Modern Times
| 311 Smith Street, Fitzroy |
5 priser
7.60/10.00 |
|
+61 3 9913 8598 |
|
Modern Times på kartet
Vurdering
Warren Jennings (04.06.2017 09:36)
A very good purveyor of well restored, usually high end, vintage furniture and decor. Prices can be on the high side - even for the high quality. The staff are unfailingly friendly and helpful.
A very good purveyor of well restored, usually high end, vintage furniture and decor. Prices can be on the high side - even for the high quality. The staff are unfailingly friendly and helpful.
Austin Chia (03.05.2017 18:22)
Rarely have I ever felt the need (or could be bothered) to write a review, however a recent appalling incident I had with Modern Times has compelled me to do so. An incident that can only be characterised as unprofessional and extortion. I purchased a one-piece sofa just under two years ago and had two defects that required repair – the first was a piece of wire poking out from the sofa (discovered 1 month after purchase) and the second was a rip that formed in the upholstery (emerged after 20 months).
Given the sofa cost me $3,600, I was obviously disappointed that the sofa didn’t even survive two years and contacted the store to raise the issue about the rip. I had the displeasure of having to deal with Joel Malin (the store owner), who initially tried to fob off the issue by telling me that I had purchased one of their cheaper items and that the quality of the upholstery could not be assured. After successive phone calls, text messages and e-mails to a very unresponsive Joel, we finally agreed that Modern Times would organize repairs and that we would split the costs of labour and materials for the repair 50/50. He also assured me that he would be transparent and would provide the supplier invoices to verify the costs.
After Modern Times collected the sofa, I repeatedly requested a quote for the repair work which he never provided. Instead, I was issued with an invoice totalling $1,065 and was asked to pay 50%. When I requested for the supplier invoices that he promised (particularly given that I wasn’t provided a quote), he insisted that I should just pay the invoice in good faith. He went on to tell me that the rip on the sofa was my fault according to his (non-independent) suppliers and that he was doing me a favour. An accusation that I deny.
This entire debacle lasted almost six weeks. Joel offered various explanations for not providing the promised documents (‘our suppliers are small operators and don’t have large finance departments’, ‘our supplier is currently on holidays’, ‘I’ve contacted our supplier and he hasn’t provided me with an invoice’). After sending him another request yesterday and was given yet another excuse without an indication of a resolution timeframe, I questioned him about the delays and said that I thought that it started to seem a bit dodgy.
Here’s the shocker: he called me yesterday morning in a fit of rage saying that I was annoying him. He threatened that if I didn’t pay the invoice that he would impose the full cost ($1,065) and wouldn’t return my sofa and then hung up the phone on me. This was a plain case of thuggery and extortion. After I got his rude and aggressive phone call, I went down to Modern Times that afternoon and paid the invoice. His thuggery tactics obviously worked but I was feeling deflated and just wanted the stress and the protracted ordeal to be over.
As some of the other reviews have highlighted, the floor sales staff are good at their jobs – they’re friendly and know how to sell. But the REAL integrity, character and values of a business truly shines in the aftersales process. From my experience, the behaviour of the manager at Modern Times speaks volumes about the disrespect and disregard they have for their customers.
My advice: if you want to buy low-stake items like pillows, coasters, candle, vase or print from Modern Times – which I have done in the past – go for it. But if you’re planning to buy a big-ticket item from Modern Times, you should think hard and think twice (even thrice!) before doing so. Despite having been customer in the past, I will never be setting foot in Modern Times again.
Rarely have I ever felt the need (or could be bothered) to write a review, however a recent appalling incident I had with Modern Times has compelled me to do so. An incident that can only be characterised as unprofessional and extortion. I purchased a one-piece sofa just under two years ago and had two defects that required repair – the first was a piece of wire poking out from the sofa (discovered 1 month after purchase) and the second was a rip that formed in the upholstery (emerged after 20 months).
Given the sofa cost me $3,600, I was obviously disappointed that the sofa didn’t even survive two years and contacted the store to raise the issue about the rip. I had the displeasure of having to deal with Joel Malin (the store owner), who initially tried to fob off the issue by telling me that I had purchased one of their cheaper items and that the quality of the upholstery could not be assured. After successive phone calls, text messages and e-mails to a very unresponsive Joel, we finally agreed that Modern Times would organize repairs and that we would split the costs of labour and materials for the repair 50/50. He also assured me that he would be transparent and would provide the supplier invoices to verify the costs.
After Modern Times collected the sofa, I repeatedly requested a quote for the repair work which he never provided. Instead, I was issued with an invoice totalling $1,065 and was asked to pay 50%. When I requested for the supplier invoices that he promised (particularly given that I wasn’t provided a quote), he insisted that I should just pay the invoice in good faith. He went on to tell me that the rip on the sofa was my fault according to his (non-independent) suppliers and that he was doing me a favour. An accusation that I deny.
This entire debacle lasted almost six weeks. Joel offered various explanations for not providing the promised documents (‘our suppliers are small operators and don’t have large finance departments’, ‘our supplier is currently on holidays’, ‘I’ve contacted our supplier and he hasn’t provided me with an invoice’). After sending him another request yesterday and was given yet another excuse without an indication of a resolution timeframe, I questioned him about the delays and said that I thought that it started to seem a bit dodgy.
Here’s the shocker: he called me yesterday morning in a fit of rage saying that I was annoying him. He threatened that if I didn’t pay the invoice that he would impose the full cost ($1,065) and wouldn’t return my sofa and then hung up the phone on me. This was a plain case of thuggery and extortion. After I got his rude and aggressive phone call, I went down to Modern Times that afternoon and paid the invoice. His thuggery tactics obviously worked but I was feeling deflated and just wanted the stress and the protracted ordeal to be over.
As some of the other reviews have highlighted, the floor sales staff are good at their jobs – they’re friendly and know how to sell. But the REAL integrity, character and values of a business truly shines in the aftersales process. From my experience, the behaviour of the manager at Modern Times speaks volumes about the disrespect and disregard they have for their customers.
My advice: if you want to buy low-stake items like pillows, coasters, candle, vase or print from Modern Times – which I have done in the past – go for it. But if you’re planning to buy a big-ticket item from Modern Times, you should think hard and think twice (even thrice!) before doing so. Despite having been customer in the past, I will never be setting foot in Modern Times again.
Dina Zaitman (12.04.2017 12:37)
Just bought a beautiful Ellie Malin print and amazing Hans Wegner chairs from Modern Times. Thank you Modern Times for making my lounge room look beautiful. Great service too from the owners when I needed my stuff in a hurry!!
Just bought a beautiful Ellie Malin print and amazing Hans Wegner chairs from Modern Times. Thank you Modern Times for making my lounge room look beautiful. Great service too from the owners when I needed my stuff in a hurry!!
Claire Garrett (12.04.2017 08:51)
Great service. Great people. They support many local artists and have a great range of mid-century furniture and other pieces. One of my go to shops.
Great service. Great people. They support many local artists and have a great range of mid-century furniture and other pieces. One of my go to shops.
Titus Anglesmith (14.08.2016 08:30)
There is a great selection of products here. Mid century is the theme, you'll also find rugs, artwork, and designer details for you home.
The staff are knowledgable and friendly. If you're looking for something with a simple design aesthetic but has some 'punch' you'll more than likely find what you're after here
There is a great selection of products here. Mid century is the theme, you'll also find rugs, artwork, and designer details for you home.
The staff are knowledgable and friendly. If you're looking for something with a simple design aesthetic but has some 'punch' you'll more than likely find what you're after here
