I have to check my records. I try no to keep too detailed records for fear my wife finds it and really sees what this van is costing us.

Can't understand the idea that the good side should be down to protect it. Sounds like she realized she goofed and made something up. That would be the same as saying you wear a nice suit inside out so to protect the fabric. If she continues this argument, ask she to get a cushion off of her couch and open up the zipper to see how the manufacture builds a couch. Hopefully she did not recover her own couch.

Good luck and I hope it works out for you.
_________________
84 Westy
2010 VW Golf TDI Wagon
2009 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited, Lifted and Locked

[syncrodoka]

When I had my seats recovered there was a minor imperfection that I pointed out and the guy insisted that his guys fix it. The next day it was done and I got a apology not a bill. Good luck

[WhiteH2O]

I wish you the best luck to get everything done right, and without having to pay more than you originally thought.

I just completed reupholstering mine by myself, bench seat, jumpseat, engine cover, and curtains. The result isn't as nice as having someone else do it, but it still looks good, and my only cost was the fabric and thread (well, and a new zipper, hooks for the curtains, staples, not having my van for a week, and such).
_________________
1985 Wolfsburg Weekender- 2.5L Subie Power
2002 Subaru WRX Wagon
1998 Subaru Legacy EJ257 Swap, 410 AWHP (sold)

[RCB]

What a mess.......I opted to have my original seats re-done using the original upholstery but having it dry cleaned.
I had new innards installed on the seats but kept the original fabric.

If you paid by credit card you might be able to file a protest against the installer and get the credit card company involved into who's right and who's left. (left ='s wrong).

[Home Team Van]

Fortunately for me, I haven't paid her yet but she still has the cushions. That is definitely working in my favor at this point and is probably the only reason my head hasn't exploded yet.
_________________
_________________________________

82 Diesel Westy

[Crankey]

jeez man, good luck
http://www.sewfineproducts.com/

[240Gordy]

[Home Team Van]

At some point over the weekend, this lady came to her senses and fixed the problem with the cushions. She redid them at no charge to me. I'm not sure what changed her mind but at this point I'm happy to be done with her. FWIW I really like the way they look now and I'm excited to get them put back in.
_________________
_________________________________

82 Diesel Westy

[Steelhead]

this never happened w/o pics
_________________
'77 Bay Window / '89 Caratsburg (aka. the Stormtrooper)

[Christopher Schimke]

[j_dirge]

[Home Team Van]

_________________
_________________________________

82 Diesel Westy

[purplegodzilla]

Looks good. You have a picture of some left over fabric. Just wonder what the other side looks like?
_________________
1995 Eurovan Camper (SOLD)
1971 Westfalia (SOLD)
1991 Westfalia (SOLD)
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o292/purpleGORILLA/P1020720.jpg
1985 Westfalia

[Home Team Van]