Windsor Chair Purchase – unhappy - advice sought.

[Digit]

Every business gets a few unhappy customers Pete. Some may have a genuine complaint, some may well feel that they have, others couldn't be satisfied under any circumstances.
One I had was eventually blacklisted by every local electrical retailer and service engineer.
Perhaps we should start a thread about some of the weird customer experiences, I could add a few.
:lol:

Roy.

 

[CWatters]

The ebay community forum had a thread on strange feed back. l recall one seller, who sold DVDs, got negative feedback from people who didn't like the movie.

 

[Benchwayze]

I can't make Windsor Chairs. Looks like I'm not alone then.

Shocking work. Pure tat. You had a right to expect much better.
My commiserations.

John

 

[Digit]

negative feedback from people who didn't like the movie.

:lol: :lol:
The world's full of 'em Colin.

Roy.

 

[Woodwould]

Can anyone recommend any other Windsor chairmakers in the UK? Please specify whether by reputation or personal experience and whether of their products or their character.

Thanks muchly.

 

[filsgreen]

Are there no Windsor chair makers in Australia woodwould? After your experience, I would be reluctant to use anybody where I couldn't personally see their work.

 

[Woodwould]

There are a few chairmakers here, but they seem to only make American style chairs (which is hardly surprising considering most books on the subject are American). I really don't like the American style chairs and I don't think I could trust someone who had no appreciation or concept of traditional English chairs to make me one. The other thing is that they use Australian timbers.

If I can find a good chairmaker in the UK, I would ask a member of my family in the UK (who have a good understanding of antique furniture) to view the chair prior to shipping it out here. If only I had thought of doing this in the first instance!

Even though I'm not in the best of health, if I could get my hands on the right timbers, I would consider giving it a go myself. I've made between 15 and 20 Windsors in the past, so I have a reasonable amount of experience to draw on. However, shipping sufficient sawn timber here would be as expensive as getting someone to make and ship a complete chair, so you can understand my dilema.

 

[filsgreen]

Hope you find someone, can't help you any further than that. Here in Jersey they don't even keep Cherry in stock, you have to order it from the main land. Mind you it is only an island 9 x 5 miles with a population of about 90000 :?

 

[OPJ]

Can anyone recommend any other Windsor chairmakers in the UK? Please specify whether by reputation or personal experience and whether of their products or their character.

As I mentioned earlier in the thread, one guy I know of is James Mursell. No personal experience and I've never met the guy but, I've been reading his articles in the UK magazines for the last couple of years and he clearly knows what he's doing! :wink:

 

[Woodwould]

Thanks, I did contact James and he's too busy, so recommended me to another chairmaker. I've already contacted him, but I'd like to examine as many options as possible.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Does anyone remember the name of the bloke demonstrating at the National Wood Fair, Beacon Hill? Excellent work, but, as I recall, a full order book.

I can't remember his name, though I'll know it when I hear it.
S

 

[Sgian Dubh]

Can anyone recommend any other Windsor chairmakers in the UK?

Well known and respected. Slainte. http://www.tomthackraywindsorchairs.co.uk/index.htm

 

[Rich]

Norm demonstrates how to make them, it is spread over 2 programmes,

Rich.

 

[Neil Dyball]

Hi Woodwould,

I've read the 'gist' of this thread and can only offer my sympathies for the awful treatment you've received and hope you'll get a full refund - maybe less the value of the firewood!

There's a firm of specialist chairmakers about 4 miles away from where I live, they're called Finewood (see www.mendleshamchairs.co.uk) and specialise in the Mendlesham variation of the Windsor chair, although they certainly supply other variations.

I don't have any personal connections with the company although I do know both Albert Lain (the head honcho) and his son Jeremy through the local woodturning clubs. I've actually been to the 'factory' and seen the guys there in action recently when I was off work following a heart attack. Factory is totally overstating the set-up, it's actually just 4 or 5 guys working in a small but perfectly tidy space producing quality handmade items. They were actually turning some 8ft long wooden columns for a local house when I had a tour.

To give you an idea of the quality, their chairs have been presented as a gift to the Queen (who I believe also ordered one as a gift for a President of the USA - not sure which one) and are exhibited in the Victoria & Albert museum in London.

I think the price range is around the £1,000 mark, which I seem to remember isn't dis-similar to your purchase this time? If I had a spare thousand pounds I'd be buying one myself, if I had more I'd buy several!

Reading your thread it's obvious you're capable of assembling a pre-made chair yourself and Jeremy did tell me that they provide a 'kit' of parts option so that you can finish a chair yourself. I'm not sure exactly what this comprises or entails but it might be worth asking as it would bring the cost down and make it more personal.

Hope some of this helps, any questions please pm me.

Best regards and hope you get a satisfactory outcome!

Neil.

 

[Woodwould]

Can anyone recommend any other Windsor chairmakers in the UK?

Well known and respected. Slainte. http://www.tomthackraywindsorchairs.co.uk/index.htm

Many thanks! I just emailed Tom.

 

[Woodwould]

Hi Woodwould,

I've read the 'gist' of this thread and can only offer my sympathies for the awful treatment you've received and hope you'll get a full refund - maybe less the value of the firewood!

There's a firm of specialist chairmakers about 4 miles away from where I live, they're called Finewood (see www.mendleshamchairs.co.uk) and specialise in the Mendlesham variation of the Windsor chair, although they certainly supply other variations.

I don't have any personal connections with the company although I do know both Albert Lain (the head honcho) and his son Jeremy through the local woodturning clubs. I've actually been to the 'factory' and seen the guys there in action recently when I was off work following a heart attack. Factory is totally overstating the set-up, it's actually just 4 or 5 guys working in a small but perfectly tidy space producing quality handmade items. They were actually turning some 8ft long wooden columns for a local house when I had a tour.

To give you an idea of the quality, their chairs have been presented as a gift to the Queen (who I believe also ordered one as a gift for a President of the USA - not sure which one) and are exhibited in the Victoria & Albert museum in London.

I think the price range is around the £1,000 mark, which I seem to remember isn't dis-similar to your purchase this time? If I had a spare thousand pounds I'd be buying one myself, if I had more I'd buy several!

Reading your thread it's obvious you're capable of assembling a pre-made chair yourself and Jeremy did tell me that they provide a 'kit' of parts option so that you can finish a chair yourself. I'm not sure exactly what this comprises or entails but it might be worth asking as it would bring the cost down and make it more personal.

Hope some of this helps, any questions please pm me.

Best regards and hope you get a satisfactory outcome!

Neil.

Thank you very much indeed. I have emailed Albert now too.

 

[hpl]

Just to mention that Albert Lain is someone who I am familiar with, mostly as a turner, but he has been in the woodworking trade more years than I have. I have not seen his chairs personally but he is know locally as a quality craftsman.

Johnny B