I’ve been in the design and construction industry for over 40 years, with experience as a municipal building inspector for 37 years and designing buildings for 42 years. Let me tell you about my recent encounter with Closet by Design. They’re in the midst of a two-day project for me, and I can’t comment on the quality of their workmanship just yet. But here’s the real issue I have with them – they are hands down the most money-hungry and selfish company I’ve ever come across.
When I first engaged with Closet by Design, they demanded a 25% deposit before even considering starting the project. I reluctantly paid up. After that, we sat down to design a 10′ x 10′ walk-in closet system. However, they flat out refused to share the design plans with me until I handed over a whopping 50% down payment for the $16,000 project. That’s right, a hefty $16K. On top of that, they wouldn’t even give us an installation date until the 50% payment was made.
Once I reluctantly paid the 50% down, I finally received a hard copy of the proposed design and an installation date. Only then did we give them the green light to proceed. But when the installers showed up, they dropped a bombshell – they wouldn’t lift a finger until the entire $16,000 invoice was paid in full upfront. No material would be loaded, no work would be done until every penny was in their pocket. Can you believe it?
I was left dumbfounded. In what world does a company demand full payment before even starting the job? What other industry operates this way, expecting clients to foot the bill in full before a single piece of material is even on-site? It felt like a slap in the face, a gross display of greed and selfishness. What if the work turns out to be subpar? What recourse would I have after they’ve been paid in full? Would they just vanish into thin air, leaving me high and dry? It’s a shameful way to conduct business.
My advice? Stay far away from Closet by Design unless you’re okay with shelling out 100% of the payment upfront. And let me tell you, that should never be acceptable. Don’t fall for their tactics, and don’t let their outrageous demands blindside you. This kind of money-grabbing behavior should not be rewarded. Trust me, there