Did I get ripped off?

[Oak Kitten]

I went to Michaels (the craft store chain) in Annapolis today. I had two prints I wanted matted and framed. The dimensions are 13" X 22". They were having a special - $50 off any order over $100.
Even with the discount, they charged me $184 for ONE print! @#$^$&&!!! And I ended up only having them do one at that price.

Now I have had stuff matted and framed before, and I know it is not cheap, but this seems to be outrageous to me. And it is just a simple black wood frame, nothing spectacular. Did I get screwed? And why IS it so friggin expensive to get something framed???

Oak

[Amy in Vermont]

In todays economy, that doesn't sound out of line to me.

Back in the 70's I worked for my mom in her art gallery and we provided custom framing service. Our specialty was Neilsen frames ( new then, common and cheap now in kit form). In those days a job like what you described would have heve been in the 75-150 range.

Given the cost of labor (hand cut matt, custom cut frame) and materials, I do not think you were over charged. But then, I am more likely to go to a framer than a chain store...

[JudyR]

That sounds absolutely outrageous! I had something framed recently - using high quality ebony-type wood, and archival glass and matting - and it still wasn't as expensive as yours!
I'd take it back and complain. Demand to see a manager. Ask if they raised prices deliberately before offering the $50 off "deal". And then, I'd tell them to take their frame and glass back and give me a refund!!
If nothing else, I'll bet you get some sort of gift certificate or credit.
Outrageous!

[hoops]

oak, it honestly depends on where you live and whether you go to a shop that specializes in framing or not. it sound to me like your price was standard. it cost's an arm and a leg these days. i like to go by frames i think will fit and frame them myself, or you could make your own frames and just have the matte made. any way you cut it, it's gonna cost a heck of a lot more than you want it too.
peace
hoops

[lucille]

I just worked out my retail price which comes to A$110. I only use archival materials, so your price is certainly on the high side. I agree with Judy - go back and ask them "if they made a mistake" in calculating. Also ask if they used archival materials.

I'll bring you a frame next year for the second one. Send me a pic.:)

[Randy & Betty in Pa]

Oak,,,

As creative as you are you could have done as well doing the framing yourself rather then paying the "No Bid" rates that Halliburton expects from the Federal Government... I wonder if Rumsfelt supervised the job personally...

Best to you

R. from pa

[KarenSews2]

We used to have framing shops around here where you could do most of the work yourself. Granted, they cut the frame molding and the mat(s), and they guided each step if necessary, but I loved the "I made it myself" feeling. Doing it that way was not a whole lot cheaper, but I thought it was great fun. The name of one that I remember was The Great Frame-up. Do those kinds of shops still exist?

I think you "got took," too, Oak. I was going to direct you to Wendy, but she got here before I did!

[DaveM]

The first time I had a photo exhibition scheduled, I had a bunch of prints made by a custom lab (not cheap, that--but you do get what you pay for), then began looking for quotes for matting. After discovering that the lowest price I could expect for a simple mat for an 8x10 print was $30 (and I had around 30 prints to be matted), I drove to the nearest art supply store, bought a mat cutter, sheets of mat board, and a couple of archival adhesives for I believe $32, then borrowed a book on framing from the library and set to work.

Got the whole project done and had material left over. And I've still got the mat cutter. This was, of course, nearly 25 years ago, but I would bet that the "do it yourself" savings are still proportionate.

[Oak Kitten]

Ask if they raised prices deliberately before offering the $50 off "deal". And then, I'd tell them to take their frame and glass back and give me a refund!!Outrageous!

Judy,

I think I am going to take the second print to a custom shop that I have used in the past, also in Annapolis, and see what kind of a quote I get from them. If there is a substantial difference, I will go back to Michael's and reclaim my print, cancel my check, and tell 'em where they can stick it.

Oak

[AceOn6]

Does Michael's even do them in house anymore? At one time, ours had a framing department, but now all they have is a table where you select frames and mat stock. I think the job goes to a central location. If Michael's outsources, it's likely they charge more as they need to build in two profits.

Cheapest around here is Harvard Co-op, but they have students doing the cutting and framing.

[aabram]

Oak....You bin had!!!!! :D Even by British Standards that's outrageous...

Annabel

[Oak Kitten]

Well I just got back from Annapolis. I took the second print to the custom frame shop I have used before and asked for an estimate. $109 almost EXACTLY what Wendy said she would charge. I then showed the lady the slip with the charges from Michael's. She couldn't believe it. She said even with museum quality glass (which is what they said they would use) it should not have cost that much. When I told her that was supposedly the discount price, she was flabbergasted. So I left my second print with her for framing and drove back to Michael's canceled the order and stopped payment on the check and reclaimed my first print. I will get that one done after I pick up the second one.

