A More Formal Mudroom

C

Christal

For Shelter Bed

5.0

Sep 8, 2013

It is an honor and a privilege to write this review for Mr. Will Eick. He is a sophisticated artisan and wonderful person. I am thankful that he had the time and inclination to bring my project to fruition. I realize that it is my duty as the buyer to complete the production cycle by providing feedback to the maker. Although Mr. Eick is new to CustomMade, his website and portfolio speak volumes about the superior level of his craftsmanship. I selected Mr. Eick out of all the potential bids for my project because his price was REASONABLE; I knew not to go with the lowest price, as when it comes to custom-made furniture, the axiom, “you get what you pay for” really holds true. It is noteworthy that Mr. Eick’s price included shipping where others did not. In other words, a buyer may think he or she is getting a “deal” on an item up front, only then to have to pay an over inflated shipping cost at the very end. Further, Mr. Eick’s price came in below bids from northern California (wine country) and the colonial restoration industry on eastern seaboard (Maryland), both areas where the cost of living and the price of things are really high, as well as a price I received out of Amish country, where one pays a premium for the “Amish” brand. Unbeknownst to him, Mr. Eick assuaged my concerns where other potential bidders did not, as he expertly responded to all my preliminary questions, thereby expressing an in-depth of knowledge of all the processes required to accomplish the project beforehand. In this manner, Mr. Eick provided implicit assurance that he would not unduly “cut corners” for the sake of his own economy or expediency. Mr. Eick even provided an “a-la-carte” pricing structure, which allowed me to pick and choose which features I wanted to incorporate into the final product. Despite the online format and the fact that we were conducting a business transaction sight unseen, Mr. Eick’s professionalism, transparency, authenticity, and integrity really shined through. After confirming the measurements of the bed, Mr. Eick wasted no time in drafting and sending the project approval drawings. Mr. Eick meticulously reviewed and provided feedback on photos of other furniture from my home I had provided to him as well as several views of the prototype bed I had found online. Mr. Eick was responsive and amenable to making changes during the project approval phase. Mr. Eick displayed superb management skills, as he did his utmost to keep the project apace throughout the production phase, from facilitating wood selection by sending wood and stain samples; explaining the reasons for any unforeseen delays, to even gently reminding me that the original timeline depended on my prompt responses to his communications. For my part, I understood that quality craftsmanship required patience and could not be rushed; my primary concern was not a specified time… it was to receive a quality bed made to the originally-agreed upon specifications, with the agreed-upon materials. I was able to follow the project’s progress not only by directly communicating with Mr. Eick, but also via CustomMade, as Mr. Eick diligently updated My Creation Story thereon. When the bed finally arrived, I had no doubt that I was unpacking a quality product. My housemate and I were able to assemble the bed very quickly, as Mr. Eick provided the proper tools, parts and instructions for the task. My male housemate spotted aspects of the bed I was oblivious to, commenting on how well made the bed was and how the bed will last a long time, given the quality substrate and “tine and groove” mechanisms on the bed. In this manner, Mr. Eick’s own work was the reason for my first referral to Mr. Eick. Mr. Eick further facilitated the bed assembly by clearly labeling all the parts, and pre-placing the pins. The lighting on the bed adds the perfect touch, as it is so cozy and inviting (see photo), the overall nighttime effect reminding me of a berth on a 1930’s art deco train… If I must post “negative” feedback in order to show that I am not biased towards Mr. Eick or a “plant,” I will say that while the CustomMade system facilitated this transaction, both Mr. Eick and I had difficulty muddling through the system, the coding for which was at times not robust, rigid, and non-intuitive, without giving any timing out notifications, or reasons for its lack of ability to process message submissions or substandard responsiveness. Mr. Eick initially communicated using my PayPal email address, even though I specifically had requested that he communicate with me using another email address I log into on a daily basis. The “my creation story” feature on CustomMade at times scrambled the photos that Mr. Eick posted, which made it difficult to understand the various steps in the process. Further, despite the fact we mutually agreed to extend the timeline, the CustomMade system after a certain point would not allow me to correspond with Mr. Eick through the system or review previous messages, as it kept prompting me to make the originally agreed-upon final payment. These administrative and housekeeping matters pale in comparison to the quality of the bed that Mr. Eick had so thoughtfully packed… the bed arrived in pristine condition, except for one small nick to a railing piece (see photo). Also, the cord for the light is a about three inches too short, requiring an extension cord to reach the electrical outlet. I wish Mr. Eick the best, and will keep him in mind for any future projects. Namaste