We had a very disturbing encounter with the manager of Inspiration Interiors, Rick Lopes. He is straight out unprofessional and rude. We purchased a table that they had on order for over $7,000.00 from one of their sales associate. This table would take over three months to arrive, and we confirmed with the sales associate that we would receive a complete refund if we ever changed our mind about it. She assured us that we would receive a 100% refund since this was not a special order, and since it was ordered for the store anyway. We also purchased 8 chairs and a console, our order totaling over $20,000. After receiving the 8 chairs we realized that the table was going to be too small. So we contacted Inspiration on a Tuesday to cancel the table. On Saturday the sales associate called and said that we would receive a full refund but she needed her manager to take care of it because it was purchased on a promotion.
The manager, Rick Lopes, called me back after a couple hours and told me that we would be charged a 10% fee for canceling the table. I told him that my sales associate guaranteed us that we would receive a full refund and he said there was no way she would have told us that, because there is a 10% cancellation fee for all orders no matter what. He said I had to be charged the fee because it prevented other customers from purchasing the table. How is that possible when the table would not arrive on the islands for a couple more months? I explained to him there was no way we were dropping over 7 grand on a table we’ve never seen without the guarantee that we would receive a 100 percent refund if we did not want or like it. He kept on arguing with me and telling me I was wrong, and that we had to pay the fee. Rick Lopes was rude and made me feel like a liar, a cheat and a fraud for trying to scam them out of money. After going back and forth he finally said that he would call the sales associate to verify if she actually guaranteed a full refund.
He called me back after an hour and admitted that the sales associate did tell us this and apologized for his misunderstanding. Really? After arguing with me for how long about how wrong I was? Why do you argue and blame the customer for "lying" without getting all the facts first? You should be ashamed of yourself. We were regular customer at inspiration and never have had such a horrible experience here or at any other furniture store. Great job Rick Lopes, trying to save a $7,000 sale you just lost a customer for life.
I need to add that my sales associate was great and I have no complaints about her. I just choose not to purchase from or support a company whose manager has no respect for their customers.