I was surprised that I did not get any push-back from Michael's. I didn't even have my usual "If -you-give-me-any-crap-I-am-going-to-reach-down -your-throat-and-rip-your-lungs-out" expression on my face that I usually put on before picking a fight.

I suspect that this happens to them a lot. People shop around and find out they're getting screwed and go someplace else.

So thank "youse guys" for prompting me to go back and stick up for myself.

Oak

[KarenSews2]

Randy, don't ya kinda hate it when you go in all prepared to "duke it out" and they just say, "OK?" I am SO not confrontational, but now and then I feel a need to stand up for myself, and it takes some mental preparation. When they don't argue back, I'm left wondering what to do with all the pent-up arguments!

I'm glad you got it worked out. I just hope your bank doesn't charge a huge stop-payment fee!

We knew Wendy would know...

[Oak Kitten]

The bank charges $10 to stop a check. I can live with that. Better than letting them hold onto my money for 10 days and then driving all the way back up to Annapolis - I'd spend that much in gas $.

Oak

[JudyR]

Good for you, Oak!
You know, the older I get, the more I realize that most companies - and maybe most people - will "try it on." If you complain, they back right down. And sometimes, they really do want to do it right, and they really appreciate it when you let them know it didn't work out.
Case in point: my sister took Janis to dinner at a place called Pei Wei last week. They had a miserable meal. Pat wrote to the company and told them what a disappointment the meal was - service atrocious, food gummy, soup cold, etc etc. My little sister (who I'm so proud of at times like this!) explained that she'd been looking forward to taking her partner out for a celebratory dinner after her surgery, and what a disappointment this had been for both of them.
I kid you not - she got an email back from the managing director, asking for a mailing address and apologizing up the kazoo! And Pat told me that a few days ago, she got two $10 gift certificates in the mail, with yet another note of apology!!
I'd write to Michael's - go on line, find out who the CEO etc are - and complain. First of all, because they need to know. Second of all, you may just get some of your money back!

[Oak Kitten]

Thanks, Judy

I will do that. I am sorry to hear that Pat & Janis's dinner plans were spoiled that way. That is infuriating - but at least the company made an effort to make amends. These prints I am having framed are also gifts - one to myself and one to my best friend. When I get my mind set on doing something, I want it done NOW and sometimes I just forge ahead, when a little patience (like getting another estimate instead of just forking over the dough) would make a lot more sense.

Anyway, all's well that ends well. Thanks.

Oak

[Bat]

$100+ is still an awful lot of money! I'd do it myself, and have, many times.
Once you get the hang of mat cutting, and learn to get the right colors--really a matter of personal preference as to which colors bring out the important parts of a picture--you can do it for a fraction of that cost. The big expense would be a frame kit and the mat knife. After that, you're home almost free--mats can be bought in different sizes in any color, and you don't usually have to buy a whole sheet of a color, unless you can use it for more than one job. I also have a good T-square for nice square corners and a steel meter stick to cut against. Besides all that, it's really fun, and quite a thrill to look at a picture you've matted and framed and know that it's good!
And it doesn't take long to do, either.

[Roady]

Glad it all worked out for you in the end Oak! I use a little art gallery in West Boylston for framing called the Gold Swan. I'm clueless when picking out colors and styles but know what I like when I see, so the owner has always been very patient-and the prices are better than what my sister has paid at Michaels. I like to do as much business as I can with local people.

Glad Pat got some compensation for having her celebratory dinner with Janis less than perfect.

[Judy]

I'm glad about your resolution, Oak. And that's good about Pat getting the apology/gift certificates with their dinner. But right now I'm at the point when I find myself continually saying "Why does everything have to be hard?!?" For a service oriented country, we are becoming increasingly miserable at it.
Judy

[Marcia Drummergal]

Gee Bat. 4 years ago when I bought you the hand-written Janis lyrics and had them professionally matted and framed, I should have just handed them to you to mat. You'd have had "fun" and I'd have saved some $$!

;) Marcia :D

[lucille]

Gee Bat. 4 years ago when I bought you the hand-written Janis lyrics and had them professionally matted and framed, I should have just handed them to you to mat. You'd have had "fun" and I'd have saved some $$!


Ah, but Marcia some things demand professional attention. ;)

At the moment I am framing a boxing glove and photo signed by Muhummad(sp) Ali. I have framed a violin, ballet slippers, cups, golf balls, rowing oars, you name it.

Good on yer Oak. I think they knew they were trying you on and you caught them out.

[DaveM]

If you are going to complain to someone, don't write to "customer service" or the like. They take complaints all day and are highly skilled at responding with form letters and no action. Write to the owner of the company, the C.E.O., or whoever is at the very top. That person doesn't see complaint after complaint arriving in his/her mail and is far more likely to take notice of it. In all likelihood you'll get a personal reply and very possibly some action.

You folks know the story about the "bedbug letter"? Customer service people send bedbug letters.